Which is the best branch to get a pilot slot?

[NorthShore]

Since the above posters put it out, I'll have to add; The Army does not respect their aviators like the rest of the services. You will fly helicopters, and that's the extent of the Army committment to you. You're basically a high paid enlisted guy. " A private with a club card" I'm told by some commisioned guys. So, you will get paid less, live in somewhat inferior conditions to the sister services, but you will fly, and it's not nearly the arduous selection process of the AF, Navy, etc. As Yip said, apply to all, and see what turns up.

Oh yeah, good paying helicopter jobs are scarce.

You really think so????

I had the same respect as any officer. Take that as you may I felt I had MORE respect from the enlisted guys as they knew that what I had was attainable to them with some hard work and perseverence. After all, thats where I came from. And now with the CW5 grade and CW4's and 5's being moved into field grade housing, maybe it's not as bad as you make it out.

But to say a "high paid enlisted guy with a club card" seems a little out there, but is HAS been awhile (reference my extensive OV-1 experience). Of course, being in fixed wing, I was spoiled (hence the smell).

 

[NorthShore]

Two words:

Coast Guard

FJ

Extensive over water operations, water rescues, ship landings, and you will always be near the beach.

If you have that rare combination of balls and brains, it's pretty hard to beat.

 

[stearmann4]

NorthShore,

I wasn't necessarily referring to the indiviadual, but more the Army institution, and how it views aviators in comparison to the other services.

 

[Fearless Tower]

If flying is what's most important to you rather than what uniform you wear, I would suggest going Navy. I'm not terribly famililiar with the Army's program, but between the AF and Navy, all things being equal and assuming you have the aptitude, you have a better chance of flying something in the Navy.

To begin with, almost everyone who joins the AF wants to fly while that isn't necessarily the case for the Navy. However both services put out roughly the same number of pilots, so just based on the numbers, you have a higher chance of getting a pilot slot in the Navy. Another advantage of the Navy, is that current Navy manning policy means that if you wash out of flight training for whaterver reason, you are going to get processed out. The days of pilots dropping out and having to complete the full service obligation as surface warfare officers are gone (at least for the moment). Which means that if you drop out, you can at least start looking for a pilot career in the civilian world alot quicker.

 

[Hobit]

Since the above posters put it out, I'll have to add; The Army does not respect their aviators like the rest of the services. You will fly helicopters, and that's the extent of the Army committment to you. You're basically a high paid enlisted guy. " A private with a club card" I'm told by some commisioned guys. So, you will get paid less, live in somewhat inferior conditions to the sister services, but you will fly, and it's not nearly the arduous selection process of the AF, Navy, etc. As Yip said, apply to all, and see what turns up.

Oh yeah, good paying helicopter jobs are scarce.

[FONT=&quot]I have to agree with him. I fondly remember the time I spent in Attack Battalions and the folks I served with. After three years away from the army I still miss the people and aircraft like I left it yesterday. Amazing people and memories! But the Army really misses the mark when it comes to the way they treat people.

I once shut up an air force A-10 pilot up real quick when he complained about having to do a FOD walk on their flight line. I asked him when the last time was that he washed an aircraft. He looked at me like I was kidding. I still don't think I am too good to wash airplanes, but you will do this when you go into the army. I doubt seriously that you will in the AF. I maybe wrong.

Another story, my co-pilot/gunner and I shot the best scores out of the rest of the battalion (~20 other crews) for a gunnery exercise, we had the best written test scores etc ( and bit of luck). As a reward and for recognition, we got the exact same ribbon as the cooks who fed us while we were out in the woods for the week. No, I don't think ribbons are the reason for striving to be the best, nor do I think I am a better person than the cooks. But I spent a LONG time and a whole lot of effort perfecting my skills. I think that flying and fighting a gunship is somewhat more labor intensive than heating prepackaged food. I really didn't want the ribbons but to be given the same thing was a complete slap in the face. Just a small snap shot of the way the army views your aviation service. Yes, these may be small examples but they are indicative of what you’ll see.

Of course when they need an 'officer' for Staff Duty Officer (sit at desk and answer calls for 18 hours and check doors are locked), a report of survey, unit tax adviser, unit urinalysis officer, or what ever other BS job ... guess who gets the call.

Yes the warrant officer rank was good for a few things but it is grossly misused as a crutch in the army system. Warrants are cheaper no matter what line they give, they can’t afford to make all army aviators RLOs’.

If for nothing else, compare the retirement money for a CW4 @ 20 years and a LTC @ 20 years. While on AD, the warrant will have the possibility for bonuses etc to maybe make up some pay shortfall. BUT!!!, your retirement is based on 'Base Pay' not your take home check with BAH, BAS, Flight Pay, Bonus etc. This difference alone makes up a huge amount of money from age ~ 45 – 75+. Do the Math!

