Tarawa565

Would not recommend enlisting to get a pilot slot. Would recommend enlisting if you want to wear your country's uniform, be involved in the airpower business, and continue your career. If you're 27 and you've done a good job rushing, then the unit already knows who you are. They aren't going to suddenly flip a switch and say "oh yeah, now that he's an E-3 in fuels we'll take him" I think by the time you've done enough enlisted time for it to make a difference (through pipeline, deployments, etc.) then your age at that time will offset any potential gain. But, congrats on choosing to wear our nation's uniform. If I were you, with the FO gig, I'd look into doing your enlistment (see if that scratches the military itch), and then focus on your civilian career. You might do a year two of active duty for the pipeline and say "this is the dumbest thing ever, thank god I didn't sign up for 10 years of this" and then bounce after your initial commitment. Or, you might say, "this rocks, I need to do this full time and fly" and then you need to apply to some heavy units as well since age will increasingly be an issue with fighters.

Ideally fly as much as possible. Everything else will be some variation of make corn, clean bar, take out trash, ask about flying, get a queepy job (helping out a shop), work on a project if that's your speed, etc. Approximately 60-90 minutes of every day (low end) will also be BS-ing and hanging out. Whether that is good or bad all depends on your objectives.

Crazy to apply? No. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Crazy to think you have a good shot at getting hired? Yes. You had your shot, gave it up [a lot here depends on the long story and how everything was left with the unit], and are now applying against qualified 11Fs, etc. There are qualified 11Fs who leave the jet who fighter units don't rehire, let alone a non-11F type. 11M -> 11F flow is super rare, but has been done (usually bizarre luck / timing in my experience). Now, if you truly just miss the unit, I bet there are ways to work a non-flying job with them (again, depending on the circumstances of how you left).

A few thoughts: GPA and AFOQT are good. PCSM is low - what's the 200 hour score? If below 80/90, definitely retake to be competitive for fighters. Everything else - age, experience, etc. is good, with one exception: PPL. You really want to get that to be competitive for fighters, and really to be competitive for anything Guard/Reserve. Specifically, here's one dude's opinions on your questions. 1) Yes. 2) Don't enlist in the reserves/Guard unless you want to enlist in the reserves/Guard. There's nothing wrong with it (and many things good with it), but you don't go to UPT by enlisting (directly, at least). 3) No. Take a CSO/EWO spot if you want to be a CSO/EWO. Don't do it just because you think it's a path to being a pilot. A few questions I would ask/you should ask of yourself: 1) why are you only talking about reserve units and only east coast? Especially if you're also considering active duty? I'd be looking at every Guard/Reserve unit out there. 2) check out bogidope for contact info, introduce yourself to people, go to rush weekends, etc. (unless you're completely illiterate, which I don't think is the case, folks should respond if you're contacting the right folks - i.e. they're having a board soon, looking for people, etc.) 3) what's your life timeline? If it were me, I'd be applying to my dream units for another year or two, then I'd apply for everything under the sun. But, if you're worried about getting started, I'd apply for everything now.

Hey, In general, you need to think about the Guard and Guard fighter spots through 3 dimensions: 1) Numbers 2) Experience 3) Fit Within numbers: your gpa is great in a technical major; I would assume you'll do decent on the AFOQT but you need to just go take it. PCSM is similarly likely either going to be decent with the 80 hours or you'll need to figure out a way to boost it. Bottom line: the numbers look good / I'd have no reason to think they'll hurt you. Take the tests. Within experience: I divide this up into three categories, aviation, military, and other. For aviation: An 80 hour PPL is better than a 40 hour PPL but is worse than a 200 hour instrument rated pilot and all of these are worse than a 1000 hour dude flying for the regionals. For military: you don't have any mil experience, so a squadron will need a compelling reason to hire you over some dude who has been enlisted for a few years and deployed with them (all else being equal, which it never is). For other: this is where work experience and stuff comes in; it appears this is a little weak, mostly because you're 21. Definitely seek out the internships and work opportunities (this applies regardless of guard fighter pursuits). Bottom line: your 80 hour PPL probably won't help or hurt you with a Guard fighter unit (i.e. nobody will give you crap or be super impressed); your lack of mil experience will hurt you relative to someone who has it; your minimal work experience will hurt you relative to someone who has it. Within fit: you need to go rush and see how you fit in the unit. There's a chance some squadron loves you and hires you at the next board, there's another chance they think you're weird and don't want to hire you ever. You need to go out and rush units to see how you mesh (or don't) with each squadron. So, in summary: you're young - a lot of people who get hired get hired in their mid 20s, not when they're 21 (although it does happen on occasion). Continue to seek out leadership and work experiences in line with your professional goals. Rush, talk to people, and you'll have a good shot at being competitive. The nice thing about starting this off so young is you have a lot of time to figure it all out. For medical: not a doctor, but go read the regs (google), and don't tell the military anything until you figure out exactly what you had and have.

CAFB during a COVID lull had the full deal. Family events (see the RSU, tour squadron, red carpet sim, etc.) on the Thursday, then Friday was a graduation in service dress (winging) followed by more activities and then the mess dress dinner that night at the club.

