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Joining Air Force?

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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
I'm really considering joining the Air National Guard. A lot of factors are going into it, and I'm pretty sure once I graduate college in a year I'm going in as an officer. Anyone have any advice/family in the guard? Anyone here in the Air Force? I know a few members are, and I've talked to some. I want to fly for a living, and I feel that going in reserves is great because if i decide I like commercial better, the reserves is part time, and if i like the military, I can make it full time. Advice/Thoughts?
Aug 9 2011 12:08AM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
First
Aug 9 2011 12:10AM
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garret.
Posts: 1173 - Karma: 585
in between first and third...
Aug 9 2011 12:11AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Why are you guys calling first? This isn't going to be an epic thread, I'm just trying to get info from anyone that is in the ANG or Air Force.
Aug 9 2011 12:13AM
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[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 117
ew you're gross
Aug 9 2011 12:13AM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
Im conflicted on which side to tell you to go to, and i was too lazy to decide/explain...

sooooo i said first
Aug 9 2011 12:18AM
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the~muffin~man
Posts: 364 - Karma: 76
If you want to fly for a living don't go to there airforce it's vary unlikely you will be one of the pilots.
Aug 9 2011 12:20AM
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zakaroo
Posts: 751 - Karma: 37
My cousin just got stationed in Qatar and flies C17s (pictured below). She loves it. She has many thousand flight hours so far.
Click for larger image
Aug 9 2011 12:23AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
If I go into the guard, I can go in as a pilot (officer) so I'm guaranteed to fly. When I apply, I apply to fly, and if I don't make it in as a pilot, I have no other commitment to do a different job. That's why I'm really tempted
Aug 9 2011 12:23AM
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LDV
Posts: 516 - Karma: 25
I don't know much about the American Air Force but in the Canadian Air Force if you even make it there is a chance you could be stuck doing accident investigation or various other desk jobs.
Aug 9 2011 12:40AM
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[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 117
Are you sure you're like, mentally qualified for that job?
Aug 9 2011 12:41AM
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eljusto.
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 457
Are you sure you're like, not supposed to be in bed?
Aug 9 2011 12:51AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
That's awesome! The unit I'm looking at joining flys c-130's that have skis as landing gear, since they fly to Antarctica!

How did she join? After college?
Aug 9 2011 12:57AM
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poptarts4life
Posts: 376 - Karma: 12
Just wondering but are you going to do OTS? That shit can be hard to get into. But besides that I would do it if I were you. If I remember correctly it's only one weekend a month plus you have to put in two weeks during the summer. Too me that doesn't sound to bad, the advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages. I have alot of aunts, uncles and cousins in the air force or were in it, they all said it was worth it. I too am strongly considering doing air guard or going active.
Aug 9 2011 12:58AM
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
National guard is sick and a very patriotic thing to be a part of but have you considered maybe enlisting for 4 years in one of the branches? You'll still get school payed for and you'll be done with it in 4 years with so many more job opportunities. My dad was a career officer and got to be a colonel in the air force. I have a deep love for our armed services and if you choose to become a memeber of the national guard then fuck yeah thank you for what you plan on doing. But definitely take a look into some other branches you may find something better or more interesting for you than the guard.
Aug 9 2011 12:59AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Yea, I plan on OTS. I have decent grades, and enough credentials where according to whom I've talked to so far, I should be fine. I'm considering applying to every Air Guard in the country for a pilot spot, and see which ones offer me it, and then choose from there.

And yea, it's one weekend a month then 2-4 weeks over the summer (min is 2, but being a pilot, I'll fly to Antarctica if I go in my local, and then it might be more than 2 weeks). I know two people that are in my local unit, and they joined before finishing college, and are finishing up now. They love it, they just wish they got college done first. They are trying to make it full time, and right now they are each working for about 2 weeks each month, so in between full and part.
Aug 9 2011 1:14AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
I have looked into all branches. I've talked to recruiters from each branch, along with active duty members, and retired members. From where I am in school, and what I want to achieve, I think the Guard is the way to go, and if I fall in love with it, I can make it full time. I've looked into all branches, and my second choice is marines. Why? Because they have a pilot program that guarantees you fly. My biggest concern though is it's a longer commitment (which doesn't really bother me, 10 years roughly with training) but what bothers me is after you fly for a few years, anywhere from 2-5, then you fly less, and lead ground squads or do a desk job. Not what I'm looking for. With the guard, since it's part time, I'm flying when I'm with them. If I make it full time, I might get a desk job, but it's my choice, so really, I like the flexibility I guess.
Aug 9 2011 1:18AM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
my sister is in the air force reserves and her husband is active military (brother in law is lieutenant colonel and she is a major) and they absolutely had the life (when both of them arent over in the middle east). For the last few years whenever they have been home they have just sailed pretty much every day and then went in to train people a couple days a month, while still getting paid extremely well. He now works at the pentagon and theyre making bank. You can definitely make something out of the military so id say go for it
Aug 9 2011 2:34AM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6196 - Karma: 2,302
a couple things, the guy above that said his friend is in Qatar, that is like the 5 star hotel of military bases.

