ANG: Part Time

[bssthound]

MarineGrunt asked:

We're not talking about big sexy 1LT (soon to be Capt I assume) B.C. are we?

No, he's in the other squadron but he and I are in the desert together right now. I will pass on your salutation when I see him again.

 

[ALIMBO]

It was def a chick she wasn't part of the guard unit she was active duty I think she ran the program we did for base visits and the like. I don't swing that way nice try tho lol.

 

[bssthound]

nice try tho lol

Yeah, I saw that one right over the plate and just had to swing at it!!

 

[JungleJett]

Transport? Low/slow vs nimble/fast? Not sure what your getting at.

Both would be fun to me. Trying to do my research to see which one would be a better overall fit for what I want.

Before you decide what unit to pursue...look past the airplane and look at the mission.

My old guard unit flew F-4's before we went to Herks. In the nearly 25 years they flew Phantoms, they crossed the pond twice. They went to Alaska once I think. Me...in 12 years, I have been to over 50 countries..crossing the pond more times that I can think of...and comfortably...all be it slowly!

If you want to fly "fast and nimble" go fighters. If you want to see the world and fly more than 150 hours in a year, go "low and slow". Flying both would be ideal. Maybe fly pointy nose airplanes when you are young and then go heavies later in life.

Define YOUR personal mission and then choose the path that gets you there.

 

[kf4amu]

Before you decide what unit to pursue...look past the airplane and look at the mission.

My old guard unit flew F-4's before we went to Herks. In the nearly 25 years they flew Phantoms, they crossed the pond twice. They went to Alaska once I think. Me...in 12 years, I have been to over 50 countries..crossing the pond more times that I can think of...and comfortably...all be it slowly!

If you want to fly "fast and nimble" go fighters. If you want to see the world and fly more than 150 hours in a year, go "low and slow". Flying both would be ideal. Maybe fly pointy nose airplanes when you are young and then go heavies later in life.
.

Excellent info. I didnt know they were so different in deployment frequency. Thanks.

 

[ALIMBO]

Im young so Ill take the fast and nimble in my young age I found both to be bad@ss but I think while I can take it Ill do the fighter route and switch to the C130 its equally as bad@ss.

 

[stonewall]

Im young so Ill take the fast and nimble in my young age I found both to be bad@ss but I think while I can take it Ill do the fighter route and switch to the C130 its equally as bad@ss.

Youth has nothing to do with being a fighter pilot. Skill and treachery beats youth every time. Besides...after flying jet X for 15 years you're just going to want to switch to jet Y? Not likely. Odds are, the MWS you start in is the one you finish in. Not always, but usually.

 

[GenericPilot]

Take Jets if you can get them

I'm flying the C-130 in the ANG and it's a decent gig. However, I'd give my left arm to have flown a pointy ended airplane. I tried for fighters and ended up getting selected for armed helos on active duty (USMC). Do your best to find a fighter unit. You can always fly tankers or transports later in life, but it's hard to go from transports to fighter at age 35 or 40. Chances are your reserve unit won't have manned fighters in 10 years anyway. Reserve units come and go, and do change missions and platforms.

A smart guy would get a flight school slot, and then come home and pursue an advanced education using the free educational benefits available from the military. Pick up your MBA, law degree, or a doctorate while working your way up the military rank structure. Do the airlines if you dare, or go try and make some big bucks in business, law, or finance. Corporate America loves young educated go getters with a previous military flight background.

Best of luck! PS.. don't forget about active duty opportunites in the Navy and Marines. Naval aviation is in my opinion a great place to play for a while.

 

[MarineGrunt]

MarineGrunt asked:

No, he's in the other squadron but he and I are in the desert together right now. I will pass on your salutation when I see him again.

Just tell him that we'll "get some chilli-dogs over by gate A-7 since we're 'Right on time..."
:beer:

 

[johnsonrod]

How many ANG units fly C-17s? Are they pretty competitive?

Another question. A friend of mine toured a Valdosta, GA based C130 at an airshow recently and he was surprised that the flight crew included a Flight Engineer as well as a radio operator. How common is it for C130s to include radio operators? Do the PIC/SIC not use the radio in flight?

 

[pkober]

I'm a Guard baby and have been in over 15 years. My advice. Take the first slot you get. If you wait for the fighter slot you may miss out on a slot all together. In this BRAC happy environment plenty of heavy and fighter guys are flying UAV's. Most wish they would still be in the cockpit.

Any flying mision in the ANG is worth while. Also, simply flying a fighter doesn't mean you can just switch to a C130 unit at any time. Most Herc units aren't interested in re-training a Major or LC. It's all about the $$$$.

Good Luck.

 

[ALIMBO]

Bringing this back from the dead but I'm getting ever closer to graduation. Is UPT board selections always around the May/June time or is that just specific to the guard unit I've been talking to?

 

[ALIMBO]

I should change the title to just ANG because right now I would rather do that then any other flying job right now.

 

[AirCobra]

How many ANG units fly C-17s? Are they pretty competitive?

Another question. A friend of mine toured a Valdosta, GA based C130 at an airshow recently and he was surprised that the flight crew included a Flight Engineer as well as a radio operator. How common is it for C130s to include radio operators? Do the PIC/SIC not use the radio in flight?

