Guard/Reserve f15/16/a10?

[Scrapdog]

I have to agree with the "keep your options open crowd" in this day and age. However, if you are passionate about flying fighters/attack go for it. I'm not saying you will be a better pilot and I certainly don't want to start another fighter vs heavy war, but there is nothing in the world like flying fighters and you have to have lived it to know it. If that is what you really want to do, go for it. If you have the time and it doesn't pan out, expand your horizons. At least you won't have any regrets. There are plenty of guys out there that flew fighters and now fly airlines. I wouldn't sweat the age old argument of whose time is more valuable. I successfully interviewed at 4 major airlines and they all thought fighter time was just fine. There is plenty of CRM happening when you coordinate a 16-ship package from a single seat fighter and the airlines know it. Twenty years ago it might have made a difference, but these days it really doesn't seem to matter as much. It usually boils down to who you know anyway. Either way, you can't go wrong if you are flying and serving your country no matter what the platform. Good Luck:beer:

Totally agree here with ExAF. Tons of CRM goes on with coordinating a multiship fighter package or leading a 4 v X DACT mission. Being in a single seat jet just means your CRM skills expand to working with the other wingman/element leads in the flight, not the guys in your own aircraft. As was said earlier, DON'T broaden your horizons too much - if you want to fly fighters in the military, go for it (it's an extremely awesome and rewarding job)!! Plus, the only bad thing that can happen at a fighter unit is they say no...but just continue trying and don't give up.

 

[psysicx]

Yeah but that sure would be a fun way to build turbine pic.

 

[Flyby1206]

Concur... someone looking for "PIC Turbine" time is not going to be happy in the tactical community. We fly the least, and probably work the hardest per flight hour (that's not trying to pick a fight). Not only is flying NOT going to be your #1 job at a squadron, but are you prepared for 2-3 hour briefs for a 1.5, followed by a 2-3 hour debrief? Not to mention the time spent (mentioned above) studying classified material, weapons, timelines, standardization, etc. etc. etc.

I definitely see your points, and at this time I am single, unattatched, and would be more than happy to be a 'Guard Bum' and spend as much time as they allow me working/flying for them. My initial question was mainly regarding the chances of being accepted into a tactical/attack slot as opposed to transport without prior military service.

 

[Scrapdog]

I definitely see your points, and at this time I am single, unattatched, and would be more than happy to be a 'Guard Bum' and spend as much time as they allow me working/flying for them. My initial question was mainly regarding the chances of being accepted into a tactical/attack slot as opposed to transport without prior military service.

Flyby - one thing to consider is a lot of fighter units don't want to hire a guy that just wants to "guard bum." I know my unit doesn't - they want a guy with a descent primary job that will support them and/or their family so the unit's commander doesn't want to constantly worry about how they and/or their family is being taken care of pay wise, med wise, etc...And if you just guard bum and you're a standard traditional guy, you're going to burn up your AFTP's, and UTA's about halfway through the fiscal year. That will force the commander to get you orders to keep current and trust me, leadership doesn't like it when you push them into that square corner. That's my 2 cents from a traditional guard guy (and I have a primary job as a contractor...however, I'm working on getting on with the airlines currently). Any more in depth questions, feel free to PM me or ask away. And like I said, if you want to fly fighters, shoot for flying fighters!

 

[Purpled]

I know for a stone cold fact that at my company if you had a guy with 4000 of C-whatever time vs. a fighter guy the heavy guy will get the job if they were close in everything else.

I think this would qualify as an anomoly. It seems that vs. other groups of pilots, fighter guys don't seem to suffer too much in the 'get a job' department...at least at the 'big name' companies.

L, which company do you work for?

FLY, just like everyone else said--do what you want, and if you can't get it then expand your search. Diversify too, be sure to have a good education and other skills in case this pilot thing doesn't work out.

Good luck!!

 

[psysicx]

Do Guard units deploy or go on TDY's like AD?

 

[hindsight2020]

Flyby - one thing to consider is a lot of fighter units don't want to hire a guy that just wants to "guard bum." I know my unit doesn't - they want a guy with a descent primary job that will support them and/or their family so the unit's commander doesn't want to constantly worry about how they and/or their family is being taken care of pay wise, med wise, etc...And if you just guard bum and you're a standard traditional guy, you're going to burn up your AFTP's, and UTA's about halfway through the fiscal year. That will force the commander to get you orders to keep current and trust me, leadership doesn't like it when you push them into that square corner. That's my 2 cents from a traditional guard guy (and I have a primary job as a contractor...however, I'm working on getting on with the airlines currently). Any more in depth questions, feel free to PM me or ask away. And like I said, if you want to fly fighters, shoot for flying fighters!

I totally agree with you, but I would like you to elaborate on the particulars of civilian employment and schedule incompatibility with the Guard/Reserve job. There is a lot to be said about the first 2 years in the unit and being able to hold a civilian job. You'd be hard pressed to find a civilian employer that would be able to accomodate the Guard part-time schedule, particularly in the first year. It is not as simple as getting any 9-5. Yes, it is illegal for them to discriminate on the basis of military service, but in reality it's a big bump in the road trying to get many jobs to accomodate to a traditional schedule.

If you could share your experience on this issue, it would shed some light into some of the realities that affect people's rationale for deciding to Guard bum or not.

 

[Scrapdog]

I totally agree with you, but I would like you to elaborate on the particulars of civilian employment and schedule incompatibility with the Guard/Reserve job. There is a lot to be said about the first 2 years in the unit and being able to hold a civilian job. You'd be hard pressed to find a civilian employer that would be able to accomodate the Guard part-time schedule, particularly in the first year. It is not as simple as getting any 9-5. Yes, it is illegal for them to discriminate on the basis of military service, but in reality it's a big bump in the road trying to get many jobs to accomodate to a traditional schedule.

If you could share your experience on this issue, it would shed some light into some of the realities that affect people's rationale for deciding to Guard bum or not.

I think you bring up a good point - it is difficult to find a civilian employer that is compatible with the Guard/Reserve part time lifestyle. The good thing about being a new guy flying a new jet is you will almost always get seasoning days. Most "brand new" fighter pilots will get 1-2 years of orders for seasoning days in their new respective unit so they can get accustomed to flying tactically in a fast jet, getting to know the local area, and most importantly getting to know the folks they'll be flying with the next umpteen years of their military life. However, if you've flown fighters previously on AD, usually your seasoning days are a couple of months (as was in my case). Bottom line - there are usually a lot of deals for guard/reserve guys out there that will take care of job stability for 12-24 months - such as orders for a staff tour, helping the stan/eval officer, etc...however, it is important that you start looking toward getting full time employment early on, even if you will be on 2 year seasoning orders once you get in the unit. Just have a life plan, which is probably good advice for anyone in life, regardless of what you do...and the best civilian employer that you can flex with your guard/reserve job would probably be the airlines or cargo carriers. In my case, even though I have a contracting job, I have app's into 3 different airlines currently as well as applying for a full time AGR position (again, the life plan thing). Always trying to think one step ahead...

 

[dtfl]

However, it is a lot more work, pre-mission, per hour flown compared to heavies.

Not AFSOC heavies - ie AC/MC-130s. My mission planning to hit an interdiction target or to provide CAS for a SF team was prolly just as involved. I also had 15 people on my plane...talk about a CRM nightmare...combat was the easy part - it was getting them to agree to a restaraunt on a TDY that sucked...


And Flyby - there are AFSOC reserve units that fly MC130Es and Ps if you are interested - there are a couple people on this board in them, and I used to be.