And ECB, just because you graduate college, you still have to go to office canidate school. which is another 8 weeks or so of bt.

But i would say go for it, im planing on joining the marines next year, only for 4 years so i can get my g.i. bill paid for. but their are so many advantages for being in the military. alot of your bills are paid for.
Aug 9 2011 2:53AM
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ski-or-die
Posts: 770 - Karma: 17
 do it.
Aug 9 2011 3:04AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Actually, for being a pilot, the training is longer than 8 weeks. It depends on what I'm flying, and how many hours I go in with and stuff like that, but it will be a few months.

What I meant with part time was after training its part time, which I like because if I join the Air Force (not guard) or Marines, I'm in for 10-12 years full time, and if I don't like it, I'm fucked. At least with the guard, if i dont like it, it's only one weekend a month.

What are you going to do in the marines? And yea, I wish I knew I wanted this before, because the GI Bill would have been very nice, but I didn't decide until half way done with college......
Aug 9 2011 7:43AM
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tds103
Posts: 679 - Karma: 74
if you really want to fly, you would be better off going into the navy.
Aug 9 2011 8:37AM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
im trying to think of how to make a joke here, but this actually seems to be a serious thread....
Aug 9 2011 8:44AM
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Petersaurusrex
Posts: 1380 - Karma: 80
Definately do it. My cousin was in the ANG and you rack up so many flight hours that whenever you decide to call it quits with the force you can pretty much work as a pilot for any airline.
Aug 9 2011 8:49AM
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chocolatemilk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11

If you've only talked to recruiters, they may have given you an unrealistically optimistic outlook on your chances.  Getting picked up for a Guard pilot slot is VERY difficult and competitive.  It's viewed by many active duty guys as a dream job once their commitment is up.  I'm active duty Navy, so I can't tell you a whole lot about the Guard side, and I know they do take some pilots straight out of OTS, but it is rare and your chances are not good without any prior experience.

Also, it is possible to get a flight contract from the Navy if you're going by the OCS route - you can apply only for a pilot slot and then if you're picked up by the board you will go in as a pilot.  (If you go in by NROTC or the Academy, you have a service obligation regardless of what you select). 

Keep in mind that in an economy like this, a lot of people are trying to get in, so getting a commission is going to be highly competitive in itself, and aviation probably significantly moreso.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try if it's what you want.

Aug 9 2011 8:51AM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6196 - Karma: 2,302
oh, i forgot you wanted to be a pilot. ya, for a pilot it is an automatic 10 years. 4 years of training, ( my buddy is on his third.)

another one of my buddies in the marines is a machine gunner on tanks/humvees so i think i might do that or mortar team. but i really want to be a sniper, i talked to a marine on my army base in germany and he was given me all the goods and bads about it.

and once im out, im going to go into law of some sort. maybe police officer.


Aug 10 2011 1:54PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Nice man!

Yea, the whole 14 years full time with no chance of backing out if I don't like it is sort of meh

Aug 10 2011 2:19PM
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chocolatemilk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11
That's not exactly accurate - in the Navy and Marine Corps at least, the service obligation for pilots is 8 years after getting your wings (6 for Marine helicopter pilots).  How long it takes to earn your wings depends mostly on what you end up flying - helo and heavy pilots can easily be done in less than 2 years, jet guys can expect at least 6 months or so longer.
Aug 10 2011 4:31PM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6196 - Karma: 2,302
hes doing air force, air force is 10 years
Aug 10 2011 7:39PM
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yeahno
Posts: 4008 - Karma: 3,414
marines or gtfo
Aug 10 2011 7:48PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
*maybe haha

I'm going to try for guard pilot, and see what happens, if i cant get a pilot spot then i'm about 50 percent set on airforce, 25 percent on a different branch and 25 on no branch, just flying commercial
Aug 10 2011 9:18PM
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sheepsrus
Posts: 50 - Karma: 10
First off, if you decide to do it, best of luck to you.

OTS slots are few and far between, you gotta be pretty damn high speed to get one.

I can't speak for the commissioned side of things, but the active duty lifestyle is pretty far from glamorous; know that when you deploy, chances are you're gonna hate life.

And to whoever said Qatar is the 5-star retreat of the military, have you ever spent any time there?  Sure it's better than a lot of places, but I have zero idea what you're talking about.
Aug 10 2011 9:20PM
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wesley.
Posts: 6483 - Karma: 1,049
Ignorant comment. He could be serving out country soon and you leave this for him... ECB is as legit as it gets all joking aside.
Aug 10 2011 9:20PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Thanks man, he was probably just cranky because it was late at night.

Seriously though, I do think I'm mentally ready, and physically ready. On the internet, sure, I post dumb shit. This is the internet. Mentally outside of the internet I am all there.
Aug 10 2011 9:51PM
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chocolatemilk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11
The commitment might be 10 years, I don't know, but the training definitely isn't 4 years.  You're probably looking at a little over a year from starting preflight to wings.  After that, there's definitely more training (fighter types spend a few months doing more tactical stuff in the T-38 in IFF, and then about 9ish months learning their fleet jets), but your commitment is counting down.  So even if the commitment is 10 years, you're looking at more like 11 years total, not 14.  Not a huge difference, but not entirely insignificant.
Aug 10 2011 9:55PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Either way, 14 or 11, it's full time, and if I don't like it, I'm screwed.

