Greetings fellow aviators, aspiring aviators, enthusiasts, and those simply passing through. As a full-time airline pilot for a major US carrier and a part-time mobility pilot for the US Air Force, I am convinced of one thing: there is no other job (or pair of jobs) I’d rather have. The fortuitous nature of my situation …
Just as the United States President conducts a State of the Union address, I thought I would take a few minutes to discuss the State of the Pipeline as it pertains to Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). Since the Covid-19 Pandemic began, the aviation industry has been fighting to find the right balance between …
I’ve written extensively on The Pilot Network about what I consider to be the Ideal Career Path for a Military Pilot. I envisioned that path specifically for a pilot on Active Duty in the military; however, that doesn’t have to be the case. It turns out there’s an even better option, the Ultimate Military Pilot …
The Ultimate Military Pilot Career Path (Part 1) Read More »
Welcome back, future aviators! In Part 1 of this series we saw how getting hired by a Guard or Reserve unit right out of college is the Ultimate Military Pilot Career Path. The military pays for your flight training, you get to enjoy operating amazing military aircraft, and you can start your parallel career as …
The Ultimate Military Pilot Career Path (Part 2) Read More »
Have you seen Top Gun or any of the (objectively terrible) Iron Eagle movies more times than you’re willing to admit? Do you daydream of flying twice the speed of sound, pulling 9Gs, and dominating the airspace over any country on the planet, at will? Perhaps you’re motivated by the idea of protecting troops on …
Dear BogiDope Readers, We have a treat for you today! A recently-commissioned Second Lieutenant wrote a fantastic report about what to expect at Total Force Officer Training (TFOT, formerly known as OTS). Many of our customers find their Guard or Reserve units, or find their way to Active Duty, as new-hired directly “off the street” …
Welcome back BogiDope readers! This is Part 2 of our in-depth report on what OTS is like right now. We covered sections 1-3 last week, and will finish with sections 4-6 today. Enjoy! Table of Contents What is OTS/TFOT? Preparing for OTS Pre-course Material PT Test Dorm Manual What to bring to OTS Packing List …
So you’re a freshly minted, steely-eyed 2nd Lieutenant that’s ready to dominate UPT with the highest MASS score ever recorded and eager start your new life as the second-coming of Robin Olds. Well…not so fast. For those of you without a civilian Private Pilot’s License (PPL) or higher, you’ll need to graduate from Initial Flight …
First of all, congratulations, you did it! Whether it was through ROTC, Active Duty, or the Guard/Reserves to fly fighters, heavies, or helos, you won the lottery and got selected during your board to attend Air Force Pilot Training. Inevitably, at some point after your well-earned celebration, you have the same thought that all of …
Surviving Wright Patterson and Your FC1 Physical Read More »
We’re going to discuss career progression today. As a former Active Duty pilot, I’ll admit I don’t love this topic. You have to understand: I’m a pilot. I didn’t join the Air Force to sit at a desk pushing paper or sending emails. When I graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2004 and got …
