Who's in United States Air Force

[M-technik-3]

My unit is laying off folks and hiring. We need 15 pilots in the next 3 years.

[slaterd]

I would definately love to be able to land one of those spots. But I don't think I meet the qualifications for pilot considering I don't have a full bachelor's yet. :(

[Eric]

Wow thanks for the tips guys. I was expecting to get flamed for the old thread. Well being a pilot has always been a dream of mine. As I mentioned, though, aeronautics and spacecraft have also always been a passion of mine. I don't have a degree, however. I'm 22, with what one of you mentioned, pilot isn't looking too good. We did have the airforce and navy come by my highschool, not that this really is important now, were given the asvab and I scored high enough to be considered for cryptologic linquist, nuclear weapons specialist, and aerospace something [98]. ( I don't remember what area of aerospace it was)

Also, is the Air Force seeing any front line infantry? I've heard of the in-lou-of program. Any more enlightenment would be great.

Slate, your all over the map dude. What do you want to do? fly planes, or stare at their bellies as you hold a wrench and they take off over your head?

Front line? hardly. Vehicle ops doing convoys, random comm guys in outposts, or combat camera would be my guess. Most normal AF deployments are 4-6 months at kandahar of bahgram, never leaving the perimeter... unless you become special ops (doubt it, no offense).

The easiest way to become a pilot is to enroll in ROTC if you haven't dropped out of college. if you graduate with a degree and go to OTS, your fighting for a pilots slot (top of the class). ROTC cadets can earn their pilots slot much easier. I think you can wear your flightsuit on drill days... easy way to pull some strange on campus. Becoming an officer after you enlist is very rare, don't listen to your recruiter, he's a salesman.



Take a long hard look at what you want to be in 5-10 years, and look at the paycharts for enlisted vs. officer. I was in your exact mental state at 22.... lots of college credits, no direction, stagnent in my life, etc. Enlisting was a great option for me, but looking back, I wish I had disciplined myself more and finished my degree and at least commissioned.
A ME in civilian world, makes what $55-60k it's first couple of years? Where I live in Colorado springs, and 0-1 makes $53k a year before takes. by the time he makes captian (0-3) at over 4 years, he is making $85k. My commander is pulling in $+120k with less than 20 years service.:crazy: If I bust ass at making rank, I could retire as a Chief, but I'd still make less than a captain with 8 years service. 8 years ago, this didn't matter to me because I needed a change, but now that i'm married with a kid and another on the way, I sure would enjoy the benefits of patience.



I would say it's a less than 1% chance of you becoming a pilot these days if you enlist. All of the jobs you mention are enlisted. Again, I don't know you from the next guy, but you'll probably fail out of the linguist school (80% fail rate), nuke pukes is a terrible boring job, and nothing in the air force has an AFSC with 98 in it. What your recruiter won't tell you is that if you fail at tech school, the AF will put you wherever they need bodies.... So you'll become a cop/services/CE/Ammo or other monkey job.

I have the coolest enlisted job in the air force, pm me if you want a challenge.

[aaron325ix]

What is your job Eric?

I was in POL for 6 years in the Cal ANG. I enlisted entirely for the purpose of becoming a pilot. I grew up in the AF and my dad was an F-4 pilot. His former WSO was the opps support commander at the unit i was in. Then (not so much now) the guard was the best way to get a pilot slot. When i first enlisted my unit was offering 2 slots that year and only 4 guys applied to the board. Those were great odds back in 02. By the time i finished my degree, did well on the AFOQT, and had about 500 hours private time I had my board interview. That was in 06. Problem was, with the airlines going to shit, everyone had caught on to the guard route, and there were now 20 guys including me who were boarding for only one slot, and many of those guys were already commercial pilots. I never got my slot needless to say. On the other hand, the AF did pay for my school and I had a great experience overall. Point is these windows open and close and theres no telling when its going to be good. Only thing I can say is that if you really want to fly, the younger you start the process, the better off you are.

[slaterd]

Challenge accepted. Pm on its way.

[Eric]

What is your job Eric?

That sounds like what I was looking to do back then too. Almost joined the 144th out of fresno and try to get one of their pilot slots, but decided to go AD when a longterm girlfriend and I broke up and I figured I had better changes of being stationed in Germany being active than guard.

I'm a 9S100.

[Albuquerque30]

The most important bit is that the AF isn't the best way to avoid school. Just like others have said. But I don't mind going back to school anyways.

And I'm a 2A551C.

[M-technik-3]

As a drilling reservist I make 43K a year but as we know I fly a lot. Summer months are my busiest time of the year.

As I said awhile back in this thread if you can get your degree go that route. The AD draw down is in effect so the new recruits are subject to downsizing. It's happened to quite a few folks I know.

[aaron325ix]

That sounds like what I was looking to do back then too. Almost joined the 144th out of fresno and try to get one of their pilot slots, but decided to go AD when a longterm girlfriend and I broke up and I figured I had better changes of being stationed in Germany being active than guard.

I'm a 9S100.

Be glad you didn't. I don't know if you heard but they had a big issue recently with pilots double dipping and a lot of guys lost their jobs. Vipers are fun I'm sure, but a lot of those guys are hurting now.


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[LBJefferies]

I am in the process of enlisting in the reserves as 1A2X1 on C-17's. I have been to MEPS, completed my SF86 and I have a Class III scheduled for 2 weeks from now. I already have a college degree but I don't think I am ready to become an Officer. I am hoping to either get a commission after having a few years experience, or using my education benefits to go to law school. I haven't made up my mind yet.

I figure at the very least I will get health benefits and fly around the world. I know I won't regret it.

Just crossing my fingers that they don't find anything abnormal when I get my Class III.

[aaron325ix]

H0lmes is joining the Air Force?!:crazy:

Did you let Blunt know? you should make him go to your graduation from BMT

[G-Man]

I'm retired Air Force. I was converted to BMW's in the early 80's when I was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. I've now owned a BMW consecutively for 32 years, just not the same car. I've been back to Germany several times, last was in 2008 where I was deployed to Stuttgart. It was rough duty but someone had to do it. Just put Germany on your assignment dream sheet and you may get lucky of owning and driving a Euro spec E30 in Europe.

G-Man

[aaron325ix]

I'm retired Air Force. I was converted to BMW's in the early 80's when I was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. I've now owned a BMW consecutively for 32 years, just not the same car. I've been back to Germany several times, last was in 2008 where I was deployed to Stuttgart. It was rough duty but someone had to do it. Just put Germany on your assignment dream sheet and you may get lucky of owning and driving a Euro spec E30 in Europe.

G-Man

I was a kid living in Zweibrucken in the mid 80's. went to Ramstein often. What was your job?

And for the AF newbies, DO NOT be afraid to go over seas for your first duty assignment. I remember dumbasses in Tech school trading in their Aviano, Italy and Germany assignments for Barksdale Louisiana. Dont be that guy.

[M-technik-3]

C-17's are only stationed in the us. Hawaii and alaska have them too but ramstein only has c130's i was considering going back to them but it's a kids airplane and i dont feel likeliving in the aor forever. 2 days and out for me.

[DaButt]

go army