I believe the recruiter told me it depends on the type of jet I fly. For example, a fighter jet will have a much longer training time than flying say cargo. Also, I'd have to go to officer training along with flight training. From what the recruiter told me, it's about 2 years. I know you guys are arguing haha, but it really depends on what, where, when, what you have, really anything and everything. I think. haha
Aug 10 2011 10:00PM
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BILL.COSBY
Posts: 292 - Karma: 5
lol i get it. 2nd cousin.

but really flying some shit like a c-17 would be the pinnacle of awesome for me. just looking at pictures of those epic huge planes gets me giddy.

i was at a crosscountry meet near the airport and 3 government c-17s flew right over where we were. they're so fucking huge and cool. one of them fucked up the landing so it had to take a lap and come back around
Aug 10 2011 10:00PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
But what about selena? When you guys are together, and you go away, she might cheat on you! O:

But seriously man do it, my friend has been telling me all about it. He said that its an awesome way of seeing the world, getting paid, and serving your country!
Aug 10 2011 10:00PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
aka a go-around

where i fly out of now, the c-130's are always practicing this!
Aug 10 2011 10:01PM
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chocolatemilk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11
Fair enough.  And it's true that fighter training takes way longer than anything else, but in the Air Force, you all wing at about the same point and all that extra training takes place while clock is ticking already.  Different story in Naval aviation, but that's how the AF does it.

But you're right, when it comes to timelines, etc., it does depend on pretty much everything, virtually none of it within your control.
Aug 10 2011 10:04PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Yea, which is why I'm trying for the guard.

Training will be full time, then duty will be part time, unless I want to make it full time, and I think while I'm young I'll try to do as many missions as possible, but as I get older, I'll probably do less and less, and more work elsewhere like flying commercially, but then again, who knows!
Aug 10 2011 10:07PM
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chocolatemilk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11
Well, it's not really like you get much control over how much you fly and when.  And even if you can get a Guard job, which is very difficult, you're not going to build much in the way of hours there...which is going to make getting a civilian flying job pretty tough.

Flying Guard could be pretty cool, but it's much easier for prior active duty guys to get into, and even then it's not easy.
Aug 10 2011 10:12PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Well I plan on going into the guard if i get in with already at least 100 hours....

But the people I know in the guard actually get to choose how much they wanna go.....I think it depends on the unit you are in though, we'll see. I just want to fly for a living, guard, air force, commercial, cargo, corporate, crop dusting, whatever, just fly! And if I can fly and serve my country, then why not?
Aug 10 2011 10:15PM
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chocolatemilk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11
Nothing wrong with that.  Good luck man.
Aug 10 2011 10:30PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Thanks man!
Aug 10 2011 10:31PM
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b.dwyre
Posts: 95 - Karma: 10
I've got nothing better to do, so here's a long post. A lot of my family has history in the Air Force and Air National Guard. My dad's father was in the Air Force. I never got to meet him, but my dad told me some pretty cool stories about him, such as being a gunner on some big plane that I forget the name of. R.I.P. My mom's uncle, so my great uncle (sounds pretty distant, but we're pretty close) was also in the Air Force. I forget what he flew, but I've some awesome stories from him as well. My great uncle had 9 kids, 8 of which were boys. Three became pilots. One has always been commercial, but the other two were a set of twins. They both went into the Air Force and flew F-4 jets. I never met the one because his plane crashed during training exercises. R.I.P. His twin brother went to commercial and then back in the guard. He worked his way up to Col. and was involved in some unmanned drone activity. I even heard a story that dropped a bomb on some insurgents planting an I.E.D. ('Merica, FUCK YEAH). He was probably one of the biggest inspiration in my life so far. One night, he got drunk at the base's bar, and he hit a pole on the way home and passed away. Obviously a stupid decision on his part, but it doesn't damage my memory of him. R.I.P. So don't be deterred by some of the tragedy in my life, DO IT. Some of the most amazing people in my life were/are in the Air Force or Guard. Plus, pilots are some of the most badass people ever, just watch Top Gun. Sorry for rambling, I got a little choked up at the end, but whatever. Join the Air Force/Air Guard.

/long and saddish post

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Aug 11 2011 12:11AM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
Does don't ask don't tell apply to cousins?
Aug 11 2011 12:22AM
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Sam.Carson
Posts: 2884 - Karma: 33
thats sad but awsome how that one guy made it to colonel and fucked shit up.
Aug 11 2011 12:25AM
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Sam.Carson
Posts: 2884 - Karma: 33
and by fucked shit up i mean in a good way like taking out the insurgents.
Aug 11 2011 12:26AM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
ooh that is tempting, what was your major in college?

Aug 11 2011 12:27AM
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