Right now i currently work for the city in live in energy company. Right now i am at a low level position, but in a month i will be off my probation. They have good benfits and opportunities. The problem is that ever since i was little I have always wanted to fly a fighter type aircraft. I catch myself everyday thinking about it. The bad part is i live in san antonio, texas the airforce capital. So i see them everyday. Here are my options that i have in my head.

Stay with the company and when off of probation go back to college on their tab and get a enginering degree. Stay with the company as long as it is in my best intrest.

Or i could join the service now and work my way up the ladder till i am able and get accepted to OCS.

Please all opinions are apprieciated

 

I'm not an expert on this by any means as I've done all civilian aviation but the main thing I'd check into is the number of people enlisting that want to fly fighters compared to the number that actually end up flying fighters. What if you get assigned transport or recon? Will you be happy? What if you never see the inside of a plane?

As far as civilian aviation goes, you can make a lot more money and have a better lifestyle with an engineering degree. One of my coworkers just quit and went back into mechanical engineering.

 

If you are motivated and qualified you can fly in the military. the road will be tough at times to get there but worth it in the long run. Military flyers are the best in the world.

 

Consider the Air National Guard. You can go in enlisted, they pay for your education, get your degree, work your civilian job, go to OCS, do a pilot board, and you have it all.

This is best case scenario. The worst that can happen is to get your education paid for.

www.goang.com

 

Do what YOU want to do. You only live once. If you don't give it a shot now, you will ALWAYS wish you did.
But, whatever you do ( military wise ) be sure and get EVERYTHING in writing. No exceptions.
Going to school on your current companies dime is not a bad idea. But do you have to stay with that company xxx number of years if they pay for school?

 

I would say get a degree and then go into the military, OCS is a very selective process. But BlackPuff is right, I know a couple people to have gone that route. But if you want to fly fighters don't sign up for a unit that doesn't have fighters. The Air National guard like to hire their own people. Either way good luck in your choice. I'm at a cross road myself and know how you feel.

 

I agree with diesel burner, stay in school. I dropped out of aviation college with a full schlorship because I found a good paying job. I regretted it the rest of my life.

 

Good point! Every officer in my unit who is not on flying status was once an enlisted man in my unit. Around a 1/4 of the pilots are former enlisted.

NKAWTG

 

Oh yeah, I was a Boom for 4 1/2 years in North Dakota.

 

Pursue your dream, just plan carefully. Stay with your current job as you investigate and find out what you need to do to achieve your dream.

Just be aware that all services are starting to look long and hard at UAV operators. The Air Force is even looking at or has started it as a separate career field. Currently they are pulling fighter pilots to fill the slots. You can get some ideas of what is happening over at strategypage.com it is a very supportive site for the military and full of all kinds of military related news.

 

I have been enlisted for 10 years and am going to OCS in October. The Marine Corps may be different than other branches, but you dont need an engineering degree to fly, I always thought that also. Anyhow, you may want to be an engineer and if so go for it. I will say that having enlisted experience can be nothing but positive for leadership in the future. Not sure how old you are but consider how long it will take to finish college and then go to OCS, there are age limits on some programs. Also, find out if you are even medically qualified and take the flight aptitude test to see if you qualify for flight service. If not then it may influence your decision. Good luck!

 

ok my best idea for a solution is the same as dieselburners. The only thing is right now i am 22 and i work full time, i could maybe take 1-3 classes a semester including summer semesters.What is the age cut off to become on officer.

 

Talk to a recruiter. They'll be able to give you the facts. Contrary to rumor, most recuiters are honest and will give you the info you need. I won't lie to you, becoming a fighter pilot is very difficult. If I remember right, 9 out of 10 fighter pilot program applicants are turned away.

 

Back in the day my career goal was to fly for UPS, FedEx, etc... So I took the ASVAB??? (military test) and scored high enough for flight school but the Marines were the only branch that would guarantee me a slot flying either helicopters or jets. I figured I would let them put me through school and train me THEIR way instead of doing it myself and getting in some bad habits that I would have to break later. Anyway, I thought about it some and decided against the Marines (I'm too lazy) and went in the Navy Reserves so I could get the GI Bill. Then majored in aviation in college which turned out to be too expensive so I dropped out. Needless to say I didn't fulfill my dreams of flying for a living but my military time did get me my gov't job that I have today.


Just remember: Strategy, Strategy, Strategy. Make wise decisions and talk to as many people as you can that have "been there done that" and learn from their mistakes.

 

Will pursuing the aircraft dream hurt your immediate finances?

If not, and its what you really want to do, then go for it!

We need more willing people in our forces. Too many go just for the free college and $ and don't care or believe in what they are doing.

If you want to do it, and it does not hinder your ability to live, by all means, do it!