Military after flightschool

[FlyGirl86]

I have always wanted to join the military. I even tried...but I have a GED and didnt have any college credits at the time so they wouldn't let me. I have always wanted to be a pilot-so right now I am in training. Not even done with my PPL yet, but I am thinking ahead. What are the chances of going into the military after flight trainig and getting a job flying helicopters? A few people have told me that they have tried to do that but were never guaranteed a job flying. There was another thread talking about someone joining the military just to get flight trianing, but they don't hand those slots out to just anyone who wants them. I was just curious if you have more of a chance if you have already been trained or how that works. Thanks in advance for any posts. Happy flying!

[Witch]

Oh don't do it girlfriend. They'll never guarantee a helo job. Other jobs they'll guarantee, but not flying.

 

As ex-military, I can tell you the better route to travel at this juncture is to get a degree and/or commercial. If you're wanting to have a flying career, the military is an area where chances are few unless you have a B.S. in something of went to an acadamy. Then it might be guaranteed.

 

One option if you really want to go G.I. is to consider the National Guard or reserves. Stay away from active duty regular.

 

Later grrlfriend.

[Linc]

I have always wanted to join the military. I even tried...but I have a GED and didnt have any college credits at the time so they wouldn't let me. I have always wanted to be a pilot-so right now I am in training. Not even done with my PPL yet, but I am thinking ahead. What are the chances of going into the military after flight trainig and getting a job flying helicopters? A few people have told me that they have tried to do that but were never guaranteed a job flying. There was another thread talking about someone joining the military just to get flight trianing, but they don't hand those slots out to just anyone who wants them. I was just curious if you have more of a chance if you have already been trained or how that works. Thanks in advance for any posts. Happy flying!

If you had a degree or a portion of at least an associates completed, that would be the way to apply for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training. Still, you could try and if you're a motivated person, you could complete an application for flight school (without enlisting, mind you) and see what your chances really are. Females that go street to seat are rare, and that may work in your favor, but what they really want to see is drive and motivation as well as accomplishment and responsibility; not to mention demonstrated leadership ability. Your PPL wouldn't hurt, but then it's not something you can rely on by itself to get you through.

 

If you look at Guard or Reserve, there are different requirements and you may actually have to enlist before they'll consider you for those programs. I would be careful, though; any recruiter will more than likely try to convince you that you have to enlist to apply for the program. This is absolutely not true for the Active Duty program.

 

P.S. Make sure you are getting something that you actually want before you sign any contract. And, always know what you're signing BEFORE you sign it.

[FlyGirl86]

Thanks for the info guys. I really am considering the Guard or Reserves right now. I will take all of that into consideration. I will stay away from active duty regular. lol. Thanks again!

[FredR]

Thanks for the info guys. I really am considering the Guard or Reserves right now. I will take all of that into consideration. I will stay away from active duty regular. lol. Thanks again!

I'm currently a National Guard UH-60 pilot. When we board potential candidates for flight school, we do look at previous flight training. However, there is no guarantee of being sent to flight school. Flight quotas are becoming harder to come by therefore more competition.

 

On the flip side, there are a lot of incentives (money) to join the National Guard that you could use for civilian flight training and also to get your college degree. I would recommend talking to a local National Guard Recruiter (stay away from the acitve recruiters as they are paid to recruit into the active duty). Also, if you are interested in joining, make a point to visit one of the aviation units in your state and talk to their pilots before making a final decision. I'm not sure what state you are from but if you need some contact numbers let me know. Good luck

[slick1537]

From what I understand in the army warrant officer program you cannot be shuved into a different position. If they accept your warrant packet and they can't put you through flight school, then you are relieved from the army. That is my understanding anyway.

[58driver]

this is not true, if you do put your warrant officer flight packet in then you will get put through flight school. if by some reason you cant complete flight school (say you got hurt, or there was something wrong with your flight physical or whatever the reason.) you would still be a warrant officer and if you are still fit for active duty army, they will find another job for you, perhaps flying the uav or something. but dont worry once your in flight school the chances of you graduating are about 98 percent. i had some people in my class that i cant believe they let have a drivers licsence much less a pilots.

 

another thing active duty recruiters are not out to screw you. it is just easier to enlist you. just be persistent with what you want and you will get it.

[TaIk2Kevin]

A Female From My Recruiting Station Got in to WOFT With a High School diploma and nothing else a month Ago, So it is possible. The only way to know is if you apply.

[zcat]

I'm currently a National Guard UH-60 pilot. When we board potential candidates for flight school, we do look at previous flight training.

Sir,

I see you're in Boise. I just enlisted in the ID ARNG and am getting my WOFT packet put together (I'm prior AD Army). I've talked with a few pilots in the unit, and I'd love to talk with you if you have some time. I sent you a PM as well.

