[Christian_McBride]

Hello everyone, my name is Christian McBride, and I’m excited to join this community! Here’s a quick overview of what landed me here:

My passion for aviation began at West Michigan Aviation Academy, where I earned my Private Pilot License while completing high school. I continued my studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, graduating with a degree in Aeronautics in 2020.

Heavily influenced by my flight instructors who were Naval Aviators, I initially applied for the Navy ROTC scholarship but wasn’t selected, so I chose the Army ROTC scholarship instead. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t branch Aviation upon commissioning due to a few constraints (couldn’t afford LASIK in time), so I opted for the National Guard route and commissioned into the Florida Army National Guard in 2020.

A significant experience was my deployment to Ukraine in 2021 as part of the last group of U.S. soldiers there before the Russian invasion. This deployment reignited my passion for military aviation and my desire to have a more direct impact on the battlefield.

I’m currently deciding between transferring to the Air National Guard as a pilot or applying for flight school in the Florida Army National Guard. Considering that I turn 27 this November, I feel that time is of the essence. My priorities for military aviation are fighters, fixed-wing, and rotary. I’m weighing the path of least resistance—Army Aviation, where I’ve already passed the SIFT—against preparing intensively for an Air Guard UPT slot.

I look forward to connecting with others here and learning from your experiences!