Prior Service Attending BCT

[ElJay]

Dang, I didn't realize it was that far out. At least you'll have everything ready to go for when you complete law school. It would be tough for me to put that career on hold for another year or two while you finish up flight school.

[mike0331]

Yeah... about a semester into law school I realized I wanted/needed to go back in the reserves. Thought about going back USMC infantry, but c'mon now... Then I realized how doable flying was assuming everything checks out. Now that the end is in sight just starting to get all my ducks in a row, network with pilots, recruiters, etc. I expect the next year and a half of LS to fly by as the course load is lower, I have Fridays off, etc.

I wouldn't be averse to delaying law school if it were the only option, and if there were a war going on I might take a break from it, but at this point it would be easiest to just finish it out and time this towards the end of it. Also, my wife is in Physician Assistant school, her last year is clinical rotations so she won't be around at all anyway that year, and may be able to get some rotations down in AL anyway.

 

Mike

[zack.colorado]

The way I am planning it right now, however, is enlist as a 15(X) late this summer, choose an AIT date almost 2 years out, and then get all the stuff together to board about a year later, which is when I'll be sitting for the bar. I should be meeting with the command during my meet and greet, as well as the training NCO to confirm that I can actually put off AIT that long.

 

Mike

Mike, have you thought about getting your flight physical before enlisting as a 15 series? It would suck to find out that you can't pass the physical for some reason AFTER you've already enlisted.

[mike0331]

So the Guard will not send me for a military flight physical until I'm enlisted. I'm still working another couple avenues, like the ROTC unit at my school, but if I can't make that happen I plan on getting an FAA flight physical prior to enlisting. As I understand it the EKG may not be standard for someone under 35, so I may need to request it.

 

Mike

[jaswhee]

That's a little absurd. There is a girl in my state (IL) who was driven by a recruiter to get her Military Class 1W Flight Physical done and she is non-prior service. But I guess each state is a little different.

[ElJay]

So the Guard will not send me for a military flight physical until I'm enlisted. I'm still working another couple avenues, like the ROTC unit at my school, but if I can't make that happen I plan on getting an FAA flight physical prior to enlisting. As I understand it the EKG may not be standard for someone under 35, so I may need to request it.

 

Mike

I'm not sure if they'd be willing but you could always check to see if an active duty recruiter could set you up with one.

 

I took mine at an ANG base. Maybe call one of those up and tell them your situation and see if they'd be willing to let you go through the process with their airmen.

[mike0331]

The Active duty recruiter who set up a meeting with me told me he wouldn't do anything for me until I was ready commit to active duty, even though I explained I wanted to see if I was even eligible. He said I'd need to stand before a colonel and tell them that even if I'm not eligible for WOFT, I would still enlist in the army. I was trying to explain I can still take the SIFT, flight phys before the board, but he didn't seem interested.

I'm going to continue bother different people between now and the summer. I need to enlist in this unit prior to September to keep my rank. If I am unable to make headway, I'll pay for it out of pocket to at least give myself that little bit of reassurance. Its not the end of the world if I'm stuck in aircraft maintenance for 3 years, but if I can't fly in the army I'd like to go back into the Marine Corps, and I don't want to get stuck in the guard and then age out of the OCS window. The SIFT is the other thing. I know I'll pass it, but I'd like to get it out of the way before MPRE and Bar studying starts to happen... it doesn't look like that'll be the case though as I've had the same radio silence there. On the plus side my ASVAB score apparently is still good for their purposes.

I also was blown off by the ROTC staff at my school that I contacted via email, hoping they could set me up with something. After the holidays I can hopefully make some more headway.

 

Mike

[Dmurray]

You could always tell the active recruiter you want Regular Army. Once you do your physical and take the SIFT you can back out and continue to pursue the guard. The recruiter would probably be a little pissed off but at least you get your stuff done. Just an idea.

[mike0331]

I was being entirely honest with the guy... I said I am leaning Guard at the moment, but I am keeping regular army open as an option. I'd like to see if I am eligible and take the SIFT/Flight Phys and go from there. He said he wouldn't bother/was unable unless I was willing to commit. I know I could just screw him over and play the game and back out, but I'd rather just find someone who's not lazy or actually knows their job to help me out. I've been unimpressed with the recruiters up to now.

