inspiringpilot96
Well-Known Member
I am exploring my options in the future and with flying. I am considering applying to Air Guard and Air Force reserve fighter units to become a fighter pilot. I also want to get a degree in mechanical engineering and become an Aerospace engineer. I hear about how common it is for people in military reserve status to have a civilian career on the side. How difficult would this be? What potential problems can I run into?
I know that USERRA protects you from being fired just because you are gone a lot but I read somewhere where attendance can be a loophole. I was thinking that since I am applying to fighter units, I would not have this problem because fighter units fly a lot less than heavy/bomber units. What I would really have to worry about is the time it takes to finish UPT and all training.
Are there any users on this site doing this who can chime in? My ultimate dream, is to become an astronaut and feel like I should be accomplishing challenges like this because trying to be an astronaut is challenging and it would be good thing for NASA to to see. Should I just do one or the other and just follow along with what I want to do more? I'm in a dilemma because they are both cool. Both are very unrealistic but astronaut is even more so. Fighter pilot has too many unpredictable variables that can happen so both ways have their downsides.
Another reason I wanted to become a fighter pilot is because I specifically want to become a NASA astronaut mission pilot which requires at least 1000 hours PIC flight hours. The thing with going down this route is the unpredictability and various things that can happen. The unit I would be in could be BRAC'd, they could switch airframes, which would affect my civilian career, and my civilian employment would be second to the military.
I know that USERRA protects you from being fired just because you are gone a lot but I read somewhere where attendance can be a loophole. I was thinking that since I am applying to fighter units, I would not have this problem because fighter units fly a lot less than heavy/bomber units. What I would really have to worry about is the time it takes to finish UPT and all training.
Are there any users on this site doing this who can chime in? My ultimate dream, is to become an astronaut and feel like I should be accomplishing challenges like this because trying to be an astronaut is challenging and it would be good thing for NASA to to see. Should I just do one or the other and just follow along with what I want to do more? I'm in a dilemma because they are both cool. Both are very unrealistic but astronaut is even more so. Fighter pilot has too many unpredictable variables that can happen so both ways have their downsides.
Another reason I wanted to become a fighter pilot is because I specifically want to become a NASA astronaut mission pilot which requires at least 1000 hours PIC flight hours. The thing with going down this route is the unpredictability and various things that can happen. The unit I would be in could be BRAC'd, they could switch airframes, which would affect my civilian career, and my civilian employment would be second to the military.
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