That’s all we can hope for! For every one person like you who asks the question on a forum like this, there are probably 50 others that don’t even know where to start… Hopefully you can mentor them too!

Charlie,

First of all, congrats! I don’t have much to add to the above comments other than my personal experience and one tip.

I went to UPT at Columbus and most of the married couples lived in on-base housing. There were two communities I can remember— Capital (aka Crapital) and Magnolia. I don’t think they were given a choice as to which…

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Concur with CHAOS… Happy to help make a connection or potentially sponsor if you’re in the DMV.

Kev,

First of all, I’m glad you’re doing better now. The pilot community as a whole struggles with mental health due to the strain of the job and the (perhaps perceived) lack of viable help. As you take this journey, remember what you’re stepping into because it’s not for everyone.

I will shoot you straight as I would want someone to talk to me…

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It’s doable, but tough if they are younger dogs… I went to Columbus in 2016, so YMMV, but I was allowed off base housing within a month or two of arriving there and I think they made exceptions for people with pets to move off base immediately. The big thing to ensure is that your pups are going to be okay if you’re gone for 12-14 hours a…

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Aaron,

I think CAGE gave you solid info, my only .02 to add:

If you are considering enlisting in one of these units, it could open the door for you, but it also might just delay your goals because you could be stuck in an enlistment/training/deployment/etc when an opening in the squadron comes up. I’ve had friends who have gotten their pilot…

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I think this is probably the right answer… The Air Force will tell you what you need to know and will then teach it to you. I flew T-6s and don’t have much inside knowledge on the way things are being run now, but as much as the AF says it won’t hand hold, it 100% will hand hold and will give you a structured path to accomplish everything…

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I feel like the other option is that guys would still jump ship but the regionals might be a thing again… I just don’t think life in the Air Force is good enough to stick around, even if the prospects on the outside aren’t as good. I think the AF always thinks money is the big thing preventing people from staying, but I think the biggest…

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Hey Fellas,

I was reading the news the other day and saw that there has been some increased traction in Congress when it comes to raising the mandatory retirement age. It seems like the main room of the issue comes down to whether or not ICAO will support the move, since pilots would not be able to fly outside the NAS (and let’s be honest……

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Hi all,

I’m starting to think about what the next step will be for me (I’ve got around 2 years left in my commitment) and I was curious if any of you have got a recent experience applying for PC or CIP in the last year or so. Obviously things can change overnight and depend on airframe, but I’m curious to see what people are getting approved…

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Have you had any luck getting something scheduled yet?

This probably isn’t helpful, but if all it takes is for someone to get you a visitor pass (sponsor) to get on base and take the test, I could help if you were in the DC area. There are tons of bases in TX though so I would think someone much closer to you could help. Maybe one of the guys going through UPT at Laughlin or Sheppard could sponsor you on base?

The thought has definitely crossed my mind! I haven’t had a chance to fly with any of those guys yet (nor have I wanted to with how busy things are) but I’d love to go on a trip or two once things slow down. Flying the same plane in the AF and airlines is a HUGE perk as well! Are you over at the 201st?

I’m at JBA right now! Certainly a busy place considering the upcoming elections…

Hi all,

My name’s Jimmy and I just joined up today and thought I’d poke around to see what people are talking about on here. I’m a USAFA grad, Columbus for UPT, then C-17s/C-40s on active duty. I’m currently in the final bit of my commitment and trying to figure out what to do when I grow up, whether that’s ARC, clean cut, or staying in. I’m…

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