Military benefits for flight training

SickBird

SickBird

New Member
I have 3 years left in the Active Duty Air Force (enlisted) and I am trying to complete a bachelores around the time I get out. Right now I want to attend FSA and get my CFI and CFII and try and build hours teaching. As you can see my goal is to fly a wide body a/c in the left seat for a major carrier.

Now I was wondering if anyone knew anything about how much and if it is even possible to contribute my MGI Bill towards all training, besides ppl, which I plan to get the year before I leave the AF, and I know you cant use GI Bill towards private. Also does anyone know about the VA loan and if you can use that as opposed to a key bank loan or other bank loan.

And one last question. When interviewing for a Regional Pilot position, do they care at all if you have possesed a Top Secret Security Clearence. I know some companies like it alot seeing how thorough the investigation is to hold one.

Thank you very much in advance.
 
I was in a similar situation and here is how it panned out for me. I spent 12yrs in the military and used Tuition assistance to pay for my BS degree. At the time they paid 75 percent of each class and I paid the other 25 percent plus books. Once I got out I went to FSA and got a Key loan. After your finished your private you can put in a claim for your GI bill which pays you at 60 percent of what you spend. Example; say for a given month you spend $4000, 60 percent of that is $2400. So you'll get back the $2400 the next month. Now $2400 divided by $800 (thats what they were paying per month for regular college benifits when I started but I think its up to $900 now) is 3. So if you have 36 moths of benifits you just used 3 months. So your down to 33 more months worth and so on it goes. Now it only covers a certain amount of hours both flying, briefing and ground school. I think for commercial, instrument, multiengine, single engine and CFI I got back a total of about $23K +/- a thousand. Best bet is to give Mary Wood a call at FSA and talk to her. She is the Veterans coordinator, she knows her job cold and she is absolutely great, she can walk you through the whole process, you'll see her every month and sign your statements and she'll submit them, usually you get your money in 2-3 weeks. Good luck, any more questions feel free to ask.
 
Wow, that answered alot of my questions diver, I appreciate it. So why did you go with the key loan over using the VA loan? I know nothing about it but I thought it could not be beat in intrest rate. And what are you doing now as far as flying goes? Thanks again
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Hey, SickBird:

We're not allowed to use the VA loan for anything except for a business or a home. That's why we have the G.I. Bill.....that'll cover our education.

Just a hint for you...Flight Safety is a cool school, but your G.I. Bill money can go alot further elsewhere, and I don't think anybody here will disagree with me!!
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Hey, SickBird:

We're not allowed to use the VA loan for anything except for a business or a home. That's why we have the G.I. Bill.....that'll cover our education.

Just a hint for you...Flight Safety is a cool school, but you're G.I. Bill money can go alot further elsewhere, and I don't think anybody here will disagree with me!!
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree 150% If you have any questions just PM me and I can elaborate. Thanks and goood luck
 
Sickbird,
Don't forget the VA will pay for your checkrides and writtens. It’s under the licensing and certification program (separate from flight training)
They pay 100% of the approved cost for your specific written or checkride. Comes out of your GI bill.
http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/LCweb.htm

Don't forget to put in the extra $600 before you separate. I forget how much extra they add to your GI bill but its definatly worth the initial investment.

I would have to agree with mtsu av8er on your money going further elsewhere. Consider Ari Ben Aviator. You can use your GI bill and get more multi time at a significantly lower cost. Also you don't have a waiting list to instruct afterwards.
Good Luck
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Don't forget to put in the extra $600 before you separate. I forget how much extra they add to your GI bill but its definatly worth the initial investment.

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That's what I did. It adds $150 to your monthly benefit. It comes out to $5400 extra. You're a damned idiotic fool if you don't put it in, I don't care what your reasoning.

Of course, I know people that refuse to put in the extra cash....damned idiotic fools...
grin.gif
 
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Don't forget to put in the extra $600 before you separate. I forget how much extra they add to your GI bill but its definatly worth the initial investment.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I did. It adds $150 to your monthly benefit. It comes out to $5400 extra. You're a damned idiotic fool if you don't put it in, I don't care what your reasoning.

