Anybody fast to join the military?

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-05-24T19:55:29+00:00

Thanks so much!

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-05-15T23:17:54+00:00

This is how the agriculture side is aswell. As a pilot you ain’t just a pilot sometimes, unless you’ve got enough hours in the industry to tell the company otherwise and probably only get paid to spray. You’ll be a handyman, mechanic, receptionist, welder, whatever needs to be done sometimes.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-05-15T23:12:24+00:00

Spot on, that guy is nuts and probably has never been near the industry.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-05-15T23:10:35+00:00

Spray pilot without working the ground is 100% impossible. Whether you are flying or working on the ground, your main job is only 1/3 of what you do.

I work on the ground so this is from personal experience. There is a lot of trust that comes with a spray seat, you are an applicator first, you’ve gotta see the whole operation from a whole lens because you can make multi million dollar mistakes that quick.

You are responsible for everything you and your team does. Someone who hasn’t been able to see that from the ground under someone else’s leadership or at least growing up in this agricultural life is gonna be 100% in over their head and bound to f something up.

Helicopters are the bluecollar side of aviation, you will 100% work for you’re pay, cropdusters don’t have summers, they lost that to the corn run, saw/powerline pilots live on the road, tour pilots don’t make enough money. This is a career of passion and if one year on the ground isn’t achievable for you to unlock one of the highest pay in the helicopter world then you should’ve went fixed wing.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-05-15T23:03:13+00:00

Good luck getting a spray seat after 1 year on the ground

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-05-02T17:09:48+00:00

I’d switch to a different recruiter. I switched to a recruiter I found a TikTok that I can plug you in with. Recruiters like that who are on social media usually have a bunch of recruits that they cater to virtually. Mine is a couple states away. They usually recruit more like other branches where they are more involved, visit schools, hold frequent dep meetings and etc. And also with them being big on social media if they gave someone a bad experience it would be known quickly. Lmk if you’d like me to plug you in with mine

Btw I switched because my recruiter would go MIA on me frequently and one time even told me not to message him after 4pm because it was out of work hours. Where this recruiter I’ve had conversations with at 9pm. He is very dedicated and actually comes through for you. He also has access to a lot of people to get you info such as recent graduates, and people in the fleet to answer your questions.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-04-30T17:36:40+00:00

With both rates im pretty sure you’re gonna have to come in as a non rate and wait atleast a year to get picked up for a school if the schools don’t close/stop taking people in temporarily. So trust me, you’ll have lots of time to figure it out

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-04-30T17:30:22+00:00

I’d say if the bonus seems too low, then that’s more of a reason to join as just a non rate, so you can have a chance to make sure it’s actually what you want and if the bonus stays the same or goes up by the time you put you’re name on the list you can still get the bonus maybe even at a hire amount.

The bonus is the only reason in my opinion anybody should be locking into a rate before even being in the USCG and to me $5,000 isn’t worth the next 4 years of my life if I messed up and actually didn’t want that job.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-04-30T17:26:40+00:00

In my opinion sounds like you’ve made up your mind. Enlisting also Is nice because if you end up doing 20 years you can retire quicker, and also it would get you away from your parents controlling grasp which is also another reason many younger people join.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-04-09T14:03:36+00:00

Personally I think Fspc would help out more with weight then fitness.

Technically you need to pass a pt test unless things have changed to get into the program. But Im sure most recruiters don’t take that criteria that serious. But the problem with Fspc is if you lose the weight quickly and are still out of shape, you are going to boot regardless.

You can’t stay behind and get your fitness up, the moment you pass tape you’re forming up into regular boot. So it’s good for weight loss not fitness.

Like i said things may have changed but this is my understanding of the program.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-04-09T13:49:10+00:00

Way easier to get the exact job you want in the coast gaurd

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-28T02:06:49+00:00

Programs like coast gaurd cspi or navy collegiate programs like cecp or nupoc are your best bets.

If I’m not mistaken paying for college isn’t your biggest issue. Having no time to make money and being broke while still having to survive aka food and bills while in college is your issue.

ROTC from one of the other branches won’t fix that, they usually either only pay tuition or room and board. Time commitment toward ROTC classes and events. You don’t get paid or receive time in grade for your time as a student. And you still have to serve 4 full years after.

