I'm lost

[C5]

I\'m lost

Guys I'm lost. Uh....I'm reading how people can go to college and their senior year apply for a squadron, and then your a pilot. Can someone explain to me how becoming a pilot in the reserves works? Say, your just about to start college. How will it go from there?

Thanks, C5

 

[JimmyK]

Re: I\'m lost

I'm pretty much in the same position you are in, I'm a Junior in high school and looking at ways to begin my aviation career. I want to fly for the Navy, but I have looked into other ways like the gurad/reserves. Remember though most of the information I have is stuff I've been told by other people like pilots and recruiters so take it for whatever its worth. From what Im told the guard/reserves is extremely competitive.If you want to fly for them you have to really stand out to that selection board because they usually only have a few slots and ALOT of applicants. Anyways after you get selected its prety much the same as the active duty guys, you go to UPT, complete all the training and when your done you go back to your unit and I think they say on average it's a year and a half before your mission ready(?? is that the word) Anyways just thought I'd pass on the info I know, and if anyone knows anymore please add.

edit: a good website to check out baseops.net lots of info there

 

[MikeD]

Re: I\'m lost

Review this section of the website and the threads contained herein. Lots of insight that will probably answer your question.

 

[Windchill]

Re: I\'m lost

C5,

First off let me commend you for your selection of a name and icon . . . to me the C-5 Galaxy is the best looking bird in the fleet . . . I was born and raised in Dover around the C-5, and my Air Guard base is converting to the C-5 which I am slotted to fly.

I'm not too familiar about the Active Duty boards, but I can give you insight regarding the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves.

www.baseops.net is a very good website with a good board.

You can apply to a unit's Cadidate Selection Board for UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training). The nice thing with the Guard/Reserve is you can choose what units to apply to, therefore selecting what specific airframe you wish to fly.

You can usually apply when you are within a semester to a year of completing college. To be competitive, you should have a Private Pilot License, don't be too worried about advanced ratings, it's not overly important (some say it can hinder you because boards may view that advanced civilian training can hinder your ability to pick up the military training, that whole addage of "get 'em while they're young")

You should have taken the AFOQT with competitive scores, have references, maintain a 3.0+ GPA, etc.

You will submit a packet to each unit and await word that you have an invitation to interview. You then interview before a board, usually a Chief Pilot, few pilots, personnel officer (may vary unit to unit), then await to see if you have been selected. Then there's the Flying Physical and so forth.

Consider enlisting first.

If anyone has any further comments, concerns, questions, feel free to send me a PM.