 

I'm going try another RS after the holidays.

 

One of the Guard recruiters told me they could do it, but that they wouldn't bother unless I was already enlisted with them. I mean... I don't really know what to say to that haha.

 

Mike

[Dmurray]

Mike,

 

I fully respect the honesty part. That's just good business. Everything feels better when you go that route.

 

However, sometimes you need to play the game to get what you want. Ultimately, it's your life and your career. Keep pushing.

 

Doug

[mike0331]

Oh, the game can and will be played if need be. To be clear, the definitive answer seems to be an active duty recruiter can send me up for both the SIFT and the flight physical with no commitment on my part, correct? Also, as I understand it the 1A flight physical is good for 18 months? This would seem to make it to my benefit to take the physical this summer, so that if they have a year to sit on my packet at the guard unit it'll still be good for when I get to Rucker.

 

Mike

[Dmurray]

You are not committed to anything until you sign a contract.

[mike0331]

Ok, because the last recruiter I talked to was essentially telling me it required a commitment for me to sit for the SIFT and go up for the flight physical. He was either mistaken or didn't want to help me. I figured he wasn't exactly right but I didn't want to get into it with him. I'm going to do some googling, but do you know where the army regulation could be found (or where I should starting looking) that discusses this, just so I can bring it in to a recruiter and go from there?

 

Mike

[Gramps]

http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/prerequ/woft.shtml points to some of the applicable regulations. Technically, you're not even qualified to apply until you've passed the SIFT and have your flight physical stamped by Fort Rucker. Even once you've checked those boxes, there's no commitment. Also, doing an FAA flight physical won't tell you much because a military flight physical is far more thorough and very different.

[jaswhee]

Also, you can't do a Flight Physical with the Air Force. I held a class 3 Flight Physical with the Air Force (Air Guard) as an In-flight Refueling Specialist and was told by the Army I couldn't do a class 1A through the Air Force because the Army has different criteria. So instead of going through my current unit (30 minute drive) I was forced to drive 2 hours west to Ft. Leonard Wood to get an Army Class 1.

[mike0331]

I know they won't count the FAA flight physical, but I thought if I had the full work-up with ECG and chest x-ray (which I think I would need to request) at least I should expect to be able to pass the military one.

 

I'll keep pushing this after the holidays. I'm going to try another recruiting station, and then the ROTC at my school and my alma mater if that doesn't work. I wish I had some friends in army recruiting.

 

Mike

[ElJay]

Also, you can't do a Flight Physical with the Air Force. I held a class 3 Flight Physical with the Air Force (Air Guard) as an In-flight Refueling Specialist and was told by the Army I couldn't do a class 1A through the Air Force because the Army has different criteria. So instead of going through my current unit (30 minute drive) I was forced to drive 2 hours west to Ft. Leonard Wood to get an Army Class 1.

I did everything with the ANG except an examination with army flight physician.

[jaswhee]

I did everything with the ANG except an examination with army flight physician.

That's awesome they let you do that. Wish my WOSM would have allowed me to do this...would have saved me a lot of pain :/

[jaswhee]

Well ladies and gents...tomorrow I ship out to Ft. Jackson for BCT. Going through as an E-6 (prior service AF). I will certainly let everyone know how it goes!

[BlondieB]

You could always tell the active recruiter you want Regular Army. Once you do your physical and take the SIFT you can back out and continue to pursue the guard. The recruiter would probably be a little pissed off but at least you get your stuff done. Just an idea.

 

I am prior service and my recruiter is also trying to tell me the same thing he told Mike, that I have to commit. Did he happen to find the reg?

[Unruh]

On 1/27/2017 at 9:30 PM, BlondieB said:

 

I am prior service and my recruiter is also trying to tell me the same thing he told Mike, that I have to commit. Did he happen to find the reg?

If you all want to join the Army Guard make sure to go to a Army National Guard armory and talk to them not to a normal recruiting center other wise they will push normal Army