Reserves to augment my income?

mattdc · July 2nd, 2006, 20:49

Right now I am finishing my second tour to Iraq, and in April I'll be finishing up my four year enlistment in the Marine Corps. I am planning on going to flight school after I get out. From reading many posts, I have figured out that pilots have a hard time making ends meet at the beginnings of their careers. I am thinking about joining the Air Force Reserve to help with the bills, and was wondering if anyone else thinks this is a good idea or has any experience in the Air Force Reserves.

scoobs · July 2nd, 2006, 21:34

Go into the AF reserves/guard and let them pay for your flight training.

willc · July 2nd, 2006, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattdc

Right now I am finishing my second tour to Iraq, and in April I'll be finishing up my four year enlistment in the Marine Corps. I am planning on going to flight school after I get out. From reading many posts, I have figured out that pilots have a hard time making ends meet at the beginnings of their careers. I am thinking about joining the Air Force Reserve to help with the bills, and was wondering if anyone else thinks this is a good idea or has any experience in the Air Force Reserves.

FYI, I know that a lot of flight schools will take the G.I. bill to help offset the cost of training.

On another note, thanks for all you have done, especially two tours in Iraq.

SkyHawg · July 3rd, 2006, 00:36

More importantly if you are going to get a loan to pay for training, have a plan to get as much of that paid as soon as you can.

And thank you for your service.

Happy Birthday America!

GirlInTraining · July 4th, 2006, 22:30

matt -

I'm currently in the AF reserves (was enlisted, now officer/pilot) and can give you a quick good/bad/ugly take...

Good: continuing with your service, especially on the AF side

and the pay/benefits are nice to have as a "supplemental" income. Plus, you can usually pick up some man-days to help out your squadron if times are lean when you're first starting out as a civilian pilot.

Bad: assuming you're coming in enlisted, you'll most likely have to go to an AF tech school, which may or may not come at an opportune time in your flight training. If you're planning on applying for a pilot slot, that's a whole other ball of wax (and PM me if you need more info than what is already posted on this board)

Ugly: you're still going to have the "opportunity" to deploy. Again, this may throw a wrench in your flight school plans, or has the potential to (temporarily!!) mess up your civilian flying schedule.

mattdc · July 5th, 2006, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlInTraining

matt -

Ugly: you're still going to have the "opportunity" to deploy. Again, this may throw a wrench in your flight school plans, or has the potential to (temporarily!!) mess up your civilian flying schedule.

Yeah, another deployment is one of those things that is making me skeptical about the reserves. If I do join it wont be until after I complete flight school, I am planning on finishing up my bachelors after that and am thinking that it might be beneficial to join at that point. I guess I'll really just have too see when the time comes.

Callous · July 7th, 2006, 15:57

Go back to Iraq as a 'contractor.' The reserves would likely send you back anyway. You can make at least 100k in one year, and if you have combat experience probably double that. Then you can come home and choose whatever flight path you want, including the one where you just buy/rent a plane and fly until you hit mins.

mattdc · July 16th, 2006, 20:53

I have already looked into the contractor gig, and I am not counting it out. But It is my understanding that contractor jobs have less consistancey than aviiation jobs. I have worked with a # of contractors here. The only applicable skills that I have are currently in low demand. If things were to escalate I would be worth alot more, but I'd rather see that we haven't spent the past 3 years working for nothing. In other words, I'd like too see a continued progress towards peace, but it's not good for someone in my current line of work.

July 2nd, 2006, 20:49	#1
mattdc Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7	Reserves to augment my income? Right now I am finishing my second tour to Iraq, and in April I'll be finishing up my four year enlistment in the Marine Corps. I am planning on going to flight school after I get out. From reading many posts, I have figured out that pilots have a hard time making ends meet at the beginnings of their careers. I am thinking about joining the Air Force Reserve to help with the bills, and was wondering if anyone else thinks this is a good idea or has any experience in the Air Force Reserves.

July 2nd, 2006, 21:34	#2
scoobs Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 677	Re: Reserves to augment my income? Go into the AF reserves/guard and let them pay for your flight training.

July 3rd, 2006, 00:36	#4
SkyHawg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 564	Re: Reserves to augment my income? More importantly if you are going to get a loan to pay for training, have a plan to get as much of that paid as soon as you can. And thank you for your service. Happy Birthday America!

July 4th, 2006, 22:30	#5
GirlInTraining Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lounging in Pyjamas Posts: 69	Re: Reserves to augment my income? matt - I'm currently in the AF reserves (was enlisted, now officer/pilot) and can give you a quick good/bad/ugly take... Good: continuing with your service, especially on the AF side and the pay/benefits are nice to have as a "supplemental" income. Plus, you can usually pick up some man-days to help out your squadron if times are lean when you're first starting out as a civilian pilot. Bad: assuming you're coming in enlisted, you'll most likely have to go to an AF tech school, which may or may not come at an opportune time in your flight training. If you're planning on applying for a pilot slot, that's a whole other ball of wax (and PM me if you need more info than what is already posted on this board) Ugly: you're still going to have the "opportunity" to deploy. Again, this may throw a wrench in your flight school plans, or has the potential to (temporarily!!) mess up your civilian flying schedule. __________________ Flying is hours and hours of boredom - interspersed with moments of stark terror.

July 7th, 2006, 15:57	#7
Callous Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 356	Re: Reserves to augment my income? Go back to Iraq as a 'contractor.' The reserves would likely send you back anyway. You can make at least 100k in one year, and if you have combat experience probably double that. Then you can come home and choose whatever flight path you want, including the one where you just buy/rent a plane and fly until you hit mins. __________________ Callous - adj. Emotionally hardened; unfeeling: a callous indifference to the suffering of others. Have You Served Your Country Today?

July 16th, 2006, 20:53	#8
mattdc Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7	Re: Reserves to augment my income? I have already looked into the contractor gig, and I am not counting it out. But It is my understanding that contractor jobs have less consistancey than aviiation jobs. I have worked with a # of contractors here. The only applicable skills that I have are currently in low demand. If things were to escalate I would be worth alot more, but I'd rather see that we haven't spent the past 3 years working for nothing. In other words, I'd like too see a continued progress towards peace, but it's not good for someone in my current line of work.

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