Posted on Nov 15, 2020
Which MOS better helps me achieve my end goal of joining my local police department and flying for them and the NG, 15Q or 35M?
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I'm 29 yo and in the process of joining Army guard in socal. My plan is to enlist first (due to time and other circumstances) and then submit my packet for pilot board right after AIT for 153A at Los alamitos. Already talked to warrant officer recruiter on base and was told that he can work with me during AIT and get the packet ready as soon as I get back(shooting for fall board2021). I can't decide between these 2 MOS to put as my first choice so I'd like to get some advice.
1. 15Q would be easier to get security clearance and mean that I'd stay in Aviation and translate to Civilian quite straight forward. 15weeks AIT
2. 35M need top security which I'd need one for 153A anyway so I thought it might help. Also Enlistment bonus would help a lot. Would I have to pay back if I get pilot slot before my contract is up? 18-19 weeks AIT
End goal is to join local PD and fly for them and guard.
Thank you in advance for any advice/input.
1. 15Q would be easier to get security clearance and mean that I'd stay in Aviation and translate to Civilian quite straight forward. 15weeks AIT
2. 35M need top security which I'd need one for 153A anyway so I thought it might help. Also Enlistment bonus would help a lot. Would I have to pay back if I get pilot slot before my contract is up? 18-19 weeks AIT
End goal is to join local PD and fly for them and guard.
Thank you in advance for any advice/input.
MOS
Potential Recruit
Civilian Career
Military Career
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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None!
If you want to be a Police Officer, then follow the department’s path. Now, to be a PD pilot, that’s a different story. Each department have their own way of doing things. Yes, you have to be a certified police officer. But must important, 99.99% of PDs, require a minimum of so many flying hours under various conditions. In other words, they look for already licensed pilots before having to pay for it. It is very expensive as you can imagine. And if they have to pay for it, then it’s going to be from folks who’ve been there for quite some time before you.
So, if you have a way of becoming a NG pilot, that would be your best bet. Must PD flight the Bell 206, the Army's trainers.
If you want to be a Police Officer, then follow the department’s path. Now, to be a PD pilot, that’s a different story. Each department have their own way of doing things. Yes, you have to be a certified police officer. But must important, 99.99% of PDs, require a minimum of so many flying hours under various conditions. In other words, they look for already licensed pilots before having to pay for it. It is very expensive as you can imagine. And if they have to pay for it, then it’s going to be from folks who’ve been there for quite some time before you.
So, if you have a way of becoming a NG pilot, that would be your best bet. Must PD flight the Bell 206, the Army's trainers.
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Supakorn Suwanpruiksa
Thanks for the reply MAJ. I plan on getting my License through Guard and plan on staying in and do both. I actually already applied to a few PD around here and hopefully I can get in after AIT. I know I won't be flying for them right after Rucker but just trying to find the best path for the moment.
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MAJ Javier Rivera
Just letting you know Supakorn Suwanpruiksa, you don’t get a license thru the guard. You apply and, only and only, if selected, you become a military pilot in the guard after completing flight school. Not an overnight process. A few benefits of Military flight school are: lots of flight hours under various conditions, night flight, NVG flight, instrument flight, and all other stuff a PD like. It doesn’t guarantee a job but sure helps a lot. But still get to fly as a NG pilot.
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Supakorn Suwanpruiksa
Yes MAJ. I know it will be a long process. I actually have fixed wing PPL so I know it won't be easy to either get in or finishing it. Honestly even if I don't get to fly for PD but as long as I get to fly for the guard I'm ok with it.
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I did a police academy years ago,and one of my instructors was the San Jose, CA PD Helicopter SGT.
If the agency you want to fly for requires you to become a police officer that's the hardest part. If you're not a cop, it doesn't matter if you flew the mission to get Bin Ladin. And they are not going to make you a Cop because you can fly.
The best path it seemed was to have been a military pilot, eventually get out of the military, become a beat cop and just like anyone else. Most Military experience has equal footing, because they want to mold you from scratch like everyone else. Eventually put your name in for the helicopter unit and hope the timing works out.
You will probably need to come to the department already qualified to fly. San Jose didn't pay for my academy instructor and he paid his own way for helicopter lessons and hours. He got extremely lucky his only competition with military flight time and training didn't want the job because he didn't nearly have the military hours.
