Civilian vs. Military

[208starcheck]

You need a college degree to fly fix wing aircraft in the military. I think that should answer your question on which to do.

 

[FirstMate]

If you get into a flight program at PU, UND, or the likes, consider getting a minor in addition to your flight major. I know several folks who went that route and still graduated in 4 yrs.

 

[Chocks]

Check out a College ROTC scholarship. I did the NROTC thing. (Navy) A NROTC scholarship lets you go to basically whatever college you can get accepted to and pays 100% of tuition, books, fees plus gives you a monthly stipend. You are commissioned as an officer the day you graduate and start drawing pay.

You can major in pretty much anything you want (few exceptions) and can change majors of you wish. (Navy anyway)

Pay as a Navy Pilot was pretty good, and if I could go and wind back the clock I would have stayed in instead of getting out when I did to fly for United. (Furlough)

The people I flew/worked with in the Navy were great and will probably be closest friends for life.

You can't beat the flying you get to do in the Military...I still remember flying into the break at 425 knots...

Check into the NROTC scholarship...best decision I ever made. (And you get to go to a REAL school...with lots of girls and stuff...)

Fly Safe....Chocks

 

[pilotyip]

Not true about college degree and military fixed wing. I interviewed two pilots in the last month, fixed wing military, no college degree. Both Army, one flew the DHC-7 and other the C-12. One has been hired and other will be when he gets out.

 

[Chocks]

Okay...lets rephrase...to fly as a pilot in the Navy or Air Force you need a 4 year degree..

 

[El Chupacabra]

At times when short on recruits, the Navy institutes a NavCad program and Marines have had a similar program called the MARCAD program. This is for people without a 4 yr degree.

 

[Diesel]

Go civilian. Unless your going to be a lifer at the military you'll be way behind the 8 ball by the time you get out.

 

[tailhookah]

Don't listen to Diesel...... decide if you want the satisfaction of 1)serving your contry while touring the world slaying hot foreign chicks and having the best stories to tell with your mil buddies for the rest of your life. 2)getting the best training ever while getting paid well to do it. 3)if you're lucky to join the elite top percent: land on an aircraft carrier, at night while touring the world slaying hot foreign snapper and having the best stories to tell w/ your mil buddies for the rest of your life. 4)get out, join the reserves, have furlough protection (while guys like diesel are flipping burgers on their furlough) while you are touring the world......slaying hot foreign babes...... while still paying the mortgage. 5)fly some of the coolest planes to the coolest (and sometimes crappiest) places. 6)get out of the mil and get immediately hired by a major (if they are hiring) and jumping ahead of Diesel while he's pumping gear on a beech 1900 touring the NorthEast getting shot down by fat chicks...... you can always be a civilian pilot after you serve your country (while getting paid well to do it) but you can't decide at 30 or 40 to go tour the world nailing hot foreign babes and have the stories to tell chumps like Diesel while they pump gear for you Captain......

ps-get the degree OUTSIDE of avaition (unless it's aero engineering, not aviation management).

 

[satpak77]

should be clear

dude if you are college grad and meet the physical/medical mins, try for mil pilot

I mean, take a pick

CFI to build time to fly 402's with checks on board to build time to get that 1900 job to build time to get that airline job

OR

fly F-16s/KC-10s/C-17's/B-2's, protect the country, see the world, and get that airline job, with the best training in the world behind you?

I might add the military currently does have the following aircraft in their fleet

B737
B757
B747
KC-10/DC-10
G-III to G-5
LR-35
DC-9
B727 (ANG?)

---> Guess how hard it is for an ex-mil driver of above aircraft, to get an airline interview? The same can be said for:

C-17
C-5
C-141 (all gone?)

I mean, be honest, both ACME Flight School C-152 Program Manager and the head General over UPT both tell you "you are hired"

in the military, you literally can fly everything from a helicopter to a single engine turboprop to a 747 to the Space Shuttle....

honestly, WHERE are you gonna go

 

[tailhookah]

IF the long commitment of active duty scares you then canvass an airguard unit and get one of their OCS/flight school slots. Go, become an officer, go to flight school, spend 2 years or so on active duty while you become an aircraft commander and then be a guard bum on the weekends and have Diesel pump gear for you on that 1900 until you get on, well earlier than he ever did/will w/ a major..... trust me, except for a few RARE exceptions, you will be ahead of the "8" ball when you get out of the mil......

 

[buttercup]

IF the long commitment of active duty scares you then canvass an airguard unit and get one of their OCS/flight school slots. Go, become an officer, go to flight school, spend 2 years or so on active duty while you become an aircraft commander and then be a guard bum on the weekends and have Diesel pump gear for you on that 1900 until you get on, well earlier than he ever did/will w/ a major..... trust me, except for a few RARE exceptions, you will be ahead of the "8" ball when you get out of the mil......

