Your Advice Please
Hi All,
I've just come to the realization that after having my file sitting with the Australian Defence Force's Pilot Selection Agency for over 12 months and not offered a position with a valid service, my dream of becoming a military pilot may be over, for now. I was deemed competitive for pilot training, but obviously not competitive enough. It's been a frustrating journey and I'm sure many people have been through a similarly testing period of time. So, with hopes of still joining the ADF in some capacity I ask for you to vote for which option would be the second most desirable vocation in the world. Such advice or opinion is not readily available through other avenues unfortunately, so your honesty would be beneficial if you're in the know!
1. Observer/Air Combat Officer
On the plus side, these positions are still Aircrew. Obs in the RAN still get some stick-time apparently, on the Seahawk.
2. Air Traffic Control Officer
Still working within Aviation, but surely not as exciting as being Aircrew or being at sea. However, highly transferrable skills upon leaving the Military.
3. Seaman Officer
Incur a shorter ROSO (six years) and then hope to transfer to pilot some time after that. I'll gain rank and have all the benefits of being in the military. I've heard from many people that "Once you're in, you're in" and that this may be a possibility. Not sure I would want to bank on it though. Negatives include: having to be called a "Seaman Officer"
4. Wait and apply again
The economy is bound to pick up, right? With the huge economic woes in the Eurozone and US, no-one's wanting to leave the forces and therefore creating a backlog of pilots. This will clear eventually, in which time I may be deemed suitable to undertake pilot training. I'm not so young however and waiting is extremely frustrating.
5. Join an Investment Bank
Who'd want to join the Military anyway?