Enlisted Air Force, storys please.

[HueyPilot]

I was enlisted Army Guard in 1992 (paid for college), then a Warrant Officer flying Hueys in the Army Guard. That opened the door to OTS and UPT, and here I am now, with 1,000 hours of C-21 time and working towards becoming an aircraft commander in the C-130.

Anyways, a few words to add:

If you go ATC in the Air Force, realize that you can get out and work as a controller in the civilian world and make decent money (and that'll help when you're trying to build time for a flying career).

Other things to think about...flying enlisted jobs like loadmaster, boom operator, and flight engineer. Also check out the ANG and the Reserves. You get educational benefits (Guard typically gives you more...many states offer tuition exemption), military experience and time to persue civilian goals. You may be hellbent on going active, but I'd at least investigate the Guard/Reserve before you make a decision.

Also, being enlisted in a Guard unit will open the door to you attending AMS and getting a pilot slot...and you can fly the Air Force jets and persue your civilian career.

 

[Slim]

In 1993 and 1994, I used Chpt. 106 of the Montgomery G.I. Bill to finance training for my CFII and my MEI certificates. I had to pay the money, then apply for reimbursement. The return from the VA was roughly 60 per-cent.

You must use an approved school. This usually means a Part 141 school and VA approval. The training syllabus must also be approved. I got the CFII at American Flyers, but got the MEI at another school because the American Flyers MEI training syllabus was not approved.

Some military flying clubs (Quantico MCAS is one.) have 141 approval and VA approval as well. Your dollar gets a much better return at one of these schools. I was an active member at Quantico for several years.

When I enlisted, the flight training benefits were not available and I already had my degree. These days, some recruiters are not aware of this.

Good luck...fly safe!

 

[Swede]

So, some of my choices (not really in any order).

Tydnall
Scott
Maxwell
Travis
Robins
Barksdale

Tyndall = greatness, one of the best bases I've lived on. We had weekly beach parties on some of the sandbars and barrier islands. GREAT seafood, oysters, etc. Unlike much of Fl, it was still pretty natural, not tons of condos and such. If you want that type of fun, Ft Walton Beach is an hour away.

Good luck on your journey.

 

[bobs98tlr]

Thanks for all the replys guys, i didnt think i would get this much of a response. I did what a few of you recommended and looked into the Guard alittle further then i have done before and im going to the Peoria Air National Guard tomarrow in Illinois. I live in Rockford so im just gonna rent a 172 and fly down there for the day for a tour of the facility and such. I talked with the recruiter today and they have a loadmaster spot open. Im not putting off the active duty idea yet, but i think the guard just might be a better way for me to get where i need to go along with serving this country. Thanks for all the insight guys.

Bobby

 

[qmaster3]

Good Bob,

Any way you choose to serve is a good one.

 

[Slim]

Good luck!

Be it active, Guard or Reserve, prepare for times and friends whom you will never forget! Once you depart loadmaster school, you'll never know who you'll run into where.

I ran into a classmate in the Netherlands during a REFORGER exercise in 1988...one of my classmates from basic training lived less than 10 miles away when I lived in West Virginia. The list goes on and it will for you, too. Networking will become very important when you apply to UPT.

Another word about military flying clubs...you are eligible for those clubs regardless of your duty status (active vs. reserve/NG). As I pointed out in an earlier post, I was in the Quantico flying club. Quantico membership included all branches of the military and some DoD civilians.

Fly safe!

 

[gordon24]

My little story:

C-5 loadmaster for 12 years
Regional and now coporate pilot.

My advice: Take full advantage of every educational program the AF provides. You are going to run into a lot of people that have zero plans for when they get out of the AF. They think that they will walk into a managers job somewhere, and now days, it's not gonna happen. Use T/A assistance, GI bill, Clep test, etc.... Be the "squeaky wheel" over at the Educational center. I know several people that applied and made it to OTS, UPT, etc....Again, I can't say this enough, take full advantage of the educational programs for offer. I think I spent about 1K out of pocket on my degree. Good luck.

P.S. If you are serious about ATC, get that job guaranteed before you enlist. Do NOT sign up for an "open" job area.

 

[jetexas]

I was in the USAF in the late 80's-early 90's. I had a blast. I got very lucky and got a job as an enlisted aircrew member. I saw parts of the world I would have never seen and most likely will never see again. I feel I did more and saw more in that 4 years than most see in a lifetime.