Diesel is a good guy stop ragging on him.. He is still in his twenties and has upwards of 3000 hrs of turbine PIC.. He is a classy guy .. If he wanted to be working at a Major he could have been hired at one already, he just likes fractional flying. I know, that is bad decision making on his part but I'm trying to work on him there..

 

[SeaSpray]

Diesel is a good guy stop ragging on him.. He is still in his twenties and has upwards of 3000 hrs of turbine PIC.. He is a classy guy .. If he wanted to be working at a Major he could have been hired at one already, he just likes fractional flying. I know, that is bad decision making on his part but I'm trying to work on him there..

He's a dope if he thinks being a military pilot puts you behind in getting ANY aviation job.

 

[aviator4512]

Yea the if I were going with my feelings right now, I wouldn't go military, only because it seems extremely rigorous. The ideal job for me would be in the corporate, fractional, or 135 areas, flying a gulfstream. This is not an easy feat, but is it still possible without going military? Also, after flying for a number of year I would love to open an FBO somewhere, so thats why i was thinking a business degree. I love corporate jets, and right now, I would die to fly one, even though most say its not as nice as it looks...

 

[HoursHore]

Not true about college degree and military fixed wing. I interviewed two pilots in the last month, fixed wing military, no college degree. Both Army, one flew the DHC-7 and other the C-12. One has been hired and other will be when he gets out.

Did you get mooned by a bunch of Frat dudes? You seem to have a vendetta against having a college degree and flying.

My take: Professionals in all walks of life must have degrees. How you want to be viewed is up to you. Do you need one to fly? absolutely not. ( except for Fed EX. and they are one of three majors hiring right now.)

And that statement is misleading. You do need a degree to become an commisioned officer, and you must be an officer in the other 3 services to fly (from a seat with controls). So if you want to fly a Jet, you must have a degree.

(This is not Army bashing. Just stating facts. And I am sure that there are exceptions and I know about Navcad as well, so don't bother pointing those out to me.)

 

[semperfido]

bottom line is this- it is dumb to NOT get a 4 yr degree if it is within your means and capability. If you are not one of these people, then NO you don't need one. There are plenty of successful people without them, but there are MORE successful people that have them.

and one last thing---go Marines, you will NEVER regret it.

 

[psysicx]

The Guard/Reserve route is the way to go.Its more competitive to get on then AD.Where else can you go with a private and come flying C-5,C-17 or fighters.Then you bum around flying to cool desinations upgrade to AC and get turbine pic.Then apply to the majors or corporate outfits.You get to fly all around the world at 300 hrs while your friends are instructing or flying into Fat or Butte.

 

[El Chupacabra]

and one last thing---go Marines, you will NEVER regret it.

But he says I wouldn't go military, only because it seems extremely rigorous.
​

That leaves out the Marines.

 

[tailhookah]

Remember..... all Marines wear Navy Wings of Gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where else can you go in with ZERO flight time and get to land on carriers, tour the world, shag foreign hotties..... you know the rest. BTW: I don't hear any of the civilian guys coming up w/ any retort to serving your country, making good coin, shagging hotties, flying cool jets, seeing the world, getting incredible experience and the respect of most people.... except for you liberals who will vote for Billary in 08.... we don't want softies trying to get into our fine services.... if it's too tough then fly crappy equipment and empty the lavs while the military guys come out of the service and get hired in front of you with less hours..... it's the truth.

 

[netjetwife]

Aviator4512, there is a lot of good advice on this thread. You are definitely going to have to weigh the pros and cons of each route. Aside from the flying aspects, ask yourself questions about your lifestyle preferences: Do you like to move a lot? I know that some of the civilian pilots move a lot early on in their careers....BUT...it is by choice. In the military you go when and where you are told. I loved it (my husband flew T38s and F16s) but others sited it as a reason for getting out. The opportunity to live overseas (we were stationed in Egypt and Germany twice) is one not available to many people. We were very happy and would do it all again. The retirement is a nice secure foundation but you will need a 2nd career. Another bonus of being in a military flying squadron is the close-knit community that is extended to the entire family. It isn't just a job for the pilot--it's a way of life for the whole family.

With a lot of hard work (and some luck) you will be able to have a rewarding career in either field. Just make sure you start off with a college education to fall back on no matter which route you ultimately choose. Best of luck to you!
Netjetwife

 

[Diesel]

Seeing the world= Seeing some far off spec of land while your living on a ship.