Military or Civilian??

DC10FlyBy · April 15th, 2008, 18:10

Hey guys.
I'm trying to figure out if i should go the military route or the civilian route to become an airline pilot.
I'm looking into US Air Force Academy, Purdue, Parks College, Embry Riddle.
What would you suggest? Military vs Civilian?
Thanks!

Polar742 · April 15th, 2008, 18:23

Find what suits YOU best. You can't go wrong with any of them.

I have my preferences (PU Alum), but all are great.

Good luck!!

Seggy · April 15th, 2008, 18:27

Go to a large state school, enjoy college, get involved in extracurricular activities outside of aviation, and THEN decide if you want to pursue a ROTC scholarship or you want to pursue the civilian pilot route.

With the Air Force Academy, no guarantee you will get a pilot slot!

Out of all your schools, I would look into Purdue University first.

GalaxyIFE · April 15th, 2008, 18:46

I agree w/ the others. Go to a traditional school and do the ROTC thing...

The AF Academy is great place to be from, but not a good place to be.

DC10FlyBy · April 15th, 2008, 19:47

Well im not going to do ROTC, the only military thing in consideration is AFA.
I live in Missouri, any one know of any good Missouri Schools i could go to?
St. Louis University has a branch called Parks College i was considering.

Seggy · April 15th, 2008, 19:49

University of Missouri would be your best bet then.

Seriously, you don't need to fly with a college program. Do it on the side at a local FBO. That is what I did. Worked out great for me. If it did well for me, it can do well for anyone else!

You can always go back and do an Air National Guard slot. The Air Force Academy offers no guarantees for pilot slots.

DC10FlyBy · April 15th, 2008, 19:56

You think so?
I don't feel to safe doing that, just because i really don't know what i'm doing and when and where i should take the course's.
Would you mind AIMing with me about it??

TheOneMarine · April 15th, 2008, 21:48

Quote:

Go to a large state school, enjoy college, get involved in extracurricular activities outside of aviation, and THEN decide if you want to pursue a ROTC scholarship or you want to pursue the civilian pilot route.

With the Air Force Academy, no guarantee you will get a pilot slot!

Out of all your schools, I would look into Purdue University first.

Actually, short of getting hurt while your there, EVERYONE that wants a slot out of the academy, gets one. The leftovers go to ROTC. But the rest is very true. Get a degree in something you love thats not aviation related. You'll feel a lot more confident when tough times like these roll around.

DC10FlyBy · April 15th, 2008, 21:56

Ok, thanks.
Would going to Purdue and doing the flight program there be ok then minor in something non aviation?
I just feel better doing the flight program then doing it on the side at an FBO.

TheOneMarine · April 15th, 2008, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC10FlyBy

Ok, thanks.
Would going to Purdue and doing the flight program there be ok then minor in something non aviation?
I just feel better doing the flight program then doing it on the side at an FBO.

Dude, listen to these guys like I did.... You will not make enough at the regionals to justify a $70K+ loan. Go to an FBO where it is cheap. In Indiana there are a TON of places to go where there's good equipment and it's inexpensive. You're going to do whatever you want, we can only guide you. But when the junk hits the fan, you will feel so much safer and so much wiser if you majored in say, business or something not related to this industry which is a great industry, but unstable. Just my .02 cents though, do with it as you will

DC10FlyBy · April 15th, 2008, 22:54

okie dokie.
so if i do something non aviation related, Purdue is pointless?
i dont live in indiana, i live in missouri.

N826AW · April 16th, 2008, 01:04

I spent a semester in AFROTC in college and it was a total blast. I wasn't on a scholarship and had to work to put myself through school so the schedule didn't jive. Honestly, I would pop into the Det at the schools you are looking at and check it out. Great way to network and the people all have similar interests.

The images in your sig are way big.

Hacker15e · April 16th, 2008, 01:15

DC10, based on what I'm reading here, I suggest you avoid the military all together.

The military is an ends to itself...not a means to get to an airline job. If you desire to serve your country as a military officer, then go for it -- it will be a tough enough path just getting commissioned that if you don't really want it you will either see the time/effort as wasted or you won't make it in the first place.

If you ARE interested in becoming a military officer (who has a job as a pilot on the side), and are willing to accept all of the baggage that comes along with being a military officer (the moves, the "needs of the service", the deployments away from home), then you SHOULD not care what path you take to getting commissioned (as in, ROTC is as good of an option as OCS/OTS and USAFA).

In the USAF, at least, it is a 6-year commitment just to be commissioned as an officer, and a 10+ year commitment if you are selected to be a pilot and make it through training. That's 10 years of service even if you are not flying an airplane.

It is NOT a decision to be made lightly.

So, if your ultimate goal is just to become an airline pilot, then I suggest you pass up going the military route.

Hacker15e · April 16th, 2008, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOneMarine

Actually, short of getting hurt while your there, EVERYONE that wants a slot out of the academy, gets one.

Be careful making statements like that -- while that is the case currently, it is NOT always true. These things go in cycles. I will agree that there is an "increased" chance of getting a pilot slot on the USAF side versus going to ROTC, but "everyone" is an overstatement. Just ask guys who graduated between '91 to '93, and again in '96 and '97.

