Questions about the Air Force

[adam_jorgensen]

Here's my situation. I'm taking my privates right now, than after probably going for the additional ratings. Then I was thinking of getting a diploma in aviation while hopefully flying at the same time. Then hoping to fly bush or something to get allot of hours.
I'm not leaving out the option for me of joining the military to accumulate flying experience so that I can fly for a major some day or something like that. I just have a few questions about it.

First, what is this I hear that the air force actually requires a degree? Why would they require one? That doesn't make sense. They won't get allot of people singing up if that were true. Don't they train you any way? Do you get a degree through the air force?

Second, is the air force good for building time? I have heard stories that it is not good for building time. If I were in the air force for 10 years, how much time could I build? The thing is then, how come the majors want military guys more over the civilian even if the military guys have less hours? Would the majors take an air force pilot sooner then the required number of hours needed to fly for them? Is it because your mostly PIC in a jet turbine plane and that to them makes up for the less number of hours you have?

Third, I keep hearing stories about how some people join the air force hoping to fly and then they don't even get to touch a plane for a really long time. I wouldn't want this to happen. Plus, you don't get your choice of plane to fly. I would love to fly the F-18 hornet but what does it take to fly that plane? I heard that you have to have top grades in school and all this other know it all stuff that I probably don't have.

Fourth, and this is probably the biggest reason I wouldn't join the air force, is that I don't think I'm air force material. Medically I am. I have better than 20/20 vision and 0 health problems according to my civil aviation medical examiner, but that's not what I mean. I guess you can put it as I'm more of a civilian type guy and kinda a sissy in amongst all those rough type military guys, I wouldn't last a day. I know a couple of retired air force pilots and they say that actually the air force guys are really professional and are not all that rough and mean. I just don't want to be in a crowd of swearing, drinking, gross humour apes. I just don't like being in an environment like that and then your an outsider not making any friends because your not like them. What are allot of people like in the air force?

Number 5, what is a good age to join the air force so that by the time your 30 years old, you are a shoe in for the majors? Right now, I'm 17 years old and I hope that in 13 years at least, I can accomplish this dream.

And last, being far away from home, putting your life on the line, the commitment I just don't know if I'm up to it. I really want to fly for a major airline someday maybe even somebody like UPS or FedEx but is this a good reason to go to the military? Just so that it makes it easier for you to be hired by these guys even though your doing it the way you don't really want to? I just don't know what to do. I feel allot of pressure to go but I'm not so sure I would make it or would enjoy it. I wouldn't have to pay for anything and that would be great because I'm trying to figure how the heck I'm going to pay for collage and flight training at the same time. I don't know if it would be worth it or not. Decisions, decisions. I just can't make up my mind. I know I want to fly for a living. I just want to make it easier on myself the day I apply for a major airline. What I don't want to happen is waiting and waiting and not get any kind of indication that your going to be hired. I have to put up with that too much right now.

By the way, I don't know if any body here goes to the Canadian air force because that is where I would go because I live in Canada. Not sure if both air forces are the same or not.

 

[Toro]

First, what is this I hear that the air force actually requires a degree? Why would they require one? That doesn't make sense. They won't get allot of people singing up if that were true. Don't they train you any way? Do you get a degree through the air force?

You have to have a degree to be commissioned as an officer, whether you did ROTC while you went to college or got your degree through OTS. The other option to "get your degree through the Air Force" would be to go to the Air Force Academy. You think they won't get a lot of people signing up by requiring a degree? Seen the line of guys who get turned away for pilot slots? You don't need a degree to enlist in the Air Force, but the officers are in charge of the Air Force and are held to a higher standard. Those who stay in for the long haul are eventually required to continue to a master's degree.

Second, is the air force good for building time? If I were in the air force for 10 years, how much time could I build?

Do NOT join the military to build time. Join the military and apply for a pilot slot if the lifestyle suits you and you enjoy flying military aircraft. You're in for at least a ten year commitment from the day you graduate pilot training and if you're not down with the lifestyle, you're scewed. As far as building time, it's all going to depend on what and where you fly. Tankers flying daily 3-4 hour sorties are obviously going to rack up hours a lot faster than the Viper guy who has to declare emergency fuel if he tries to fly longer than a 1.0.

Third, I keep hearing stories about how some people join the air force hoping to fly and then they don't even get to touch a plane for a really long time.

Well, unless you go straight from your graduation to pilot training, which is rare, you'll have a delay before you start training. Most guys serve on a 'casual status' while waiting for UPT.

Plus, you don't get your choice of plane to fly. I would love to fly the F-18 hornet but what does it take to fly that plane? I heard that you have to have top grades in school and all this other know it all stuff that I probably don't have

Well, for one, it would require that you join the Navy since the Air Force doesn't have Hornets. Fighters in the Air Force are F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s. You have to have good grades and tests scores in school, but you don't have to be a valedictorian or rocket scientist. Your average joe with a good cranium on his shoulders can get into pilot training if he works hard enough.

