Expert: James Bell - 11/14/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
hi my boyfriend is in the Iowa National Guard and right now he is serving in Afghanistan.  he was wondering about switching to the Iowa National Air Guard when he is home.  he is in an aviation program at the college he is going to and is flying the sigle engine planes.  he wants to fly commercial someday.  anyway i was just wondering if you knew anything about the training that he would have to go through if he switched to the air guard or if he went into the air force?
Answer -
Greetings Katie -

Sorry for taking so long to respond, the AllExperts question somehow ended up in my spam folder.

Anyway, you didn't mention whether your boyfriend was enlisted or officer.  To fly airplanes as a pilot in either the Air Force of ANG (Air National Guard), he would need to be a commissioned officer (possess a bachelor's degree).  If he is already an officer, he would need to contact a recruiter in which ever branch he wanted to apply (AF or ANG).

If he is enlisted, he would first need to make sure he meets all his educational requirements for his bachelor's degree and get into a commissioning program to become an officer.

Once commissioned he would go to UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training ... basic flying skills), then go on to training in his MWS (Main Weapon System), whether that be a fighter, tanker or cargo plane.  In either case, you are looking at a year at UPT, several months going through the formal school for his MWS, then "mission ready" training to bring him up to fully qualified status.  This process can take two to three years.

Even if he is already a pilot with his private pilot's license, he would still need to attend UPT, as the military needs to assure each pilot is trained to the same standards.

I hope this answered the main question you had, although I'm sure it will generate other questions  Don't hesitate to write back.

Sincerely,
James Bell

where would he go to be trained?  we are thinking about getting married and we were wondering if i would be able to go with him so that we dont have to be apart anymore.  we were apart for about 4months for basic and now we have been apart sense about feb. for his deployment.  he is probably going to be back in may.  he was considering the air guard because of the flying and so if he has to go away then he wanted me to go too if i could.  thank you so much for your time.

Answer
Greetings again, Katie -

Since you mentioned Basic, I assume he is enlisted.  Once he is commissioned in the Air Force, they would PCS him to the base in which he would be trained.  There are pilot training bases in Okhaloma, Texas, Mississippi and others.

Where he is sent depends on which school date he is assigned, and which base has that date.  That would not be determined until he had been accepted into pilot training.

Once a base is assigned, I'm sure you could go along, getting an apartment on your own.  Realize the military does not recognize girlfriends ... only spouses.  Until you are married, the military will not provide family housing and other benefits.  As a bachelor, he would be lodged in the BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters) if those facilities are available.  If not, he would be lodged off base under a contract agreement with the base.

I hope this answers your question.  Once again, don't hesitate to write if you have others.

Sincerely,
James