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Articles for tag Military to Civilian Transition




Oct
21
2024

Don’t be Lucky - Be Intentional

Posted by Admin

When I was commissioned as an officer in the Marines, I had no intention of staying in beyond the required time commitment that I had to fulfill, but life as a Cobra helicopter pilot grew on me. Supporting our Marines on the ground was an awesome responsibility and one that we all took quite seriously. The military provides great training, support and mission focus – an entire system that we take for granted at times. I had no plans to continue flying post-service, but time and space aligned. I was not only able to stay in the cockpit, but to do so in another model of Cobra that was retrofitted for firefighting operations. I got to do nearly the same job without being shot at! Was I fully prepared to make the transition? In my mind, I was more than ready to leave “Big Green” behind and take on this challenging new mission, but there was a lot more luck than planning. What I would like to offer are just a couple points that may require less luck and for you as you make your transition in a more thoughtful and intentional way. [Read More...]



Tags: Military to Civilian Aviation Military to Civilian Transition Military to Civilian Transition Helicopters



Aug
19
2024

So, Now What? - Military to Civilian

Posted by Admin

In preparing to transition out of the military to the civilian aviation industry, you have likely done a plethora of research and preparation. After reading articles, attending networking events, assessing job postings and salaries, you encounter a major roadblock: you do not have enough flight hours or relevant flight time to qualify for any of the jobs on the market. So, now what? This was precisely the position I was in about seven years ago when I left the military. As an officer in the MEDEVAC unit, I was only able to accrue approximately 600 hours during my time of service, which was certainly not enough to allow me to be eligible for most hiring minimums in the civilian sector. The good news is that it is possible to be successful in the rotary-wing industry with the right amount of determination, sacrifice, and patience. There are many programs that allow military trained helicopter pilots to transition into commercial fixed-wing positions. However, navigating the rotary-wing industry is a bit trickier, especially if you are a low-time pilot. [Read More...]



Tags: Mil to Civ transition aviation Military to Civilian Rotor Military to Civilian Transition
Categories: categoryCareer Development



Aug
08
2022

Military to Civilian - You Aren't Saving Lives Anymore

Posted by Admin

We’ve all been there: an urgent mission to rescue wounded or dying personnel, or have undergone surge operations in a lengthy campaign against high value that taxes personnel and machines. These scenarios place military aircrews and maintenance personnel in potentially hazardous positions of increased risk and challenging conditions. In these cases, the risk is often assumed by our superiors; sometimes they waive the rules altogether. Teams vow to never leave a fallen comrade and fly until the job is finished, or they operate in hazardous conditions because lives are at stake. Maintainers work extended hours with little rest to keep the machines flying. The actual or perceived pressures to complete these missions are very real. In combat, it may be OK to risk an aircraft and crew to save one life. Organizations have mottos such as “So others may live” or use terms such as “no-fail mission.” [Read More...]



Tags: Military to Civilian Helicopters Military to Civilian Transition
Categories: categoryCareer Development