I don't think I'm air force material. I'm more of a civilian type guy and kinda a sissy in amongst all those rough type military guys, I wouldn't last a day. I just don't want to be in a crowd of swearing, drinking, gross humour apes. What are allot of people like in the air force?

If you don't think you're military material then definitely don't join, but it sounds like you've got the wrong impression of Air Force pilots. Yes, we drink sometimes and most of us enjoy dirty jokes - but we're not a bunch of baboons puking and drooling all over ourselves. There are more than enough pilots out there who don't drink, don't party, and some that don't even swear. People in the Air Force are people, so you're going to get a pretty standard percentages of all types of groups - different religions, ethnic backgrounds, etc.

what is a good age to join the air force so that by the time your 30 years old, you are a shoe in for the majors?

Impossible. To become a pilot, you must be commissioned. To be commissioned, you must have graduated from college. To do that, you'd be at least 21. Even if you went straight from your commissioning to pilot training and graduated a year later, you'd be 22 with a ten year commitment - you're not getting out until you're 32.

I really want to fly for a major airline someday maybe even somebody like UPS or FedEx but is this a good reason to go to the military?

You should not join the military. Do you realize that when you are flying for the military you could DIE doing your job? It sounds like you resent just about every aspect of the military - from the people in it to the demands that the job will place on you. The Air Force is not a stepladder to your civilian flying job and it's definitely not a quick and easy way to build time. Side note, I'm an idiot for missing the very last sentence in your post until just now, so I don't know how much of this applies to the Canadian Air Force in terms of pilot training commitment, but the rest should be fairly similar. But you even say that your dream is to fly for the majors, not to fly an Air Force aircraft. You need to take a different route, the Air Force isn't for youl.

 

[Kaman]

Hello,
I second everything that "TORO" say's in his post in regards to rationalizing the whys or why nots of becoming a military aviator.
The military IS NOT for those faint of heart, spirit or total and I mean TOTAL dedication. I know it sounds really corny, but as the old saying goes, service before self. Look, I wasn't a pilot in the military, but I flew 4000 hours as an enlisted flight crewmember and if I knew I was flying with a "time-builder". Well, this type of individual would get the cold shoulder. Fortunately, this type of individual is few and far between. And, don't get me wrong there isn't a thing in the world with looking beyond the service for a post-military career. We all talked about that, both officer and enlisted alike. In fact, it made for some great conversation during the endless hours of boredom droning in "Starboard Delta" while flying plane guard.
If you want to join the service to mature, learn leadership skills, make lifetime friends, see the world, and yes serve our great country. Then I think you shold call your local officer recruiter and get all the information you can about the various flight programs that all the branches offer. Don't forget the the Marines and Coast Guard also fly airplanes and helicopters.

Regards,

ex-Navy rotorhead

 

[Zulu]

- but we're not a bunch of baboons puking and drooling all over ourselves.

You must have never seen any of my squadrons then

Z -- Senior Ape in the Baboon Cage

 

[CCDiscoB]

Toro, you did a good job responding. I would have been less restrained, but I'm working on trying to make my responses more positive.

I can't imagine why the AF wants pilots with an education, except maybe so they can spell. I'd be will to bet that FedEx and UPS have spelling high on their list too. Oops, there I go again.

 

[HoursHore]

Where's the old CCdiscoB

I liked the old CCdiscoB who rained on everybody's parade. Where's the reality check now?

 

[BoDEAN]

Great Post.
Great Advice.


Two questions:

If one talks to a recruiter, are they able to tell you if you can quality to fly in the military? I wouldn't want to have goals and hopes of flying and building hours in the military, then get in, and they don't let me fly (I have my ratings and low hours, and an aviation degree) and be in the military for 10 yrs, and not be able to do what I love, fly and build hours and experience.

Second question: Are there any NEW pilots in the military that just got out of college with some flight experience? Would love to hear what they think just starting out.

 

[Abe_Froman]

I wouldn't want to have goals and hopes of flying and building hours in the military, then get in, and they don't let me fly (I have my ratings and low hours, and an aviation degree) and be in the military for 10 yrs, and not be able to do what I love, fly and build hours and experience.

First of all, I won't even touch the fact that you have an "aviation degree".

Secondly, so what you're saying is that one of your reasons to join the military is "to build hours"? You'd better rethink about your priorities. You just might be living in a tent in Kerplakistan some day defending your country. Now, there's nothing wrong with deciding that you might not want to make a career out of the military, but please don't join to "build hours".

Say something nice, like, "I want to serve my country", or "I'd like to travel to strange and exotic lands and bomb them into the stone age", or even "girls like a guy in uniform". These are all perfectly acceptable.

 

[Draginass]

Adam -
Military flying is not for you. Join the military because you want to serve your country, not to serve yourself. In the military, you're a leader and officer FIRST, and a pilot second. Given your apathy towards education, you'd be wasting you time even applying. Competition for pilots slots is keen, and very good grades, leadership skills, ambition, etc are a just a starting point. And, BTW, getting an interview with a major airline almost always requires a college degree, plus a bunch of experience . . . . which is why they prefer military trained pilots.