Looking for reserve/guard advice.

Another update for those who care to chime in with their two cents - my third kiddo was born 2 months ago! Lots of stuff going on. Just moved, new addition to the family, and making the big transition from the Marine Corps into... Well... I'm still trying to figure that out.

Common sense says reenlist when you have a wife and 3 children at the age of 23, however, I REALLY want to finish school and get a commission - and most importantly fly a fixed wing aircraft for the US military. If I stay in the Marines, I'd be committed until I'm 28-29. That leaves almost no chance to get out and get competitive for UPT before the age cut off, which for a lot of units is 28. Talked to an AF reserve recruiter last week, who reiterated that without a PPL.. my chances were slim.

So I'm asking for some real advice from guys who've made it. I have about 8 or 9 weeks before I have to give the Marine Corps an answer. Do I just stay where I'm at? Or do I get out and chase these goals? Reaching out to those who have more wisdom and experience than I do has never failed me, so I hope it doesn't now. [emoji16] Right now the civilian avionics job while I finish school looks like the most solid of the options, since I'll be able to put food on the table and pay the bills while having a steady enough work schedule to finish school and possibly even start on that PPL.

I'm on a training det out here near Yuma, AZ helping the new brass get their X's, so any help via email/phone/text is beyond appreciated.

Andrew
770-843-4926
David.andrew.neal@gmail.com
 
If you want to be an officer, do that. Don't let a resigning bonus lure you away from the massive pay increase of O-1E and onward. Financially, it's way smarter to finish your degree and commission. Can you use Post 9/11 bennies to finish college (and collect BAH)?
 
Only you can decide what you can handle financially and only you can decide what you do or don't want to accomplish in life. That said I wouldn't get too hung up on getting a PPL, especially being prior service. Every squadron looks for different traits in hiring, and recruiters generally have little to no idea what those traits are.
 
NewYorkophile said:
If you want to be an officer, do that. Don't let a resigning bonus lure you away from the massive pay increase of O-1E and onward. Financially, it's way smarter to finish your degree and commission. Can you use Post 9/11 bennies to finish college (and collect BAH)?
Click to expand...

Been talking with a lot of people I consider mentors lately and most of them are telling me the same thing you said. I'll probably EAS from Marines, get a job, and finish school. Then I'll apply for UPT or whatever reserve branch of service will put me in a fixed wing aircraft after I graduate. And yes, I'll use the post 9/11 to finish school. [emoji106]
 
Did you try for the marine college program?

If not can you finish your degree online while you stay AD?

What about going to the Army as a WO?
 
Edit:
Sounds like you want to go part time. Don't forget to stay in the reserves in your current mos. No need to transfer to something else. The insurance is worth it alone.
 
scoobs said:
Edit:
Sounds like you want to go part time. Don't forget to stay in the reserves in your current mos. No need to transfer to something else. The insurance is worth it alone.
Click to expand...

I want to fly fixed wing aircraft, the Marines are primarily helicopters - and I have no control over what platform I get. In the Air Force reserve or Air National Guard I could join the unit I intend to commission/fly for and still keep my enlisted rank in the mean time. I've given a lot of thought into just reenlisting into the Marine Reserves in my current MOS, but it's harder to get to Marine OCS from being an enlisted Marine, it's much more competitive. Don't get me wrong, I intend on being competitive regardless.. but I don't foresee myself running 3 miles in 18 minutes anytime in the near future, and damn near perfect PT'rs are what they're looking for right now within the enlisted ranks. If I can go into the AFR immediately after my EAS with no break in service and align myself better with my long term goals, I'd much rather do that. I would love to be able to just stay in the Marine Reserves after my AD time and still make things work, but it's a big gamble. We offer what's called the "Aviation Contract", basically saying "You WILL fly in the Marine Corps, but we will decide what you fly."
 
I don't disagree that the USAF flies a lot more FW aircraft. With that being said, every service says "you may fly in the (insert service) if you make it through flight school, but we will decide what you fly". It happens to be that in the AF, most of those options are some form of FW. Got it. Slight difference for the Guard. I get that too, and why you are looking at this. You still have to make it through to wings to fly anything. So, what I'm getting at is that if you went USMC and want FW, you can make it happen. It takes work, study, some level of average to slightly above average performance, but it is not like every dude with an EGA is getting thrown into *hitters. I commissioned (in the USN, but went through flight school and the FRS with many Marines), knew I wanted jets, worked hard, got them, and the rest is history. It isn't an unreachable bar........you would be surprised at how many of your potential classmattes will just not want it bad enough to put in the work. My second bit of advice is that you stick with what you know, and the service that is going to have the most stake in getting you to this goal. The Corps is a pretty damned good group of guys, especially on the aviation side, and I think you would be hard pressed to fly with a better organization of folks. They also tend to do the best job of taking care of their own that I have seen across the services........that and MECEP is a pretty good program if you have interest in that (vice straight OCS). Just my personal bit of advice, take it or leave it. Happy to answer any questions you might have about the process, here or PM.
 
Air Force: We're the guys with the airplanes.

Navy: We're the guys with the boats.

Army: We're the guys with the HMMWVs and rifles.

Choose accordingly.
 
