Wannabe Airline Pilot should I do ANG?
Posted by Darkzg127@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 20 comments
Hello all, I’m 20 and finally looking to pursue my acceptance to UW-Madison, but i’m starting to reconsider the timing.
I don’t care about what university I go to in the end. I just want that degree. But my dream is to be a Commercial Airline pilot.
I’ve thought up too different paths, mind you, i’ll be making a commitment to either of them this week.
But some background on me, I currently work as an installer on private jets leaning into avionics work but technically an “interior installer.” I love planes, decent at turning wrenches started in highschool, have done a discover flight and explored many career options. My degree I have picked out right now is EE which is rigorous but doable IMO. If it was 2016 it would be SWE or CS cause I also love computers. I want to make money and am willing to make the sacrifices.
So path number 1. College, work part time>Get a degree, Get PPL maybe another small rating or two>Apply ANG pilot spot
Path Number 2. Join ANG with a normal job, do a year of training then one weekend a month through college>Get degree and apply for ANG pilot spot at the same time
Path Number 3. Just Skip ANG. Or refer to Path number 1. and instead of trying for PPL and applying for ANG pilot just get a regular job in ANG for 4 years then try for ANG pilot.
Debt isn’t really a factor in any of this. I don’t really need GI. I’m poor so my college is paid for i’ll maybe have 15k debt all subsidized loans. 28 Act. Decent at pretty much all subjects. I think I was nerfed though in highschool so ai could’ve gotten higher but socio-economic and unstable home life came into play.
UsedandAbused87@reddit
They hardly ever accept someone as an officer without being prior enlisted. There might be an exception if you already had you connerical or at.
PuzzleheadedDuty8866@reddit
You don’t know what you’re talking about
Darkzg127@reddit (OP)
Sounds like the chances are low even as an enlisted honestly.
UsedandAbused87@reddit
It's a competitive job to get. They will prefer and active duty pilot first, then look at other officers, then look at enlisted or commercial pilots, then everyone else.
thegrainbeltwarrior@reddit
You could try to be a boom in Milwaukee. You’re flying, school paid for and money to pay for ratings. See if you like the guard and aircrew culture. Maybe it’s something you end up loving and want to pursue a UPT slot, maybe it’s not for you and you keep pursuing civilian side
jerrygergich56@reddit
Go to MATC and fly at Morey or Wisav.
B100West@reddit
Is the goal to become a military pilot?
Or do you want to go military to help pay to become a civilian pilot?
Darkzg127@reddit (OP)
I could care less about the military honestly.
B100West@reddit
Enlist for 4 years in a job that pays well on the outside
Use your paychecks to get your private pilot's license
Get out and use your GI Bill to continue flying
If you want more cash and education benefits. Join your local Air Guard unit in a different job. One with a large sign on bonus
Use that cash and state college money for more flying
KCPilot17@reddit
Do you want to be a military pilot, or do you just want it to get you to commercial? Guard/Reserve will slow the commercial path, even if it's a great option. Have to weigh what you really want to do.
On the realistic aspect, ANG/Reserve pilot has a less than 1% chance of acceptance, so realistically not happening for most people.
Darkzg127@reddit (OP)
Even for prior enlisted it’s that’s low?
immisternicetry@reddit
I know multiple enlisted dudes from the 115th who had to look out of state to even get hired by tanker units. Madison being F-35s is insanely competitive. The 128th in Milwaukee isn't much better. I'm a UW-Madison grad who grew up 20 minutes from their unit and I'm an instructor in the airframe they fly on active duty. They won't even respond to my emails.
KCPilot17@reddit
Absolutely.
retiredaaer@reddit
Yes!!
sprulz@reddit
Whatever you do, go to college and get a degree. Have a backup plan. You’re going to a fun school, enjoy it and broaden your horizons. I get the desire to want to become a pilot, you can certainly do both, but one of the biggest lessons I learned growing up is that there is a lot more to life than aviation, and I wish I’d taken those opportunities when I had the chance instead of having a one track mind about being an airline pilot.
Darkzg127@reddit (OP)
Training on the civ side is just so expensive but I guess that’ll be something to figure out later!
travellingterp@reddit
Honestly, I did a MechE degree first and then did flying after. I thought the degree was great and when I thought I wasn’t gonna get a CFI job I got 80-95k job offers. I got AA CFI job and am sticking to the dream but getting your engineering degree is a great safety net and sets you apart from everyone else. Especially if you intern or do it for a couple of years like I did to have something to talk about other than flying passionately. Also the engineering degree definitely helped me mature in studying and helped with the ground knowledge. Idk if I could’ve done this at 19 or in college. As a CFI that teaches community college students the college route is super rigid and a little tough if you get delayed since you’re constrained by the semesters
Darkzg127@reddit (OP)
It is a good fall back. The thing is though i’m looking to FIRE and also be in a HCOL area so I’m looking for good paying careers and what not. Engineering seems a bit low when it comes to certain areas of the U.S.
haveanairforceday@reddit
Im in the ANG. I think you are better off not using the guard/reserve for pilot training unless you absolutely want to be a military pilot. You can save money and be on a similar timeline if you get that engineering degree, get a sweet engineering job, and then just pay your way through part 61 training.
If you do want to be a mil pilot then hell yeah, EE and a PPL is a great candidate
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hello all, I’m 20 and finally looking to pursue my acceptance to UW-Madison, but i’m starting to reconsider the timing.
I don’t care about what university I go to in the end. I just want that degree. But my dream is to be a Commercial Airline pilot.
I’ve thought up too different paths, mind you, i’ll be making a commitment to either of them this week.
But some background on me, I currently work as an installer on private jets leaning into avionics work but technically an “interior installer.” I love planes, decent at turning wrenches started in highschool, have done a discover flight and explored many career options. My degree I have picked out right now is EE which is rigorous but doable IMO. If it was 2016 it would be SWE or CS cause I also love computers. I want to make money and am willing to make the sacrifices.
So path number 1. College, work part time>Get a degree, Get PPL maybe another small rating or two>Apply ANG pilot spot
Path Number 2. Join ANG with a normal job, do a year of training then one weekend a month through college>Get degree and apply for ANG pilot spot at the same time
Path Number 3. Just Skip ANG. Or refer to Path number 1. and instead of trying for PPL and applying for ANG pilot just get a regular job in ANG for 4 years then try for ANG pilot.
Debt isn’t really a factor in any of this. I don’t really need GI. I’m poor so my college is paid for i’ll maybe have 15k debt all subsidized loans. 28 Act. Decent at pretty much all subjects. I think I was nerfed though in highschool so ai could’ve gotten higher but socio-economic and unstable home life came into play.
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