Hey guys, have a situation here...

[Carno]

Here's a piece of advice: don't waste money on flight ratings in college if you're going to try to become a military pilot.

I wish I had realized sooner that I wanted to join the military so I wouldn't have sold my soul to creditors just to get said crappy flight ratings. Even if you think you want to be a civilian pilot if you don't make it into the military, it's not worth it. Why get $100K+ in loans only to make $18K a year when you graduate?

 

[Single Seat]

Here's a piece of advice: don't waste money on flight ratings in college if you're going to try to become a military pilot.

I wish I had realized sooner that I wanted to join the military so I wouldn't have sold my soul to creditors just to get said crappy flight ratings. Even if you think you want to be a civilian pilot if you don't make it into the military, it's not worth it. Why get $100K+ in loans only to make $18K a year when you graduate?

+1gadjillion. I was just about to post the same thing.

 

[Cams1215]

I'm sure this has been brought to your attention before, but i'll go ahead and say it again... if you are a junior in HS and you want to be a Naval Aviator, take a look at the Naval Academy.... damn fine education, and you wont have to worry about OCS or BDCP or any of that...

 

[Carno]

^ Yeah that's a good suggestion. Really the only downside is that you have to go to the Naval Academy

 

[Cams1215]

i never said anything about it being a good suggestion.... only a suggestion....

 

[feddoc]

The doctor who diagnosed me with all this took tests, which proved I had no sign of ADD, nor OCD anymore. Although, it's still on my records and everything, which I'm going to discuss with him in like a week or two aboout fixing

"...which proved I had no sign of ADD, nor OCD anymore."
Hopefully that part was documented.

 

[freshy]

Here's a piece of advice: don't waste money on flight ratings in college if you're going to try to become a military pilot.

I wish I had realized sooner that I wanted to join the military so I wouldn't have sold my soul to creditors just to get said crappy flight ratings. Even if you think you want to be a civilian pilot if you don't make it into the military, it's not worth it. Why get $100K+ in loans only to make $18K a year when you graduate?

Prior flight time is a "double edge sword". Meaning...it costs money...but it will also give you some experience and enjoyment.

If you can afford your private and instrument rating I would do it. It's not that expensive for a couple ratings. While it is by no means a must have before flight training....it will definitely help you through primary...and maybe even make the difference between getting qualified for what you want to fly vs. being told you only qualify for "X". (helos)
...ahem... not that there's anything wrong with that....

 

[scoober78]

Prior flight time is a "double edge sword"....blah, blah, blah....it will definitely help you through primary...and maybe even make the difference between getting qualified for what you want to fly vs. being told you only qualify for "X". (helos)
...ahem... not that there's anything wrong with that....

Or...you will light up primary due to all your prior flight time and get told what you are going to fly anyway....Not that it ever happens that way.

Bottom line is...if you want to fly and can afford it, DO IT! Instrument time will likely be the most helpful. If you can't, don't sweat it in the least. It really won't matter if you focus when you are there.

 

[RickRoss27]

Alright guys, I really appreciate the advice... I now have everything figured out.

I'm just going to major in their dispatch/scheduling with the AT-CTI program, so I can become an air traffic controller after college, "if BDCP doesen't give me a contract." If I'm not accepted a contract, I will work as a controller for one or two years while applying to Navy OCS with a guaranteed flight contract. In college, I will just pursue my private and maybe instrument to give me a foundation, so I can know what the hell I'm doing in flight school.

Basically for me, it's military or bust for being a pilot... Honestly, I just wanted the ratings to impress them, do better in flight school "I thought maybe I would of ranked #1 if I was already a regional pilot compared to people who've never been in a cockpit. But you guys obviously don't seem to agree on this.:icon_wink

Also, I was also considering being a Marine through PLC with a guaranteed contract, but I thought it was too risky. First, I would love to be known as a "NAVY, or MARINE" pilot with a big ass tatoo on my back symbolizing a fighter pilot helment. Contrasting this, I don't want to be stuck as a helo pilot, like most of them... For this reason, I don't know what helo pilots do after their career; I need a sense of security, like fixed wing pilots after 10-15 yrs... I know you could maybe a commercial helicopter pilot, but I don't know how competitive that would be.

On the Naval Academy, I know I can't get in... My friend who was a senior last year had a 4.0 GPA, merit scholar, varsity athletics left and right, high SAT, got rejected. Pretty much, that scared me off. I also want to have some fun in college...

Thank you guys so much for giving me some insight, and straightening me up.

