Forum: Future F-16 crew

C-Bass06 wrote:

Now I have to decide if that's worth the 2+ hour I75 drive every month...

I have people in my squadron (260th ATCS) commuting from Miami and Kansas City. We have full-timers commuting a little over an hour every day. A couple hours once a month is nothing, especially when the ANG is paying for your hotel room.

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I always thought that you had to be a resident of the state that you served for....is that right?

Nope C-bass, you don't have to be a resident of the state your units in, you can join any unit as long as you are willing and able to get there for the drill weekends.

Not to throw a wet blanket on this, but I'm a little concerned by someone planning on enlisting who wrote:

"I know a lot of people enlist, but all I want to do is fly. (not be some technician for 6 years before)"

Enlist if you want to enlist. Enlist if you want to serve your country. Don't enlist because you think it's a guarantee that you'll end up getting commissioned, let alone a pilot's slot. The phrase "some technician" sounds a little condescending to me. I'll grant I'm possibly reading this wrong.

Hopefully enough folks have typed on this thread to make you realize how difficult it will be to actually get selected.

Above all please realize that if you show up with the attitude that your enlisted service is merely a brief stopover on the way to getting commissioned, I can promise your performance reports will reflect your attitude.

If you decide to enlist--get to work early, stay late. Remain driven in every thing you do. Ace tests, work harder than your contemporaries, and be a model Airman.

Only then will you be recommended for OTS.

Good point, Pointyhead. I finally realized that enlistment was actually the best step that I could take for achieving my goals in life. I now realize that even if I don't reach my main goal of getting a pilot slot, serving will give me the tools that I need to succeed in life. I'm now looking forward to working around my favorite plane and the people that fly it. Hopefully, my dreams will happen...but there's gonna have to be a lot of a$$ busting and hard work before that comes close to happening. Thanks, Point Thumb

Sounds like you've got the right idea. Keep your personal and professional goals in mind at all times. Work hard, have fun, and plan on succeeding.

I'm sure you'll do fine.

Just make sure if/when you enlist, you are getting into a job you would be totally happy with if you never get a pilot slot.

I'm sorry, but I just can't bring myself to believe that the "best step" for this kid to become an officer in the air force and achieve his goal in life (to fly an F-16) is for him to enlist in the air national guard. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I strongly disagree with whoever is assuring him that enlisting is his best source for commission.

"HQ AFOATS provides coordinated leadership and policy direction for the Air Force's officer recruiting, training, and commissioning programs at Officer Training School and at Air Force ROTC detachments at 144 universities. About 80 percent of the new officers who enter the Air Force each year come through one of our two programs." - www.afoats.af.mil

Does anyone have the stats for annual air guard F-16 slot sources? I would assume the majority of the slots would be filled from active duty pilots, am I wrong about this?

Spec, I'm wanting to eventually become an ANG officer...not a USAF officer. Enlisting is the best route, because applying for OTS as a civilian means you're gonna have to compete against guys that are already enlisted. (not good odds)

C-Bass06 wrote:

Spec, I'm wanting to eventually become an ANG officer...not a USAF officer. Enlisting is the best route, because applying for OTS as a civilian means you're gonna have to compete against guys that are already enlisted. (not good odds)

Besides, you still have four years of college to complete - so why not let the guard pick up part of the tab?

that's what I've been talking about doing...I'm going to enlist

ANG pilot eh, well best of luck to ya man. Stay sharp and study hard.. I'm sure everything will work out for you in the long haul, where there's a will there's a way I'm a firm believer of that.

I went and visited the 178th FW in springfield yesterday. I found out that egress is an okay job, but it's really not what I want if I plan on applying for a pilot's spot. I also found out how much I love life support. I talked with who I think was the head of the dept (he had 14 years experience....close enough). He had actually just gotten back from volunteering to go to Iraq for a month and a half. Springfield doesn't have any LS spots open (when they're available it's not for long) but my recruiter's gonna check my other choice wing. Right now, I'm really looking forward to enlisting...it sounds like I'm gonna have an interesting 6 years (at least) ahead of me. Thanks for all the help, guys.

good luck C-Bass!

can anyone tell me what I need to know, or anything I need to do for the guard's physical examination at MEPS? Any help would be appreciated.

Forum: Future F-16 crew

High schooler wanting a different route to the Viper cockpit