Like the others said, Throw applications in with everyone then take a look at what offers you get and choose the best for you.

Whichever path you take, you will look back and be extremely grateful for the chance to serve with the people you will meet. You will also realize that you are a MUCH better person for the experience.

Good Luck and remember that thousands of others have been through the training programs successfully, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!!!! WORK HARD AND BE CONFIDENT!!!!!![/FONT]

 

[Gatorman]

Credibility....

However, you wil fly helicopters alot, and you will wear military wings on your chest which brings a lot of credibility.

lol....and don't forget the prestigious badge you get when you throw a grenade in boot camp ...(raotflmao)

This is too frigg'n funny......

Just reading about northshore and pilotyip.....yea, I am just dying to jump into either one of those branches....Bwhaaaahaaaahaaa.


lol...listen to Falconjet, he is a wise man.

Sorry Falcon, I really do respect your advise to the young man, I just cannot stop laughing about northshore and pilotyip's comments and flamming at eachother.

 

[McGillicutty]

Yeah, lots of bad poop being thrown around here. PilotLevi, this topic has been covered to great length (as already said). Do a search on this board and you'll find much better answers and opinions than the ones you see on this thread.

 

[Benhuntn]

I don't know about training and getting what you asked for... I've been out too long but I do know the AF is the best branch. When we deploy for war the first C-17's and C-5's in country bring beer and air conditioners to make the pilots feel less homesick.

 

[Pistlpetet]

[FONT=&quot]
Another story, my co-pilot/gunner and I shot the best scores out of the rest of the battalion (~20 other crews) for a gunnery exercise, we had the best written test scores etc ( and bit of luck). As a reward and for recognition, we got the exact same ribbon as the cooks who fed us while we were out in the woods for the week. No, I don't think ribbons are the reason for striving to be the best, nor do I think I am a better person than the cooks. But I spent a LONG time and a whole lot of effort perfecting my skills. I think that flying and fighting a gunship is somewhat more labor intensive than heating prepackaged food. I really didn't want the ribbons but to be given the same thing was a complete slap in the face. Just a small snap shot of the way the army views your aviation service. Yes, these may be small examples but they are indicative of what you’ll see.
[/FONT]

Ha! All I got was a Korean Tomahawk! Being #1 is enough of a reward.

I have many USCG friends. They all got their boots muddy before going to the CG so they could enjoy the easier conditions of the CG as a retirement plan. The USCG has its positive things, but you will never be a part of History on a grand scale. You never will be part of an Air War, or Invasion, but that is up to you.

If you are young enough, you can even have two careers. Plenty of Army pilots have become AF, Navy, Marine, and USCG pilots.

I agree with Pilotyip, apply to all you are qualified for (including Guard and Reserve), and see which is the best offer you get. You can only do it once in your life, so don't slack off.

 

[Falconjet]

Ha! All I got was a Korean Tomahawk! Being #1 is enough of a reward.

I have many USCG friends. They all got their boots muddy before going to the CG so they could enjoy the easier conditions of the CG as a retirement plan. The USCG has its positive things, but you will never be a part of History on a grand scale. You never will be part of an Air War, or Invasion, but that is up to you.

If you are young enough, you can even have two careers. Plenty of Army pilots have become AF, Navy, Marine, and USCG pilots.

I agree with Pilotyip, apply to all you are qualified for (including Guard and Reserve), and see which is the best offer you get. You can only do it once in your life, so don't slack off.

Pete: Not to pick too many bones, but that statement is off base in many ways. My first Air Station CO had multiple DFCs from his tours flying rescue missions in Vietnam as a CG helo pilot on an exchange tour with the AF. The Falcon flew in the first Gulf War, tracking the oil in the gulf as it approached the de-salination plants in Kuwait. Two of them deployed over there for several months.

Try telling the helo drivers who pulled thousands of people off of rooftops in Katrina (CG, Navy, AF, Guard, et al) that they are not part of history on a grand scale. There are a lot of ways to make history without blowing things up. The CG is out there every day, and every night saving lives, at war or not. EVERY night.

I flew Falcons on two of the biggest disasters in the 80-90s. I flew up in AK on the Exxon Valdez, tracking the spill in the Sound, the Gulf of Alaska and down the Alaskan Penisula. I also flew on the crash of the Sunset Limited down in Mobile. Two fairly historic events, in my humble opinion.

There is a lot of stuff that the CG does that most people (even in the other services) have no idea about. They do so despite their small size and very limited budget.

I mean no disrespect to warriers of the other Armed Services, I count my blessings that I live in a country protected by the brave men and women in ALL our Armed Services. I just ask folks to be careful making blanket statements about services they might not fully understand.

Peace.

FJ