Forum: Future F-16 crew

Basically I've got an appointment Monday to see about getting into something call softbook? (I turn 17 monday) which from my understanding is DEP for kids still in school. My question is, if I enlist, is my dream of flying killed?

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That's awesome that you want to enlisted and serve your country, but why not start going to college?

Well, in short, I'm kinda lazy, probably the worst thing I could admit to, and want to fly fighters.
I'm looking to the air force to slap me around a bit and give me a reality check I suppose, something my parents forgot to do Razz

I am definetly smart enough, in fact, if I wanted to, I could probably make straight A's. Lack of money for college has definetly held me back too, I always considered an ROTC scholarship but, I dunno, I feel kinda lost in which direction I should be going to get into the cockpit, and I have a feeling its not the one I'm headed in now lol.

I think the first thing you should think about doing is getting a 4 year college degree. You could be going to college while you served in the Reserves or National Guard. That's the route I would go. If you really want to get smacked around and indoctrinated into a disciplined lifestyle, I'd go Marines.

Lmao, I have no intentions of ever being a jarhead, thanks for the suggestion though, they serve a purpose that I don't really have an interest in serving, respect for what they do though. I was just wanting to become self disciplined and what not, I'm pretty motivated already.

Well, join the reserves and knock out college while you serve. Being prior enlisted might make you more attractive to any selection board. The USAF has a reserve squadron of F-16s out in Fort Worth (456th FS?). You could work on their planes and maybe find a pilot or two to help mentor you through the process of college and trying to get into a pilot slot.

Yea I'm familiar with the reserve squadron, I actually live around ft worth, hehe. I was under the impression if you join the reserves that you can't go active duty unless called upon or something?

You're going to have to do a TON of research man. Joining the AF Reserves and doing drill at the JRB would be beneficial to you in several ways. It'll help you with the discipline, help you get through college, and quite possibly put you in an environment where you can interact with F-16 pilots.

I'm guessing they probably wouldn't let some kid come talk to a couple of pilots to get some help on getting down that career path? lol

That's why you join the Reserves, so you're in a position to interact with pilots and get college paid for you.

In my experience pilots have always been really open and helpful. When I was in high school several pilots down at the now-BRAC'ed 147thFW let me visit and took some time to give me advice.

I'm Brit who's left eh RAF, I didnt' get to fly, found to be colour blind on a medical in the afternoon after passing the co-ordination skills in the morning! Couldn't even get load master! However,
You have the chance, don't let it drift away.
However I did join up 2years later. Did 27 years and loved it. However!, they were the fastest years of my life, and I would advise you to consider that although you have some time now, the world will not wait. I'd get your foot in the door, you guys can do reserves, which we don't have. But have you ever met a lazy pilot, (only after they passed) You have to be as sharp as possible to beat the other guys and girls applying, so don't let the grass grow under your feet.
My home town still looks the same sleepy place I left 30 odd years back, and I'm sure there are some who just stayed and let life pass by.
By the way, I volunteered for everything, I went lots of places and had some great experiences. Never got rich, but wouldn't have changed it. If there's a seat at the front of the plane for you, you need to go get it, good luck and best wishes

I joined the ANG while in college as Aircrew Flight Equipment specifically for the interaction they get with the pilots, and because it is a short tech school (I had limited time to get my 4 yr degree after enlisting, so I needed a short tech school). Talk to the recruiter and get it in writing as to what job you want to do, you'll need to do good on the ASVAB though. Best jobs for interaction with pilots (the way I see it at in the unit I'm with):

Aircrew Flight Equipment, we work on the pilots g-suits, helmets, survival stuff, etc... Also, enlisted AFE personnel are allowed to go to survival schools. You'll need to do that anyway if you get hired as a pilot, so, getting it done while enlisted can be a big benefit.

Intel, they give briefings to pilots in terms of, well, intel stuff...

Loadmaster, if you join a heavy unit... Also MUST go to survival schools.

Crew Chief, they get pretty good interaction, not nearly as much as the other 3 though imo. However, they do learn a bit more about the aircraft than the other 3.

Remember, the pilots do the hiring, if they like you, they'll hire you. Assuming you've meet all the other standard criteria... 4 yr degree, good enough AFOQT and PCSM... but anyone can get that stuff.

You're 17. You have plenty of time. Enlist in Guard or Reserve, take a year or 3 to save money, go to college while still enlisted, get your degree. You'll be sittin pretty. And do figure out what you want to get a degree in before you start if at all possible. No point in wasting years shelling out the $$ trying to figure out what you want to study.

All that to say, enlisting will NOT kill your dream, it'll do quite the opposite Smile

To be honest, I would really like to avoid doing guard/reserves if at all possible, could I still go the route you laid out above as regular enlisted?
Also I'm guessing becoming a PJ is pretty much out of the question if I want to fly? Thanks for the replies guys.

kori wrote:

To be honest, I would really like to avoid doing guard/reserves if at all possible, could I still go the route you laid out above as regular enlisted?
Also I'm guessing becoming a PJ is pretty much out of the question if I want to fly? Thanks for the replies guys.

Yes. It would be harder. A prior loadmaster on C-5s just got hired at my unit to fly the C-27. He took every spare moment he had to study. Had to turn down going out with the crew in their down time, etc... But he did get his degree while active duty enlisted.

Whatever you chose as enlisted will not have a huge bearing on getting a pilot slot, unless one of the jobs I listed above, which will help with getting a pilot slot. You can work in the kitchen and get a pilot slot if you get your degree. Prior enlisted looks good because it shows you know what the military is about. Certain jobs look better because you work with the pilots and/or are more technical. But, imo, any job is better than not enlisting at all.

Try to lay it out for yourself. Look at how long basic training is, how long tech school is for the job you want. How often that job deploys with whatever unit you're with, etc... and judge: Will you have enough time to get your 4yr degree and have time to apply for pilot slots before you turn 28?

I say 28 because most places will make that their max age for hiring, due to the fact you cannot be 30 or older before starting UPT.

Like I said before, you're 17. You have plenty of time to figure out the best plan of action for how you want to live your life Smile

Take advantage of it as it appears you are by looking into information here in the forums Smile

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Will Enlisting kill my dream?