I think they call them Tactical Communications. All branches of service do not use the same radios or secure codes. When you are doing joint operations it almost impossible to have all those different types of radios in the cockpit all synched with the right codes and encrypted. The pilots will use the radio to talk to ATC but if you have to monitor whats going on with various ground units it gets much more complex.

Someone said before military flying and civilian flying have little to do with each other. This is just another aspect of that. You may be a great pilot but but there is so much more to it. To support ground troops you and your crew need to know how they operate to best employ your aircraft.

 

[JungleJett]

How many ANG units fly C-17s? Are they pretty competitive?

Another question. A friend of mine toured a Valdosta, GA based C130 at an airshow recently and he was surprised that the flight crew included a Flight Engineer as well as a radio operator. How common is it for C130s to include radio operators? Do the PIC/SIC not use the radio in flight?

The Valdosta based Herk is a HC-130..they refuel helo's. I think the MC-130's and EC-130's use them as well.

 

[Weasel Keeper]

ALIMBO, if you're still thinking about IN ANG, we're currently in a conversion from block 25 F-16Cs to block 30 F-16s. Before you jump on the Falcon boat...get this...next year we're supposed to get A-10Cs. Talk about a mess! By the time we're fully converted we'll be in another conversion.

However, the 122FW in IN is a world traveller. We've been overseas to support OIF four times in the past 6-7 years or so. The 122FW has been to PSAB, done the Deid, and been to Balad twice. We're non deployable right now during the conversion...unless we're REALLY needed, but we'll be back to good ASAP.

I'm an F-16 Crew Chief with the 122FW who just sent my block 25 to the boneyard, waiting for my "new" block 30 F-16 to arrive from Selfridge in January, only to wait for my A-10C to arrive anytime after April 09.

We are one of the top ANG bases in the US.

 

[ALIMBO]

I love the A10 just was thinking about applying to some of those units operating them but none were close to home. That is definetly good news. I'm still uber worried about my GPA though. I really think it is going to stop me. Being so far along in school its just about impossible to pull it up.

 

[ALIMBO]

O btw I wouldn't care what block 16 it is Ill take whatever if it means I get to fly in the guard. My buddy was on the 16 over in Springfield, IL until they got moved to you guys.

 

[JungleJett]

We are one of the top ANG bases in the US.

Ft. Wayne Indiana? Really.... :beer:

Is Soldner still there?

 

[Weasel Keeper]

Ft. Wayne Indiana? Really.... :beer:

Is Soldner still there?

Yeah, he's the base CO. He has a lot of help.

We just received our 4th Outstanding Unit Award, and 3 of them have come in the last 10 years or so. Along with our AEF commitments we also do a lot to help other units. We go to Tyndall to be F-22 fodder almost every year, and we send folks to other bases to backfill for their AEF deployments. For instance we're sending some guys to Misawa in January while the Misawa folks head downrange.

While in Balad Iraq last year our unit blew the AD out of the water as far as FMC and making every mission. We even filled in for Spang by flying a few extra alerts when they were having MX issues with their jets.

Oh, and we just finished with a UCI and did very well. One of the best units (active/Guard/or reserve) that the UCI inspectors have seen. If you're looking for the good ol' boy ANG unit like they used to be...we're not it so much anymore. With all of our deployments with the active duty we're becoming more like the AD than they are. Maybe it was just gearing up for the UCI (couldn't hurt) but we now do everything by the letter in the books according to TOs, MOIs, and AFIs.

Oh, and the Springfield guys...pretty good to have with us. They're fitting right in along with some transplanted Terre Haute guys we have too.

 

[FlyingHigh262]

NKAWTG...go tankers...

 

[CrewDawg]

I'm still uber worried about my GPA though. I really think it is going to stop me. Being so far along in school its just about impossible to pull it up.

Albie/Weasel...etc. Feel free to correct me as I have never been a part of a hiring board, just hired by one.

Not sure how bad this GPA is but I had a 2.9, still managed to get picked up by a fighter unit. My advice is do your best to raise your GPA with what school you have left (as if you need to be told this). But don't sweat it, there is nothing that can be done to help it now. It may be a none issue, you never know. If it does come up in the interview, own up and show that you can take responsibility. Maybe point out that you lost sight of your goal or whatever happened, but that you recaged your gyros and worked hard toward the end of college to bring that back up. We're all human...everyone makes mistakes, they want to see that you learn from them and correct the situation.

If I were to offer some advice...First, drop your resume off in person. Talking with the head of the hiring board pays huge dividends. Let them be able to put a name with a face. It shows you really care and are not just firing resumes everywhere. Second, if they give instructions on how to put your packet together, follow them. If it says put a staple in the upper left corner, do it. Sounds simple right, but I have heard many stories of that getting messed up. Finally and most importantly, BE HONEST. I know the interview can be extremely stressful but try to stay calm and be honest. They just want to get to know you and see if they will be be able to hang with you for the next x years.

If you do get and interview and should you not get selected...don't be afraid to follow up. Find out what you could work on to improve yourself and your resume for the next board. Let them know you look forward to applying again the following board. This shows eagerness and persistence, they love that stuff.

Goodluck Bro.