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Starting a business and wanting to serve as a military aviator

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sevenhelmet

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
Random13 said:
I probably should've re-worded this. I agree with you that this is exactly what the Blues exist for, and that the movies are awesome. I was trying to justsay that I am not completely lost into how this whole military aviation world operates, just used the wrong wording.
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What do you mean you “aren’t completely lost on how this operates”? Did you grow up in a military family or have a sibling in military service? Do you have some flavor of first-hand experience?

Look, I understand the desire to show some kind of pre-existing knowledge. However, you will get a LOT further with the crowd here by saying “Hey I have no clue, but what you guys do seems cool, and I want to be a part of it!” rather than trying to assert some kind of pre-existing knowledge base, and then asking if we think you can run a successful business during OCS. Like, seriously? Tell me you know nothing without telling me you know nothing.

Spoiler alert: you can’t. Give it up now, or find another line of work. OCS, Flight School, and especially your first fleet tour will not lend themselves well to having a “side hustle”. If- by your first shore tour- you are 100% convinced you can handle both, by then you’ll have the knowledge and the experience to go for it. Until then, be all in on the mission you’ve chosen.

If you want to argue the point, then knock yourself out. I wont do any more to dissuade you- life will do the rest.

Over to you.
 
zippy

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
Random13 said:
Hello to all,

First off I apologize if this is not the correct thread to post in. I am currently a college senior, and I am deciding which branch to serve in. My goal is to become a military aviator. No I am not some "hey I saw the Blue Angels documentary, and I think flying blue jets makes me sound/look cool," this is a goal I have done extensive research on since I was a high school sophomore. During my college study, starting a business has been an important goal to me. I have considered pursuing the ANG/AFR as I am aware that I can run a full-out business while serving. Pursuing this route I would be a few years possibly removed from college, as I want to get some civilian ratings as most ANG/AFR units require it. During this time period of graduating college, earning flight time and potentially getting hired at an ANG/AFR unit, I have definitely considered starting my business if my finances can support it. This leads me to three questions/ opinions from you all.

1.) Would it be wise to start a business with the knowledge that becoming a military aviator has serious time commitments be-it ANG/AFR/AD USAF or Naval Aviation?

2.) This is Naval Aviation based, Is it feasible to run a business through OCS, Flight School and the Fleet, if I am a few years removed from college and I already have a business?

A side note: I have also considered going straight from college to Navy OCS provided the opportunity, as I have been in contact with a Navy Recruiter recently.

3.) If I go the straight from college to the Navy route, is it remotely possible to start a business potentially on a shore tour even though currently I aspire to serve as long as Uncle Sam allows?

I want to caveat all that I wrote above by saying if selected into military aviation, my focus is on military aviation above all else (minus family). So I will dedicate myself to the craft as the job dictates.

Any answers are more than welcome
-Random
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Side business with a partner/ hired manager would work post flight school in the ANG. Maybe work in flight school it its internet based.
 
JTS11

JTS11

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
sevenhelmet said:
What do you mean you “aren’t completely lost on how this operates”? Did you grow up in a military family or have a sibling in military service? Do you have some flavor of first-hand experience?

Look, I understand the desire to show some kind of pre-existing knowledge. However, you will get a LOT further with the crowd here by saying “Hey I have no clue, but what you guys do seems cool, and I want to be a part of it!” rather than trying to assert some kind of pre-existing knowledge base, and then asking if we think you can run a successful business during OCS. Like, seriously? Tell me you know nothing without telling me you know nothing.

Spoiler alert: you can’t. Give it up now, or find another line of work. OCS, Flight School, and especially your first fleet tour will not lend themselves well to having a “side hustle”. If- by your first shore tour- you are 100% convinced you can handle both, by then you’ll have the knowledge and the experience to go for it. Until then, be all in on the mission you’ve chosen.

If you want to argue the point, then knock yourself out. I wont do any more to dissuade you- life will do the rest.

Over to you.
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Either plastics or Iraqi dinar could work out as a good side hustle.

I guess that advice is a little dated....maybe OnlyFans?

200w (6).gif
 
phrogdriver

phrogdriver

More humble than you would understand
pilot
Super Moderator
All the dickishness aside, it depends on the business and the timing.

During initial training, absolutely not. Once you're in the fleet, a qualified maybe.

Your business has to be totally asynchronous and also hands off enough that if you lose connectivity for 3 months it won't die, i.e. it'd better be something a spouse or committed partner can pick up the slack on.

Owning a couple rental properties? Maybe. A line of patriotic dildoes delivered via drop-shipping? Perhaps.

Anything that requires live interaction with customers and a set schedule? Nope.

Just ask, "If I'm on a ship 1000 miles from nowhere and they shut off the internet, would I lose a customer?" If yes, you can't run that business while serving.
 
B

Beaker18

New Member
Uncle Fester said:
Well, “a business” covers a lot of potential territory. Are you talking about starting a software company? A line of edible underwear? Hustling crypto? It’s impossible to say if you’d have the time for a venture with no idea of the time and attention commitment it’d require.

Broadly speaking, you will have essentially no spare time during OCS to do anything but OCS shit, and for much of it you’ll have limited to no connectivity. As for flight school, think of it as more like a demanding graduate school. Some guys seemed to have time to spare for outside pursuits, whether that was a side hustle, training for a marathon, whatever. Personally, I had to live in the books when I wasn’t flying. I counted myself lucky if I had free time to hit the gym or grab a beer or see a movie with friends on the weekend.

Since you came looking for advice, my advice is this: during this time of your life, commit yourself to focusing on one pursuit at a time. You’ve got a lot of life left in front of you to make money, but only so many years when becoming a professional military pilot is a realistic option. Trying to multitask is more likely to hurt your chances of success. If you have some spare money along the way, invest it in something that requires little to no attention from you. If and when life gives you some spare time, then start thinking about using the dividends for something.
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^ Well said!
 
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