At UPT..figters vs. heavies

[USAFftrplt]

Well I have a question to throw out ..I'm currently in UPT and about to track select. I'm here sponsored by a heavy unit. I was previously in a fighter guard unit (non rated) and when looking for slots , they were not hiring at the time. Well I have been doing well at UPT to the point of my IP's trying to sway me somehow to go fighters. I have been contacted by the SQ commander of my old guard unit that they could work a slot for me if I wanted now even with me being in UPT. So I have the difficult choice of staying with my cush job after upt flying heavies (tankers) on full orders for a few years or abandoning this in persuit of the fighters at the old place. Part of me feels wrong for even thinking about the idea because that would be bad to screw my unit that sponsored me here, but another part feels that I would perhaps regret not flying fighters If I could have had the chance. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated...not asking for you guys to make up my mind but maybe shed some light. Thanks

 

[GoBOLTS]

Depends what your long range goals are....if you want a future airline job be warry of turning your nose on the unit (and no doubt a number of current airline pilots) that sponsored you.......if you want to fly mil only as a full time guard guy and make a career of it, the fighter option would probably work (but at a price).

gb

 

[Gorilla]

^^^^^ What he said. But remember, there'll be an all too small window to fly fighters. Once it is gone, your chances of ever doing it plummet. Float it past your unit. They may say "Heck yeah, go for it."

 

[HoursHore]

Talk to your SQ CC Asap about wanting to try this. This has happened in my unit with guys at UPT and they (sq leadership) were pretty understanding, as long as you are up front about it and didn't backdoor them.

Its a one way street and you'll only have one opportunity to do it. Once you get T-1 stink on you its a closed door.

And no one will blackball you at any airlines. Judging by your bio thats an avenue many years down the road anyway.

Edit: It might be harder than you think to just swap if you are in the Reserves trying to go to a guard unit. Everyone could be on board, and AFRC will just say no, you're a Reserve Asset.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

if you are at CBM, PM me, there is an IP there who switched from ANG tankers to AFRES fighters while at UPT about 6 years ago, he can give you some insights to the process and the feelings of the parties involved.

If this is a ANG to ANG deal, could the gaining fighter unit make a trade with the Guard Bureau to give your losing tanker unit one of their future UPT allocations. Also somewhere out there is always a dude on the fence for not making the MASS score high enough to track to a fighter and his unit may want him to go T-1s and find another job elsewhere in the ANG.

Good Luck

 

[AlbieF15]

Follow your heart. You'll make enough friends in the fighter world who will help you get an airline job--a handful of pissed off tanker pilots won't ruin your life even if they do get upset.

What Gorilla said--its a small window of opportunity...

 

[PAA744]

go FIGHTERS

If the opportunity is there - by all means GO Fighters. You will NOT regret it...

What a great position you are in. As always speak with your "current" unit and at least get the "blessing/understanding" of the individuals who gave you the UPT slot - and NEVER forget what they did for you. I would send the unit a box of cigars (cuban of course) every year at Christmas time - all in rememberance of what they did for you.

Congradulations

 

[Andy]

Talk to your SQ CC Asap about wanting to try this. This has happened in my unit with guys at UPT and they (sq leadership) were pretty understanding, as long as you are up front about it and didn't backdoor them.

As a former tanker puke who couldn't make the fighter cut at UPT (I nicknamed my left hand Hormel and my right hand Armour), I'd say that you should go for fighters. Going fighters won't hurt you when looking for an airline job.
But I'd STRONGLY advise you to discuss this with the squadron leadership of the tanker unit. HoursHore is spot on with his advice. They will probably be much more understanding than you imagine.
They'd rather you be upfront and honest with them than being blindsided by this and they may be able to stop you from going fighters if you piss them off. And even if they don't have control over your future, do the right thing and talk to them.

The closest that I came to flying fighters was as a T-38 IP; I got a chance to see some very gifted student pilots and student pilots like myself. I wish that I had the talent required to fly a fighter but I don't regret the path that I've taken. Count yourself as being blessed.

 

[scoreboard]

Go fly fighters.
But don't screw the folks who let you get to where you are, keep them in the loop.
You'll have plenty of time to fly heavy in the airlines.

 

[shutout390]

Hey guys Im gonna be a rook and ask what it means to be sponsered by a unit at UPT?

 

[slacker]

I had a similar situation in UPT, I had a ADO trying to talk me into ditching my heavy unit for fighters. I stuck with my unit, because I gave them my word. I don't regret it. Do what your gut tells you.

 

[CMRaviator]

I second you Slacker. I was given the option of fighters in UPT as well. I decided to stay with heavies and have never regretted it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Guard and Reserve units have plenty of UPT slots, and your leaving is not going to hurt them in the long run. It's your life not theirs. Someday down the road they'll pick up some fighter kid who couldn't make the cut and It'll all be even. For goodness sakes, do what you really want to do!

 

[CCDiscoB]

if you want a future airline job be warry of turning your nose on the unit (and no doubt a number of current airline pilots) that sponsored you

I wouldn't worry about this, by the time you get enough hours for an airline job they won't even remember you.

Someday down the road they'll pick up some fighter kid who couldn't make the cut and It'll all be even.

Exactly, happens all the time.

