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Yet another Air Force question.

S

Savij

Diamond Member
I've always wanted to fly, and thought about the air force off and on for a while. I've got some questions but I don't want to waste a recruiter's time and don't completely trust them. I've got an engineering degree so (i think) that means I would be entering officer. That means no flying f15's or anything like that, right? That doesn't really matter anyway because what I really want to fly are the C5's or something of similar size. Would that be possible at all? What requirements do I need to meet? What should I know going in.

Also, I have a decent amount of debt: both student loans and credit cards. It's not a problem at the moment, but what is the salary like? Would it be feasible to continue to pay them off on an air force salary?

I'm also wondering if air national guard might be a (better?) option for me. Feel free to chime in if you can answer these questions, provide insight, or just want to regale us with your stories of aviation badassery.

Cliffs for the retarded: Has college degree, debt and wants to fly big planes.
 
I just enlisted in the National Guard, only because it was a better option for me as far and college goes. I didnt really need the college money, but it was something I felt called to do. Good luck to you and your decision, thanks for wanting to serve.
 
Oops I read "Yet another Air Farce question" as in Royal Candain Air Farce (CBC Show). Anyway I have no idea as I'm not american but I wish you luck.

And your cliff arent retarded enough.
 
Originally posted by: Savij
I've always wanted to fly, and thought about the air force off and on for a while. I've got some questions but I don't want to waste a recruiter's time and don't completely trust them. I've got an engineering degree so (i think) that means I would be entering officer. That means no flying f15's or anything like that, right? That doesn't really matter anyway because what I really want to fly are the C5's or something of similar size. Would that be possible at all? What requirements do I need to meet? What should I know going in.

Also, I have a decent amount of debt: both student loans and credit cards. It's not a problem at the moment, but what is the salary like? Would it be feasible to continue to pay them off on an air force salary?

I'm also wondering if air national guard might be a (better?) option for me. Feel free to chime in if you can answer these questions, provide insight, or just want to regale us with your stories of aviation badassery.

Cliffs for the retarded: Has college degree, debt and wants to fly big planes.
Click to expand...

I known some engineers who became pilots.

Basically, if you have no experience whatsoever, no ROTC, etc, you will have to go through OTS. Now it is not guaranteed for anyone to be a pilot. Based on the fact you have an engineering degree, most likely for the time being you will be in an acquisitions career field (61x, 62x, and perhaps 63x but i doubt it, most likely 62x).

And even then you are considered an engineer for the Air Force. To actually become a pilot, there are more hoops you have to go through and that I am not sure of.

Pay? Google base pay and air force. Chart is explanatory. See O-1 officer grade. (the values are per month and doesn't include additional entitlements)

Oh and the only way to be a pilot is you being an officer. You wont know what type of aircraft you are flying at all til waaaaay later in UPT (undergrad pilot training) and even then, most people at this point hope they pass rather than worry about what airframe they get. And its pretty intensive training I might add from what my former roommate describes.
 
And if you do want to just fly, then Elist in the navy, army, or national guard, use the tution deals to become a pilot. The air force has a crappy college funding plan, for active duty you get $4500 a year towards college.
 
Originally posted by: FDF12389
And if you do want to just fly, then Elist in the navy, army, or national guard, use the tution deals to take pilot classes at a tech school. The air force has a crappy college funding plan, for active duty you get $4500 a year towards college.
Click to expand...


I've already finished the college degree, I'm just not done paying for it yet.
 
Originally posted by: MazerRackham
Dude just go to Top Gun directly...
Click to expand...

I'm not sure that was right place for me. I kept hearding low flying airplanes and then getting burned by coffee.
 
Originally posted by: FDF12389
And if you do want to just fly, then Elist in the navy, army, or national guard, use the tution deals to become a pilot. The air force has a crappy college funding plan, for active duty you get $4500 a year towards college.
Click to expand...

Its not bad, if you take part time grad courses (I am currently taking 1 for now) then its fine. You take your courses while you also work. The fund resets every fiscal year back to $4500 from what I been told. Its all tuition paid and around my area, there are local universitites set up to telecourse their offerings to the base.
 
Originally posted by: Tick
With an engineers salary, you should be able to learn to fly on your own dime.
Click to expand...

Yes, I could learn to fly on my own dime, but I doubt I could afford to take 6 greyhound buses w/o the air force's help.
 
