Non-pilot in AF

[jumppilot]

Hello,

What type of jobs are there for OFFICERS that involve flying, that are not as a pilot or Nav? Can you be a crewmember or anything along those lines?

I'm investigating my possibilities and want to make sure I have a clear picture.

Thanks

 

[C-17->Majors]

Jump Pilot,

I respect your desire to serve your country. Fourteen years ago I asked my AF recruiter the same question. Let me save you some pain I experienced.

Yes, there are jobs involving flight ops other than ones with a window seat. The USAF has all types of officer jobs where you sit in the back of a large aircraft looking at a scope or computer display and maybe talking on the radio. These jobs with such titles as "Air Battle Manager" sound really cool when you are on the street (they did to me) but in reality they require a lengthy commitment for training, have a high ops tempo (that means you'll be gone a lot), and won't provide you the satisfaction you get from actually flying the aircraft.

A week after graduation from OTS, I quickly realized a simple truth about the USAF. Back then the mission of the air force was to fly, fight and win. If you were not flying, then you were not in the fight and certainly not winning. The air force is focused primarily on pilots; most everyone else is in a support capacity (although we now have space folks who "fly" satellites). Most USAF leaders are pilots or former pilots, as a non-pilot I felt like a second class citizen (maybe that was just my issue!). My first assignment was as a non-rated (non-pilot) operations management officer in an A-10 training squadron. This was my "dream job" involving aircrew operations. Everyday I watched the squadron pilots go off to fly, shoot guns, drop bombs, and have tons of fun while getting paid extra to do it. Meanwhile, I sat back at the squadron inventorying the supply closet and other menial tasks by comparison. I quickly made my desire to fly known and the entire unit made it their mission to help me get to pilot training.

Since you are already a pilot with far higher qualifications than I had when I was selected for pilot training, I guess that you may not qualify for flight training for any number of reasons otherwise you would not have made the post. Here are a few thoughts for you and any others in a similar boat. First, don't try to get into the USAF and later plan to switch to a pilot career. Historically the odds are against you making the switch and if you desire to be a career aviator, you are just marking time. Secondly, if you are joining the USAF with just a desire to serve your country and not pursue a pilot career, think about serving yourself first with a career that easily translates to a civilian job when you separate or retire. I have never met anyone that did not go on to another career after their military one, except the ones that died. I don't think Microsoft has many missileers or scope dopes among their ranks that didn't go out and acquire another degree or skill first.

My 13-year active duty career was very rewarding. The USAF gave me everything I asked of it, every aircraft, job and duty station. Fortunately I was able to leave on my terms and still serve in the same capacity in the ANG. Please serve your country if you feel called; just make sure your proposed job is a good fit for you.

 

[ExAF]

There are "crewmember" and "navigator/WSO/EWO" options that are flyers and are not pilots. Some that come to mind are Weapons Controllers on AWACS, numerous aircrew positions in platforms such as EC-135s, JSTARS, EC-130s, and AC-130s. There are still WSOs in F-15Es. There are even Battle Managers in ABCCCs. This list is not "all inclusive" by any means. Your best bet would be to talk to an officer recruiter about these types of career fields. They will be VERY GLAD to talk to you. Just don't let them sell these career fields to you as a means to a pilot slot.

 

[bssthound]

My AF Reserve Unit, the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters," has Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officers (ARWOs). They all have a Weather Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). They sit where the crew bunk is on a normal 130 and team up with the nav in finding the center of the Hurricane's eye. If you're really into weather that would definitely be a way to go. It is a Reserve unit, though. We're not Active Duty Air Force.

PM me if you want details.

 

[jumppilot]

You guys have given me good inforation, and I appreciate it.

I am very interested in flying for the military, but always have to prepare for not being selected for pilot training. Besides from wanting to serve my country, the benefits of the AF are amazing.

I'm in the process of talking to recruiters now, and will have a better understanding of what I am getting into.

Thanks

 

[Draginass]

I was one of the unusual cases who came into the USAF as a non-rated officer and later went to UPT just as I was going over-age (27.5 years old at that time). I enjoyed my time as a "shoeclerk," believe it or not. I was a services officer and ran commissaries. Although not exactly the kind of job I wanted, I nevertheless found it very interesting and had a lot of responsibility very early. There are many good jobs that are not directly flying related. Some of the ones that I thought were pretty good were:

Test Engineer (can get involved in some really cosmic weapons system development + make some great industry contacts for later employment should you decide to depart the USAF)

Communications Officer (lots of high tech comm systems, probably will be in charge of big $ equipment and many personnel, in demand by civil industry)

Maintenance Officer (lots of management experience and leading a lot of people, good experience for civil management employement)

Intelligence Officer (more narrow in scope than the above, but will get very high security clearances that are very valuable in working for government contractors.)

Civil Engineer (Base infrastructure maintenance and projects. Good experience if you get in-charge of a big ticket building project)

Some I wouldn't recommend:

Personnel Officer (dull. Lots of headaches)
Accounting and Finance Officer
Services Officer (much more civilianized than was I was one)
AWACS Back-ender (lots of TDY, promotion not so good)
Administrative Officer

The chances of getting selected for pilot training as an active duty officer are highly dependent on demand. In times of low demand, it's very competitive.

 

[cornbread]

I think we may have worn similar shoes at one point...and they're wooden.

Possibilities

Flight Surgeon
- depending on how young you are, your major field of study, and your interest- go to med school and the AF will give you rank of Capt. and if you hold their feet to the fire, you can get a flight-"surgeon" position with a fighter unit. you get to ride/fly in the jets often enough. AND the pilots actually avoid looking down their nose at you (as they do to the rest of the AF) because you are in a position to DNIF/ground them. Then, when you get out of the AF you have the greatest job security in the world as a physician.

(of course, just like all rules in life there are exceptions, not all AF pilots look down their nose at the rest of the AF) But as another poster stateted, the 2nd class citizen effect is deeply in place. You even meet enlisted flyers that act like fighter pilots because they wear bags or are in ops group.)

ParaRescue
- AF special ops, they just started integrating officers into this career field last year. High-speed fun.

Intel Officer Flying
-Languages, intel. analysis=ride around and listen to radio and among other things.

I would bet that there might be a way around what you think is restricting you from getting a pilot slot.

At a minimum, talk w/ someone you can trust that has done what you plan to do. I have seen recruiters mislead people terribly. There are plenty of people here to guide you.


just another angle

 

[rectumnonbustus]

Good words...don't let a recruiter talk you into "something" else. Just realize that as a non-pilot you most likely won't get to fly the aircraft. If you're happy with that...go for it! My first thought would be to try and get into Nav school and be an F-15E WSO if possible...after that go for a B-1 and so-on. Best of luck.

 

[Draginass]

If you want to be a B-1 GIB, you'd better have an iron gut. Low-levels in the summertime sitting in the phonebooth with no windows are pure torture unless you can spit nails. Spent a couple of low levels back there and it was all I could do to not blow chow all over the MFDs.

 

[jumppilot]

If you want to be a B-1 GIB, you'd better have an iron gut. Low-levels in the summertime sitting in the phonebooth with no windows are pure torture unless you can spit nails. Spent a couple of low levels back there and it was all I could do to not blow chow all over the MFDs.

That would be a bit freaky.

I'm out of the running for the AF for the time being, I am getting PRK and they require a one year wait...The recruiter I talked to was very honest with me and mentioned many of the things you guys did.

I appreciate the help!