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Low_Level_Hell · December 9th, 2007, 07:34

Financially speaking: YES. You’ll be making thousands more than your civilian counterparts, receive the best flight training around and get paid to do it and you’ll gain a wealth of knowledge and experience doing so. The equipment you will fly will be among the best in the world, especially on the fighter/attack spectrum.
However of my six years as a military aviator I have spent close to half of it deployed, like I am now, been shot down which did a number on my back and neck, been but into situations that forced me to make decisions that I never care to make again, and will not be coming home with four of my comrades. Maybe in the future I’ll look back at my time of the military and tell myself I made the right choice but for now I envy the guys in cubicals working nine to five. At least they get to home every day and not ever have to worry about doing so.
Granted I am in the Army which is a bit different than the fixedwing guys out there. They really don’t have a viable threat and don’t get into the nitty gritty of this war/operation going on now. That belongs to the guys on the ground and to a lesser extent us rotorheads above them. However the next war all that may change so if you want to join the military simply for the flight aspect I would advise against it. Like Zondaracer said, a good portion of you time is spent doing non aviation tasks.
Hope I’m not being too discouraging, but I hope this helps. Best of luck to ya whatever you do.

December 9th, 2007, 07:34	#5
Low_Level_Hell Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 153	Re: Is it worth it? Financially speaking: YES. You’ll be making thousands more than your civilian counterparts, receive the best flight training around and get paid to do it and you’ll gain a wealth of knowledge and experience doing so. The equipment you will fly will be among the best in the world, especially on the fighter/attack spectrum. However of my six years as a military aviator I have spent close to half of it deployed, like I am now, been shot down which did a number on my back and neck, been but into situations that forced me to make decisions that I never care to make again, and will not be coming home with four of my comrades. Maybe in the future I’ll look back at my time of the military and tell myself I made the right choice but for now I envy the guys in cubicals working nine to five. At least they get to home every day and not ever have to worry about doing so. Granted I am in the Army which is a bit different than the fixedwing guys out there. They really don’t have a viable threat and don’t get into the nitty gritty of this war/operation going on now. That belongs to the guys on the ground and to a lesser extent us rotorheads above them. However the next war all that may change so if you want to join the military simply for the flight aspect I would advise against it. Like Zondaracer said, a good portion of you time is spent doing non aviation tasks. Hope I’m not being too discouraging, but I hope this helps. Best of luck to ya whatever you do.