Hey dude, Non-prior here who got picked up for a fighter slot - two comments: 1) enlisting will absolutely give you a leg up, all else being equal (and all else not being equal too), but... 2) there is no requirement that you enlist to get picked up for a slot. You need to have a college degree, though. One pitfall I've seen is people who let enlisting get in the way of them finishing college in a timely manner, then before they know it they're pushing the age limit and are no longer competitive. So, enlist if you want to be a crew chief and you want to serve, but don't enlist solely to try to get a pilot slot. And, make sure you prioritize finishing your degree.

Another update for those who are interested. I've had an incredibly rewarding experience so far. Lots of work, but lots of fun. Civilian to Guard fighter squadron: ---- Board: Dec 2 2018 Selection notification: Same Day MEPS: January 2019 Sworn In: February 2019 FC1: May 2019 NGB Packet Approved: End of June 2019 TFOT: notified in August for 15 October class date, finished TFOT December of 2019, no UPT dates during TFOT UPT: notified in Jan 2019 for April UPT at Columbus, delayed until May due to coronavirus, start June 2019, track 38s in November 2019, start 38s January of 2021, graduate July 2021 IFF: August 2021 - October 2021 ---- B-Course: November 2021 - July 2022 (scheduled) SERE: July 2022 - August 2022 (scheduled)

At least one other person thinks the same way as you: https://warontherocks.com/2020/07/bring-back-the-seaplane/ The author writes: " Adaptive basing concept The Air Force is currently experimenting with operating aircraft from austere fields in order to complicate adversary targeting efforts and sustain striking power. Here, seaplanes could provide tanker support for fighters and bombers operating in theater. A fully loaded KC-135 tanker might require over 10,000 feet of runway, while tactical fighters can operate from shorter runways. Strategic bombers could stage from bases outside adversary threat rings but would require multiple refuelings en route. Thus, it is very possible that suitable tanker bases are a more important constraint than fighter or bomber bases (obviously, strike aircraft also require weapons stores, but this is true regardless of the method of refueling them). Seaplane tankers, experimented with in the 1950s, would theoretically have unlimited runways, removing this limitation from planning. While there are real benefits in operating tankers from civilian airports instead of from water — namely the existence of fuel stores — these benefits are useless if the runway is cut, the fuel stores are destroyed, or the aircraft are eliminated on the ground. Sea-based tankers could provide a mobile air refueling capability resistant to adversary surveillance and targeting efforts. Instead of searching the approximately 300 bases in the Western Pacific capable of handling tankers (a relatively manageable problem for the Chinese military), adversaries would be forced to search thousands of square miles of ocean, beaches, lakes, and lagoons for seaplanes and their supporting tenders or onshore facilities. Even if found, seaplanes would present a difficult target compared to an airfield due to their small size and mobility. It is impossible to crater the ocean. Furthermore, forcing an adversary to expend limited missiles targeting a difficult target like a seaplane would be beneficial to other American forces in theater."

The article outlines more uses than just transport - and the R3Y, for example, had a nice ramp for cargo. The listed ideas were: + Logistics (article specifically talks about supporting USMC but would also be applicable to other services) + Tanker support (for USAF and USN) + Strike (as a wild idea similar to the 1950s Navy stuff) + SAR Seems like we should at least study it - worst case it forces us to get tighter on our analysis of current choices.

Anything is possible - but I'll add the following from my experience (Guard fighter hire so n=1): 1) With any job, anything is possible. Somebody totally unqualified is working in an investment banking firm in NYC - their dad also probably knows the CEO. Your objective as an applicant is to make yourself as competitive as possible. Without a PPL, all else being equal, you lose to the person with the PPL. That being said, same goes for the PPL vs the CFII. But, as you know, all else is not always equal. Think about your story, what you bring to the table, what makes you unique, and make the best version of yourself. I know some folks who got picked up by heavy units with no PPL - haven't yet met anyone without any hours (I think they all were post solo), but I'm sure someone is out there. All the fighter folks I know had at least a PPL, but a lot of us didn't have more than 50/60 hours. 2) Everyone's life situation is different with it comes to affording a PPL. I gambled traded stock and worked to pay for mine (pre-COVID market). Other people are out pumping gas at the FBO. Somebody is doing the math of working a McDonalds 20 hours a week as a second job making $10/hr to make an extra $10k that year so next year they can get their PPL. If you're serious about getting your PPL, think about the solution space available to you to make it happen. But, if the price tag is still prohibitive, remember that aviation is a funny community - I know a couple people who were errand boys at a local airport and paid for gas in exchange for flight time and instruction. Their PPL cost much less than $10k.

CAFB is delaying at least the next two classes, apparently prioritizing Guard and Reserve for the next one that starts up (rumor right now is the May 11 class but TBD obviously).

See above for recent TFOT / UPT timeline.

Guard guy here, just got dates for April UPT at Columbus. So, there's still hope. But, a lot of folks are being pushed out like that.

Civilian to Guard fighter squadron: Board: Dec 2 2018 Selection notification: Same Day MEPS: January 2019 Sworn In: February 2019 FC1: May 2019 NGB Packet Approved: End of June 2019 TFOT: notified in August for 15 October class date, finished TFOT December of 2019, no UPT dates during TFOT UPT: notified in Jan 2019 for April UPT at Columbus, delayed until May due to coronavirus