I suppose a valid plan would also be to just stick it out with the Marines for another few years, and finish my degree and PPL during that time without having to worry about finding a new job to fill the gap. Then after I graduate here in 2 years, give or take, I can try to fly F-18's for the Marine Corps. If that doesn't work out, I'll EAS at the age of 28, which leaves me one solid chance at applying for that UPT spot. If all else fails, there's waivers and Army helos. :cry:
 
Andrew_Neal said:
I suppose a valid plan would also be to just stick it out with the Marines for another few years, and finish my degree and PPL during that time without having to worry about finding a new job to fill the gap. Then after I graduate here in 2 years, give or take, I can try to fly F-18's for the Marine Corps. If that doesn't work out, I'll EAS at the age of 28, which leaves me one solid chance at applying for that UPT spot. If all else fails, there's waivers and Army helos. :cry:
Click to expand...
I'm hoping there is a bit of jovial inter-service rivalry in your comment. However, if you find yourself flying Army helicopters with the mindset that you're there because you've "failed", you might not have what it takes to be a military aviator in any branch.

Each of the services have a role on the battlefield and each serve the other in many ways in both peace and war time. If the only thing keeping you from flying with the Corps is that you "don't foresee myself running 3 miles in 18 minutes anytime in the near future", it appears to me that you might be seeking the path of least resistance rather than the path that will get you to your goals.
 
Andrew_Neal said:
I want to fly fixed wing aircraft, the Marines are primarily helicopters - and I have no control over what platform I get. In the Air Force reserve or Air National Guard I could join the unit I intend to commission/fly for and still keep my enlisted rank in the mean time. I've given a lot of thought into just reenlisting into the Marine Reserves in my current MOS, but it's harder to get to Marine OCS from being an enlisted Marine, it's much more competitive. Don't get me wrong, I intend on being competitive regardless.. but I don't foresee myself running 3 miles in 18 minutes anytime in the near future, and damn near perfect PT'rs are what they're looking for right now within the enlisted ranks. If I can go into the AFR immediately after my EAS with no break in service and align myself better with my long term goals, I'd much rather do that. I would love to be able to just stay in the Marine Reserves after my AD time and still make things work, but it's a big gamble. We offer what's called the "Aviation Contract", basically saying "You WILL fly in the Marine Corps, but we will decide what you fly."
Click to expand...

How are you going to support your family as a part time pilot in the guard?
 
And if you think the dedication it takes to run 3 miles in 18 min is too much, you also might be underestimating the dedication it takes to do this job.
 
Andrew_Neal said:
I want to fly fixed wing aircraft, the Marines are primarily helicopters - and I have no control over what platform I get. In the Air Force reserve or Air National Guard I could join the unit I intend to commission/fly for and still keep my enlisted rank in the mean time. I've given a lot of thought into just reenlisting into the Marine Reserves in my current MOS, but it's harder to get to Marine OCS from being an enlisted Marine, it's much more competitive. Don't get me wrong, I intend on being competitive regardless.. but I don't foresee myself running 3 miles in 18 minutes anytime in the near future, and damn near perfect PT'rs are what they're looking for right now within the enlisted ranks. If I can go into the AFR immediately after my EAS with no break in service and align myself better with my long term goals, I'd much rather do that. I would love to be able to just stay in the Marine Reserves after my AD time and still make things work, but it's a big gamble. We offer what's called the "Aviation Contract", basically saying "You WILL fly in the Marine Corps, but we will decide what you fly."
Click to expand...

You could go to college, and do the USMC PLC program. The Aviation Contract basically says " you will go to flight school (at some point)," the rest depends on the Corps/you - OCS path to Commission, TBS, 'flight school' etc. 3 in 18 is a matter of sprints, hills, cals, and the mental fortitude to surpass what you think is capable of yourself.
 
The USMC PLC program is a great path to fly fixed wing. Commitment for a naval aviator in the USMC is 8 years after flight training iirc.
 
dustoff17 said:
I'm hoping there is a bit of jovial inter-service rivalry in your comment. However, if you find yourself flying Army helicopters with the mindset that you're there because you've "failed", you might not have what it takes to be a military aviator in any branch.

Each of the services have a role on the battlefield and each serve the other in many ways in both peace and war time. If the only thing keeping you from flying with the Corps is that you "don't foresee myself running 3 miles in 18 minutes anytime in the near future", it appears to me that you might be seeking the path of least resistance rather than the path that will get you to your goals.
Click to expand...

Least resistance? I'm married with three children, going to college full time while on active duty at the age of 23. I run a perfectly acceptable 3 mile time at about 20:30, I'm not being lazy as you are attempting to imply because of my rivalrous comment about the Army. I spent some time with Dustoff out on Camp Bastion, I even fixed an avionics gripe for you guys when you came over and asked for help repairing a wiring harness. I love 60's and have nothing but appreciation for each branch and the role they play. In my honest opinion Sikorsky makes a better bird than Bell anyway.

What kind of skid kid Marine would I be if I didn't piss off a few soldiers along the way.
 
PLC is geared towards a different crowd, and really wouldn't get me my commission any faster. I was in PLC back in 2010 but withdrew due to being young and impatient, I went and enlisted. MECEP and ECP are the other programs, and I intend to do whichever one accepts me first. A lot of experienced pilots in all branches from this forum have given me some incredible advice and guidance via PM/email to help me reach my long term goals and I really appreciate it. This has been an invaluable resource, I want all involved to know that I'm very grateful for you guys - even the Soldiers. [emoji57]

Plan A is to stay in the Marines, finish school utilizing TA, and then get a seat at OCS on an aviation contract.

Plan B, because my MOS often has very few boat spaces, is to work full time after my EAS and finish school with the GI bill. When I graduate I will try to commission and fly with whatever branch will allow me to. Hoping that the prior service box being checked helps out a bit. [emoji106]

One of those options will work, and both of them allow me to keep providing for the family while I pursue these goals.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top