Airline to ANG question

[chawbein]

Sorry dude.

Age waivers are hard to come by, especially if you are not prior service. They have to be approved by the Air Force Chief of Staff. Some units will work with you, some won't. Your flight time will not be a hinderance to getting selected, but it's all about what kind of attitude you have. Much of Guard and Reserve is choosing someone who will fit in well, who will be fun to go on a trip with. As far as all the training...the Guard goes to AMS (6 weeks), the Reserves go to OTS (12 weeks). Undergraduate Pilot Training is about 54 weeks. During UPT you will get base housing for you and your family if you so choose. You will be paid 2nd Lt. pay (about 2000/month). After UPT the timeline can vary depending on what airframe you are in.

 

[Jagdflieger]

....it's a crappy deal for those of us without the military gig. Those months that these guys miss have to be covered by someone...increased reserve utilization, excess overtime, etc.

If you wanted to be a fulltimer then go active duty, you're shafting your fellow pilots otherwise.

Now I'm sure someone will throw the flag in my face (again) and tell me that they're serving our country, blah blah blah. Here's the truth, at least the way I've heard it personally from several guard guys at FedEx. "I'm going to take mil leave over Christmas and New Years so I can be home".

So much for the "defense of a nation" theory, these guys are just using the guard to end-around being junior. Personally I wish they would change the law where only hard activations were covered and guys couldn't just blow off work at a moments notice. Guess that will never happen now that fukin bush keeps us mired in Vietnam....err I mean Iraq.

Did you get riffed or something? Passed over for Major? Get sent to Minot for too long? Are you management at FedEx? Flew T-41's at the Academy your whole career? Why the anger.

The Reserves and Guard are an asset to this nation in both times of peace and war. I build my military flying around my airline schedule but if something comes up, then hell yeah I take mil leave to go fly. I have not used mil leave to have Christmas or New Years or any other holiday off. I take that back, I did have mil leave on Memorial Day! I flew that day...into Baghdad. If there are guys out there abusing the system, then call them on it. Do not condemn the whole lot fo them for what a few do.

You are right in saying that you are entitled to your opinion, but you threw the whole bunch into your condemnation..not cool. It would not be unlike me saying that all FedEx pilots are turds because they think mil guys are slackers. (I do not think that, just trying to make a point) Pretty unprofessional.

 

[Jagdflieger]

Boiler, I am in the 123rd but not as a pilot. I am an enlisted dude (Loadmaster) and also fly for the regionals.

If you really want to go the enlisted route, get into a flying type job: Boomer, FE, Loadmaster..gunner. You will get to know the crews, the environment you will be flying in, the lifestyle, the airplane, the unit, and last but not least..the folks on the board that does the selection!! We have had a lot of guys and gals taken from within and they (KY) prefer to do it that way. In fact, the last board selected nothing but insiders. One I know was a Loadmaster.

Plus, if you realize this is not the life for you, you have four years and your are out! If you are digging it, apply for a pilot slot after a few years and off you go. One word of advice; if you choose to follow the enlisted route and get into a aircrew slot, do your job like it is the only thing you will do for the rest of your career! Guys that are just passing through and act like it, they get noticed. If you want to be a pilot, there is no harm in letting someone know. Just do not be "passing through". Excel as an enlisted guy and you will stand out and get noticed and may be asked to apply for a UPT slot!!

The 123rd (actually the flying squadron is the 165th AS) is looking for Loadmasters. If your interested, I will put you in touch with the Chief.

Do not forget, we are right next door to UPS. Oh..you can also have all your Christmas' and New Years off....just use Mil leave as your excuse.

Hello everybody, I have a question I was hoping I could get some advice on.

I'm graduating college in May 05, and I believe I will be competitive for a regional airline position after graduation. Until then, I have applications out to the 123rd and 130th Airlift Wings of the ANG for C-130 pilot positions. I also have been talking with the ANG unit in Nashville about possibly enlisting as a Weather Observer (don't have enough meteorology credits to qualify for Weather Officer) and then going to OTS after about five years of enlisted duty.

I was wondering if anybody knew what federal law and union contracts said about somebody who leaves a job for military service. I know if you are already in the military, they have to keep your job for you - I'm curious if they (being the airlines) are required to do that if you get hired as a civilian and join up after a few months or years working for them.

Any insight on this process would be highly appreciated. Also, if you know any other ANG wings looking for pilots other than the 123rd and 130th, that info would be appreciated as well! Thanks!

 

[PurpleInMEM]

Did you get riffed or something? Passed over for Major? Get sent to Minot for too long? Are you management at FedEx? Flew T-41's at the Academy your whole career? Why the anger.

The Reserves and Guard are an asset to this nation in both times of peace and war. I build my military flying around my airline schedule but if something comes up, then hell yeah I take mil leave to go fly. I have not used mil leave to have Christmas or New Years or any other holiday off. I take that back, I did have mil leave on Memorial Day! I flew that day...into Baghdad. If there are guys out there abusing the system, then call them on it. Do not condemn the whole lot fo them for what a few do.

You are right in saying that you are entitled to your opinion, but you threw the whole bunch into your condemnation..not cool. It would not be unlike me saying that all FedEx pilots are turds because they think mil guys are slackers. (I do not think that, just trying to make a point) Pretty unprofessional.

