Reserve Pilot?

[AV8TR28]

Just turned 28, I have a successful career as a industrial designer/engineer.
I Absolutely love flying. Always have and will. I dream about doing it as a profession on a daily basis. Considering applying (if possible) to be a reserve pilot. I believe i have a good skill set to be a military pilot (PPL,master scuba diver, AFF skydiver, masters degree, management exp.) A few questions, can i still apply? What type of commitment do i have to make? Is it a difficult transition from an established civilian life? Is it difficult to return to a civilian life after becoming a mil. pilot? Appreciate any input, i believe i only have a small window to make this happen - Rick

 

[bssthound]

https://www.afrc.af.mil

1-800-257-1212 for a recruiter.

Also, determine which unit(s) you'd like to fly for. Track down pertinent phone #s and start callin'.

Do a search on this site, also. There's a lot of superb gouge here; great answers for a lot of FAQs.

Best of luck,

BH

 

[freddriver20]

Check out www.baseops.net - click on job listings. Lots of units post their openings there. If you want to cold call units a recruiter should be able to give you a list of units with addresses, numbers, and points of contact.

Keep in mind a minimum of a year and a half to two years for training (more for a fighter), then probably another six months to a year for a "prog tour" - full time with the unit to get seasoned. Its quite a process/commitment, so you definitely have to want it bad. Its also a little tougher to mesh with a 9 to 5 job than an airline job (airlines are very used to mil pilots and usually very accomodating for commitments - your engineering company may not be quite as accomodating).

On the positive side, it can be pretty sweet. Hell, I'm writing this from Germany, where I've had the last few days off (maintenance) and went skiing in Garmisch (Bavarian Alps) one day and to a 150 year old spa in Baden-Baden the next!! Any mil pilot will have reams of similar stories...

 

[MarineGrunt]

If you're serious about doing it, you should get the ball rolling pronto. Max age for UPT is 30, and it takes a while to get hired on with a unit. There are waivers, but I have never heard of a non-prior military guy that had one (not saying it's not possible). Call a recruiter at the above number today, and find out when you can take the AFOQT and BAT/PCSM test. Take those as soon as you can. Start looking for units, both guard and reserve. Search this site for other info. Theres a ton of it.

Start getting your stuff put together and good luck!

 

[AV8TR28]

Thanks

Thanks for the input. I'm getting my stuff together. I have to give this a shot. - Rick

 

[KarmaPolice]

Usually, but not always, a reserve unit will be able to get you to pilot training sooner than a guard unit. I'd agree that your age is going to be your limiting factor because you are very well qualified. I believe you have to finish pilot training before you turn 31.

There's probably reserve units near you. Find the flying squadrons and go in and tell them you want to fly for them. They'll know what to do with you from there. There's probably an interview board, or if you're lucky, they'll just interview you on your own.

Best of luck.

 

[AV8TR28]

Do many military pilots make the transition from rotary wing to fixed wing?
I was told by a recruiter that they had a few open slots for rotary pilots.
Wondering if i should just get on this to get in the "system"

 

[minomatchu]

Your recruiter is full of $hit! It doesn't work that way in the AF and I'm very confident it doesn't work that way in the Navy. The Army might as well be all choppers so who cares. What you get depends SOLELY on how well you do at UPT. If you go guard or reserve you'll fly what they fly no matter what.

Listen, I used to do the hiring at my unit and recuiters are usually morons that could care less about you. Go to baseops.net and look for the job listing link at the bottom right of the page. It will show all units hiring. Don't stope there though because some units don't advertise. Shotgun your app all over and market yourself. Call units close to home and ask to come visit them to hand deliver a resume and cover letter. I wouldn't even mess with a fighter unit, most of them expect you to enlist and be a bomb loader for a while. You obviously don't have time for that crap. Go hit up heavy units, they are easier to get in anyway. Guard and reserve is the way to go! Fastest to UPT and no stress fighting for a T-38. You know where you are going day one.

I don't think there is a finish by age but you have to start UPT prior to the day you turn 30!

Good luck and work hard

 

[Slye]

Rick,
You should definitely look into applying for a Reserve 'unsponsored' slot as well if you're not picky on location and airframe. It's a little harder to get selected but if you do then any base that needs pilot will have the opportunity to pick you up. You basically get approved by the Reserves for a pilot slot w/o any particular unit yet and after you're approved they'll help you find a unit in need. That could be a faster way into UPT.

If you want to fly fighters then for sure apply, although I'll agree it is harder, especially with the BRAC and all. You can apply to heavies and fighters simultaneously obviously so I don't know why you 'wouldn't even mess with a fighter unit' since you're not losing any time by applying to both.

Bottom line, do your research so you know what's up when you talk to a recruiter. Don't let them tell you lies and do something that you don't want to do. Tell them you either want to apply to a particular unit to fly, or apply to the Reserve board as an unsponsored candidate, or both. Good luck!

 

[AV8TR28]

Thanks for the info. Everybody that i contact regarding a pilot slot advised that hiring is now for FY 08, which puts me over the 30 age restriction. I was advised that if I want, ARNG rotary pilot is 32. This seems like the only possiblity if i want to become a military pilot. Then possibly retrain later.
Seems like getting an age waiver is nearly impossible...