 

[bearcat]

Dude, AWESOME oppurtunity. I got a different perspective. Take care of numero uno FIRST! It is a great gig, but do what YOU want to do. Fighters is the way to go. Who knows, the next BRAC round could schwak your unit (sts). Don't even think that flying heavies is better for airline. Well maybe the amount of flight time, but every fighter pilot out there will know your capabilites and not vice versa. (hopefully I didn't stir the pot on that one).

The only thing that I personally might stay with a heavy is if LOCATION was a strong factor. It may not be now, but it will be later on in life (depending on your age). Same with an airline job. My first decision, if I was to do it all over again, would be who fly out of where and then keep my fingers crossed that they don't close that domicile.

Congrats and good luck... FLY FIGHTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Be 23]

I highly recommend doing neither. You can go helo track for the best flying in the military. You could fly HH-60's in the guard at Moffet Field or Long Island; in the resserves at DM or Patrick. And then if you want to fly airplanes, go buy a Be 23, because you'll probably never get hired by a major airline.

On the other hand, I think your screen name tells us your real aspirations. Go fly fighters while you can. Be up front with your sponsoring unit and they'll probably understand.

Fly safe . . .

 

[hoover]

Not knowing anything about military aviation, I will simply say this. You made a commitment to the unit that sponsored you to pilot training. You made a promise. Now it is up to you to fulfill that promise. One of the measures of a decent human being is that he keeps his promises, regardless of the personal cost.

Now, having said that, if you have the opportunity to fly fighters, then the honorable thing to do is to contact your sponsoring unit and discuss the situation to them. Make your wishes known. If they are cool with it, then by all means GO FOR IT! If they are not cool with it, well like I said, you made a promise. Go to transports and never look back.

 

[highsky]

I was in same situation 10 years ago. I was first in my class in UPT and could have done anything. I was "loyal" to my heavy unit. That was the worst mistake of my life. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't hestitate to go fighters. As has been said, it's a very small window of opportunity. Your "loyalty" is to the American people, for paying the millions to train you, NOT to a particular flying squadron. Your job as an officer is to do the best job you can for your country. If you are miserable flying heavies, when you could be kicking ass flying fighters, you are betraying the people you have sworn to defend.

 

[Gorilla]

Your "loyalty" is to the American people, for paying the millions to train you, NOT to a particular flying squadron. Your job as an officer is to do the best job you can for your country. If you are miserable flying heavies, when you could be kicking ass flying fighters, you are betraying the people you have sworn to defend.

Interesting perspective, and I don't disagree. I think it is critical to do your very best to smooth things over with your unit. Go to extremes; find ways to demonstrate how profoundly grateful you are, but the fighter path is something you want or need to do. They may respond with understanding and support, or they may be livid... I have no idea. But whatever their reaction, if you decide to do it, take the high road.

 

[kc10/c130]

Make it easy on yourself. If Buffalo beats Auburn this weekend, go fighters. Otherwise, heavies. Easy decision. Whew, now back to your regulary scheduled program.

Go fighters and keep everyone informed cause Buffalo ain't ever beating Auburn. Then again, Auburn will choke before the season is out.

 

[freddriver20]

My 2 cents....

I'm on MPA (full time) orders with my unit and have lots more time off than my fighter buds nearby who are traditional guard guys (part time). That being said... We (my unit) have plenty of former fighter pilots who would never, ever have traded their experiences as fighters. Have fun for a while, when you get married and have a couple kids, maybe think about going heavies. You can't go the other direction.

 

[afres bum]

As a reserve baby, I was at the top of my pilot training class and was approached several times by flight commanders, ip’s, etc. to go the 38 track... the catch was that it was on active duty. If a guard or reserve fighter unit near where I lived would have offered me a spot I would have found a way to make it work. 3 years after UPT I was a new hire at a major airline (average 800 hours per year in the heavy reserve airplanes and some time prior to UPT) while my UPT classmates had years of commitment in front of them; I thought I made a good choice. Bankruptcies and furloughs and one screwed up industry I am on the mpa gravy train... I will tell you in 30 years if I made the right choice.

In your case, you may not want to even consider going to the airlines at all! Nice set of options, you are choosing between good and better!

 

[bagasticks]

Go fighters. . .I was a boom sponsored by a 135 unit (AFRES) at UPT, and got hired by the Hooligans up in Fargo while in tweets. I talked to my squadron leadership and they backed me 100% (although I had been a flier in the unit for 8 years). . . . .Then after 1 day in 38's I got a call from an AFRC 1 star and was promptly placed back in T-1's and told to shut up and color. . .Unquestionably Go Fighters ! I love the Tanker, but I would trade it in for a Viper Guard unit in Korea right now. . .That being said, probably have more paydays in a heaviy unit. .

 

[SIG600]

You can always burn holes in the sky in something big, but your chance to be zipper suited sun god may be a one time deal. Are you going to regret it later on if you don't take it? Maybe something to think about...

 

[Stewage]

Great opinions here; I know a fella in my previous unit who was sponsored by a fighter unit and washed out of lead in. It does go both ways. But, I cannot recommend what has been said over and over - KEEP YOUR CURRENT UNIT IN THE LOOP! Look at it this way, if you do, then you won't feel bad or feel like you're betraying them.

Also (and I know this is a LONG shot...) do you know anyone at your base sponsored by a fighter unit that isn't going to end up flying fighters? Just a thought... Best of luck and don't let UPT stress you out!