Living a dream: becoming an Army aviator

This may be a long story, but I hope you indulge me. I also posted this in the aviation section, but there's not much activity there. It's been a long journey. Since I was around 4 years old, I have always wanted to be a military pilot. Unfortunately, turns of events throughout life such as needing glasses pushed me away. However, this week I learned that I will get my chance.

I joined the Florida National Guard around 3.5 years ago, the summer of 2007. I just wanted to serve, and didn't think I would ever be where I am now. I was an OCS enlistment option, so after basic training I went straight to OCS. In the Guard, it's a 16 month program as we follow a regular drill schedule for our training. After basic, I had decided to have LASIK surgery, which corrected my "greater than 20/200" vision (I couldn't' see the big E), to a 20/15. It just so happened that in 2007 the Army started approving LASIK surgery for aviators.

While in OCS, you get put together your "wish list" for areas to branch into. Our state branch manager, who will remain nameless, said that no one would get Aviation or Intel because they were full, so don't even try. About 3 months before we graduated I ran into a CPT at the aviation battalion and he told me that was false information, and to call the S1 (personnel officer) and see what was open. I have found that in life, you HAVE to make those calls, or you miss out. So I did and found out that though I had just missed the annual flight board, the needed an Asst. S2 (Intel Officer) and I told them I was willing to do whatever was needed if I could at least get my chance at boarding.

After OCS graduation, I spent 2 drills at my unit and then went to Ft. Sill for BOLC2, an advanced officer leadership course. It was a 7 week course I started in NOV09. During this time, my wife called and said that her father, a man who never smoked once in his life, was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. After the course, I went to Ft, Huachuca, AZ, for intel school which was another 16 weeks. During this time, my wife was home alone back in Florida, dealing with this crisis. I also missed the next flight board because it was in February while I was at school.

After returning, I worked my butt off to do what I could to impress the battalion staff. I wanted to show them why I should be an aviator, not just tell them that I wanted to be one. Luckily it worked, as a few months in the XO and the Battalion Commander told me I needed to put my flight packet in for the next board. I was also during this time that I found out Ft. Rucker decided to cancel age waivers and make the cutoff starting flight school before your 32nd birthday. Take into account, I am 30 right now.

So all of this leads up to last week. I put together my application packet and went in for my interview on Sunday. The packet consisted of a resume, letter of recommendation, birth certificate, SS card, etc. You name it, it was in there. I was the only officer applying this year, and had to go first. For those that don't know, any type of board whether an NCO selection board, to this, are very formal processes. From knocking on the door three times, to reporting to the president of the board, sitting at full attention, etc. Luckily, having worked for the Commander for the past year, I knew half of the eight members of the board.

To conclude this long story, I will be heading to Ft Rucker this year (no specific date yet) to become a Blackhawk pilot. Our unit is a support aviation unit, so we have Blackhawks, Chinooks, and the new Lakota (Kiowa replacement).

The only thing that can keep me out is if for some reason I fail the eye test when I get there due to the LASIK, which according to our flight surgeon after looking at my records, is a very remote possibility due to the amount of correction that I needed. I would hate to be so close and have it stripped away, but I can't do anything about it so I can't worry about it.

Thanks for reading, I hope this might be interesting for some of you.

 

Congratulations. I can't think of many professions that are cooler than helicopter/jet piloting.

 

Congrats!

 

Very cool Thomas! And a huge congrats!

 

Well done. I discovered this route (becoming a pilot via the national guard) about a year too late. Then they bumped the age ceiling upward due to high demand for pilots, and I missed it again, this time by 6 months. Too bad, I figure with a degree in physics and natural 20/10 vision I would have had a good shot. Living another dream instead.

Best of luck with your vision test.

 

Cool story!!

I bet you have a huge smile every time you think about it.

 

Nothing is more fun than flying low level in a helo... Congrats! And here's to practicing tons of Autorotations!

 

Excellent!!! Congrats again AND thank you for the phone call.




PDG

 

That's awesome, man. I wanted to be a military pilot, too, but just the wrong stuff, unfortunately. If Lasik were available 25 years ago I may have had a chance. Glad it's working out for you.

 

Nothing beats persistence...good for you.

Audi

 

I'm very excited for you. It hits very close to home for me. I sent you a PM.

 

Way too late. When I was in flight training at Quantico, cutoff was 27 1/2 for military flight school.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the good wishes. I'm just nervous about the eye thing, but theres nothing I can do about it either way. I would just hate to have everything else ready to go and that washes me out. Fingers crossed. I know in the Army, as my flight surgeon at the battalion says, everything is waver-able by somebody, it's just finding the right somebody to talk to.

 

Congrats buddy. There is nothing more admirable than chasing your dream till you make it a reality. I am sure that you will make an amazing pilot.

Stay safe up there.

 

Congrats man....

Good luck with everything.

 

CONGRATS !!!!!



AND JUST A FRIENDLY (likely un-needed, but never-the-less) REMINDER ....

The Army will not tollerate ANY foolishness fom its pilots IN or OUT of uniform, especially while in initial training. Too many candidates in the pipeine to put up with a "headache." If you are not already, get yourself on the "UBER Straight and Narrow."


Over the years, I have seen people kicked outta flight school the last several weeks for just speeding tickets and of course the BIG career killer, Drinking and Driving in the last few days of the very last week.



Again, CONGRATS !!!!!!!!

 

Congrats, my friend!

My sister is getting married in June to a Captain in the Air Force; he flies F-16s.

I hope all goes well for ya!

 

Excellent, good luck w the eye surgery

I'd suggest you start studying navigation now. Also you'll want to interview several pilots & ask them what the most challenging parts of flight school were so you are ready for it

 

Thomas..."Be All You Can Be" applies her"...congratulations.

 

+1

DUI's will kill a private, commercial, or military flying career fast. It is an indication of recklessness which doesn't belong up in the air.

 

Yeah, don't worry about that, I don't drink, and am always DD when I go out with friends. No way I'm going to risk my career over something stupid like a DUI.

 

Doesnt everyone in the Air Force fly F16s??? Thats what they all tell me...




PDG

 

Aviators have the best jobs.
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Inspirational story.
Best of luck!