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If you’ve never sat down and chatted with a chaplain one on one, give it a try. If you’re not a religious person, most are very good at taking off the “religion hat” and putting on the “counseling hat.” Most are very receptive and flexible if you tell them you aren’t coming to them for Religious needs, you’re coming to them for their confidentiality. Highly recommend.

I think both the AF and FAA like to talk a good game about access to mental health for pilots, but I don’t trust them to not take flying status away.

Obit https://www.tallasseetribune.com/obituaries/alexander-howard-calkins-harwick/article_1d73c8c8-bffe-11eb-b13b-e320b57f59b3.html

I knew it was coming but it doesn't make it any easier and I don't have any words. Rest easy, no more pain. Thanks for teaching me a love of flying and service to our nation. 257 combat missions in Vietnam totaling 754 combat hours. 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 23 Air Medals, first pilot to achieve 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 hours in the F-4.

Happy Memorial Day As I saw all the social media posts about fallen military members, I was struck by the number of suicides mentioned. It’s such a sad thing and always surprising that people don’t seek help. It reminded me of a time a few years back when I was talking to a bro going through some bad times and I suggested he seek out some mental health services and replied that he didn’t want to do that because he would be DNIF’d and “flying is the only thing that makes me happy.” He ended up fine and got through it with a combination of booze and flying a ton. What’s the opinion of this esteemed body about aviators using mental health services? I hate to admit it, but I don’t think I would seek help from the various services offered for the fear of being DNIF.

You can't really "intern" in the military. The military is apart of the armed forces and employment comes with certain legal responsibilities. Furthermore, there is security, and other issues. It may be possible to intern at a defense contractor but certainly not in a position of security. However, a lot of defense contracting like marketing and promotion could be unclassified as well. If you are interested in military aviation, I reccommend you look into Civil Air Patrol. The cadet program was distinctly designed to foster an interest in aviation and you may even get the oppurtunity to learn to fly a bit In a C-172. What are you career goals? Why did you suddenly decide you want to intern in the military aviation industry? Is being a pilot something you want to do? Or you aren't sure?

As a 20+ yr fighter guy, I’ve learned more reading this thread than at any academic session or training on how MAF works Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

I went to MH a few years before I retired, knowing 2 things - it was my last assignment and I was going to retire, so I knew I had little to lose if I said the wrong thing to the wrong people... (I think you all knows these “words” and they are serious enough that you/we should put them at a priority above flying, but I know full well the internal dilemma) ... I had been encouraged after talking with (and taking) another pilot at another base who went through a divorce and who smartly gave someone else his guns (temporarily of course!) and went to mental health... and I don’t think he ever got dnif-ed. so after they ask the big question about 20 times in a mostly straight forward manner, then you are just going to talk about your life and daily routine. I had a game plan, but please don’t feel like you have too, just remember if you are dancing around the big question, they are really there to help ascertain where on the “scale” you are... and yes they’ll error to the side of safety as they should...they tried to push some meds that I knew were a no-go for the FAA (they are easy to figure out, most likely you’ll have to show 6 months of use with them, with limited side effects and reduction of symptoms for FAA approval)... so if FAA is your plan you can get those months out of the way while you are on AD, NOTE: there is little guarantee that you’ll make it through the FAA waiver, but I would rather know that on AD/early then wait to fly for the airlines for 10 years and then take that gamble at 50. I’m really glad I went, at least it is documented if something goes south later, I felt it was pretty low threat and I was never dnif-ed (even though it was non-flying, it was a flying billet and the FSO didn’t know the difference). If nothing else, I realized that life really does suck some times and feeling that way can be a normal response or it can be a imbalance and it is not that “you” are bad, there is just somethings you need to balance in your life, and sometimes it can be chemical and there is help there if it is needed. It definitely does get better. so risky yes, but much less than you think... just talking with someone about something I had bottled up for a decade plus was pretty liberating and worth the risk... throw a spouse and kids in the equation and it becomes a no brainer, they need you even if you can’t make the airline pay check. I eventually chose to not do the airlines (this being a minor part of the decision)... glad I did, gave me time to get “me” in order... looking back I can’t believe I waited so long, and can’t believe I put flying above my life and my family for sooooo long, but that’s unfortunately part of what you are going through. I do remember many nights struggling/worrying about the what-ifs. You can get better, there are people who want to help you get better, and there is way more to life then Mach 1.5 or a airline gig, WAY more! You just have to realize that first.

Thanks for this timely thread. During Mental Health First Aid Instructor training, I learned that -at a minimum- the following are available: (1) Chaplain - as StrikeOut mentioned, completely confidential, (2) Military OneSource Providers - 12 free confidential sessions, (3) Bro network, (4) Out-of-pocket provider and, of course, (5) Base Clinic - DNIF being a distinct possibility. It's not a counseling service, per se, but on-base an Mental Health First Aid class is an opportunity to meet folks who care about these types of issues or are experiencing them themselves. It's also a civilian clothes, first name basis class that can lead to more informal support. That and Leadership should consider it an alternate duty location. For those who want long-term help but are worried about DNIF, look up DoD Accession Disqualifying and Air Force DNIF-ing conditions - all Public Doman. I'm not a provider, but am of the opinion that "if the issue is serious" it's probably going to manifest itself in flying or elsewhere in Air Force life. That is, if you're honest with your bro's and the ORM sheet... Take care and Fly Safe!

Why do I have the feeling that @waingro is maneuvering to be the Wing Zampolit?

You’re right, YMMV. I’m a 100% QOL guy and spent about a year flying in my MWS with the ANG when I started at my airline. Aside from the increased number of days for a flying gig, the unpredictability is what really did me in. I’d carve out a month that let me keep my sweet/high paying airline trips, drop the crap trips for mil leave, and still be home for birthdays and anniversaries, etc. Then as soon as I’d get to the unit and we’d cancel for Wx/Mx/tanker availability/mission slip/whatever then I’d have to scramble to decide whether I should annoy the unit by going non-current or else pick up extra days, which would of course mean giving up more airline pay or annoying the wife. Long story short, I took an ANG staff job 3 years ago and have a very predictable 2 days/month, 2 weeks/year schedule. Boring? Yes. Demanding? No way. I miss the plane, miss some of the flying (but not all of it), mostly miss hanging out in an ops squadron. But definitely don’t miss the beans, the exercises, the extra days away from home, the checkrides, or any of the standard trappings of AF anti-aircrew culture. All told, I have no regrets and am spending way less time either at or thinking about work now, which was my ultimate goal. Obviously you’ll get a wide range of perspectives, and your own preferences will differ from every else’s, but that’s been this guy’s experience at least!

Lol The Milton of the airline world.

This was before my time but the most remarkable thing I've heard was from a dude that got lost in the system when the DC-10 went away. Somehow, the company just lost track of him and never scheduled him for training on a new jet so he went about a year and a half before they finally caught up with him.

They went to fly the Mach Loop and ended up at Peter O’Knight.

I went 105 days between trips on the 787 although I had to do a Sim to update landing currency.

The Guard had one a few years back, but they made it so restrictive that seriously only 2.5% of my squadron was eligible...that was 1 guy. I haven't heard of it coming back, I hear the airlines aren't hiring for "quite a few years," so retention isn't a problem anymore.