Forum: General

Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 325

Once we get to our ops assignments our queep jobs take over. No one gets to study as much as they want anymore.

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I ran a call on my last day on where a guy got killed standing in line at the lunch wagon when a drunk missed the turn and hit the thing broadside in a parking lot. I was at Davis Monthan last year the day a guy got killed by a forklift walking with his wife.....seriously, you can get killed doing anything...hell I have a buddy who worked a fatality when a car run thru a guys bedroom and killed him in his bed.

Working in a convienience store is pretty much universally recognized as the most dangerous gig in the country BTW.

Go for it … Confidence but not overconfidence is the key … and a good mentor during UPT will help you blend it all together.

Just remember … when the “whistle blows” You will be tasked to kill people from above and, maybe lots of them!

Newbie Joined: May 06, 2008 Posts: 4 Status: Offline

First off, thanks for everyone's responses. Your input is invaluable.

scorpio110367,
Yeah, I live in Fort Worth, so I am not too far from Sheppard. I would like to drive up there for the day, but I don't know how well that will be received. I know an AFB is not a tourist attraction, but I wonder if they would be willing to talk to me and answer questions.

SnakeHandler,
Home one year out of three?!? Wow I didn't realize what a time commitment the USAF would be. I was expecting 50-60 hr/wk and gone 3 out of 15 months. You are basically saying that I can expect 80+ hr/wk and gone 10 out of 15 months. I really want to fly and believe I am an excellent candidate. I am a competitive person at everything I do, and I am at my happiest when I am challenged. These are just a few of the reasons I want to fly, but I don't think I would be fulfilling my family obligations. That is more time away than I am willing to give. I am guessing that most pilots aren't married or don't stay married long. Your wife should be commended for being so supportive and understanding. Most women wouldn't tolerate that. Are all platforms that demanding; i.e. F-15, F-22, or heavies?

Thanks,

JR

holla at me for info, i'll take you for a tour of the base, and the ENJJPT program

Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 325

Each airframe is different. Flying heavies is demanding in that you are gone much like the pilots from Fedex or UPS. They are constantly on the move but are USUALLY only gone for one to two weeks at a time at most. But the frequency of being gone is much higher. But when they are off then it is a more laid back environment because they don't have to study as much as we do. Honestly, there is only so much you need to know and study to drive a bus.

Most pilots get married later in life than civilians their age. That gives them time to enjoy the wild side of things and to get the most demanding parts out of the way. With that, most wives start the relationship with the understanding that their husbands are gone a lot and they have reconciled that one way or another. My wife has a busy life of her own with college and the kids to take care of so my time away seems to go fast for her. This is a huge decision that you and your wife need to make together. I have seen a lot of failed marriages and a lot of very open relationships, but I've seen a lot of strong ones too. It depends on how well rooted you two are.

As for life in the squadron, we have only a few dozen guys to do all the jobs required. That leads to 60-80 hours a week, mainly queep jobs. Typical deployments are about 4 months. TDYs are usually around 2 weeks, so the more you are deployed and the more TDYs you go on, the more you are gone. You might think that you'll just skip the Deployments and TDYs you don't want to go on but that won't happen. You will forever be competing with all the other pilots in your VMLs for OPR bullets and commander recognition to advance. For the same reason, you'll take on as many line-of-sight taskings and projects that you can which will lead to more time spent in the squadron.

You wrote that you are 27 so you are almost as old as I am and being an older, more mature lieutenant with responsibilities makes this job very difficult to stomache sometimes. Take the time between now and when you need to sign on the dotted line to talk to as many pilots from as many airframes as you can and get a solid impression of what it's like in each. Have your wife in on as many conversations as you can because this will affect her just as much. Talk to the married folks, the single guys have no idea what responsibility is.

Also, keep in mind that UPT is an entirely different animal. If you really want fighters then you and your wife will have to understand that for one year, just to get a fighter, pilot training will be the sole focus of your life. EVERYTHING else is second, including her. Then, for a year or so after that, flying is still your number one priority while you learn your jet but you'll have a little more time for her.

