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Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI world

Discussion in 'Military Pilots' started by Propilot, Mar 13, 2011.

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  1. Propilot Well-Known Member

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    Yea, I will try this on Baseops but since there are many airline pilots here, I figured this would also be a good place.


    I want to start a discussion on the realities of being a reserve fighter pilot + airline job + having a family. I have read all the posts for years about this, but it seems TFI could be changing the reality. I am planning on commuting to my reserve base, and living in my airline domicile.

    For those of you with direct experience doing this, is it realistic to do this for 10 years?



    Also, I have never flown 121, and am confused at how mil drop works. Can you drop mil time as a part time reservist for your 4-8 days a month of duty? If so, do you have to make it up later? What I am asking, is can I choose to make less money (work less days) at the airline gig (min run the airline) instead of min running the unit (min running unit is not an option to plan for). Or in other words, lets say a normal monthly bid at my airline has me gone for 15 days this month, can I drop 5 days for mil leave, and only work 10, or will I have to make up those 5 later in the month? I understand it would decrease my pay, but that is a good option to have in order to increase QOL.


    Thank you for your time, I appreciate the feedback.
    Propilot, Mar 13, 2011
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  2. Hacker15e Member Of Extraordinary Magnitude

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Not a lot of dudes 'round here with reserve fighter plus 121 airline gigs, unfortunately.

    Are you all ready an AD fighter guy and trying to work the jump over to the reserves?
    Hacker15e, Mar 13, 2011
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  3. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Its difficult enough being a CBP pilot/agent and flying AFRES HH-60s and maintaining CMR, and thats with both jobs located at the same location AND the same aircraft, generally. The Letter of Xs (training/currency requirements) are just alot to maintain on the mil side. As a part timer, not being always able to take time off to leave for a week here or a week there for training, it's very difficult to maintain things like shipboard deck landing currency, or night water rescue ops, or even air refueling. I really have to monitor the schedule and see which sorties I can jump in on. And again, thats with having my reserve gig located at the SAME base as my normal job.....where there's no travel required. And thats difficult enough. Already, "days off" are little more than a luxury. So time for family is severely reduced too.

    We have one person at my CBP unit in TUS who was flying B-52s reserve out of BAD and just got picked up for A-10s. Going to IFF very soon. Im going to be wondering how that person will be able to be anything more than Basic Mission Capable in the jet versus Combat Mission Ready, what with how much the L of X's increased with the C-models. And like I said, at least I fly the same aircraft in mil as I do in civil.......I couldn't imagine trying to keep current as a fairly new wingman post-seasoning, in an aircraft I'd only see 8 or so times a month; or even trying to balance one job with another that aren't located in the same geographic area and have to do 8-10 days including UTAs there.
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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  4. Rivanthe5th New Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    So what kinds of civilian jobs would reserve or guard fighter pilots have?
    Rivanthe5th, Mar 13, 2011
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  5. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    All sorts of civilian jobs, be they aviation or not. They run the gamut.
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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  6. Ian J Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    From an Army Guard aviation unit perspective it can be really tough to be a part timer no matter what the full time job is. It is difficult for me to get my part timers to the AF equivalent of Combat Mission Capable because of their availability to fly and it is extraordinarily tough to train my unit in combat collective tasks. Some of my guys live out of state which means they can't come in during the week for additional flight training periods and can only fly one weekend a month. Some months we get weathered out and others we can't fly for administrative reasons which makes it that more difficult for pilots to gain/maintain proficiency.

    And I'll readily admit flying utility helicopters is most likely far less training intensive than flying pointy nose jets which makes me wonder how the AF reserve/Air Guard even does it.
    Ian J, Mar 13, 2011
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  7. Propilot Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    I am currently non prior service civy guy who just got hired by an A10 unit. My plan during the last 10 years of fighting for this was to commute to the AFRES/ANG gig, but I am beginning to question that plan. Others do it though.....In fact most pilots at this unit commute in.....
    Propilot, Mar 13, 2011
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  8. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    I wouldn't be worrying about that too much just yet, as that worry is a long way down the road for you. You have many other hurdles to get over first before the commuting question ever even becomes a player....
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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  9. TopGunn Suspended

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    may i ask how old are you? & congratulations nonetheless!
    TopGunn, Mar 13, 2011
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  10. Ian J Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    One of my LTs called me the other day on his drive down to Rucker for flight school asking me about how to get into the 160th...
    Ian J, Mar 13, 2011
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  11. hook_dupin Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Piano player at a cat house is popular.
    hook_dupin, Mar 13, 2011
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  12. Propilot Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    For a lot of reasons, I need to worry about this now.


    Anyone on here have direct experience with this?
    Propilot, Mar 13, 2011
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  13. Propilot Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    I'm 27. Thanks!
    Propilot, Mar 13, 2011
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  14. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Ok. My point being, if you don't pass the many hurdles to even get to that point of worry, then it won't matter.

