I have was in the Marine Reserves and spent a year of Active Duty in Iraq as a prison guard. I will also have 15 years of law enforcement experience. I know the airlines mostly are looking at checking off boxes but how much will prior service and law enforcement background help on being hired to the regional of my choice and then to a major of my choice?
Nate,
While we and the airlines appreciate your service, law enforcement isn’t flying airplanes. Airlines are hire pilots with aviation skills and experience. Regardless the Regionals are hiring like mad so that won’t be an issue (provided you satisfy their requirements).
You don’t mention whether you have a degree or not? While the Regionals don’t need one the Majors do strongly prefer it so if you don’t you might want to put that on your to do list at some point.
Adam
Nate,
While military and law enforcement experience is of course respected, they will not do much to help further your career in aviation. The regionals are simply looking for a qualified pilot with 1,500 hours. By the time you apply to the majors, you will have been an airline pilot for many years and have built a vast amount of experience as such. That is what the majors will be looking at. Your law enforcement and military time will be a distant memory by then.
Chris
With that said, do you think airlines, both regional and majors, would think twice about hiring an individual who is with the reserves or national guard? They might not say it outright, but I figured that they wouldn’t like the disruption an activation for a 4, 6, 9 or even a 12-month long deployment may cause on their scheduling and such, not to mention the monthly weekends and 2-week annual drills. Have you seen airlines potentially pass on people (and maybe find a different excuse for the pass) for who are in the reserves or national guard? Or are they quite accommodating? I’d like to continue to serve when I get off active duty but not if it may become a liability once I enter the airlines.
Sam,
The airlines are full of pilots who are in the reserves or national guard. Absolutely full of them. There is no issue with this at all and they will gladly work with your schedule.
Chris
Chris,
Awesome. I knew many were former military (especially Air Force), didn’t realize many were still serving, that is great to hear!
Sam
Sam,
I literally just got out if the sim with a current Guard pilot. As Chris said the airlines have a ton of former and current Guard pilots. The only negative I’ve observed is on occasion some have taken advantage of the system by getting hired and then going active their first year to avoid a bad schedule or low pay. While not illegal and the airlines don’t seem to mind, it doesn’t make them very popular with the other pilots.
Adam
Adam,
That definitely won’t be me. I want to fly, not to mention that’s no way to make your hours if your away from the airline if your hope is to make it to the Majors. By the time I’m eligible for the Majors 9 years after leaving active duty, it might be time for me to fully retire from the reserves so I can focus on hopefully flying the big jets!
Sam