Ok, I have recently joined the Army National Guard. Never thought in a million years that I would do such a thing. Not so much join the military, but the Guard. I used to make fun of those guys 'cause they were not "full timers."
In any case, I have wanted to join the Army since I was 13 to be a helicopter pilot. Not just any helicopter either, the UH-1 Huey. A friend's husband took me on Ft.Polk once when I was a kid to see his "office." He was a med-vac pilot and his "office" was the Huey. As soon as I walked into that hanger it was love at first site. All I got to do was sit in the damn thing and from that moment on, that's what I wanted to do when I "grew up."
Well, being excellent at procrastination, I never went to college. I finally woke up one day and knew it was time to do something. I ended up in the Guard because they pay full college tuition, and you actually get time to attend classes. Ive been around the Army half my life and even married a soldier once upon a time ago. You hardly get time to attend classes and sometimes you get sent to the field for a few weeks in the middle of a semester and lose half of what you've worked for. (After college I am planing to join "full time.")
I understand that since I've waited so long, the Huey's are now being retired and slowly disappearing from the military. Luckily the Guard camp near my house still has them and they are still in use.
While at MEPS, I was turned down for any type of pilot job due to my vision. Now I have to save up for lasek. Anyway, the other two jobs I chose as backup was not really something I was interested in. I had to pick in a rush. Once again in a rush, my recruiter threw out another option. 15p. That's Aviation Operations Specialist. Sounds cool...but not really. When I got home I looked up that MOS online since no one at MEPS really knew. I don't like it. Sounds like an office job to me, which I'm not interested in. So being on my own time and not having to rush, I found another MOS 15m that is Utility Helicopter Repairer. From what I understand, the utility is the Huey. I would rather fix it, than look at it from a distance.
Point of story, (sorry, I got carried away), should I change my MOS? I do not go to basic until March 26. I've already tried to talk to my recruiter about changing my MOS and he said I need to stick with this one because he heard I need it anyway to get where I want to be later, (whatever that means). Plus a lot of other people have said this is where I want to be. I don't feel its "where I want to be."
I need some opinions on what I should do from someone who may actually care about the situation I may be getting myself into unlike my recruiter who is just in if for what he gets out of me. I'm afraid that I will take this job and hate it. I know after basic I'm pretty much stuck. Help!!!!!
you joined the National Guard, and you are already in the Guard. unlike the Regualar Army the 1st contract you signed is the real one, and you are slotted for Basic and AIT for your unit, and will go to a 15m slot at the unit. Also Army Really doesn't use the huey anymore, bell a=has a new copter out
" I think we should thank SFC Hulka for being our Big Toe"
Posts: 80 | Location: FT lewis | Registered: 22 September 2006
Well I know that they go by "slots" but I still think I can change before going to basic. I am well aware that unlike the regular Army that I am IN so to speak. I already have to attend drills and any paperwork I fill out, I have to check yes on the military service. And I know that the Army doesn't really use the Huey's anymore. That's why I'm thinking about this other MOS because it does...for now anyway.
If you are a 15P in the NG it is a very easy way to get into flight school... You will work Flight Ops in a unit that is probably short on Pilots so they may fast track you for flight school...
Yeah, that's what I've heard. I'm not sure what to do. I just dont want to be unhappy with the job Ill be stuck with for the next 6 years. I know it's only a weekend thing but still. I think what I really need to do is go meet my future unit and see what the job is all about before I do anything.
I will be in for 4 years on 1 Feb 2008... I'm a SGT(P) and it was very hard to get promoted due to the points being so high... Luckily while I was in Iraq I completed alot of ACCP courses and I came into the Army with college credits... Don't get me wrong it's a good MOS especially once you start advancing... It might just be Ft. Campbell that is the problem... Don't forget that as a 15P you may get stuck in a S-3 shop
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