    But if you have all the answers and know all you need to know, then by all means press.......don't bother with those who have been there and done that.
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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  15. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Hahaha! Nice. Talk about a lean-forward troop. :)
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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  16. Propilot Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    I need answers. Telling me not to worry about it does not help. I respect those with more experience and that is why I am asking this question to those of you who have that experience. What I need are those with direct experience commuting to a unit to relate how that works out, not philosophical advice about how to deal with uncertainty.

    I have been hired. I understand there is still the AFRC board, FC1 physical, and training to pass, but it is very likely that I will get there. The significant other has a chance, right now, to get a great job in an area that has very good commuting possibilities to the unit. We need more information to make an informed decision on whether she should leave her job here and take that job. There is much more to the equation than I care to write.

    I understand there are more hurdles coming, but knowing more about commuting before we make huge life choices on where to live seems like it could, possibly, be a good idea. Worrying about things like this has gotten me far in life and prevented a lot of headache.
    Propilot, Mar 13, 2011
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  17. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Again, you're asking for solid answers regarding a situation with a bunch of unknowns. For someone who is non-prior service and hasn't even done day freaking one of OTS, Im not telling you philisophical advice. I'm telling you to understand some of your priorities regarding the 2.5 years or so of training you're facing; and the number of changes that can happen in that time.

    So you're situation is one of these:

    Either you're already hired by 121 and taking mil leave to go through the training.

    Or you're wanting to get hired by 121 and waiting to go through the mil training.

    Either way, if you don't want to live where the reserve unit is at, then you're going to have to commute. What other choice do you have? Your question is answered right there. And if the significant other has the chance to get a good job in a commutable location, then your chance is likely further answered. If there are no employment opportunities for her in MO or LA surrounding communities, then your question is further answered.

    Now, how difficult commuting will be with regards to making the juggling act of mil vs civil vs family, will vary widely due to any number of factors.......who you work for, etc. Again, many unknowns.

    But on the philosophical side, let me tell you that what you *think* you know about what's good to worry about and whats not good to worry about, might not be what will help you succeed in the mil side. AFRC board and FC1, while hurdles, will be nothing compared to UPT, IFF, FTU, etc. Take that from someone that has more than one day of total active federal military service.
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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  18. cmac88 Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Getting the FC1 done in time for the June Board is proving to be a bigger hurdle than expected.... thanks to congress not being able to settle anything. Can't say I'm surprised, I've grown up around the government.
    cmac88, Mar 13, 2011
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  19. Soku39 Well-Known Member

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    Interesting discussion, I'm worried about this too, and I only have to worry about flying the C-130, so way less training, also just a long term girlfriend, I couldn't imagine adding family to this mess.

    I think what MikeD is pointing out is that there is just so much more to worry about in the immediate. You're looking at a good 3-4 years before you're even back at the squadron flying, and you're already worried about commuting? How about:

    -Will your wife live with you during UPT (which you don't know the location of yet)
    -Is she going to follow you around to every location you have to live in for 3 months for different quals.

    To me this all comes down to time and where to invest it, I don't know how much I'm going to have to be with the -130 yet and there's a lot of other information that I don't have yet before I can even begin to make those decisions. I'll have to wait and see when I get back to the wing. Let me put it this way it's been 5 months and I haven't even gotten my FC1 results back yet, this whole thing will take a ton of time, and he's not saying not to worry about it, but there's not a whole hell of a lot you can worry about right now in regards to commuting.

    Also good luck on your FC1, everyone needs it, whether they think they do or not.

    cmac88, good luck man, I got offers from a guard wing, and a reserve wing in the same week. I went with the guard only because I'd heard about that having your FC1 certified before you can sit for the AFRAC board changing in 2011, I figured it'd add a good 8 months to what's already a hell of a wait, especially with them moving the FC1s to Wright Patt, I got a week or two before they shut Brooks down, and I consider myself damn lucky.
    Soku39, Mar 13, 2011
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  20. MikeD Administrator

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    Re: Reserve figher pilot + airline + family in a post TFI wo

    We have a winner! Soku39 "gets it".

    Im indeed not saying to "not worry about it", am simply trying to give the OP the mil-side perspective that there's no way he'd know; and how the many unknowns (at this point and all through training) of that perspective relates to the question he's posing. IE- there's no black and white yes/no answer. I have no idea what kind of job the OPs other half is going for and whether its a job she wants, or is just one that would pay the bills. But if thats a good sure thing right now, then take the job. You'll be busy enough with all the training you'll be going through, so my personal recommendation would be to not have a gf/spouse at UPT if you can get away with doing that, which sounds like it'd be anyway if she takes said job. But thats just me.

    Still, what you're wanting to deal with is so far down the road anyway. But my original point still stands, either you're going to commute or you're not going to. If she takes said job, you'll be commuting. If not, then the situation is still up in the air.

    Your question of "what should the gf/wife do with the job" is akin to asking someone on here "what EXACTLY is going to be the outcome of the Libya situation....I need to know NOW!" Too many unknowns. And as usual, like anything else: it depends. :)
    MikeD, Mar 13, 2011
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