#1 get the Military to give you flight training.
#2 become a cop in a department with a helo unit.
Ideally....................... Go straight to WO Flight school from your current status as a civilian. Once you are "IN" the whole process to become anything else that is not on your contract or branch of commission becomes a Crap Shoot.
If the agency you want to fly for requires you to become a police officer that's the hardest part. If you're not a cop, it doesn't matter if you flew the mission to get Bin Ladin. And they are not going to make you a Cop because you can fly.
The best path it seemed was to have been a military pilot, eventually get out of the military, become a beat cop and just like anyone else. Most Military experience has equal footing, because they want to mold you from scratch like everyone else. Eventually put your name in for the helicopter unit and hope the timing works out.
You will probably need to come to the department already qualified to fly. San Jose didn't pay for my academy instructor and he paid his own way for helicopter lessons and hours. He got extremely lucky his only competition with military flight time and training didn't want the job because he didn't nearly have the military hours.
#1 get the Military to give you flight training.
#2 become a cop in a department with a helo unit.
Ideally....................... Go straight to WO Flight school from your current status as a civilian. Once you are "IN" the whole process to become anything else that is not on your contract or branch of commission becomes a Crap Shoot.
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SSG (Join to see)
Haven't been to San Jose in a while. I figured they had their own helo unit, as big as that city is. They actually reached out to me about applying as a LEO but didn't feel like moving to the south Bay. Anyway, you put out great info to help him out.
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Supakorn Suwanpruiksa
Due to potential complication for TS clearance I thought I'd enlist first, get the bonus and have a job in the meantime and a fallback plan incase this doesn't work out. Maybe I have to rethink this. Thank you CPT
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Supakorn Suwanpruiksa
I was told that enlisting first might help with getting clearance easier and up my chance of going to WOFT. is that true at all?
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CPT (Join to see)
Supakorn Suwanpruiksa - You lose a lot of leverage if you enlist. OK, lets say it is easier to get a clearance with enlisted time behind you. However, you now have to jump through all the Chain of Command stuff, to go down the warrant flight path, and now every moment you spent in the Army will be under a micro scope. If you managed to become an NCO, well now you have annual performance evaluations that will be part of your flight application as well.
I say try from the civilian approach, and if that fails, well then you know enlisting is your only path with isn't guaranteed anyway.
I say try from the civilian approach, and if that fails, well then you know enlisting is your only path with isn't guaranteed anyway.
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Go infantry or any short length support job. Everyone in the Army is eligible to apply for the flight program. You're eligible to apply for the street to seat program and fly right now. If you go to 35M your school will be over a year and it might be severalonths before you go to school. You could already be starting the flight program by then.
As for your clearance, almost everyone gets a secret clearance joining the Army as long as you're an American citizen.
As for your clearance, almost everyone gets a secret clearance joining the Army as long as you're an American citizen.
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Supakorn Suwanpruiksa
SFC (Join to see) also I was told that I could ship to basic and ait before I actually receive the clearance as long as it is initiated. The thing about woft is the clearance and board wait time that is worrying me if I were to go that route directly
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SFC (Join to see)
Supakorn Suwanpruiksa you could ship to Basic and AIT without a clearance, but not if you're someone who isn't eligible for an interim clearance already.
Just forget about your future plans for now and pick a job you'll actually enjoy doing for the next 3-5 years. There is no guarantee you'll be accepted into the flight program the first time you apply, so do something you'll enjoy doing a while. Just be aware that if you pick 35M your training is about a year and a half long. Basic, plus five months of AIT and a year of language school.
Just forget about your future plans for now and pick a job you'll actually enjoy doing for the next 3-5 years. There is no guarantee you'll be accepted into the flight program the first time you apply, so do something you'll enjoy doing a while. Just be aware that if you pick 35M your training is about a year and a half long. Basic, plus five months of AIT and a year of language school.
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Supakorn Suwanpruiksa
SFC (Join to see) do you know how long it usually take to get interim? And if I’m a case that half way through ait I get denied what happen then?
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SFC (Join to see)
Supakorn Suwanpruiksa it's not a matter of how long for initial entry Soldiers, it's a matter of if you're eligible for one. I can't say if you are or not, only the MEPS can tell you based off your history
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