Direct Commision Aviator

[Aviation Jones]

I'm reading through the programs available for pilot applicants, and I'm too late in the game for most of them. The Direct Commisioning Program for Aviators is the only one that might still be possible. After reading through the qualifications I'm a little confused, however. A lot of the bullets seem like they would apply to everyone. Others seem like you need to be one or the other to be applicable. It also seems like it is mainly designed for prior military pilots, it's the bit about civilian experience that raises questions.

From the site:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be between the ages of 21 and 34 (applicants must have reached their 21st birthday but not their 35th birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes)
• Must access into the Coast Guard by 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes
• Meet prescribed physical standards
• Not be on active duty in the military (except USCG) at the time of commissioning; or submit a letter of resignation from your current service with your application
• Have less than 10 years of non-Coast Guard active duty military service
• Must be a graduate of a U.S. military flight training program
• Have full-time military or civilian flight experience within two years of the published application deadline
• Have a Baccalaureate Degree or have completed 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) at an accredited college or university
• Have served a minimum of two years as either a Warrant Officer in the Army or a Commissioned Officer in any of the Armed Forces
• Rotary-wing applicants must present evidence of being a military rotary-wing designated aviator with a minimum of 500 rotary wing flight hours (not including flight training hours). Fixed-wing applicants must possess evidence of being a military fixed-wing designated aviator with a minimum of 500 hours in a fixed-wing aircraft. Waivers are not authorized for minimum flight hours requirement
• Present current Class I flight physical (with results of chest x-ray and Coast Guard anthropometric standards)
• Interested applicants should contact a recruiter immediately to allow ample time for eligibility screening and application preparation

If you have full-time civilian flight experience, do you still need to graduate from a military flight training program? It seems that if you had, you would probably be flying for the military... not in the civilian world. Also, if you have graduated from a military flight training program, you have probably already attended OCS, which would defeat the purpose of a huge benefit of this program; skipping OCS.

Now, if this is an either/or type of situation, what type of full-time civilian flying is accepted? Do you need turbine time, or does something as simple as a full-time CFI count towards this? Is there a TT requirement? I see a bit further down they need a minimum of 500 TT for military RW/FW drivers applying for the program.

Basically, what I'm trying to figure out is if I could apply for this program. I have no prior military experience, but meet all of the requirements otherwise. I will be a CFI soon, and probably could not build 500 TT before the next board... but it would be a full-time civilian flight job. I can't see that being enough experience to skip OCS with a guaranteed flight slot.

 

[OnTopTime]

• Must be a graduate of a U.S. military flight training program

What part of that bullet don't you understand? You are not eligible.

 

[Aviation Jones]

First sentence on the website explaining the program:

"If you're a professional lawyer, aviator, engineer, environmental specialist, a maritime academy graduate or former military officer, you can become an officer in the Coast Guard without attending OCS or boot camp."

This led me to believe you do not need prior military affiliation to be applicable.

 

[OnTopTime]

First sentence on the website explaining the program:

"If you're a professional lawyer, aviator, engineer, environmental specialist, a maritime academy graduate or former military officer, you can become an officer in the Coast Guard without attending OCS or boot camp."

This led me to believe you do not need prior military affiliation to be applicable.

Right; you can do it without attending Coast Guard OCS or boot camp. But because the requirements for aviator include being a graduate of a U.S. military flight training program, I seriously doubt that you could do it without having completed a commissioning program somewhere (academy, OCS, ROTC, etc.) with another service. OCS is what, 12 weeks now? Suck it up and do what everyone else does.

 

[Aviation Jones]

No, it's 17. And the way you're coming at me seems like you think I'm trying to get by easy. Not the case, I have been told there may not even be another opportunity for OCS this year. I'll be 26 in April, so I'm just trying to find other avenues before it's officially too late for me.

Agreed, though... I didn't see much of a chance with the program. But, the civilian flight time still raises an eyebrow...

 

[Flash]

No, it's 17. And the way you're coming at me seems like you think I'm trying to get by easy. Not the case, I have been told there may not even be another opportunity for OCS this year. I'll be 26 in April, so I'm just trying to find other avenues before it's officially too late for me.

Agreed, though... I didn't see much of a chance with the program. But, the civilian flight time still raises an eyebrow...

Some applicants could have left military service, fly in the civilian world and apply for the program. The obviously want someone with current flight experience and that seems to be the scenario that they are allowing for here, not someone with just civilian flight time.

Again, it is quite explicit in requiring that that you 1- Must be a graduate of a U.S. military flight training program; 2- Have served a minimum of two years as either a Warrant Officer in the Army or a Commissioned Officer in any of the Armed Forces among several other requirements. I am not sure where the confusion about those requirements is and that is why you have gotten a 'sharp' answer. It's kind of like asking if just a Green Card qualifies or do you really have to be a US citizen, it is there in black and white.

 

[Aviation Jones]

I guess optimism only takes you so far. At first some of them seemed to contradict others, but I guess not. I was a little too quick to ask these questions, perhaps.

 

[eas7888]

Stuff

Jones,

I understand where you're coming from. Unfortunately, you are in the same boat as a lot of people who are looking to fly for one of the branches of the military. The rules are very clearly defined, and are in place for everyone. The direct commission programs are usually in place for certain specialties, as you have already pointed out. Medical and Legal being two of the more well known direct commission programs.

For aviation, you specifically have to have graduated from a military flight school. Having done the civilian flight school route, I now find myself balls deep in primary flight training. I'll be the first to tell you that learning to fly the military way is completely different from learning to fly on the civilian side. I appreciate the time you've put forth in getting your ratings, as I did the same thing. . .but know that all of the skills you learn as a civilian pilot are not directly transferrable. They help, yes. . .but they don't put you on an even playing field as a military pilot with the same number of hours.

I hope you're able to find a program to get in to the military, if that's what you truly desire. If you're willing to fly for the Army, their age requirements go up to 32 by the time you start flight training. For more information, you can go here : http://www.goarmy.com/about/service-options/enlisted-soldiers-and-officers/warrant-officers.html

 

[Aviation Jones]

Thanks for the helpful words. I'm not ruling out any branch or any aircraft. I would really prefer fixed wing, and I'm not aware of what all the Army flies, so I will be doing some research. Good job getting a slot!

 

[eas7888]

The Army Reserve side of the house does fly some fixed wing aircraft, but the slots are very limited/competitive. Most people work their way there after flying rotary wing, at least this is what my research showed. YMMV.

 

[Ziploc158]

So for the 500 TT, is that in the aircraft including Primary, Secondary and Other time? What about sim time and student time (I'm assuming student time in UPT does not count)?

 

[MIDNJAC]

For what its worth, I know a direct commission Hornet dude.....ie no USNA, no NROTC, no OCS....just the DCO week or whatever it is. There are actually a couple of them floating around. It is a near impossibility, but it is possible. The details are well beyond the scope of your plans though

 

[MasterBates]

How the fuck did THAT work?

 

[HAL Pilot]

We have an Army reserve CWO4 helo/fixed wing pilot at Hawaiian that is waiting for his direct reserve commission paperwork to be finalized. He's going to fly the Gulfstreams at Kanehoe.

 

[MIDNJAC]

How the fuck did THAT work?

Was a DCO nuke instructor, applied for pilot transition, got it, got jets, got to the fleet. I know of at least 3 of them. Guy in question is an FNG, literally a couple years from being a DH (timing) and is still a couple months younger than me. The Navy works in mysterious ways sometimes.