Of course, I know people that refuse to put in the extra cash....damned idiotic fools...
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Has there been any talk about letting people that were already out purchse it directly from the VA? I need to be full time to get the full 960.00 I know a guy that got out later(with the bonus) and takes 8 or 9 credits and gets the same amount as me
 
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Has there been any talk about letting people that were already out purchse it directly from the VA? I need to be full time to get the full 960.00 I know a guy that got out later(with the bonus) and takes 8 or 9 credits and gets the same amount as me

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Presently, VA policy doesn't allow it, and I wouldn't expect to see that changed. That would be just like somebody buying the G.I. Bill after they get out and realize that they want to go to school. Not fair to those of us that invest by the rules....

I bought it after I was out, but those were special circumstances. When I got out, the program had just been started. Basically, everybody who got out within like 60 days of the option had the opportunity to buy in, but we had to send them our $600 within like one month....pretty crazy!!! But I did it....besides, who needs food!!!
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It's a nice benefit, though....I get over $1100 (I think it's $1150) per month.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Has there been any talk about letting people that were already out purchse it directly from the VA? I need to be full time to get the full 960.00 I know a guy that got out later(with the bonus) and takes 8 or 9 credits and gets the same amount as me

[/ QUOTE ]

Presently, VA policy doesn't allow it, and I wouldn't expect to see that changed. That would be just like somebody buying the G.I. Bill after they get out and realize that they want to go to school. Not fair to those of us that invest by the rules....

I bought it after I was out, but those were special circumstances. When I got out, the program had just been started. Basically, everybody who got out within like 60 days of the option had the opportunity to buy in, but we had to send them our $600 within like one month....pretty crazy!!! But I did it....besides, who needs food!!!
grin.gif


It's a nice benefit, though....I get over $1100 (I think it's $1150) per month.

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Shoot I dont think people even have to buy into the GI Bill in the beginning anymore. [expletive deleted] I remember giving 100.00 a month out of a already worthless paycheck for a whole year. Then again I remember alot of guys turning it down in basic to keep that 100 a month. I bet that sucks
 
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Shoot I dont think people even have to buy into the GI Bill in the beginning anymore.

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Oh, yeah they do!!! In addition, alot of the, get that extra "College Fund" program. It's pretty sweet!!!



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I remember giving 100.00 a month out of a already worthless paycheck for a whole year. Then again I remember alot of guys turning it down in basic to keep that 100 a month. I bet that sucks

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Most of them whine later about how it's sooooo unfair for them not to be able to buy into the G.I. Bill.

That would be like somebody running from the police and then whining about their criminal bac...

Oh, my bad.....
 
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That would be like somebody running from the police and then whining about their criminal bac...

Oh, my bad.....


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Ruthless....
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wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Shoot I dont think people even have to buy into the GI Bill in the beginning anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, yeah they do!!! In addition, alot of the, get that extra "College Fund" program. It's pretty sweet!!!



[/ QUOTE ]
I remember giving 100.00 a month out of a already worthless paycheck for a whole year. Then again I remember alot of guys turning it down in basic to keep that 100 a month. I bet that sucks

[/ QUOTE ]

Most of them whine later about how it's sooooo unfair for them not to be able to buy into the G.I. Bill.

That would be like somebody running from the police and then whining about their criminal bac...

Oh, my bad.....

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF I miss something?
 
When I was in basic last year, about 6 people in my flight did not sign up for the GI Bill. I could not figure it out, its just a guaranteed investment with a gauranteed high return. Yes I will definetely give them my 600$ when I leave as well.

Thanks for telling me about Ari Ben, what an incredible deal and its only 6 months all the way to CFII oh I cant wait. Being deployed to Iraq right now is giving me the extra dough for my PPL when I get back to Tuscon. Aslo mastiff, thanks for telling me about the UVSC degree, thats going to help alot so I can get my bachelors around the same time as my ratings. Plus I am from the city UVSC is located in so itll be even cheaper for me than doing a school in Arizona. Oh I am so frickin excited to frickin fly right now! I guess the combat landings in the C-130's as a PAX will have to due for now.
 
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