NinoBaldacci
Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2021
- Messages
- 91
If commissioning is not going to be a viable option, but he wants to fly, he should look into the Loadmaster (1A2X1) or Special Missions Aviation (1A9X1) AFSCs.
RIght, but he has the chance to do that now.Joining the AF is a relatively new decision for him, so he didn't really take care of his grades, but we were hoping to make an end-run around those aspects.
Pilots In the the Coast Guard are all officers.like St.Paul Dad my first thought as I read the OP was "Warrant Officer" US Army. This might be one of those times when "DAD" can point to the right trail head. My DD's best friend at USNA went Pilot. He did really well in FLT. School and had the full set of platforms available to choose from. It came down to F18G or SH60 Seahawk for him. He went with the Helo as the more engaging/challenging ride with more "meaningful" operations oriented flying day-to-day.
I am also reminded of a converstation I had with a retired USN A7 pilot years ago. I was just out of grad school and moaning about how much I'd wanted to be a pilot,(I grew up around F86 jocks), but my vision sucked. This guy/engineer, put his hand on my shoulder and said -"Just Dad"-, 9O% of the time its flying in straight lines above 5000ft and, trust me, nothing feels fast at 5000ft.". "It's Sorta like having your own little airliner. " In contrast, an OH6 doing 100kts, 80' off the deck reacting to obstacles, now THAT feels FAST-n-TIGHT------- Ah--- at least it did sitting on the right side flying over coffee fields on Kauai.
Then there's the Coast Guard, which does not require a college degree either. Talk about challenging, meaningful,-hero type stuff--Every single day!
Trust me, it ain't settling -----------------------------------------------Just saying
PS: Now I'm wondering if , as a practical matter, Army and CG really does take raw HS educated types into their flight programs. I know on paper you can do it with a HS education, but the completion for those training spots must be pretty stiff. Wondering also if it would make sense for a HS grad to take out a loan (or talk his Dad into $$$) to take a commercial aviation course to get licensed for Helicopters before going in. I bet that combo would "show those college boys" in testing. He could start out on ground school stuff pretty inexpensively now, (show you he's serious) and move to flight training after he graduates. Post graduation, he takes a day job to fund part of his costs. One year later--bing-bango-bongo-- he goes in to USArmy or C Guard with a sleeve that says he's already a Helo pilot. I bet this is a fairly common path.