Wanting to be a pilot

OK, please go here first www.baseops.net then go to the Pilot jobs listings. Search the previous threads because I wrote a long one about what I went through to get into the Guard and become a military pilot. You are for sure not too old. Getting your degree might be an issue, but as long as you are in pilot training or have date by the time your 28 you should be good. Also if you are in a Guard or Reserve unit you will have a good chance of getting the age restriction waivered. As far as ROTC at your age, I wouldnt' recommend it. You will have a 10 year commitment after pilot training if you do ROTC. Thats 12 years total active duty. Nothing against that if its what you want to do, but its a long time and especially if you don't get to fly what you really want to fly. With the Guard/Reserve you know what your going to fly, where your going to live and the people your going to work with. Not only that, but if you want to pursue a professional career in aviation your able to as well as any other job you might want to do. If you have questions feel free to PM me and I'll be glad to give you some info from my experiences. I was ROTC for a year, then tried AD off the street before I learned of the Guard and found the one true best way to serve your country, fly bad *ss military jets (all the while making better money) and be able to have a semi stable family life.

P.S. - Don't you hate it when people like 88MPH make lame comments out of their *ss like they actually know what their talking about. Go back to flying your 182 and hate mongering the US

goto here:
http://www.baseops.net/newjob.html

http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/
 
Kevin.Held said:
Does the military want impressionable kids right out of college or do guys like us have a shot?
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What exactly is the implication with this question? I was offered a pilot slot prior to finishing my last semester of college to fly the C-5 Galaxy for my ANG unit ... and I would like to believe that what the board saw, was not that of an impressionable kid as you say, but a strong leader capable of grabbing the bull by the horns and commanding an aircrew on a slower-moving airframe into a hostile environment--all the while returning them home safely to their families.

I apologize for the rant but that statement kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
 
Windchill said:
What exactly is the implication with this question? I was offered a pilot slot prior to finishing my last semester of college to fly the C-5 Galaxy for my ANG unit ... and I would like to believe that what the board saw, was not that of an impressionable kid as you say, but a strong leader capable of grabbing the bull by the horns and commanding an aircrew on slower-moving airframe into a hostile environment--all the while returning them home safely to their families.

I apologize for the rant but that statement kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
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Probably more of a reference to the types of guys the Mil recruiters at HS are looking for. Sad image but its true and too bad people get jaded into thinking this. Overbearing recruiters give the military a bad image. Also the ones that blow you off when you tell them you want to be a pilot. Most people don't know that they can apply for AD with intentions to only be a pilot with no obligation if you do not get a pilot slot. Then they get roped into some other job they totally didn't want.
 
ANG135drvr said:
Probably more of a reference to the types of guys the Mil recruiters at HS are looking for. Sad image but its true and too bad people get jaded into thinking this. Overbearing recruiters give the military a bad image. Also the ones that blow you off when you tell them you want to be a pilot. Most people don't know that they can apply for AD with intentions to only be a pilot with no obligation if you do not get a pilot slot. Then they get roped into some other job they totally didn't want.
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What is AD?
 
From what I've gathered, age waivers are used for two things:

1) for rated aircrew who lost their jobs from AF changes (135 navigators lost their jobs when the 135 went through PACER CRAG)

2) for applicants who can show evidence that they missed the age limit due to a paperwork error

Here's an example reverse timeline that can help.

1) You turn age 30 on the first day of UPT

2) 6 weeks of AMS to become an officer, then a month and a half waiting for UPT (AMS begins at age 29 and 9 months)

3) nine months earlier your application for USAF flight training was submitted by your sponser unit or the AF. (age 29 and 0 months)

4) 3 months prior to that you interviewed and were accepted into a pilot slot (age 28 and 9 months)

5) one month prior to that you sent in your resume and application to the AD or a guard or reserve unit. (age 28 and 8 months)

That's about as short as you can accomplish it. Some units will not interview you if you are over 28yo. The whole process from interview to UPT can take a year to 2 years depending on which fiscal slot you get and how fast your sponser unit or the AF is. I've heard of units helping the older folks by putting them in the earliest fiscal slot possible.
 
Check out this site: http://www.marineofficerprograms.com/

Chances of flying jets are pretty good. Chances of getting helicopters are a bit better. Depends on your skill level and needs of the Corps. By the time you graduate and get "winged", the JSF will be close to coming on-line (at least, that is the rumor).

Best of luck,
SoCrates
 
311Sam,

Have you considered the Army's WOFT (Warrant Officer Flight Training) program. It sounds as you may already be qualified for it. I went in at 19 with only a semester's worth of college. You will be flying helicopters with a slim chance of transitioning over to fixed wing later on in your career if that's what you wanted to do. Downside of it may be that you will also be in the Army, and they won't let you forget it either. I spent my first time in Iraq living in a tent with 10 other sweaty dudes while I think the AF guys were in hotels working about a fifth as much as we did. Still glad I did it though, real flying's done at 40ft AGL, not FL300.


SoCrates said:
Check out this site: http://www.marineofficerprograms.com/

Chances of flying jets are pretty good. Chances of getting helicopters are a bit better. Depends on your skill level and needs of the Corps. By the time you graduate and get "winged", the JSF will be close to coming on-line (at least, that is the rumor).

Best of luck,
SoCrates
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On an unrelated topic I have to ask, why is it that the military sees that flying fixedwing requires a greater level of skill than that of rotorwing? I may be biased but that seems backwards to me.
 
What's the Max age for the Army WOFT program--Prior service, with college, private pilot with some helo time?

Thanks
 
jima7011 said:
What's the Max age for the Army WOFT program--Prior service, with college, private pilot with some helo time?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Age- Min of 18 Max of 32

Prior service- Not req'd

College- Recommended not req'd

Civ Pilot time- Said to not matter


In actuality all of those things help...the Army likes decent test scores as well...check into taking the ASVAB and the AFAST.

I'm currently in the program so if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
 
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