AF Reserve

[Air 1]

Enlist as a load (college will be paid for by the reserves)
supplement income by flying and understanding the life
You are know part of the team YOU WILL GET HIRED AFTER COLLEGE AS A PILOT

Is this the same deal for a guard unit also?

 

[positiveg]

Is this the same deal for a guard unit also?

Not from when I talked to recruiters at my school.

 

[positiveg]

I'm not sure what to do. My priority is to get a college degree over doing anything else (career wise). I don't want to enlist while in college just to be activated a few months later which would get in the way of obtaining my degree. I don't mind at all going where I have to go to serve, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the above.

If I could go to college, and fly/drive to my assigned base from time to time, it would work out. I just don't want to make any commitments without knowing for sure first. And I don't want to talk to a recruiter just yet as they would rather tell me what I want to hear than tell me the thruth. (Not calling them liars, but they do have a rep of BSing people).

My nearest ARB is Homestead. It would be perfect if I could enlist and work there. Otherwise I could enlist in the ANG and go to Jacksonville which is not too far away but not that near either. Does the mil provide free transportation to/from work?

 

[TWA]

Enlisting in the reserves as a loadmaster and becoming a pilot after college looks like an excellent opportunity for me. I live right on the southern boundry of Wright Patt's class D airspace. I am so used to hearing the planes overhead I can sit in my room and be able to tell what it is just by listening. The only concern I have is that I already have classes scheduled for fall quarter, and the fall would be the earliest time I could enlist. I have come terms that I would definatly miss a quarter or two for training, but how soon would I be able to start? Would I have to wait until the next summer for Basic Training or do they offer it year round? I guess these are good questions to ask the recruiter, but would really like to hear it here first.

 

[KarmaPolice]

A few things to throw out to you guys with questions:

From my understanding the educational benefits are actually better in the ANG.

As long as the unit isn't activated you should have no problem juggling your school schedule and attending UTA weekends to keep your currency up.

I'd talk to the actual load section about training dates and lengths instead of the recruiter, and just cut out the middle man. But you are right, you'd need to take some time off school to get all your training done.

The Mil doesn't really provide free transpo to and from work. Some units fly "UTA rotaters" to pick up people each month. (We fly one to Salt Lake) But they will pay you mileage if you live outside of 50 miles from the base. The unit could tell you what the chances are of getting activated. They would be slim to none in my unit and most units I know of. (unless Iran gets crazy)

One note on recruiters. Take everything they say with a grain of salt. Get as much info from the people in the career field at the place you want to work at.

 

[C-141/C-5]

First I'm not a recruiter. Just a pilot looking to help other young pilots.

If you enlist as a flight crew member on a Strategic Airlift platform (C-5, C-17) you more than likely get ACTIVATED not DEPLOYED meaning you fly the mission and COME HOME!

I was activated for two years in and out of Iraq flying the aeromedical mission. I set my schedule and did whatever I wanted to do. I wanted flight time, so i flew 2-3 one week trips a month building 60-90 heavy international combat flight hours. Other pilots in my unit who have airline jobs typically flew one trip a month.

I graduated from Ohio University's flight school and my peers are either flight instructing or flying for a commuter making 19,000. Let's just say I make considerably more than that, and I have connections in every MAJOR airline.

Look at the big picture do you want to be in this profession? Sacrafices have to be made to make it.

I do believe there is a delay enlistment, where you could enlist now and go to basic during the summer. I'd look into it though. If this is true i'd do it because your pay is based off years of service, so the earliest you get in the faster the cash comes in. If you go to basic this summer you might miss the first semester. CHECK IT OUT!

 

[positiveg]

How likely is it for an ANG fighter wing to get activate and/or deployed? (125thFW)

 

[C-141/C-5]

I'm not sure what the 125th FW's status is, but I do know fighters, tankers, Tactical Airlift (C-130) units get deployed and live in the desert for six months or so.

Also it is very difficult to get a fighter job off the street. They usually look for Activie duty guys with the ratings and experience. TRAINING COST MONEY, so if they have another guy who dosen't need it they'll hire him.

If you want to go to school and enlist now to boost your chances to get a pilot slot; Strategic Airlift is the ticket.

 

[positiveg]

I'm not sure what the 125th FW's status is, but I do know fighters, tankers, Tactical Airlift (C-130) units get deployed and live in the desert for six months or so.

Also it is very difficult to get a fighter job off the street. They usually look for Activie duty guys with the ratings and experience. TRAINING COST MONEY, so if they have another guy who dosen't need it they'll hire him.

If you want to go to school and enlist now to boost your chances to get a pilot slot; Strategic Airlift is the ticket.

Well I didn't even know the ANG had my favorite aircraft (B-1), so that's definately my first choice? Do they hire people off the streets to fly those?

If not, and I couldn't get fighters, I definately wouldn't mind flying airlift. The reason I mentioned the 125th is that it's pretty much the only ANG airbase in FL (that I know of), and to go somewhere else would be hell considering commuting to/from base.

Any suggestions?

 

[C-141/C-5]

Let me do some research and get back to you

 

[C-141/C-5]

real quick though: You can reschedule your UTA's(once a month weekend days) and Annual tour(2 weeks) to fit your schedule. Meaning if you had time off between semesters use an annual tour day to get to your unit (this will pay for mileage, 44 cents a mile) do a UTA and ground training period every day(Pay yourself 2 Active duty days for one day of work) for a week or so then use an Annual tour day to get home(pays mileage to get home)

THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK

 

[positiveg]

Let me do some research and get back to you

Really appreciate it. I already went to the ANG website and asked some questions in various forums but the above questions still went unanswered.

 

[positiveg]

real quick though: You can reschedule your UTA's(once a month weekend days) and Annual tour(2 weeks) to fit your schedule. Meaning if you had time off between semesters use an annual tour day to get to your unit (this will pay for mileage, 44 cents a mile) do a UTA and ground training period every day(Pay yourself 2 Active duty days for one day of work) for a week or so then use an Annual tour day to get home(pays mileage to get home)

THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK

I'm sorry if I'm kind of slow to grasp the concept, but you are talking about air mileage, correct? I'm sure I can make the schedule work, what I'm afraid of is starting college and then having to stop in order to deply overseas for months at a time, which would hold me back tremendously.

 

[TWA]

I know this may seem a little repetative, but in a standard calander year, when is the earliest basic training is offered? I would be availabe for training any time after the first of the year, and would like to complete it ASAP.

 

[Deuce130]

I know this may seem a little repetative, but in a standard calander year, when is the earliest basic training is offered? I would be availabe for training any time after the first of the year, and would like to complete it ASAP.

If you are truly serious about this, then you're going to have to go somewhere besides FI.com to get your answers. Eventually, you will have to get a haircut, dress appropriately, collect yourself and PERSONALLY visit your states Air National Guard office or flying squadron to express your desires to someone who can actually make something happen. More than likely, that someone is not on this board. Good luck.