Air Force pilot training didn’t work out

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kmatthewalt@reddit

I'm about to go to UPT and have as few questions about what you went through with the (I'm assuming) DOR process, can I DM you?

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Capital_Plantain_712@reddit (OP)

Yea go for it, sorry for the late response

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Former non-rated Air Force officer here - now at a major airline. Although I didn't ever attend pilot training, I can attest that a switching to a civilian flying career once your AF commitment is over is a very doable possibility. I timed having my CFI rating done by the time my 5 year ADSC was up and then started building hours full time towards the airline goal. Timing worked well for me and I was able to make it to a major airline sooner than many I commissioned with who went straight to pilot training (they still have ADSC remaining) With the way the industry ebbs and flows it may take a bit longer for you to get to an airline - but it's still very attainable.

As far as your difficulty in training - almost anything is explainable in an airline interview provided you own up to it and explain how you've grown/learned from it.

Long story short, keep your head up and keep working towards the goal if you really want it. Military or civilian - being a professional pilot is a very rewarding career. We've all struggled at some point in training - it's how you come back from it that matters. You got this!

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Capital_Plantain_712@reddit (OP)

Thanks for this

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ECMO_Bluesef@reddit

If it is your passion, stick with it. Possibly try for training as a Navigator/WSO/drones. Also, many bases have a flying club, so don’t shy away from doing all you can while on active duty.

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Capital_Plantain_712@reddit (OP)

Too late for any of those options. They also don’t interest me too much in all honesty.

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oranges1cle@reddit

I have a similar but worse story and I’m at the airlines.

You see these questions on here a lot…I did XYZ, do I still have a shot at the airlines? And the reality is, short of doing hard time

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OtterVA@reddit

Not a deal breaker... for most airlines. There may be one or two where it negatively effects your hiring potential (If they count military failures) but overall as long as you have a successful FAA flying record you should be fine long term.

Military and Civilian flight training are not the same. Not even close. It is very possible to thrive in one and be shit in the other. I’ve seen it happen both ways. You’ll have to lose the chip on your shoulder for the Air Force drama and fully embrace the civilian training (honestly, I probably wouldn’t even bring it up in casual conversation in civilian training) but it’s doable.

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0621Hertz@reddit

Where specifically did you struggle? I don’t know about the USAF but in the USN side of things your flight (NATOPS) jacket is YOURS, no matter if you got wings or not.

This is recorded proof of where you struggled in training. If it is something that you will never do in the airlines, such as BFM or formation, then pretty explainable. Just say it wasn’t for you.

If it is something that will translate, such as an instrument or solo checkride, then treat that failure as a FAA one. Why you hooked and what you can you do better moving forward.

Last but not least if you ever interview sell yourself and your STORY. Did you fall too deep into resignation and felt you will never fly again? Or did you pick yourself back up immediately? I would say if you’re serious about a future in aviation once you’re out of the military get your medical and get in a plane immediately. Enjoy aviation for what it truly is. Don’t let the USAF define what an aviation job is like because it is most definitely not that way.

It’s not the end of the world and never will be, you have to be a pretty sharp person to get into UPT in the first place, never forget that.

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Capital_Plantain_712@reddit (OP)

Honestly I was just behind the curve on everything, I studied and applied myself but was always 2-3 flights behind my peers mentally. It was also fairly early into the program, I didn’t get to solo. Definitely not a good look and I know that. I’ll always take accountability and responsibility for my performances. It all just makes me wonder whether it’s even worth going after considering how expensive it is to get to the airlines.

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SomethingStuckinEye@reddit

Consider it as failing a ppl checkride. You can certainly move on from this. Just know it'll be expensive AF paying out of pocket.

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Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit

Situation is not ideal.

you will always have to disclose that you washed out of military flight training.

but there is nothing that prevents you from doing civilian flight training. Or even doing flight training while you are still in the military….

succesfully completing multiple check rides without failures (private, instrument, commercial, multiengine, CFI, IFI, MEI). Will show that you are trainable and can complete a 121 airline training program. Despite failing military flight training.

how you answer the questions surrounding the circumstances around the failure during an interview will determine how the airline will view hiring you or not.

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

As the title says, I’m in the Air Force went to pilot training and dropped out 2 months ago. I’m currently in the process of moving to my new base with my new job. I’ve been considering trying to still fly once my commitment in the military is over. I struggled during pilot training, was up for a commanders review (you go up to a board and tell high ranking people why you deserve a second chance to stay) and I chose not to fight it and drop out of the program. I’ve heard airlines are very thorough with candidates backgrounds and I’m wondering if I should even bother, especially if getting “kicked”out of Air Force pilot training is potentially a deal breaker. Thoughts?

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