As others here have said, ignore the political red tape stuff as much as you can and just get what you can out of the experience. Sign up for the GI Bill. Utilize the base education offices to take free college CLEP tests, etc. (if you plan one day to go to college). When you are in basic and go for your 'job interview' be as positive and direct about your goals as you can. Tell them you want to get the best job available to better serve your country and allow you to have a nice career with the USAF. There are many jobs available that can mesh directly with a good paying civilian job one day down the line. Try to take advantage of that and the excellant free training.

Sidenote: I would not be a pilot today had I not gone into the military. It taught me discipline, inspiration and allowed me to mature before I went back out into the civilian world. I was then able to pursue a lifelong dream to be an airline pilot as well as to get a college degree. So far it has worked. I have never regretted it.

Good luck

 

[El Capitan]

Congrats and welcom!

After almost 10 years of active duty AF one thing I would strongly recommend is for you to look very close into the Air Guard. A few of my bodies, all pilots, started in maintenance and had an advantage into becoming AF pilots in their Guard unit. The Guard is more a family and very close net than active duty. If I were to do it all over again I will definitely go Guard. In addition, many Guard units can waive the degree and providing you are with in a year from completing your college degree you could be selected for AMS and onto UPT. Having your pilot ratings makes you very competitive and you will definitely have an opportunity for being interview by a board.

If you are thinking active duty your sole job is AF, nothing else. And unless you have a 0700 - 1700 job schedule (Admin) it will at the very least take the first 2 years working on being qualify to do your job. This is one info the recruiters won’t tell you. The AF policy is for you as an enlisted to be able to get the 100% tuition free you have to get your supervisor's approval. So technically after BTC, tech school, OJT and obtaining your 5 level, which typically make you qualified in your field, it can take about half of your first enlistment. And as I mentioned AF comes first. So by this time you have not even started on your college education. On top of all these, you have to consider deployments. And believe me, it is not common that supervisors will not approve tuition assistance because if they do and you get deployed they have to explain the reasons why you had to drop your courses. After all that fiasco, it may very well take you two enlistments to get your degree and as it was mentioned before, you will sacrifice a lot and will have to be very discipline to put your education first. To get selected for OTS following an UPT slot in active duty, well good luck. Not to sound negative but I saw so many well qualified folks, troops that were consider superb airmen on-and-off duty and unfortunately leadership overlooked their potential and were not selected. Most of them worked their best for 2 enlistments and at the end separated due to the disappointment. I am not saying this will be the case with you but at the same time I am not going to paint a pretty picture of the system. Again recruiters will not tell you this.

Also, consider your age. Let’s say you are 20. Considering it will take 2 enlistments to complete your degree and even if it takes you 6 years to do so, you will be about 26-27. You at this point have about 3 years to be selected for a pilot slot. Once you turn 30, you are done! for UPT.

In the Guard, considering our current state as a nation at war, you will most probably be activated, however, if not activated your time will be sole concentrated on getting your college degree. You mentioned one of your interests to join was college money, well as it was mentioned most states have great deals with money for college and even paying some of your old student loans, depending on the career field. Again, I will not disregard the Guard and at the very leas do your self a favor and talk to a Guard recruiter to explore those opportunities as well.



If you are set for active duty I will also recommend calling your college AFROTC and obtaining information and my advice will be for you to get your college degree first and join your college AFROTC. Currently most folks that work hard both academically and ROTC training will almost have a chance to be selected for a pilot slot out of college. If you are set to shine an do above an beyond, your ROTC commander will definitely see your potential. As an active duty airmen, your recommendations initially come from your supervisors. By the time your commander is presented with your paper work, your name in paper has passed down so many desk, from the enlisted side. Well, you can only imagine the long process.

Lastly, depending on how hard you work on your degree you can be done in 4 years or less if you already have some college credits.

Ultimately you will make your own decision. I wish you luck on your endeavors.



Happy Holidays

 

[FlyIllini]

Bobby --

I know this post is a little old, but take a quick look at the following thread:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=45552&page=2

Best to skim the whole thread..

If not, go to page two & have a look at some of the info i posted in a rather lengthy response..

Good Luck!!

 

[bobs98tlr]

Thanks flyIllini, thats my Girlfriends post....ive read through them and we both appriciate hearing everyones advise and storys.