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I was hesitant about posting here because due to my particular background and currently still being AD, it won't be too hard for people in my community to figure out who I am. That was dumb. I'm here to try and climb back in the cockpit, so people figuring out who I am doesn't matter one bit. I'm currently working on setting up applications for ANG Fighter Wings / Squadrons, but am not at all opposed to the Reserves or AD AF. I've tasted fighter life and having it snatched away for not being deemed qualified to land on a boat was a devastatingly humbling experience. It truly reoriented my world, however, through this adversity I've become laser focused and more determined than ever to achieve my dream of serving our country as a Fighter Pilot. To that end, what are my chances? Age: 30 Former F/A-18F WSO (2014 - 2017) 1 Deployment (more details if req'd) Student Naval Aviator (2017 - 2019) Completed Navy Advanced Strike Training (for F/A-18E/F or F-35 pipeline), but disqualified for Carrier Landings (more details if req'd) Hours: Pilot: 313 Total WSO: 836 Total (241 Combat) Combined Total: 1146 Hours AFOQT Pilot: 99 Navigator: 99 Aptitude: 91 Verbal: 92 Quantitative: 82 PCSM: 98 I'd be more than happy to supply any additional information that may be helpful, just let me know what I can do for you! -Checkmate

Hey Guys, I had a few questions regarding lifestyle after a pilot completes seasoning orders in a fighter unit. I figured having this all in one thread might make for a useful resource for everyone in the future to use. The situation would be that a new fighter pilot just finished seasoning orders, no AGR or full time spots are available, and the pilot has to get another job: How many times per month will your unit require you to fly on average while on part time orders (I am guessing 8-10 days/month)? If you commute to your guard base, will the USAF pay for your airfare to commute to the guard base every time u commute? (assuming you can not use airline perks such as the jump seat worse case scenario) Does your guard unit let you pick and chose which days you want to come in to fly each month? If you are allowed to pick your days, can you commute to your guard base, work for 8 or so days straight, and go home until the following month? If you are commuting to your guard base, where do you stay each night? Does the guard pay you while you are traveling to the base (i doubt it but figured I’d ask) Also, if you chose to have a second job as a airline pilot: If you work a typical airline line schedule (let’s say 15 days/month), can you drop upwards of 7-8 days of military leave and only work 7-8 days at the airline without the airline or your chief pilot becoming upset? If not, how many days of mil leave per month can you drop without upsetting the airline or chief pilot? No pressure to answer all of them. But if you guys know the answer to a few, it can really help us out a lot. I hope others can use this as a future resource as well! Thanks

So I am trying to become a fighter pilot in maybe the Gaurd or the reserves. I think Airforce would be the best place to go to get adjusted and then maybe transfer to the Navy later on but please correct me if I am wrong. So I am going to put some bullet points here of what I have done so far in life. First thing I will put down is background history. I was a farmer for four years when I started working for income, I then started working at a dealership for two and a half years doing a range of things from cutting up metal poles and other such things to gardening and landscaping and filling in holes with quick asphalt and leveling stones, as well as a valeigh. I went from there to college for almost a year maybe more, and I took an engineering associates degree course but failed miserably getting a C in materials class, a D in math and an F, in engineering graphics. I was still working at the dealership part-time and had a hard time keeping up with the work, but no excuses I just had a hard time with the math and EGR and with the course in general. I did do the best I could at the time and I finally had to stop because of not having the funds to continue schooling. So while I was there I went to their workforce solutions office and applied at CDS Tractor Trailer Training and I graduated with a Class A CDL and in April of 2017, I started working with Swift Transportation as a truck driver. I work there for 5 months, however due, to the fact that my trainer did not do a very good job at giving me the backs I needed to become fluent and due to that I struggled a lot with backing into spaces and a couple times in a parking lot and trailer yard had an accident and few other moving forward accidents in the yards. But other than that I did alright other than trip planning because he did not train me how to work from an atlas so that further increased my difficulty. However, I loved doing the job. From there I went to work for Lowes in Winchester, and was there for I believe a good 9 months to a year and then I resigned and I am now at the School of Discipleship where I am learning about everything from English to Systematic and Practical Theology as well as Bible Study Methods and still more to come. I major in Horse Barn and I have been learning a whole lot about caring for horses and riding though not the best yet I am working towards that. Here I am so far getting a 3.5 GPA and I just went through an ACBC Course which is a course that prepares us to be certified Biblical Counselors. Physically speaking, I am in pretty decent shape and started working out with a great friend here at school. I in November of 2018 however, injured my left knee when I ran around another friends car and hit his hitch on platform full speed trying to accomplish chores quickly. It is hard to move if I am sitting for a long period of time or if I have been bending down on it for long. I have been trying to contact the doctor to try and set up a second appointment to get it further investigated as to what to do next to help it heal properly and quickly as possible. My age is 24 and the program only goes for a year unless further prolonged by the student himself/herself, and I have considered doing a second year here; however, with that in mind, by the time I graduate my second year, I would have turned 26 and in August of my 26th year graduate because on the 27th of this month I turn 25; what I am most afraid of is since the Airforce wants you to graduate their school by age 31, that it would hurt my chances of getting in to one of their schools. So with that in mind, and I have not had any major operations on my body either, what would your advice be to someone like me, who really desires to be a fighter pilot? Do I have a going chance? Should I get a bachelors in flight? Should I start school next year in flight school or OTS and how long would the selecting for OTS selection process be? Should I give up? Is there a chance that I have been told wrong about the age limit? How also do I choose my base if I would like to fly like the new F-15x's, F-22 Raptors, or F-35s is that even a possibility? Thanks for serving our country and people and God bless and thanks for any answers you have!

I'm currently a junior and high school and I've had the eagerness to become a fighter pilot since I can remember. A little bit about me: weighted 4.5 GPA, soccer for all 3 years so far including have been captain of my team, involved in student body leadership, top 10% of my class, and plenty of community service. My question is what is the best way for me to become a fighter pilot? I know currently there is a shortage of fighter pilots in the air force, but a navy pilot has told me that if I took the navy route I'd have a higher chance at fighters because that's mainly what the navy flies. Is that true? Should I go OCS, ROTC, or try to go to an Academy? If I got a ROTC scholarship should I take that route? Would having a PPL be something I should do or should I wait because the military has their way of training pilots? If I went ANG I know I'd be guaranteed fighters and a base, but I'd imagine the competition for a spot at a base would be hard coming from civilian life, no? Would it be better to go ANG or active? I know there is a difference between the lifestyle of an air force pilot and navy pilot but I would do either. Any response is greatly appreciated.

Over the past couple of days, A3 has hosted a webinar called the "Fighter Enterprise Redesign." I've been unable to attend. Can anyone provide a summary of what information was passed out? Thanks, V-man

All - Our 4th Dos Gringos CD ("El Cuatro") is officially released! Check out http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dosgringos to download it...hard copy CDs will be available to order on the same website within a few days, and expect iTunes and other sites to carry the new album any day now. As always, you can check out www.dosgringosrocks.com for updates, or for links to buy our other albums/T-shirts. Song List Ballad of Thunderbird 2 I'm a FAIP My Wife's Vibrator Boots on the Ground You Told Me I Would Be a Fighter Pilot TAMI 21 Code Brown AFN I Don't Want to Join the Air Force Left Behind That Thing We Never Talk About Thank You Cheers, Dos Gringos