UPT to Regional?

[Kaman]

RichO,

I'm quite familiar with how the Guard/Reserve works both Navy and Air Force. However, I think you missed the real point of my post. In fact, it sounds more like this young man isn't fully aware or cognizant of what his responsibility is once he completes UPT. Complete training at the RTU or whatever they call it these days, get seat or at least mission qualifed at his unit. THEN he will be ready to find the "regional" job of his dreams. He will more than likely placed on at least 180-days active duty once he gets to his unit for further training. And, in case you missed it, what the heck is doing in the Guard in the first place if wasn't ready to deploy or be placed on active duty...Reality check for all you future Guard/Reservists...It's not a G**D**ned flying club...

 

[MarineGrunt]

You must be smoking crack. Getting man-days from other units? It's difficult enough to get them from your own most times. Best of luck getting another squadron to give up their precious pay periods.

Hey, I'm not the one who brought it up there Sparky....

And Marine Grunt your unit just got back from Turkey,sounds like a nice deployment..

Yeah. I'm kinda out of the loop though, since I'm still in the lovely swamplands of Mississippi.

 

[MarineGrunt]

RichO,

I'm quite familiar with how the Guard/Reserve works both Navy and Air Force. However, I think you missed the real point of my post. In fact, it sounds more like this young man isn't fully aware or cognizant of what his responsibility is once he completes UPT. Complete training at the RTU or whatever they call it these days, get seat or at least mission qualifed at his unit. THEN he will be ready to find the "regional" job of his dreams. He will more than likely placed on at least 180-days active duty once he gets to his unit for further training. And, in case you missed it, what the heck is doing in the Guard in the first place if wasn't ready to deploy or be placed on active duty...Reality check for all you future Guard/Reservists...It's not a G**D**ned flying club...

I fully understand, thank you. And I do bust my a$$ every d@mn day here. I plan on continuing that trend when I get to my unit and as long as I am a member there. Where you are getting this idea that I think this is a flying club, I'm not really sure. I haven't posted anything, anywhere that should give anyone any doubt as to my committment to the guard and my country. I think reasons for wanting to go to a regional airline, have been clearly stated in previous posts. I understand completely what I have to do after UPT and that is exactly why I have to develop a plan for the future now. Do you expect me to wait until the day after I am released from active duty to say... "Ok now what.....?" I think I owe it to my wife and children to have a little game plan.

 

[Kaman]

Hey,

Never intended to question your commitment to either your service or country. I respect anyone that serves in any capacity, it's becoming more and more rare to find selflessness. My comment about the "flying club" mentality stems from the first Gulf War and reports in the media concerning airline pilots recalled to active duty. I was so totally disgusted by their selfish attitudes about not being able to pay their bills on O-4 pay. When you sign on the dotted line you shold fully and I mean FULLY understand it's a commitment that carries a heavy burden.
I grew up as the son of a career USAF officer and pilot. I have had the pleasure of being friends since my childhood with Guard and Reserve pilots. However, these men were from a different era and all had flown combat in Viet Nam. The officers in the media story were all flying in AMC (still "mother MAC" at the time) for the most part. I think that everything possible was done to help these people through the Soldier's and Sailors act. Lets end this part of the discussion by saying that those of us on active duty at the time had no sympathy for reservists.
Anyway, good on you for pursuing your flying both military and civilian. Trust me, the regional jobs will be there for you. And, in your case you will have a better than even chance of getting into a National or Fedex/UPS than your peers with the same credentials.
Once again, nothing personal and I guess some of the discussion struck a deep chord with me.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[RichO]

Kaman, I'm hip to what your saying, but every unit is different....My unit actually didn't give me 180 day orders when I returned years ago....they said, "welcome to bumming....." So, it can be different unit to unit.....I think these guys are just being stretched to a point that they need to consider other options to pay the bills...........now, my second squadron actually did provide me with orders after school....(which is nice...) so it really does depend on the squadron leadership.


PS...I not really trying to bust your chops too much, just maybe present it from someone who has experienced the same questions.....Heck, when I recieved the message from the airline for the interview, a week after it was left, I was overseas....so......anything is possible

 

[c5driver]

Grunt,

I would stick it out with bumming. Their are plenty of ways to make it through. Remember, most dudes in your squadron had to go through the same thing you did. The squadron (no matter where) will always take care of their own. You'll never find that at a regional. PM me if your interested in some of the things I did to make it through the lean years with a family.

5 2 135

 

[Nalo Boy]

Whore!

Nice!!

 

[pony251]

Marine grunt, I have felt your pain. I got furloughed from a regional and sworn in the Guard on the same day. After my transiton course I did a non aviation job and was able to bum enough to pay the bills. However, I had to pay my family's insurance. Now, what does this have to do with you? We have a few Lt's at my unit facing the same predicament you will in a few years. They are wondering if they should try the regional route. Here is what I tell them:
1. Bumming is great if you can get the days. Seems to be a little easier in Heavy world than the fighter world. You will get more experience faster this way. It also pays dividends to get the experience earlier in your career. You will probably get PIC time faster here than in the regionals. Depending upon upgrade times in the civil world. Plus, it is just plain fun to come work for the guard. You will not say this about a regional job. There are usually several little projects around a wing or squadron that have man-days attached to them. See if you can get them. The downside, until congress finalizes the tricare for reservists, you will pay (alot) for health insurance. It is good that you realize the Guard is not there to give you a steady job after seasoning, although depending on the circumstances they might be able to give a tech slot.

2. The regionals are a great place to build (character) part-121 experience. No one else was really hiring a few years ago when I left active duty. While not my first choice, I found that I really learned a lot about civil aviation. In retrospect, it was a very good way to learn the ropes of airline flying. Lots of legs, bad WX, CRM were important things to experience. The regionals also must adhere to the same rules of allowing you Mil Leave that the Majors do. As long as you can get scheduled at your squadron to go fly they have to let you go do it. Since you will make more money doing mil flying, losing the time off your monthly guarantee will not matter much to you. Plus, you get the benefits of insurance, jumpseating, and travel passes. It is also an easy way to get more time at home if you are a commuter.

Now, I am assuming that one day you will try to get on with a major airline. Did my regional experience help me get hired? I don't know for sure, but I would bet that it did. It certainly made the interview and sim eval seem a lot less daunting. Getting my type was much easier because of regional experience. Anyways, food for thought. Hope it helps you some. Semper Fi