Here's my story. What's your advice?

[TexNavy]

Hey bro, don't rule out the Navy just yet, since you have four years of active duty the age limit is waiverable up to 31. I too am prior enlisted and have a proaero degree from ERAU, went to OCS with guarantee flight slot and now am flying P-3's out in Hawaii. People will tell you the Air Force has it better but the Navy has way better duty stations in my opinion. Especially in P3's. We don't have bases in South Dakota or Oklahoma or other choice areas like that. If you don't want boats bust your butt in flight school and select P3's or E-6's and you will never see the boat. Air Force has their share of the shaft like anyone else. If you join Army as regular commission vice Warrant since you have a degree you will most likely only get one flying tour. Marines might be alright. Coast Guard will be cool. Not sure about the age requirements with those two. Good luck one way or another. Better get on it one way or another. I would recommend Navy since you already have been in. Good luck

 

[slacker]

HueyPilot

yes I am.

 

[chawbein]

Air Force Reserve - - you're in a perfect location, and they don't have enough applicants to fill the slots. Look for a Reserve recruiter - - don't be distracted by anything other than a RESERVE RECRUITER. You can't afford to waste your time with the others.

I totally agree. The problem is you have to find a unit to sponsor you. I'm not sure that the Reserve board is accepting unsponsored applications. There was a problem last year when they accepted a bunch of unsponsored applicants, and few of them could find a unit to accept them after training (the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were big causes of this). If you are accepted as unsponsored, you must still find a unit to accept you before your training can begin.

The next Reserve selection board is in Sept, but it is probably too late to get a packet up for that one. There is no time to take the AFOQT, BAT, and get an FC1 before Sept. unless you happen to pull off a miracle. The next board will be in March. You will be able to make that board if you hustle. I would suggest you look at the Baseops.net job listing page (http://www.baseops.net/newjob.html) as there are units that post openings (both Guard and Reserve) and will give some contact information for obtaining a slot. It's extraordinarily usefull and I found the unit I am sponsored with through their listing.

One last note, finding a Reserve Recruiter will hasten the process for you. I took my AFOQT and BAT through a Guard Recruiter, but they refused to help me get an FC1. The Reserve Recruiter can get you hooked up for each one with minimal problems. You must be expedient and get those tests taken whether, AFOQT, Army test, Navy test, etc. For Active Duty (if that's your bag), you need to find an OFFICER RECRUITER as they will be the only ones who can get you up for these tests.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Easywithit]

Navy does guarantee you a pilot slot through the OCS program. They might talk you into an NFO slot (backseat), so stick to your guns. If you go Navy and get winged in jets and only do one 6 month deployment, then consider yourself lucky. I did two deployments in 3 years and one was 10 mos long. That being said, I got to slay a lot of nasty turds over there. Navy's a good time and when you land on a carrier at night....well, you'll be in a small group of bubbas. No slam on any other platform, this is the only flying I know.

You are starting on the right foot by getting advice from every branch. As you can see, every service is defending their own and saying it's a good choice. How can you go wrong?

Best of luck, and make them tell you no.

 

[pilotyip]

True college degree not necessary

For Tony C, he was not asking about a successful aviation career, for which it has been accepted a degree is not necessary. He was asking about a military program, for which a degree is most likely necessary, except the Army. I am not writing a term paper on this site, I am providing information in a dash across the keyboard.

 

[banned username 2]

For Tony C, he was not asking about a successful aviation career, for which it has been accepted a degree is not necessary.

Well... THAT all depends on your definition of "Successful"...

 

[pilotyip]

Success?

The individual who experiences success defines success. For many $100K at Part 121 scheduled passenger ALPA air carrier fits the definition. For others 747 Capt. flying Int'l making close to $150K may be considered successful. These are both doable without a college degree. Others may have a different definition of success and that is fine, but it is not the right of anyone to judge some one else's definition of success.

 

[jobear]

Try getting in the Navy reserve sqaudron out of NAS Bellechase,LA an ex-Navy rotorhead I work with went into the billet said it was hard to get into but well worth it. On the other hand I work for a small regional based in Milkwaukee and we have quite a few people I work with who are in the Air Guard and the told me there are plenty of billets if your willing to do the time. I would choose a C-130 or Refeuling wing.


Jobear
former enlisted VP-16 War Eagles
former enlisted HHC3/156 (Mech)Infantry

 

[banned username 2]

but it is not the right of anyone to judge some one else's definition of success.

Thats exactly why I said it depends on "your definition of successful"

I was just "pokin' the bear" for fun...