I hope that all this hasn't dampened your spirits about flying. I am merely providing a reality check for someone in a similar situation to mine. I love what I do and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Just be sure it's right for you.

Spot On SnakeHandler!

Just like anything in life - there are benefits and downsides. You have to understand what both sides are before you determine if that is something you want to do. Most fighter pilots would say it is worth it though!

I used to tell my students in UPT that it was good for them to pursue a specific aircraft as a follow-on (i.e. F-16, C-130, or whatever). Generally that helps you excel and work harder with a goal, but at the same time, you must be prepared to accept whatever airframe you ultimitely end-up flying. A lot of students show up wanting to fly fighters, then some of them end up changing their minds for various reasons. Stay open to all the possibilities!

Active member Joined: Apr 22, 2004 Posts: 116

USAF_Applicant,
Lets reexamine your initial question. (This probably sounds like preaching but it is from my experience, oh and I'll admit I'm not the perfect example, but I don't think there is a perfect soldier or pilot)
You wanted to know if you had what it takes to be a fighter pilot. In truth only you can answer that question and the only way is to dive in whole heartedly and try. I could tell you all day why I believe a company on the stock exchange has what it takes to be a winner and still be wrong. Not equating you to a company but hopefully you get my point. You have to try...

Next, to be a fighter pilot you have to give up a lot. Not necessarily a zero sum game, i.e. your familiy or your desires but sacrifices have to be made...what are you willing to make and probably more importantly what sacrifices will your family have to make for you to follow this path?
Remember military is not about you. Once you understand that you will be more successful.

The core values of the Air Force actually speak volumes for what is expected. First-Integrity first. Be honest with your self and all of those you deal with. Be honest in what you can give to the Air Force.
Second-Service before Self. It seems you must examine that core value the closesest. To whom are you going to devote your energy. I have made my career in the Air Force and have sacrificed a lot but fortunately my wife allows me to follow my dreams and be extremely selfish with respect to my family. During my 8 years of marriage I have been remote(with out her) 2 years, had her live overseas for two years (not in Europe) and deployed/ TDY for another 2 years total time away from her. I have moved my family 5 times in that time frame. The Air Force expects your sacrifice and your family's.
Last, is Excellence in all we do. The Air Force (military) expects (and deserves) your best effort all the time. Why would you sign up to do less. To use a poor analogy, would you want a fireman or policeman to give you less than their all in your time of need?
Well that is what is expected, some give less, others give more and some give all. I think I've given more, but not my all and I've been successfull. My All, as defined by me, is my life or my family. I have not given up my family to serve the Air Force, but my wife knew what she was getting into when she married me. Hopefully, I'll never have to give my all, but I know(and my wife knows) what I signed up for.

If you want a successful career doing your part you will have to make sacrifices. Just be honest and figure out how much you can give.

USAF_Applicant wrote:

I don't think I would be fulfilling my family obligations. That is more time away than I am willing to give.

Dear JR, do not take this personal, I mean no offense. If only they'd give me one single chance to be able to apply for UPT, I'd sell all my possessions, send the wife to her mom and would live like a hermit until I start UPT.

You say you are qualified and willing to do the job, then please put yourself in the pool of that elite group of UPT selectees. Do not worry about how long you will be deployed. Those things change.

[quote="Bushmaster78FS"]

USAF_Applicant wrote:

Do not worry about how long you will be deployed. Those things change.

Yeah, it'll change alright, to longer deployments, and more time away from your family. When I came in the military 23 years ago we learned 3 things that you should live by, if you want to make this a career. Duty, Honor, and Country. These were our core values back in the day.

Quote:

Duty, Honor, and Country. These were our core values back in the day.

And yet, they still are... for some...

Forum: General

Applying to USAF; Hopeful Viper Pilot