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: Tick
With an engineers salary, you should be able to learn to fly on your own dime.
Click to expand...

Yes, I could learn to fly on my own dime, but I doubt I could afford to take 6 greyhound buses w/o the air force's help.
Click to expand...

How much student debt do you HAVE?
 
Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: Tick
With an engineers salary, you should be able to learn to fly on your own dime.
Click to expand...

Yes, I could learn to fly on my own dime, but I doubt I could afford to take 6 greyhound buses w/o the air force's help.
Click to expand...

How much student debt do you HAVE?
Click to expand...

Enough to sink a battleship. Student loans are about $45,000.
 
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: Tick
With an engineers salary, you should be able to learn to fly on your own dime.
Click to expand...

Yes, I could learn to fly on my own dime, but I doubt I could afford to take 6 greyhound buses w/o the air force's help.
Click to expand...

How much student debt do you HAVE?
Click to expand...

Enough to sink a battleship. Student loans are about $45,000.
Click to expand...

Use an engineer salary to pay off that debt, then learn to fly.

 
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: Tick
With an engineers salary, you should be able to learn to fly on your own dime.
Click to expand...

Yes, I could learn to fly on my own dime, but I doubt I could afford to take 6 greyhound buses w/o the air force's help.
Click to expand...

How much student debt do you HAVE?
Click to expand...

Enough to sink a battleship. Student loans are about $45,000.
Click to expand...

Oh. Nevermind then. Maybe in 10 years you can learn to fly on your own dime.
 
Originally posted by: Tick
Not to get too far off track, but what pay grade would someone with a doctorate (let's say in oh, engineer) enter with?
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter, everyone starts the same. Pay is based off of rank and time in service at the rank.

The degree may matter on promotion boards though.
 
Originally posted by: Imaginer
Originally posted by: Tick
Not to get too far off track, but what pay grade would someone with a doctorate (let's say in oh, engineer) enter with?
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter, everyone starts the same. Pay is based off of rank and time in service at the rank.

The degree may matter on promotion boards though.
Click to expand...

How much would it matter?
 
Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: Imaginer
Originally posted by: Tick
Not to get too far off track, but what pay grade would someone with a doctorate (let's say in oh, engineer) enter with?
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter, everyone starts the same. Pay is based off of rank and time in service at the rank.

The degree may matter on promotion boards though.
Click to expand...

How much would it matter?
Click to expand...

Well, if one does have a PhD going in as a fresh 2nd Lt, they already have a head up over pretty much everyone. (I don't know many Lts that already have their doctorate - pretty much all have their bachelors, some masters) It really does not matter until you are submitted for Major and upwards. And even then I don't know if they are still purposely blocking advanced degrees on Major select boards.
 
Originally posted by: Savij
So I'm looking at this pay scale: http://www.airforce.com/careers/paychart/index.php

Is that all the compensation, or do you get houseing in addition to that? If housing is provided, then I can afford it. If it isn't then i'm not sure, I might have to wait till at least all of the CC's are paid off.
Click to expand...

That is just base pay. No other entitlements are included. It depends whether you opt for on-base housing or off base housing that you get additonal amounts (BAH - basic housing allowance). For me, if one were to live off base, they will get an additional $940 a month (this is for the off-base folks at Edwards - and know for sure its more down at LA AFB) but this value depends on where you live.

Edit, these are values per month. Without deductions of taxes, etc.
 
Originally posted by: Imaginer
Originally posted by: Savij
So I'm looking at this pay scale: http://www.airforce.com/careers/paychart/index.php

Is that all the compensation, or do you get houseing in addition to that? If housing is provided, then I can afford it. If it isn't then i'm not sure, I might have to wait till at least all of the CC's are paid off.
Click to expand...

That is just base pay. No other entitlements are included. It depends whether you opt for on-base housing or off base housing that you get additonal amounts (BAH - basic housing allowance). For me, if one were to live off base, they will get an additional $940 a month (this is for the off-base folks at Edwards - and know for sure its more down at LA AFB) but this value depends on where you live.

Edit, these are values per month. Without deductions of taxes, etc.
Click to expand...

Do you know about physical qualifications for a pilot? I need glasses at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I can get laser surgery and it's ok. Height/Weight (I'm probably looking at minimums here rather than maximums.
 
If you're good enough you can fly X302s and maybe even the Daedelus. Unfortunately we just lost the Prometheus, rip 🙁
 
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