New guy intro!

[mattspin]

Hey everyone new to the forum here! Just wanted to pop in and introduce myself, im matt and right now im in the air force seeking to go to flight training when i get home (in afghanistan now). Ive had a silly dream of flying my whole life and finally decided to do it! Super excited about a possible career in this adventure! Any advice?

[Rogue]

Welcome from another zoomie, if you're not sick of military life then you may want to consider Army warrant officer. As you may know helicopters are very expensive and the job market is pretty tight so people say. Do your research and don't ever give a lump sum to any flight school up front.

[rotorwashed]

Hey everyone new to the forum here! Just wanted to pop in and introduce myself, im matt and right now im in the air force seeking to go to flight training when i get home (in afghanistan now). Ive had a silly dream of flying my whole life and finally decided to do it! Super excited about a possible career in this adventure! Any advice?

 

what GI bill are you qualified for?

[mattspin]

i have chapter 30 now (MGIB) i qualify for chapter 33 as well (post 9/11). im scared to do the warrant officer thing im deployed enough as it is and from what i see here the army gets shafted worse than we do any info you guys have on the warrant officer thing? Deployment rates and stuff?

[rotorwashed]

well if you qualify for chapter 33 (and i believe the montgomery works as well, but i have no experience there) theres no need to join the military again. the VA will pay for 100% of your flight training all the way up to CFII as long as you are getting your aviation associates degree at a college or university. basically, as long as the flight training is a required part of the degree program, you wont have any problems.

 

if you dont want to go to college, then it will pay for 60% of your training cost after your pay for your private license yourself....go to college and get your associates, its a way better deal.

[mattspin]

Im in it for the long hall, im a worker by trade, so ill probably end up with an aviation bachelors. I want it all lol, would be nice to make a career out of it. seems like the post 911 is the best bet as i could get more money from it since i plan on a degree program. As for the military im done i wanna fly, tired of being deployed, underappreciated, and overworked. Time to move on! Thanks for the input guys i really appreciate it!

[RagMan]

As for the military im done i wanna fly, tired of being deployed, underappreciated, and overworked. Time to move on! Thanks for the input guys i really appreciate it!

 

The military has a tendency to do that to enlisted personnel. I joined the Army right out of HS and flew as a H-60 flight mechanic for 6 years. Initially I wanted to end up as a Warrant, but overtime I experienced the same things you mentioned; Over worked, under appreciated, put up with too much crap, etc. I discharged as soon as I came back from my second deployment a little over a year ago. Started the Post 9/11 program with a community college and everything has been great so far. Uncle Sam has been paying all of the bills for both the aviation degree and flight training expenses, plus I've been getting the $1200 housing stipend each month which I can't complain about. Just finished my instrument helicopter rating this last week and I'll be starting the commercial program this coming week.

 

Be weary about the Post 9/11 program though, there are going to be some big changes happening this year, around August I believe. The changes are going to mainly effect the private funded systems (ie. the Embry Riddle program), where the annual tuition caps are going to be decreased quite a bit. This will not effect the smaller programs, such as the community colleges. Also, another change happening to the Post 9/11 bill is that you will be able to utilize the benefits strictly towards flight training should you choose. The degree program will still be available however.

[mattspin]

God i wish i could get out and go full time, i screwed up and re-enlisted and got stuck at a worse base than before for another 4 years! it almost seems worth it to go over to the reserves for the rest of my enlistment, and work at mcdonalds to cover the loose ends but got the family to take care of! It would be awesome if i could just use it for flight training hopefully that change comes through. Congrats on the instrument rating man cant wait till i get there i think i have wanted this more than anything im glad we have financing to help us!

[rotorwashed]

Also, another change happening to the Post 9/11 bill is that you will be able to utilize the benefits strictly towards flight training should you choose. The degree program will still be available however.

 

true, but they cap it at $10,000 annually, practically worthless for helicopter training

[Rogue]

Matt, deploying can be a difficult thing. You are talking to a RED HORSE guy, the only people that deploy more than us are the PJs. Is this your first reenlistment ? In other words how close are you to that 20 year prize ? I'm not trying to talk you out of helicopters, however, if there is one regret I have in life it was not joining the military sooner then I did. At my age I would be retired right now !!! just something to think about. Also, since you just reenlisted..... blue to green program maybe a good option for you. Yes, you most likely would still deploy a lot but you would be flying around instead of working all day - like in my case building Kspans in 140 heat. I just hate seeing guys, I'm guessing like you, have 6 - 8 years in just put on Staff or whatever and looking to greener pastures. There is a lot of crap in military don't get me wrong, but there is just as much crap in the civilian world too. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[mattspin]

Thanks for the words man! I have to say that you probably work harder than i do, im just done with it my supervision keeps back dooring us really bad and nobody has our back. I had a bleeding kidney and two fractured shins and they still made me fight my own case to commanders and such (basically no one cared). so i failed and got a referral EPR im done with it. Anyway short rant there sorry! Yeah i got 6 years in this is my first reenlistment just put staff on, my wife is done with it as am i just a series of unfortunate events i guess. I wanna fly always have and if life isnt as good as it was in the military then we are ok with that!

[MadbomberEOD]

Thanks for the words man! I have to say that you probably work harder than i do, im just done with it my supervision keeps back dooring us really bad and nobody has our back. I had a bleeding kidney and two fractured shins and they still made me fight my own case to commanders and such (basically no one cared). so i failed and got a referral EPR im done with it. Anyway short rant there sorry! Yeah i got 6 years in this is my first reenlistment just put staff on, my wife is done with it as am i just a series of unfortunate events i guess. I wanna fly always have and if life isnt as good as it was in the military then we are ok with that!

 

In the same boat. Got out after 8 years and now I'm looking at all the contractor guys (retired) who are getting that extra retirement fund. Getting eye balls fixed and going to give it a shot for warrant. Guard, Active, it matters not.