Wow, such sanctimony.

"Pretty unprofessional."

Now this I'm not sure about. What does my opinion have to do with me receiving compensation for a service I provide?

 

[GCD]

Boilerup,

Federal law requires an employer to keep your job open for you to return to for an accumulative of five years, whether the service voluntary or not. This five year accumulation has been waived, by Presidential order, for time served in OIF or OEF.

All recruiters will try to convince you to do an enlistment, saying that you can apply for OCS or OTS after your first enlistment. If that's what you want to do, fine, but it's really a come-on to get their numbers. Most recruiters have no clue if you can really do that or not, they just have the script memorized to get their numbers of recruits.

Right now, to get a pilot training slot in the Air Force, you need a technical degree in engineering or simular field.

If you want some straight information, there are folks at www.aptap.org who can help you with these questions.

 

[Jagdflieger]

"Right now, to get a pilot training slot in the Air Force, you need a technical degree in engineering or simular field."

I am not sure this is the case. I have not heard of this requirement.

 

[chawbein]

You do not need a technical degree to get a pilot slot. Any degree is good as long as you have a solid GPA, but even that can be overcome. The bonus about the Guard/Reserves is you can have not-quite-as-stellar a package as an AD dude, but if they like you and think you'll fit in they'll sponsor you. That sponsorship carries alot of weight when the selection board comes around.

 

[GCD]

Maybe you guys know better than I do, but I was told that by an active duty AF Officer Recruiting Officer. Maybe he is mistaken. As far as Air Guard, with prior service, just about any four year degree will do.

 

[BoilerUP]

Wanted to bump the thread up!

A big thank you goes out to everybody who offered their advice and wisdom via this board and via PM. I interviewed with a unit Saturday 12/4 for a Nav slot and found out Tuesday 12/7 that I was selected...for a Pilot slot! I was so excited I could barely contain myself. I already had the AFOQT from my ROTC days, and I took the BAT test yesterday (PSCM 99). All I have left is to interview with the Wing Commander and pass the medical/physical, which I am confident (hopeful?) about.

Thanks again to everybody. Hopefully I'll see you out there in the not-too-distant future, whether it be in a drab flight suit or a black/blue airline uniform.

 

[pkober]

SWABUM,

I'm one of those horrible ANG/Airline (furloughed) guys.

Hey purple, there a always cases of people abusing Mil Leave (Christmas, etc.) but also remember that alot of Guardsman have died in Iraq/Afghanistan, including one from my unit. So maybe you could tone it down. Also plenty of airline pilots abuse certain privledges, I.E. Union reps kicking other pilots off the jump seat so they can go on an "official" union duty trips with golf clubs.

Back to the question.

During training, ANG only, you would be a 2nd LT and make about 3200/mt gross. After about two years you would get promoted to 1st LT. You would probably be on active duty for 2 years, give or take, during training. After that you would become a traditional guardsman and work about 6 days a month. Divide base pay by 30 and that is your daily pay.

There is one guard unit in FL (Jacksonville, F-16) and one is PR (San Juan, C-130). FL does have a few reserve units also. If your looking to fly though I wouldn't limit yourself to just one state. Call as many units as possible. You can get phone numbers by doing a google search.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Good luck.

CLAMBAKE

 

[chawbein]

Congrats! The physical is a long process, patience is key. Don't get too worked up over the actual physical, I did and had to go get a 5-day blood pressure check. That sucks if you don't have a lot of extra time.

 

[bssthound]

The Air Guard unit in Jacksonville, FL flies the F-15.

There is a AF Reserve unit at Homestead flying the F-16. There is also a Reserve unit at Cocoa Beach, just north of Melbourne, flying Rescue C-130s and Rescue Helos. The other Florida AF Reserve unit is at Duke Field, just north of Eglin AFB, flying Special Ops 130s.

 

[HueyPilot]

I couldn't stand the attitudes I got from folks like PurpleinMEM...I flew Hueys for the Louisiana Army National Guard, and we had semi-annual flying requirements to fullfill. My employer did not play by the rules.

I had to take time off of work with no pay to meet my Guard commitment. And even then, I got harrassed by my management that insinuated I was trying to duck work to "go have a good time". On a number of occassions I was told outright that my participation in the National Guard was "holding me back".

I tried to change jobs (I was a geologist), and got hired by another company after a few years. AFTER I put in my two week notice, they called me back and told me they decided NOT to hire me because my Guard service was "incompatible" with them. So I wound up going back to my old job, and the boss there was keenly aware of my lack of loyalty (although they could have fixed that themselves).

THAT is really how I wound up going on active duty. I think that the airline industry should receive KUDOS for supporting the Guard/Reserve folks the way they do. If everyone at the majors or regionals had the attitude of PurpleinMEM, the Guard/Reserve concept wouldn't work. I know from experience.

 

[spanky2]

Purple,

Do you like cheese with your whine? You sound like a Kerry-man, sorry your vote went to waste, let me get you a tissue. Maybe you can ALPA to pay disability for you to join one of those post election stress disorder sessions...ooops, somebody would have to cover your missed trips.

 

[b747dogg]

What ever you guys do for your reserve and guard duty you deserve it. You guys didn't make the rules, so there is nothing wrong with abusing the rules.