Touche....

 

Actually, I think that is a lot to share, and full of great guidance. It is something that everyone considering enlistment needs to consider if they join for SOCOM types of jobs.

Can you be happy if you wash out? Certainly something that one has to consider, big time. Not something a recruiter would tell you to think about.

 

I love all the insight that you have all given. There truly is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. I take my hat off to all military people, I highly respect everything you do, and have done for our country.

I had always thought about enlisting in the Navy or Air Force. I never finished college, and my interest be in becoming a pilot, and nothing else. I am nuts about aviation, and would have loved to serve as a pilot. Over the years I have done my research. Last year I spoke to Navy, and Air Force recruiters. They told me it was impossible to become a pilot without a 4 year degree, but I could be a mechanic or something of that nature, not to knock that but it's not what I wanted. Having left college to pursue business, I never finished nor do I have any interest in going back. Besides I am 28, so 4 years of college and I'll be 32 and too old to sign up for pilot training. I would have left what I was doing to be a Navy Pilot, and speaking to the Air Force the reserve would be great because I could be in Homestead, and still work.

Now I have a new business that I am really excited about, and I am really trying to get off the ground, it's looking positive, so I am dedicating my time to that. I guess my aspirations of being a fighter pilot will have to wait till I can afford a jet war bird. I am however still studying the feasibility of joining the Coast Guard reserve. If I don't end up enlisting in anything, I will definitely be dedicating time to causes associated with veterans, such as the Veterans airlift command Veteran's Airlift Command (which is something I recommend the pilots on this forum to look into).

Thank you for all the great insight guys, especially from Chokeu2, chris, and gobbles. Noel, good luck with your future in this. My respect goes out to all of you.

 

I want to join the Air Force and be a CC, MP, or a Aircraft Engineer.

 

I wouldn't count yourself out so quickly man. If you want to be a fighter pilot, its something you need to find a solid recruiter that'll back you heavily through that process. I'd start with a USMil flight physical. If you don't pass that, no need to bother with the rest of the process. Last time I checked into this, you could enter up to age 32 to become a pilot. I don't know how much college you had under your belt when you left to pursue business, but look at any of the myriad of schools out there for returning adults. Schools like Strayer and Phoenix will give you plenty of credit for lifetime/work experience too. You never know, you may only need say 2 years of classes (one per quarter) to finish up and you are still under the cutoff.

If you do decide to return to school, I highly suggest doing your homework (pun intended) on the work/life credit process. For Strayer (finished my undergrad there, working on MBA now) I went in to the office and asked for copies of the syllabi for every class in the degree program. I then wrote my work/life experience package to the learning objectives of each course. I was given credit for 9 college courses as a result.

I know what this itch is like. I wanted to be a fighter pilot and astronaut my entire life. By the time it dawned on me I could go Guard, etc. to become one, I was well into my career and just over the cutoff age. I am particularly unbearable after military air shows. I wear that grin for weeks!

It's a lot of work for sure. I've got my job, my family, one MBA class per quarter, and I'm in the midst of starting a business now myself. Stressful? Sure, but also highly rewarding. Good luck man, no matter which path you ultimately pursue.

Edit: Oh yeah, if you do get serious about the Coast Guard let me know. I'll put you in touch with Coastie pilot that is based at our field.

 

What Gobbles said!!

How much more college do you need to meet undergrad criteria?

I don't know if you've considered it, but there are a ton of opportunities for fling wing pilots. The military is hurting for helicopter pilots, and the age cut off is 33 for the Guard and Reserves. If you don't have much college left to go, it might be worth your time. Check out ROTC programs for the Guard and Reserves, it could take you right where you want to go.

 

When are you going to talk to a recruiter?
Thats all ya need to do!

And if your referring to Combat Controller with that CC, you'd better hunker down bro. For that job, you'll need to be 100% committed to that, or you will not make it through the training.

 

I have, well kinda. She had to meet someone in another city when I went there. And the nearest recruiting office is about 30 miles away.

I am, and mentally there is no problem and before I went in I would make sure that physically I wouldn't have much problem (which is the reason I haven't went in yet). And if I didn't make it then I would become a MP since I have always wanted to be a cop. That or a Aircraft mechanic since I have been to school for electronics, whichever got me more money. I want to get back into uniform pretty badly (Army JROTC in high school).

 

Okay my friend...
Do not go into this thinking that you know what to expect okay? You have no way of knowing how well you will handle the storm coming your way mentally and/or physically. Nor do you go into this thinking of a "fall back" position. Even that much of a shred of a doubt ensures you will fail.

Most people are physically prepared to handle this, but the overwhelming majority of people are not mentally prepared to handle the training. Creating "if's" is already a weak link in your chain. The single minded focus to take on the CC job, like any SOCOM job is extraordinary. You cannot allow the "if I fail" to enter into the decision as you already have.

I'll tell ya this. If you spoke to a CC instructor and told him that you know that you're already mentally and physically prepared to take his course, you would quickly find out if that were true. He would show you that you are not and you've miscalculated.

I'm just sayin bro. Erase any fall back position. You do it, focus upon it singularly, or you don't go. Not trying to sound like a hard ass, just trying to prevent you from getting a very rude awakening.

 

Man you are right. I'll have to really consider if I am ready for that level of training or not before I get into it.