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Sleepy posted an update
Hello! My name is Rex Ellis. I just recently graduated with a bachelors degree in Commercial Aviation. I have always been interested in flying in the military but a little lost on how to do it. I have been talking to Air national guard but they say I have to enlist to have a chance to fly for them. Should I go this route?
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Rex,
Some basic/main pathways to pursue your goal of flying in the military:
1. Join the Active Duty AF and you’ll interview for a pilot candidate slot and, if successful, go to Officer Training School (OTS) and then to UPT. Your Active Duty Service Commitment is 10 yrs after UPT and you can transition to the Reserve Components, if you choose, at that time.
2. Get hired, as a civilian off the street, by a ANG/AFRES unit to go to OTS/UPT and then come back and fly what they fly. Part time and some full-time opportunities exist upon completion of your training timeline.
3. Enlist in an ANG/AFRES unit. Go through your enlisted training (BMT/Tech School) and serve in that unit in a part-time capacity w/ some full-time employment opportunities also available. Compete w/ those same civilians in #2 above for a pilot slot at the unit or compete for other unit’s UPT boards.
Good luck!
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I failed to mention it above but anyone who tells you that you have to enlist in the unit to have a chance to fly is lying to you for personal gain. I’m not discounting the benefit of enlisting in a unit as a path to flying but it’s not mandatory.
Walk away and I recommend that you not interact with that person again. You just can’t trust them.
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