Forum: Future F-16 crew

I'm a high school senior. I want to major in aviation and get my pilot's license in college and some day fly for an airline. AFTER college, I want to apply for a viper pilot training slot at a local ANG viper wing. I know a lot of people enlist, but all I want to do is fly. (not be some technician for 6 years before) What I'm wondering is how likely I am to get a training slot as a civilian when there are other military pilots out there. Can anyone comment?

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Not likely; from what I know about ANG units they like to higher people they know or know of. If you were already a fighter pilot you have a good chance and if you are in the unit already they know how hard of a worker you may be. Not saying its impossible; but if it comes down to you and a guy that was in the unit that wasnt better than you but was close to you; you probably want get it... Sorry =/

-Aaron

2s in

I enlisted in my unit before being selected... by another Viper unit to go to UPT. They like to select within if possible for the reason that TenquNoHi stated, but if you kick a$$... they will call around before hand and you can get lucky as I did.

Most guys that I know from my unit at pilot training now enlisted after HS, completed their training... then served as a traditional guardsman while in college(taking advantage of the Educational benefits). It's a great plan... if you stay out of trouble and do well... you will surely go... granted you arent a dousche bag. Very Happy

If you just want to fly, maybe the military isn't such a good idea. Flying F-16s is nice and all, but do you want to be responsible for people's lives while doing it?

C-bass, good luck man. You better be a super stud with an ATP and a couple thousand hours and a technical degree. The Guard likes promoting from within, and rightfully so. Im not trying to discourage you man but it will do you more good to know what your up against than for somebody to blow smoke up your a**. I have seen civilians accepted but they had the qualifications above (oh yeah and their dad was an active duty 3 star) true story. You should consider enlisting, it will only help you in your goals.

Good luck
Peter

All the ANG Viper drivers I've talked to have said that too much flight time is a bad thing. One pilot told me not to have more than 500 hours. Because by then, you've gotten all your habits, and they'll have to un-train you so you can fly their way. I'm thinking that being an ATP with 1000s of hours would not be what they look for in Guard pilots, but if you have connections I'm sure that would help. Good luck!

Last edited by WILZ on Nov 16, 2005 - 10:05 PM; edited 2 times in total

If you read the sentence completely, he is stating that he doesnt just want to enlist... all that he wants to do is fly... Vipers that is. Cool

Having a Shitload of hours never "looks" bad. Most would agree that having that many hours could do you more harm than good at UPT... mainly from seeing people who had a shitload of hours being unteachable and not doing well (it happens).
Bottom line is, it just looks better on paper to the board. One guy has 2000 hrs and right under that mine says 120hrs ... think about it.
I have a bud who interviewed at numerous units across the country. He was in the Olymics, Graduated Tops in his class at Univ of TX, and had 99s(scores) across the board. He said that he was beat out every time by an enlisted guy (at 10 interviews across the country). He enlisted in our unit and was selected the next year. IT HELPS! I DONT GIVE A sh*t WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU. Yes, there are exceptions... that is when Dousche bags in the unit are interviewing...( we had guys applying with like PCSM scores below 50... aint happening ) but if you are squared away, do well on the test, and the pilots know you are a good sh*t... you will do fine. The benefits FAR outweigh the Drawbacks bro... Trust me. I took this route and when interview time was around, the guys who werent in the unit were like "you sh*t head"...HAHA!

EDIT: This is what most say " I don't want to comitt to a unit (by enlisting) and take a chance on not getting selected and having to serve 6 years... WITHOUT FLYING". Come on man... how BAD DO YOU WANT IT. Thats one of the BIG things the Pilot board sees when you enlist... that guy hung it all out there(sts) to get into a jet.

CAUTION: If you are potentially a dousche bag... find something else to do... They wont hire you. Thats why they interview outsiders...

Last edited by WILZ on Nov 17, 2005 - 12:50 AM; edited 1 time in total

BTW: Here are my "stats" if you want to have something to reference.
PCSM: 97
AFOQT: P- 95, N- 74?
GPA- 2.7ish Finance
-Enlisted as an Intel dude doing Blk 50 mission planning, Electronic Warfare, Weapons Instructor... and so on.
-Worked aroung the pilots more than anyone else could (my job) so they knew me and knew that I knew my sh*t (I think I did?).
-1 Letter of Rec from USAF F-16CJ Wpns school Instructor, A few more from other F-16 pilots I worked with, Supervisors, Commanders...etc
-At all training, I finished Tops in my class (Dist. Grad). Top Physical Fitness Performer Everywhere I went...

Get the gist Very Happy

... Hope that helps CBASS. I could never find info like this to gauge things when I was in your shoes. Work hard and you'll be fine bro...

Note: Im not blowing sunshine up your a$$ bro... this is just what I did?

C-bass, listen to Willz man apparently he is a guy who's been there. When you are at the board it is about who you are and HOW BAD YOU WANT IT (enlist).

Peter

Oh yeah... check this out. A friend of mine flies Vipers at my unit now. He was straight outa HS, Enlisted in the guard and then went to UPT.
Graduated from HS when he was about 16. He then enlisted in the AL ANG(with a waiver obviously).
He graduated from college in two years... age 18.
He then tried to apply to his unit, the AL ANG but they claimed he was too young.
He then immediately came to SCANG, they interviewed him and he got selected. AGAIN 18 yrs old.
He then went to ENJJPT at Sheppard, complete all his sh*t... kicking a$$ and finished RTU just as he was turning 21. He is now 22 and a fully rated Viper driver and kicking a$$.
Pretty cool story... I think he is the youngest Pilot ever in the AF of course since the Army and AF split up.
We call him NEO, from the Matrix.... "The chosen one".

http://www.0402.fusioncentral.com/html/go_guard.html

Hey bro, why not go active duty? At your age, you can still go to the Academy or ROTC. Either of those routes almost ensures a pilot slot (assuming you qualify physically and don't screw up too bad). Sure, ten year commitment, but it really isn't too long, then go do your airline thing.

The 114th FW has hired two guys off the street in the last year and a half.

Hey bro, why not go active duty? At your age, you can still go to the Academy or ROTC. Either of those routes almost ensures a pilot slot (assuming you qualify physically and don't screw up too bad). Sure, ten year commitment, but it really isn't too long, then go do your airline thing.

Sorry it took so long to respond, guys. I really appreciate you all helpin me out here. Now that I've thought about it, I'm really considering inlisting in the Ohio ANG. My flight major's gonna cost me major mula and I could really use the G.I. Bill. Plus, my ASVAB scores say that my aptitude is that of a pilot's, so hey...maybe I can get that slot, after all. Anyway, thanks a lot. If you guys have any tips on what jobs in the guard would be beneficial and fun, please let me know. Later.

C-Bass where are you from?

Springfield is realligning so you probably wont get Vipers if you go there. Also, I talked to a pilot from Toledo who said they were planning to fill up their new slots (they are getting more a/c) with commuters from Springfield first but nothing is impossible man. Anyways; if you goto Toledo let me know. We have a few guys in our det enlisted there I could hook you up with so you dont feel so allone.

-Aaron

Forum: Future F-16 crew

High schooler wanting a different route to the Viper cockpit