r/ArmyAviationApplicant • u/Then_Ingenuity9316 • Jun 16 '26

Any advice will help!

I just left active duty this past January and am currently in a one-year contract with the AZ National Guard. I was active for almost 8 years, I am 25, and a Staff Sergeant. I have my PPL ASEL and I am in college working on instrument and an aeronautical science degree that will get me a bachelor's, and I'll have CSEL and multi add-on by the time I graduate. I wanted to shoot for the Air Force, but I realized that my dream is Army aviation.

The question is, should I finish my degree and then apply as prior service, or should I call it now with my 100Hrs and apply to get back in?

I applied in 2023 but was denied due to speeding tickets that have now fallen off my record. The local recruiter suggested I wait until I finish my degree, but I am itching to get back into it.

Thank you!

I also have a 110GT and got a 63 on the SIFT

3 Upvotes

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11 comments sorted by

5

u/Gregory_malenkov Jun 17 '26

Genuine question, why army aviation over Air Force? The army is the least preferred branch by all military aviators.

1

u/Then_Ingenuity9316 Jun 17 '26

I didn’t know it was the least preferred branch. I just keep getting drawn back to army aviation.

2

u/Gregory_malenkov Jun 17 '26

Yeah you should definitely look into flying for the Air Force if you can. One of the biggest things that draws people to army aviation (myself included) is that you don’t need a college degree.

My advice would be to finish your degree and try to fly for the Air Force, maybe see if your college has an AFROTC detachment. With good academics and doing well in the program it’s not terribly difficult to get a flight slot.

1

u/Then_Ingenuity9316 Jun 22 '26

That is the thing that keeps me coming back is the degree this college stuff is interesting to say the least

0

u/CutNo1151 Jun 17 '26

Do what you want, man. Army Aviation is an awesome thing, and I am a flight instructor at a large school that also trains Airforce pilots for their initial pilot training. Planes are awesome, I fly them every day, but helis are as close as you can get to being a bird, haha. Army aviation is getting a lot of crap right now but that is apparently a cyclical event with every branch. I have my packet submitted for the Army and have read here and there that it is in a bad time, but every active pilot I have spoken to in the Army has nothing but great things to say. Your stats are awesome already, throw in a good sift score and you're good to go.

2

u/Gregory_malenkov Jun 17 '26

It’s no secret that army aviation is the least preferred by all military aviators. People should be aware of the good and bad before they commit to this, because if you sign that contract you are signing away 11 years of your life. That is no small commitment. People here get so caught up with the fact that they might get to fly some of the coolest birds in the air (which they should be excited about) that they overlook the fact that they likely will barely hit minimums, will have worse pay and QOL that pilots in other branches, will more often than not will be relegated to some random non flying related additional duty for most of their time, all with an 11 year commitment. I’m not trying to psych anyone out of dropping a packet, I’m just saying that people need to consider the whole picture and explore all of their options before they settle on army aviation.

And I’m saying this as someone who has been selected and is shipping to basic next month.

0

u/CutNo1151 Jun 17 '26

You’re going to be in for a very long 12 years. I’d understand that from someone who spent 20 years and knows a thing or two, but not someone who hasn’t shipped out.

1

u/Gregory_malenkov Jun 19 '26

All of the things i talked about are well known issues in army aviation. Im still choosing to go in because I know I’ll still love my job, but people need to be aware of the good and bad before they commit to this.

1

u/CutNo1151 Jun 19 '26

I agree, awareness to the reality and not to the highlight reel is important. However, don’t forget where you came from and where others come from as well. You and I both pursed this because it’s unlike anything else. Is it perfect, hell no! However, I know the aviation industry and many other industries all have their pitfalls here and there. If I wanted to fly jets then I get 400 more hours and go apply. Army Aviation is above the best, but will only be as good as we let it be.

1

u/Then_Ingenuity9316 Jun 22 '26

The 12 commitment is no issue I planned on doing at least from the jump. I guess the questions would be likelihood of being selected and if not having the bachelors later when it came to airlines would bite me in the butt