 

Thanks,

z

[500pilot]

I dont know to much about the guard but even though I was never military I learned alot about how the warrant system worked when I flew contract for the army. From what I understand it will be very tough to get excepted into a WOFT program with just a GED. They are really starting to look for at least a Associates degree. They do sometime take some high school to flight school but I maybe saw 10 of those in the 4 years I worked with the army. Most couldnt make it through WOFT. It seems like you need alot of LOR's (letters of recomendation) for the board to even look your way. You also need pretty high scores on the AFAST and ASVAB tests.

 

This being said its always worth a try. If you do want to try find a recruiter that will help put a packet together. Most will try to talk you out of it and try to get you to enlist but if that happens walk the other way and find someone else to help. Most recruiters are lazy and since getting you accepted into warrant doesnt count anymore towards thier recruiting goal than an enlisted person and it takes a whole bunch more work on thier part. Also, you CAN be garounteed flight training. Just make sure before you sign up that if you dont get accepted into flight school you arent commited to the army. Make sure you get it in writing.

 

This being said you should see how it goes in the civilian side. Thier are no shortcuts in this industry to get into a career. Whether you flight instruct or join the military you will have to pay your dues. Just like in the civilian world we gain knowledge and tough it out as an instructor, the military pilot have to really pay thier dues. In peace time they fly maybe 250 hours a year and they are commited to 6 years after flight school. That doesnt include the year in takes to go through flight school. Usually they dont start to really fly until 6-8 months after flight school as they are stuck with tons of additional duties. Can you say assistant to the assisatant S3. Youll be stuck behind a desk just hoping to get a chance to fly as they will take the more senior pilots and get them RL progressed first. I had several freinds that flew just the mins for thier first two years after flight school and they were lucky to get those. They just didnt have any time to fly with all thier duties. Remember in the army your an officer first, soldier second and pilot last.

 

By contrast as a civilian you instruct for a year maybe two and then you can gauruntee a job in a turbine usually starting off around 40grand. Within a couple years flying turbines you should be easlily qualified to fly the IFR and advanced ships. Also there are plenty of other options open in the industry from the gulf, tours, EMS or external load. The options are huge. I also started with the instruction route and since have had the opportunity to do everything from flying tours working as a contractor for the army to firefighting and now I fly a Bell 430. I absolutely love it.

 

Still, I remember when I was at your stage trying see how to pay for training and thinking the same thing about joining the army. I truly wanted to join (and not just for free flight training) but at the timet he army just wasnt accepting many people into flight training. Also all the recruiters told me to go enlisted first if I wanted to fly. I had heard that line of BS before and I just put my nose to the grindstone and worked to pay for my training. I havent regretted it since. Good luck in whatever route you choose to go as it is deffinately worth it in the end.

 

Fly Safe.

[Linc]

500pilot and all,

 

250 hours a year is an overestimation. Attack airframes are required 70 hours every 6 months, cargo and utility are less than that. A PIC may make that 250 hour mark. An Instructor Pilot will definitely make that much time. Everyone else is hoping that the Commander or his designated representative has a clue about how to manage the Aircrew Training Program for flight time.

 

The good/bad news is that for a limited time, every other year (or so) you can gain a large amount of flight time in a relatively short time, all for the small price of exposing yourself to a little hostile fire every now and then. Only you or your loved ones will be able to decide whether that is a bargain (I'm not complaining, mind you, just a realist).

[500pilot]

500pilot and all,

 

250 hours a year is an overestimation. Attack airframes are required 70 hours every 6 months, cargo and utility are less than that. A PIC may make that 250 hour mark. An Instructor Pilot will definitely make that much time. Everyone else is hoping that the Commander or his designated representative has a clue about how to manage the Aircrew Training Program for flight time.

 

The good/bad news is that for a limited time, every other year (or so) you can gain a large amount of flight time in a relatively short time, all for the small price of exposing yourself to a little hostile fire every now and then. Only you or your loved ones will be able to decide whether that is a bargain (I'm not complaining, mind you, just a realist).

 

 

 

Linc, I should have reclarified about time. I do know that they are lucky to get the 250hours. I have freinds that took over two years to make PIC just because they couldnt get the time. Like you said though, the ones in the sand box do get alot of time but even that time is starting to get cut. But that also depends if their warrant or not. The only friend that is flying alot in Iraq right now is the one flying the OH-58. A buddy just got back and only flew 350 hrs in the 60 and another one just 300 in the 64. ( I gues the 64 truly is a hanger queen) Now my friend in the 58 has flown 300 hours since she got there in Aug and the only thing slowing her down is the lack of parts. The 58 has just a much more varied mission profile so its gets the time. Unfortunately if you go to Iraq you also get shot at. I've heard several e-mails about close calls out there and have lost three freinds since the conflict began.

[Linc]

500pilot,

 

Hey, I didn't mean to imply you don't know anything. I just wanted to make sure others didn't get the wrong idea about the flight time they can expect once they join the military.