The Trinity Kid

That's a good point. This trip is supposed to be in late August though, so I'm hoping it will all have blown over by then.

Greetings all. Long story short, I'm an A1C from the MTANG, currently at Sheppard going through tech school in the 2A6x4 career field. I wrote a longer post about my background a couple months ago before BMT ( thread linked for those who care to look ) , so this is a sort of follow on. As the title implies, I'd like to know how early is too early to start visiting the units I want to apply to in the future. Once I finish tech school I'll have somewhere between 84 and 90 overall college credits (I have to speak to the education office and the college I'm going to be starting at to figure out how many will actually be counted). But after my MEST days at my home unit I have to go to California to get mine and my girlfriend's things before school. And three of the units I want to apply at are on the route back. So would it be too early at this point to try and stop by one or all of those units for a friendly visit? Would I be better off waiting another semester or three to start trying to officially rush units, or would I be missing an opportunity for a good first impression by waiting. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thank you for the feedback. I’m glad to see that the work I’ve been putting in might actually be worth the sweat I put into it. I don’t want to make this a sob story or anything, but I’ve been working toward a pilot slot since about 6th or 7th grade, only to keep having the goal line pushed farther and farther back. So to have all this work justified gave me another spurt of inspiration and motivation. -TK

Hello all, Disclaimer: It is still too early for me to be making applications to any units at this time. But, I am trying to improve myself and my resume early. Goal: My goal is to get a slot in a Guard/Reserve unit that flies fighters (F-15 and -16 primarily) or C-130s (MAFFS unit or AFSOC). About Me: Summed Up: Current GPA - 3.7, towards a B.S. in Aeronautical Science/Minor in Organizational Leadership, but will be switching majors next fall (Explanation below) Age: 21 AFSC: 2A6X4 (Taking this coming spring semester off from school to go to Basic/Tech), MT ANG, E-3. Flight hours: ~50, student pilot fixed wing. AFOQT/TBAS/PCSM: no scores at current, recruiter suggested to wait until after returning from Basic/Tech, when I'll be closer to getting a degree. LORs: 2 retired AD Lt. Col.'s, Squadron Commander, and SNCO in my shop. Also the former undersheriff in my hometown, pastors, and a Battalion Chief in the USFS. Volunteer and leadership work: -Elected officer in 4H through high school(Treasurer, Vice President), -Elected officer (VP) and member of Elections Committee in an Amateur Radio club, -Member of Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which included many hours working with the Red Cross on natural disasters in California, -Member of volunteer Search and Rescue Team through local Sheriff's Office for 2 years Addressing Higher Education I took 46 credits of dual-enrollment courses in high school, primarily in gen-ed courses, 17 of which were in Spanish. Then, I took two years off after high school to try and get up enough money to go to college. That plan didn't go very well, but I managed to get into a college with a 4 year part 141 aviation program last year. Technically, I am currently a first semester Sophomore, but I have taken a total of 82 credits. 26 of my previous credits are "electives" at this school. 10 counted toward my generals, and 10 didn't count at all. The remaining 36 I earned in the past 3 semesters. I am going to leave this current institution after this semester because there are some issues that have arisen in the program that are beyond my control, and to be frank are screwing me over. Long story short, I worked on my PPL here for 16 months, but then quit the program after the second time I went over a month without touching an airplane/simulator/getting a lesson (for reference, the syllabus calls for 3 flights a week, and the program is supposed to be quick enough to reach MEI-I in 4 years). I will finish up my private via Part 61 when I get back from Basic. Next fall, I will be transferring to Montana State University. I haven't decided for certain yet, but I believe I will choose Spanish Language as my major, just to take advantage of all the credits I already have in that area. I would only need to take a couple general credits and 2-3 Spanish classes to get my degree, assuming I understood the requirements. 2-3 semesters if I do it right. 4 semesters if I want to be eligible for Honors Distinction. My concern is that this bouncing around will look bad to a hiring board. Especially applying for a position as a pilot after leaving a flight program. Is that something I should worry about, or will it just be something that I have to explain in an interview and hope it buffs out? What other areas should I work to improve, and how can I improve them? Is there something I'm missing that I need to add before I begin sending out packets? I appreciate the feedback, and I'll be happy to expound on anything I may not have made clear here. -TK

Obviously. But I never said anything about using them in modern times, now did I? I just said that the planes were animated well. (Though, in the Vietnam game, they don't have any of the planes from that time period that cross into modern times. Well, they do have Mig-21s, but I don't think there are many of those left.) --TK

I guess I can't speak to the new one... I've only played 1942, and Vietnam... --TK

it's a (rather stupid) video game. I don't play it much, but the aircraft in it are actually very correct looking. --TK

THANK YOU! This was the type of answer I was looking for! I suppose my question could have been worded a little (lot?) better/ more clearly. Anyway, clarification may be in order. I have devoted my academic life to being an AF pilot since I was little. As for my friend, I don't know what he wants to fly other than helicopters, or when he decided to be a pilot. What I do know is that neither of us are "gamers." We were curious if there was any truth to the humorous antics of the "corny combat simulator." That's the thing about the world, sometimes ludicrous things have a slight kernel of truth. In this case, there was, even if it was tiny. I may have put this in the wrong section, and if so, oops. Am I coming across as a bit of an ass-hole? --TK

Good day all. The other day I was talking to a fellow at school about our proposed military careers. I'm going for AF pilot, and he's heading Army Pilot. Anyway, the discussion came back toward Battlefield, and the way that people can fly planes, etc. and a thought came to us. So here's the progression: 1: Since pilots can only fly so many hours a day, and are only on duty for a couple days at a time, does that carry over to front line deployment(i.e. bombing runs in Afghanistan, Iraq)? 2: If it does, what does one do on their time off? Here's where the Ranger stuff comes in. 3: If a pilot were Airborne, and Ranger qualified, would they be allowed to go out with the ground-pounders, for a patrol of a road, or something like that? Just curious. --TK

Greetings all. I'm 17, and a Senior in highschool. (at current, I have been 1st in my class freshman and sophomore years, and was 2nd last year. 4.1GPA, with almost 20 transferable college credits already) I've already been accepted to Montana State University on an early acceptance. I am hoping to get an AFROTC scholarship, and then a pilot slot. So here's the question: Would going to Jump school increase my chances of getting a pilot slot? Or more importantly, would an AF cadet even have a chance of getting in? anyway, maybe it's a silly question. But the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. --TK