 

[puck_11]

Also, I was also considering being a Marine through PLC with a guaranteed contract, but I thought it was too risky. First, I would love to be known as a "NAVY, or MARINE" pilot with a big ass tatoo on my back symbolizing a fighter pilot helment. Contrasting this, I don't want to be stuck as a helo pilot, like most of them... For this reason, I don't know what helo pilots do after their career; I need a sense of security, like fixed wing pilots after 10-15 yrs... I know you could maybe a commercial helicopter pilot, but I don't know how competitive that would be.

Uh what dude?!?! I can't tell if you don't want to be a Marine because they fly helos or because its too risky . Just a heads up, helos make up half of the Navy too, you might get "stuck" flying them. Either way I would avoid getting that big fighter pilot helmet tatooed to your back.

 

[Gatordev]

I don't want to be stuck as a helo pilot, like most of them... For this reason, I don't know what helo pilots do after their career;

So you don't want to do something because you know nothing about it? Think about that one for a sec... As puck said, more than half of the Navy and Marines are helo guys, so chances are good.

There are commercial jobs for helicopter pilots. They tend to be lower paying jobs than what you would have been accustomed to in the military, but not always. There's also lots of government jobs out there depending on how old you are.

Go for what you want in flight school, but understand the "risks," whatever that might mean to you.

 

[MasterBates]

For what its worth, I came into the Navy with a helo ticket already.

I wanted Jets. I got helos. I flew the balls out of the 60B and had a good time doing it for the most part.

I am now back in the training pipeline for E2 and C2's, which was something I never would have thought I wanted to fly in a million years before I got into the Navy.

Just because you have not tasted beer does not mean you will hate it.

Don't diss something you know nothing about. Regardless of what you fly, you will be pushed to your limits as a pilot.. Except maybe if you fly P8s.. Then you will be pushed to the Airline's limits. :icon_smil

 

[corvairdroptop]

For this reason, I don't know what helo pilots do after their career; I need a sense of security, like fixed wing pilots after 10-15 yrs... I know you could maybe a commercial helicopter pilot, but I don't know how competitive that would be.

A sense of security in civil aviation?

On the Naval Academy, I know I can't get in...

If you don't apply, you'll probably be correct.

 

[Swanee]

From my very limited experience:


First thing is first, if you want to be a pilot in the military make sure you explore every option! Every service has their own aviators. The Navy or Marine Corp is not for everyone. Neither is the AF, ANG, Army (Warrant or Officer) or Coast Guard. All have their advantages and disadvantages and while everyone here has their opinions no one can tell you where you will fit in.

As a Junior in High School you are in a better position than I ever was. As a Jr in HS I was convinced that I wanted to be a Lighting and Sound designer for a big Las Vegas show/casino. I found out through college that I wanted absolutely nothing to do with that field of work. So you want to fly. Great! Now, focus on doing well in HS, and go to college where you will study something that you enjoy. Play a sport. join a club, be active and do well. You may find out in college that you want to do something else (Like I did!). Don't drink too much and piss away your freshman year (Like I did!) only to find out you have to take classes over again to graduate (Like I did!).

Then as you progress through your student career and decide that you want to fly for the military still start to get into that lifestyle. Find some Navy guys and buy them a beer. Go pledge an ANG unit. You will learn a lot about a service when you see the guys at work and at play. I don't mean to steer you away from the Navy, only to tell you to expand your horizon so that when you have that decision to make you make the right one.

From what I have seen the service that holds prior flight time in the highest esteem is the ANG.

Oh, and enjoy college! You only get that chance once. And let me tell you that when those 2 chicks from your bio class decide to rock your world at your Luau/bikini/hot tub in January party you will remember it for a long time! Just make sure you go to class at 10am the next day, hangover or not...


Oh, and the balls out coolest guys in the Navy I have ever met is a Helo guy with HCS-4/HSC-84. He is like an older brother to me. Flying Helos is badass and I would much rather do that than fly an F-15 and burn holes in the sky while wondering if my scarf and hair color match my socks...

 

[RickRoss27]

Well guys, good news, got all my medical records together... Although, I CAN'T READ THEM! Doctors have this code, for their patients can't see what the hell they diagnose you with...

Now I have to schedule another appointment, just for him to interpret them to me... doctors only care about $$$

Point, I hate doctors so _________ badly! They are so irresponsible, I know, my dad's a doctor, and I haven't seen or spoken with him in 8 years.:icon_rage