-
Prior enlisted Marine to ANG fighter pilot
Hello ladies and gentlemen, here’s a tired old question I bet. Prior service here (USMC 4 yrs active, enlisted, 0621 Field Radio Operator). Currently pursuing a bachelor’s in computer science after separating from the Corps. I am seriously considering applying for a fighter slot in the guard (especially the 144th FW which is nearby me). I’ll pursue a PPL next year while in my junior year of college. I have a few questions:
-
Is it difficult for prior enlisted (especially Marines) to get accepted for pilot slots in the ANG? I heard the regular Air Force is restrictive on prior Marines so I wonder if the guard is the same.
-
With being prior service, I also have a 70% VA disability rating. Will this make it virtually impossible to commission as a fighter pilot in the ANG? Mostly joint pains and mental health-related ratings but it has subdued a good bit since separating (thankfully). I do believe I can pass and excel on physicals, especially shorter AF ones (not a jab, promise).
-
I have -3.25 myopia. I see in the current waiver guidelines that vision as bad as -8.0 may receive a waiver after refractive surgery and passing physicals. Is this a real possibility with someone with my background and if so, should I pursue LASIK/ PRK before applying?
Here are other factors that may contribute (since I do not have the usual metrics to judge potential this early):
AFOQT: have not taken it yet, but my boneheaded 18-year-old self scored 93rd percentile on the ASVAB without studying. I will study for all of the necessary exams as a grown man now and feel confident I will score high given my academic background.
Flight hours: none, but I am aiming to earn my PPL next year (junior year of college)
Extracurriculars: I currently volunteer weekly at an aviation museum as a docent (180hrs/year). I have other strong leadership experience among student organizations at my university thanks to my time as an NCO in the Corps. They mainly pertain to computer science activities.
Reason I want to join as a fighter pilot: Service has always been an important aspect of who I am. I dreamt of becoming a Marine as a child (complete, Semper Fi!) and working in aviation as a pilot or engineer. After separating honorably from the Corps and starting undergrad, I had to scratch the service and aviation itch, so I started volunteering at a local aviation museum. I am planning to start earning my PPL by next year, whether or not I apply to the ANG.
I just want to get practical advice before I pull time away from either preparing for an MBA or finding a software engineering job after graduating to pursue the ANG. Thank you!!
-
-
5 Replies
-
I don’t have great answers for you about the VA rating or the eyesight – however having recently gone through UPT I had met at least 2 prior Marines and a few prior Navy guys who had been picked up by Guard/Reserve unit. It didn’t sound like the process of getting hired was any more or less challenging than a normal off the street hire but I’m sure there could be a little extra paperwork to be done.
-
Thanks, good to hear prior enlisted aren’t at disadvantage of some sort.
-
-
@Marco_Polo_Actual Thanks for jumping in and sharing your story. First and foremost, a prior career in service is definitely not a disadvantage; in fact, I can confidently say that it will be considered a positive in the application process.
As far as the medical side goes, that could be more of a challenge. I’m far from an expert on the medical side of things but I recommend trying one of the BogiDope resident flight docs to run your medical questions by.
To give you a good idea of what most Guard Fighter units are looking for, here are the benchmarks I often brief:
*AFOQT Pilot/ PCSM in the 90s
*College GPA over 3.0
*Minimum Civilian Flight Experience: Private Pilot License and the 60ish hours that go with it
*Age: 26 or younger
This is not the end-all be-all, but this is what we typically see in applicants who get picked for interviews. If you don’t have all those things, I recommend trying to get there (for the ones you can control) and/or rushing units to build a relationship so that they may look past some of those things.
Hope this helps!
-CHAOS
-
Thank you for the information! I will be pushing close to 27 by the time I graduate with my bachelor’s, but I will mvoe forward nevertheless. I will be sure to consult a flight doctor as well.
– Marco
-
-
If there’s a will, there’s a way! Keep pushing and keep us in the loop on any progress or any roadblocks you hit.
Log in to reply.