is having 'National Guard' on resume worth the 6-yr commitment?

[natedog74]

is a (non-flying) military service looked upon favorably? it is 6 yrs, one weekend a month, two weeks' tour every year. they'd pay all my TUITION towards my av-sci bachelors... (some $20,000 at a state school) -- not a penny toward $30,000 in flight fees, books and such, though.

but it's 6 years. i'd do four -while in school - at the drop of a hat, but another 2 afterwards...different story.

so is it gonna make the (or any) difference on an app?

i am talking Air national Guard, a US air force auxiliarry, a state equivalent of the Reserves - and again, probably some non-aviation related enlisted position.

How would airlines in the US look at it?

not just on the resume, but assuming the economy is doing great and i have the hours to get a regional job, with still one year of commitment to serve out (interfere with schedule??)?

How about airlines abroad? far east, namely, would that help one any? (to have it on the resume).

one would think that they’d appreciate the discipline and such that the service instills in one (or is supposed to), chain of command and all that,
although it did backfire on air florida in DC....

anyhoo, ANY comments, thoughts, personal experiences, word-of-mouth snippets GREATLY APPRECIATED - it is a big decision.


thanx a million
+n

[Zoner]

natedog74: Military service is seen as a plus at most US companies. I don't know of any company that sees it as a negative. My outfit has many Reservists and Air National Guard folks (veterans also) and I can tell you that their service was part of the reason we hired them. Consider it carefully because it is a big commitment. Many of our people have been called up for service overseas during times of conflict. One of our Air National Guard guys is just back from 90 days in the mid east and some of our reservists have been called up for about a year now. I did it 30 years ago and wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

[ferrydude]

I'd like to think that some folks would have a since of duty to their country and how they might benefit others, rather than only thinking of how military service would benefit themselves.

[natedog74]

by all means, ferry dude, that would be #1 reason for me having wanted to do this for a very long time, but at the same time, i wouldn't mind knowing that it will be an added benefit to my lifetime career....

[MidnightSpecial]

Nate, do you want to spend years in the commuters making starvation wages or have a decent salary from Uncle Sam?

I did it the civilian way but the military guys I fly with seem to have had a better time than I did.

The airline I fly for has lots of ex and current military guard guys.

MS

[GlueBall]

Our primary criteria for hire are: 1. Can you fly a big jet?, 2. Can you fly instruments?, 3. Are you trainable? It wouldn't matter whether you had served in any Gulf Wars. :ooh:

[BenThere]

Nate,

Before you decide, do a Google on Pat Tillman. He made a pretty good North star, I think. I just finished 30 years service, 22 of them in the reserves. My reserve experience got me my airline job, paid the bills between jobs, and gave me the option to not take any job because I had to. You get the privilege of serving your country, meet amazing people, and gain a lot of self-respect along with the gratitude of society for your service. I think it's a no-brainer.

Yours,

[Agaricus bisporus]

Is not doing National Guard when you had the chance going to be on your concience?

Can you justify missing the fun you'll have there before you get stuck forever in boring civvy street?

Sounds like an obvious choice to me.

If I was an employer I'd actively look for the qualities of dedication, ability and commitment that an NG history demonstrates.

As an employee do you really want to work for the sort of company that sees a NG commitment as a negative factor????

Go do it, enjoy every minute of it, and settle for a boring quiet retirement. At least your early career won't have been boring and quiet, unlike most of your oppos...