Author Topic: Highly considering...  (Read 2106 times)

Offline TOMCAT21

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #30 on: July 03, 2015, 07:22:20 AM »
Finish college, thats what I did. Navy wanted me to join right away but I promised my dad I would finish my degree. The military can't wait for you if that is what you so desire. I was 23 when I finished my degree and I was in boot camp when my college class was graduating. What ever you decide to do , the best of luck to you.
RETIRED US Army/ Flying and dying since Tour 80/"We're paratroopers, Lieutenant, we're supposed to be surrounded." - Capt. Richard Winters.  FSO 412th FNVG/MA- REGULATORS

Offline Dichotomy

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #31 on: July 03, 2015, 07:30:15 AM »
(Image removed from quote.)

We fly in the Army too. ;)

isn't that called 'falling with style'? ;)

JOACH1M

I remember when you were a squeaker.  I always thought you were a good kid back then.  I know that, whatever you set your mind to doing, you will do it and do it well.  Best of luck my friend <S>
« Last Edit: July 03, 2015, 07:32:00 AM by Dichotomy »
JG11 - Dicho37Only The Proud Only The Strong AH Players who've passed on :salute

Offline zack1234

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #32 on: July 03, 2015, 02:19:55 PM »
I always saw you as a Hair Dresser in a high class boutique :old:

You have the look :)
There are no pies stored in this plane overnight

                          
The GFC
Pipz lived in the Wilderness near Ontario

Offline Gman

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #33 on: July 03, 2015, 05:31:21 PM »
I don't know how the ROTC system really works as we don't have that up here, but I've heard a lot of others say this is a good way to go, and considering how many here said the same, checking that out wouldn't be a bad idea Joeacheem.

I have a friend that flew T38s and mainly tankers, a couple variants of the KC135, and retired out as a Lt.Col - he advised other US guys I know that are your age to go the ROTC route if they could as well, as it was his opinion this was the way to go, although he was a USAF Academy grad as well. 

Apparently shorter pilots can withstand Gs better due to the route from the brain to the heart being shorter, or some such physiological reasons, so you have a good advantage there already Jo, hahaha.  10+ g here you come!

Offline skorpx1

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #34 on: July 03, 2015, 06:16:52 PM »
I'll give you some advice on joining the military. (Some of this may have already been said, I don't know I didn't read the replies beforehand)

Do what YOU want to do, not what mom or dad wants you to do, not what the recruiter wants you to do, just what YOU and YOU ALONE want to do.

When I signed up for the Army I wanted to get into the Airborne. What did I get? Airborne infantry. Exactly what I wanted. The recruiter tried talking me into being an 11C, which I believe is mortar man - correct me if i'm wrong - all because he needed to fill up spots. Another guy I know got suckered into being a straight up 11B (Infantry) when he wanted to be a wheeled mechanic, and now he's stuck for 2 years until he can change his MOS. Be careful of the contract. Make sure it says EXACTLY what you want it to say for your job, and make sure that job is EXACTLY what you want. You don't want to have to deal with years of a crappy job and not like your time in the military.

As for people yelling about being "Chair Force" or throwing crap for wanting the join the USAF, don't listen to it. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you joined up and took the risk so that someone else doesn't have to.

Offline mthrockmor

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #35 on: July 03, 2015, 08:01:17 PM »
With the low number of pilot slots I'm not sure if the Air Force or Navy are even taking applications off the street. This means you may have to go through either the Academy or ROTC.

Another thought, you can apply to get into the Academy up to the age of 21. A 26 on the ACT isn't going to cut it for the Academy. Consider retaking the ACT, need to score 30 or higher to be competitive, and then go through the process of getting a nomination from your Representative or Senator. If you get in the value is well over half a million. Also, you will start from scratch, meaning year 1 of college all over again; none of your current classes will count. Just an option though a possibility. The other half of this though remains the age cut-off. If you get into Colorado Springs at 21, graduate at 25 you should be able to get pinned an aviator by 26.5. Another great question to ask.

Both the Air Force and the Navy have recruiters just for Aviation. These are not the slimy recruiters most of us dealt with when we went into infantry, or armor in my case. These recruiters do nothing but guide and groom potential candidates into pilot slots. They are given quotas they need to hit, thus they NEED to get qualified candidates into these spots. Again, this may have changed for 'off the street' applicants though the ROTC liaisons are going to be pretty high speed.

Another thing, expect to be told 'no' many times. They are going to discourage you to see if you are serious. In the corporate world I now work in there are many stories of hassling high end candidates to see what they are made of.

I once placed an attorney with one of the top Fellowships in the US out of Boston. This candidate was one of nine out of over 500 applicants selected to fly to Boston for final interviews. They flew her out, and of course then flew her home. On the return flight they put her on a plane from Boston to Wash DC, then on stand-by to Nashville. Stand-by meaning, she didn't have a guaranteed seat. Adding to the drama, this was literally Christmas eve.

The candidate called me up somewhere between pissed off and in tears about the fact she may not be getting home in time for Santa Claus. My first question was 'you didn't call them did you?!' Her answer, "Hell yes I did!" She called them up, whined and moaned, threw in a couple digs at the scheduling secretary then asked if they had suggestions on what to do. Unbeknownst to her....this was the final exam: How do you handle stressful situations? Needless to say, she failed to receive a $500,000 fellowship. Sucks to be a wimp.

When I tried to get into Naval Aviation I feel for the first 'no' they threw may way. I deserved to not fly F-14s. What kind of a wuss lets someone tell you no?! If you want to be a fighter pilot you had better be ready to politely, professional and with tack...tell all of them to get the hell out of your way. Kill them with determination. Let them say no 50 times, and be ready to find another way to get a yes.

I'm working with a premier JROTC program right now and see these events regularly. Don't give up.

boo

PS With your B's in math one of the first questions I would ask an ROTC officer is their advice on retaking the classes. You will be competing with people who scored A's.
No poor dumb bastard wins a war by dying for his country, he wins by making the other poor, dumb, bastard die for his.
George "Blood n Guts" Patton

Offline Serenity

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Re: Highly considering...
« Reply #36 on: July 04, 2015, 04:16:23 AM »
With the low number of pilot slots I'm not sure if the Air Force or Navy are even taking applications off the street. This means you may have to go through either the Academy or ROTC.

Actually, this is an interesting point. I don't know a SINGLE pilot select from the last three years who was OCS, only Academy and ROTC. All of the OCS guys seem to be getting NFO.