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Do most Army soldiers want aviation?


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I knew plenty of pilots who would have loved to IST just not many who actually did the legwork to put in for an IST. They either wanted a better quality of life, wanting to fly a different airframe or just tired of Army policies. All the ones that I knew who were serious about transferring got accepted. Never heard of anyone getting turned down.

 

I made the jump in 1998 from flying in the Army Guard to the Air Guard. For me it was a matter of geography. I was happy in the Army unit, but then I changed civilian jobs and moved 300 mile away. Not a good thing if you are a FAC 1 Aviator.

 

I was 31 years old and an O-3. It took about 9 months, three inches of paperwork and an incredible amount of ass-pain. But, I transferred in time, in grade, in flight status, ACIP time, etc. One day I was in the Army- the next day I was in the Air Force. The key with making that kind of jump in the Reserve system is finding a unit that will accept you, having a great full-time admin staff in the receiving unit and the tenacity of never giving up and keeping copies of everything you submit (yep, the colors of the uniforms and name tags change, but other things stay the same. I had to submit the same form to the same admin type multiple times!!)

 

If you are a WO, then you will need to qualify for commissioning, submit a packet and be boarded the same as if you are civilian and then attend Officer Training School. As a Commissioned Officer, I had to board then once selected, complete the transfer process. Honestly, I was just in the right place at the right time to make it happen. Being a junior O-3 was also a plus..... Any more senior and you will start affecting the promotion rates of those who are already in the unit. The story of my entire 27 year reserve career- dumb luck!

 

The Air Force is definitely a different culture. The quality of life was WAY better. But in retrospect, I think I liked the war-fighting ethos of the Army more.

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I made the jump in 1998 from flying in the Army Guard to the Air Guard. For me it was a matter of geography. I was happy in the Army unit, but then I changed civilian jobs and moved 300 mile away. Not a good thing if you are a FAC 1 Aviator.

 

I was 31 years old and an O-3. It took about 9 months, three inches of paperwork and an incredible amount of ass-pain. But, I transferred in time, in grade, in flight status, ACIP time, etc. One day I was in the Army- the next day I was in the Air Force. The key with making that kind of jump in the Reserve system is finding a unit that will accept you, having a great full-time admin staff in the receiving unit and the tenacity of never giving up and keeping copies of everything you submit (yep, the colors of the uniforms and name tags change, but other things stay the same. I had to submit the same form to the same admin type multiple times!!)

 

If you are a WO, then you will need to qualify for commissioning, submit a packet and be boarded the same as if you are civilian and then attend Officer Training School. As a Commissioned Officer, I had to board then once selected, complete the transfer process. Honestly, I was just in the right place at the right time to make it happen. Being a junior O-3 was also a plus..... Any more senior and you will start affecting the promotion rates of those who are already in the unit. The story of my entire 27 year reserve career- dumb luck!

 

The Air Force is definitely a different culture. The quality of life was WAY better. But in retrospect, I think I liked the war-fighting ethos of the Army more.

 

Same airframe or something different?

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Lindsey

 

AF ISTs are easier regarding the AF Air Guard or AF Reserves. Active duty extremely difficult. The max age for AF active duty flight school is 30 as of today without a waiver. At one time it was 35 for ISTs on active duty, now 30 without a waiver. Warrant Officers must have the degree, complete OTS and be in phase 2 of flight training before the maximum age.

 

If you decide in leaving active duty, you shouldn't have a real problem in going AF Guard/Reserves after entering the private sector again. Of course, you would not need flight school if looking for a UH60 AF slot.

 

The AF is receiving approximately 100 Army UH60A/Ls in replacing their entire UH-1N fleet. The AF will obviously update all the helos to AF standards. I wouldn't be surprised if the AF may have additional requirement for UH60 instructors and/or pilots. If that's the case, the AF can count on Army aviators in making the transfer if needed.

 

Of course, you would look better in a CV-22A. But I know, you're a soldier first and will never transfer.

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From active duty Army, can you make the switch to AF (any component) while still in your initial service obligation? I was under the impression your service obligation HAD to be with the Army, but I've also heard that it's a military obligation, and you're free to transfer between branches as long as you stay in the military.

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From active duty Army, can you make the switch to AF (any component) while still in your initial service obligation? I was under the impression your service obligation HAD to be with the Army, but I've also heard that it's a military obligation, and you're free to transfer between branches as long as you stay in the military.

 

It's up to HRC. You can ask to leave while under an ADSO but if 'they' decide you're too important then you're not going anywhere until the ADSO expires. Generally speaking, transferring between branches on active duty is ridiculously difficult and rare as has been mentioned above.

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Im still trying to get a warrant letter, i was thinking about calling up a unit in my area to get one but right now i at least do have 3 letters....i got one from my moms friend who used to be a apastor and knew me as a kid so i figure the more letters the better. But really want to get a warrant

 

and btw my pt is up to 233

Edited by Shindig
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Im still trying to get a warrant letter, i was thinking about calling up a unit in my area to get one but right now i at least do have 3 letters....i got one from my moms friend who used to be a apastor and knew me as a kid so i figure the more letters the better. But really want to get a warrant

 

and btw my pt is up to 233

 

Are you taking an actual APFT, or are you just doing it yourself with the PT?

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Are you taking an actual APFT, or are you just doing it yourself with the PT?

 

no im taking real pt test...i usually take it with other recruits on tues or thurs ...i'm over 30 on pushups finally that was hard get over that hump for some reason the running ive always been pretty good and situps ive improved a lot

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Keep up the hard work. Don't quit.

 

thanks i do my b board on the 8th ...and kind of nervous bc ive never really had a real interview in my life even before i was hired for p office ...for that they just asked me a few questions and then just some friendly talk and that was it

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no im taking real pt test...i usually take it with other recruits on tues or thurs ...i'm over 30 on pushups finally that was hard get over that hump for some reason the running ive always been pretty good and situps ive improved a lot

 

How are you getting a 233 APFT when you are not even doing the minimum number of push ups. If you are just doing above 30, you are not passing the APFT. So, No, your not taking the real APFT, but they story is getting better.

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I thought of that but he already established the character as male when he had that profile pick of the skinny kid in a basketball jersey.

 

Would be an interesting plot twist though.

 

its fine trade think what you want but its getting kind of old imho

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Actually shindig. You failed the PT test. I'm sorry your grader didn't tell you the real deal but here goes...

 

In order for you to get a passing score you need AT LEAST 60 points in each event not just a 180 score at the end...

 

I'll give you the benefit of doubt and assume you got 39 push-ups... You said over thirty, not forty so 39 would be a HUGE assumption. According to my charting ability, you would have to be over age 37 to have passed with that score on push-ups. You are not 37. You fail. TERMINATED!!!

Edited by Yamer
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thanks i do my b board on the 8th ...and kind of nervous bc ive never really had a real interview in my life even before i was hired for p office ...for that they just asked me a few questions and then just some friendly talk and that was it

How did it go? Details please.

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no my recruiter told me a minm of 180 so i dont know but i will look into it....and for the batt interview they canceled it...not me but they so i have to go in early oct sometime

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