Forum: Future F-16 crew

Hello All,

I have just read thru most of the posts from the past about becoming a F-16 Fighter Pilot. I haven’t seen to many messages about receiving a slot with the guard. Like a lot of other people out there, I am an aspiring F-16 Pilot. I am 21 and finishing my last year of college, at ERAU in Daytona Beach. I am really motivated to get a slot in California, where I have grown up, but I will take any F-16 unit. A few months ago I flew to the 144th FW in Fresno, and took a tour, and talked to a couple of recruiters. They told me they only hire from within. So I am planning on joining as an F-16 crew chief immediately after graduation. I am hoping this would better my chances of getting to know the pilots, and getting some contacts, etc. The recruiters tell me that it’s a once a month deal and 15 days a year. Is it possible to work as a crew chief with the unit, almost full time, like an active duty crew chief would? Maybe its just me, but I think it would be kind of hard for the unit to get to know you and see that your a hard worker when just drilling once a month.

Anyways I was wondering if anyone in this forum is in the 144th FW, or knows about it and its selection process. Also if there is anyone on here that is a guard pilot, period. (I am curious as to how you attained that slot).

Thanks in advance,
Nate

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Last edited by WILZ on Mar 09, 2005 - 11:14 PM; edited 2 times in total

Hey,

I went to ERAU in DAB and left for the Guard and to finish school back at home. They paid off my student loans from ERAU and payed for the rest of my school. I went in as an Intel dude and to work around the pilots probably more than anyone does. It has set me up perfectly from what I see for a UPT slot(I hope). There are other jobs that are just as good also. Life Support or other areas in Ops. Maint. is also a good area to jump into.
In fact our last guy came from Life Support!
What they have to go off of is how well you do at all of your training. They also can tell a lot by just the 1 wk a mth. You do a lot of stuff when you are there that one week so... they can pretty much tell if your the one. I highly encourage this way and if you have any other questions just PM me...

Later and good luck...

Hey Nate, I was once interested in CA ANG with the 144th, but they (so far) have been very unfriendly towards pilot applicants. I called once and got my head bitten off for asking about when the next UPT board was going to be. This was last summer and I was instructed to watch www.goang.com for information regarding UPT selection. Their site says "Check back in January 2005" regarding Pilot Selection. Well, I'm glad they're on top of things out there. If you do call, or email, the person you're looking for is MSgt. Traci Musgrave. She handles the UPT announcement information.

http://www.goang.com/officesite.aspx?office_id=56&page_id=3

Best of luck, let me know if you find anything out.

~mix

Hello. You where asking about the possibilities of being a full time crew chief with that unit. Well I know from personal experiance that its hard to get on at a guard unit full time. I am a member of the Indiana Guard in Terre Haute. Been in for 6 years and have been trying for 3 years to get a full time job. No luck. I have been applying all over the country also to try and get one with no luck. But I have noticed I have made the top 3 at least once with every other 16 wing expect for mine. Guess my bosses doen't like me, but that isn't here or there.

But as for being a stick monkey errr I mean pilot, we just had two of our crew chiefs get selected. One here and one in DC. So if you wanna know a lot about the plane, yeah go for it. Its a great job. But being selected as a pilot in the guard is hard hard work. But can be done if you want it bad enough. Good luck!

Nate:

You've certainly got the right idea. Your only obstacle is geography. So, make an easy choice: do you really want to fly Vipers, or do you really want to live in CA? I'm not sure I'd enlist and become a crew chief...for the purpose of becoming a pilot...it might not provide the results that you are looking for. Save that as your "last option". Here's my advice:

Get a list of every ANG unit operating the Viper in the US. The back of Air Force Magazine's Air Force Almanac (a la Air Force Association) would have that very list. Write down those units that appeal to you...geographically. Also, check BASEOPS.NET for current vacancy listings. Make some phone calls. Find out when they are going to convene selection boards.

Here's another thought, Nate: AFROTC. Yep, you're already going to have your degree...awesome (I'm an ERAU alum myself...M.A.S.). HOWEVER, when I was a cadet, I had folks in my class who were older, had their degree already, and were taking BOWLING and GOLF and junk like that. I don't think you can get away with that type of buffoonery anymore, but you COULD get to work on a Master's degree, enroll in the AFROTC two-year program, and get your pilot slot that way. Maybe you've already considered that. If not, go find the PAS for the AFROTC unit down there at ERAU and pick his brain. You might be surprised. Keep that "crew chief" idea as your last resort. There's nothing wrong with fixin' 'em, but your goal is to fly 'em. Explore your options.

Best of luck. Let me know if you have any Qs.

Twoop

Forum: Future F-16 crew

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