Given the current budget crunch that the USAF is in, I'd expect to see drawdowns to SUPT again, too. They're all ready predicting that T-38 track slots are going to be drawn down significantly.

No NOT go to an academy because it is a "sure" way to get a spot to UPT. There are lots of reasons to want to go to one, but that is not one of them.

staplegun · April 16th, 2008, 01:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC10FlyBy

I'm trying to figure out if i should go the military route or the civilian route to become an airline pilot.

Are you a warrior?

If not then don't even think about joining the current military.

The fact that you asked the question the way you did suggests to me that you go the civilian route.

Kevin

Commander, USNR (Ret.)

Ian J · April 16th, 2008, 01:39

To the OP: Hacker and Staplegun know their stuff from experience - take heed of their advice.

Question for you though - the AF Academy is extraordinarily competitive. Have you applied and been accepted? If you do(did) get in, do you know how tough it is once you're there?

staplegun · April 16th, 2008, 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian J

To the OP: Hacker and Staplegun know their stuff from experience - take heed of their advice.

FWIW, I've had this same conversation with my 18-year-old son!

If you want to be a warrior, then join the military!

If you want to be a flying warrior, then join the military!

If all you want is to be an airline pilot and have "Uncle Sam" pay for it, then there are multiple civilian routes to accomplish this much quicker...

JMHO, YMMV!

Kevin

Capt. Caucasian · April 16th, 2008, 09:47

I always wanted to do both, military and civilian. But, my eyesight was always too bad so military was never there for me. I actually got a Guard slot to fly C130s but, the unit was unable to get me a waiver.

So, I went the civilian route. As far as which one will get you to a major sooner? In my new-hire class at SouthernJets most of the military guys were my age or older so, had I gone the mil route it would have been a wash. Probably.

Still though, I wish I could have been an USAF pilot. Actually, I wish I could have been a Guard Bum. No reason other than a desire to do it. The airline job was going to come regardless.

Also, get a degree in something other than aviation. I recommend finance, accounting, MIS, or engineering of some sort. I have a degree in finance but, I wish I had one in architecture or building science.

Ian J · April 16th, 2008, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by staplegun

FWIW, I've had this same conversation with my 18-year-old son!

If you want to be a warrior, then join the military!

If you want to be a flying warrior, then join the military!

If all you want is to be an airline pilot and have "Uncle Sam" pay for it, then there are multiple civilian routes to accomplish this much quicker...

JMHO, YMMV!

Kevin

Absolutely.

On a side note - it is nice to hear about the "warrior-mentality" from the Navy and Air Force sides. It's a critical mindset to have in today's non-linear battlefield.

In fact, one of my struggles as a commander was instilling the warrior mentality in my light wheeled mechanics, cooks, and admin people. Too many times I'd see them carrying their weapons around like a suitcase. It took a lot of pulling them out of their day to day jobs and training them for combat to get them to start thinking like they are really at war.

Anyway... sorry for the thread hijack!

OldTownPilot · April 16th, 2008, 11:25

If you want to serve your country go to the AFA or ROTC. There is a chance that the USAF will think that you can best serve your country as a pilot, There is a chance that they will think your best fit is something else. Like the others have said, you will be an Air Force officer first, pilot second.

If you want to bum around airplanes, go to your local state school, major in something cool (preferably with a high female/male ratio) , and find a kick butt FBO/ flight school to get your ratings, and take your female friends flying. By your senior year, if you work hard you should be able to have your CFI by then and teach part time while going to class, and an airline job shortly after you graduate.

skidz · April 16th, 2008, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC10FlyBy

Hey guys.
I'm trying to figure out if i should go the military route or the civilian route to become an airline pilot.

Go military if you wanna serve your country. This involves a lot more than just flying. Go civilian if you have some spare 100k that you don't care about because you'll need it for your ratings and your college degree.

Minnesota_Flyer · April 16th, 2008, 12:11

In the military, you are an officer first, a pilot second. If you are not comfortable with that, you don't want to go the military route.

BE19Pilot · April 17th, 2008, 13:58

I'd apply for all the options you mentioned to give yourself some options. If it were me, I'd go to Purdue on an Air Force or Navy ROTC scholarship and study engineering. Get the commission, and go onto flight training. I'd avoid going thru any kind of pilot training programs at ERAU or any other University training program. Not because they don't offer good training, but because of the cost/benefit. The military is going to give you the best training, life experience and you'll be serving a higher purpose than the flying a "greyhound-in-the-sky". Good luck!

Fly Navy, the best always have!

DC10FlyBy · April 17th, 2008, 21:29

Thanks for all the help guys!
I live in Missouri, so you think i should go to Mizzou?
Isn't there usually lower prices if you live in the state of your college going to??

blee256 · April 18th, 2008, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Caucasian

I always wanted to do both, military and civilian. But, my eyesight was always too bad so military was never there for me. I actually got a Guard slot to fly C130s but, the unit was unable to get me a waiver.

So you were awarded a pilot slot without getting your waiver first?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC10FlyBy

Thanks for all the help guys!
I live in Missouri, so you think i should go to Mizzou?
Isn't there usually lower prices if you live in the state of your college going to??

Yes, Colleges are generally cheaper in your own state. If you go to a school out of state, there is an out-of-state fee in addition to the regular tuition for public schools. Private universities are expensive no matter where you live.