Introduction

JHart · July 16, 2015

Hi guys,

I've read this site for years but have never registered let alone posted. I retire from the military at the end of the year and am in the early stages of getting a start on my civilian career. I love anything that flies, but helicopters are my true passion. I don't have a bunch of time - a little over 2000 TT; a bit over 1700 being rotor - ATP-H, PVT/INS ASEL.

I have purchased Lyn's e-books on resume writing and mil-civ transition and have recently registered for Heli Success. The books were a great insight for me along with a lot of posts in these forums over the last several years.

Honestly, I've been a little gun-shy posting on some of these forums due to some of the mil-civ posts I've read, but you have to separate the wheat from the chaff, I suppose. While I do not have a huge amount of experience, and know nothing about 135 operations, I feel like I have a solid foundation to learn and grow from and truly look forward to entering the world of civilian ops, gaining experience, and continuing to grow and improve myself as an aviator.

Well that's about it, I guess. Just wanted to say hello and possibly have a few names to put to faces in the fall at Heli Success. I probably won't post much, if at all, here, but I continue to read and appreciate learning from many members' posts as I continue to work my way through this transition.

Jon

Flying Pig · July 17, 2015

The leg up that you will have is that your time is all turbine. You are definitely in the running for tours or the Gulf. Probably a little low for EMS. What area of the country are you looking at ending up? Obviously the biggest issue is that you'll need to go to where the job is. And then... move to the next job. Id start looking at the Gulf. At least your home isnt dictated by where you work. Probably not a bad way to start out. Plus you'll get saturated with the 135 world. Thats an area I have yet to work in.

Spike · July 17, 2015

If you haven’t already, this is recommended reading. With that, don’t just breeze through it. Read it thoroughly, multiple times, and if you adopt it as a personal philosophy, your transition will be less traumatic…..

http://www.justhelicopters.com/ArticlesNews/CommunityArticles/tabid/433/Article/67694/MILITARY-to-Civilian-Flying-Advice-on-making-the-jump.aspx

Edited July 17, 2015 by Spike

JHart · July 18, 2015

Spike - thanks for that link. I believe I read that several years ago, and have read similar commentaries since. Definitely some common themes in all of them; good primers to periodically review to keep my head pointed in the right direction.

Interestingly - or maybe not - the military is now reflective of some of the points in that article (some still fail to realize it). Now that we are cutting loose tens of thousands, no one cares what you have done - how do you currently perform, what is your potential? Good in a lot of respects. The war story comment hits home as well. I currently work with a great story teller - great guy, but BIG stories. Well, after several months, I come to find out the time/experience doesn't really match the stories. Now he wasn't lying, just telling a lot of various stories about a single experience. Kind of setting yourself up in a way. It's definitely personality driven I think - some dudes just love to BS and are pros at it - but generally I've found quality to be inversely proportional to story telling . This guy is a good reminder to me to shut my mouth and focus on what I don't know vs talking about what I do...

FP - thanks as well. Luckily, I have no children, and I've been married long enough that the wife and I aren't bothered too much by separation, so I'm pretty free to follow an opportunity wherever it may lead. A GOM SIC position was, and still is, high on the list, but the way it's looking in O&G, that may not be much of a possibility for me.

kona4breakfast · July 18, 2015

A few thoughts on that article:

I got out after 10 years active. Still in the NG. Nice thing about it is I can turn it up and down, and I'm in a position where they need me more than I need them. There wasn't enough money in the world to keep me active though. If you keep putting off future happiness for present security, your happiness will always reside in the future.

Unions have a place, but why the emphasis on it in the article? Besides, whether they want to admit it or not, the active military is pretty much the biggest union out there. The nterpersonal issues mentioned in the article are due mostly because active mil has better job security than any union can provide. In my year group the only way they were going to kick you out is if they found you with a dead girl or a live boy.

I think the best advice is to go SIC in GOM/EMS, where the XC/Inst/Turbine background will get you a job. You aren't starting back at the bottom, but close. Pretend you're a 2LT, and act accordingly.

Also, if you just like flying IN helicopters, then GOM is great. If you want to get into utility work, you pretty much are starting out in a weird spot. You'll have to make a lot more sacrifices, and work hard to develop the skill set that it requires. Most utility operators will probably rather take someone who has experience in pistons doing utility work than take a risk on you. if you think you might be interested in utility, I'd recommend tours with Coastal or Temsco in AK. Do it before you get spoiled.

The main takeway from the article I agree with:

Expect to make significant sacrifices. If you have a family, hopefully they're on board with that. (i.e.: If you want to get into fires, start talking the the wife now about how awesome it would be to get her CDL). Most active mil guys I know are nowhere near ready to make the sort of sacrifices to work commercially. That goes double for the active guard guys I know

On paper you look more qualified than other entry-level candidates, but you are not. Turbine time is only significant because it shows a company with a lot of skin in the game (which Uncle Same does not have) entrusted you with a lot responsibility. You help bring the insurance rates down, but until you prove that you can work in the civilian world and play nice with your peers, your bosses and the customers, you're an unknown quantity.