A Few Questions

[sflax]

I have few questions regarding the ANG. I have been looking into joining in order to get flight time. I am 25 years of age and have commercial multi rating.

1. How long is the normal commitment time?
2. Can I get a flight spot before I join?
3. What is the process to get a flight spot and how long does it take?
4. Is there good path to get into the ANG over another?
5. Is there any state or aircraft easier or better then another?
6. How long does it take to get into the flight program or the guard in general?
7. What ishe age cut- off?
8. Any other comments or suggestions would be highly valuable?

Thanks

 

[pony251]

Sflax, I will try and say this gently. Do not ever go into a unit and say what you just posted. There is no bigger red flag you can wave than to say "I'm just doing this for flight time". Yes there is the potential to get some good time. However, the road to getting a set of wings, be they gold or silver, is not easy and it is littered with guys who thought it would lead them to the airlines. There are plenty of people who want it more than you do and who will sacrifice to get it. And anyone, active or reserve, will tell you the same thing. When people are shooting at you, are you going to quit because it is not good flight time. Join for the right reasons. I am sure there are plenty of those who joined trying to get flight time and got all they wanted, but there are less painful ways to do it.

 

[46Driver]

Concur, absolutely concur.

 

[sflax]

I guess my question was taken the wrong way. I come from a military family and know what it means to an officer. My dad meet my mom while he was in a hospital in Da Nang in 1967, he flew helo's for 20 years. But I have gotten the biggest run around, not able to ansewer questions and in general not a good feeling from them. I just wanted to see how the process is done, so if I decide this the career path I choose I will not fall into errors that could of been avoided if I had done a proper research of people whom have made it or did not.

Any advice would be help for.

Thank you,

SFLAX

 

[Easywithit]

It seems that most units would like to hire from within, ie. a hardworking SGT who put his time in with the unit while going to college, or getting guys from the active side. I've rarely heard of bubbas getting straight in other than the previous mentioned routes, but I'm sure it can be done. By the way, I know Hornet sorties are about 1.0-1.8 hour sorties....do the math on the amount of flight time you are going to get in a year. I don't think F-16 or F-15 are much different. Look into heavies if you just care about the time. Personally I would rather fight my way into a target, and drop bombs on foreheads. Over to you, and good luck!!