I was an AT1 that got forced out of the Navy in July of '06 after 16 years due to the new body fat standards. I was in VX-9 in China Lake and received no help from the Command. I was a Private Pilot at the time. My Dad was also very sick and passed away the next month so I basically had no chocei but to move back home to OH from California.
I went through three avionics jobs between September '06 to July of '07. I decided after the third one to get my IR, both Comm's and CFI so I went to Career Pilot School in Kansas City. Well, I never made it to the beginning of CFI training when I had been there 3.5 months so I quit the school and they took at least $5000 from me as a penalty. I wanted out of there and they wanted me to come back 4 months later. All this time I had been living on education loans, unemployment and what I got from the VA which is actually pretty good and nearly what I would have gotten for 20 years retirement. All I had for my trouble's were IR, CSEL and CMEL, no CFI, CFII and MEI like I was supposed to have.
I moved back to OH and concentrated on my CFI from November '07 on to April 7th, 2008 when I finally got the check ride done after many attempts and weather cancellations.
It took me 2 weeks to get a CFI job at a local field and got my first student in mid-May who is nearly done. I have gone through 3 other which have quit on me for reasons to which I do not know. Never returned any of my calls. I suspect the economy.
Here it is nearly August and I have been working a part-time motorcycle detailing job to supplement my income since May 24th. I am now nearly bankrupt still having the debt I got out of the Navy with and even more since.
My only alternatives to bankruptcy is a better paying job(s). There are no prospects for flight instruction right now, so I may have to go somewhere else or give it up. I am too low time at 454TT to get any other type of flying job that is available at present. I am working on applying at some of the bigger flight schools around the country to become a full-time CFI finally.
Flying for a living was not my desire when I got out of the Navy right away, just something for the future.
Anyways, I am not trying to discourage you, but the aviation industry is not a good place right now for someone starting out. I advise you to think about this 50-60 more times through before you make the change. It might work out for you, might not. I am goign to make it work for me, some how.
I wish you good luck in the future. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.
David