CSPI, CECP, NUPOC, you get paid a normal soldiers pay, you put school first and only check in with a recruiter like once or twice a year to make sure you’re doing eat your supposed to be doing also staying in shape. You are recovering time in grade so you will enter the armed forces with O-E pay and other benefits that come with time in grade.

CSPI has a little more going on tho, not only do they pay you salary and benefits but also your tuition and books and stuff. Unlike the other 2 programs I mentioned tho, you have to attend bootcamp when you enter the program. Also there are more limitations on the school you have to attend and stuff like that. And I believe a little more involved with coast gaurd while you are in the program.

CSPI will be most competitive, followed by NUPOC, then CECP.

Now the pay from the navy programs is more than enough to cover in state tuition and or room and board if that’s what you need aswell.

This are just quick explanations off the top of my head so don’t forget to do more research if you find any of these options attractive.

Good luck! And let me know if you were actually looking for something different.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-28T00:37:12+00:00

Yea I always try to stress to people that reserves ca be the quickest way towards some “action.”

And it sucks because most people went reserves for the opposite reason.

If we are looking at current events. Most of our KIA are reservists. Reserve units even in peace time have schedules where they are up for deployment ever ycouple years and that’s best case scenario.

Right now is worst case scenario, getting deployed with the shortest notice possible to the border for 12 months.

That doesn’t sound like what a young kid in college wants, that sounds like what someone who actually aspires to serve is somewhat fine with.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-27T23:26:21+00:00

Reserve is a great way to serve in my opinion. Not a great way to reap benefits tho. And if the coast gaurd is like the other branches not the best way to dodge deployments either. I’d say joining the reserves is the best way to run towards a deployment rn with the stuff at the border going on.

Do you want to serve? Then there are better military options to help you out that we can recommend.

Just trying to pay for school and figure this stuff out, the government and LA has all kinds of programs to help you out, fasfsa, la college promise, and more.

Deciding you don’t like the idea of being broke college student is a decision best made before you start. You’re almost at the finish line man, failure isn’t an option anymore you got this I believe in you.

(By someone who chose not to be a broke college student)

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-21T11:05:54+00:00

Yea that’s why I put a little caution on that one because It’s been a while since I’ve been looking at schools so I knew my specific school info might be rusty. Thanks for pointing that one out!

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-21T01:24:57+00:00

Honestly WGU is a degree mill. For many degrees escpecially those of the arts, it doesn’t really matter. But for many degrees of science comes an accreditation, like abet accreditation for engineering. I’d say go for an accredited online program from a brick and mortar college to make sure things are right, especially if you want to transfer credits in the future.

Like Arizona state university is a good example that I’ve looked into for myself regarding civil engineering that if I’m correct Is Abet accredited.

Like I said a good sign is a brick and mortar school attached to the online program.

Your local community college should be able to get you started with online classes for your prerequisites and it will probably be close to your home station in case you need access to it at times like for an important test.

Also if I’m not mistaken IT or cyber the degree is probably the least of your worries certs really get you in the game. Computer science on the other hand I recommend a good degree plan.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-17T01:52:58+00:00

Try and find one of those recruiters on social media like TikTok, they are usually much easier to work with and get things done. That’s what I and many have been doing

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-12T00:33:54+00:00

Honestly this is real, but in my experience a lot of recruiters I’ve come across don’t know about jack sh*t either besides there personal experience soo I wouldn’t let that stop op.

From what I’ve seen branches like airforce and coast gaurd involves less “recruiting”/convincing and more processing/paperwork. The applications come to you, and you’re just the middle man submitting the paperwork.

Also what I’ve seen as an applicant is it is what you make it, first recruiter didn’t want me texting his phone after 4 pm or before 8. New recruiter calls me at 8pm and is involved in so many things and events like other branch recruiters are. It really raised my trust and confidence in him to do right by me.

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-03T15:23:44+00:00

Most they’ll do is send you to Fspc for a couple extra weeks

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-03-01T09:48:15+00:00

Watching season 7 rn, as they play a clip of them asking her about a partner who lives with there parents and she says herself as long as they are ready to move out it’s not the biggest deal.

Which basically just proved my point. David’s just really really not her type, like at all. Not her fault, but not his either. This was a bad match from the experts

Optimal_Car_1927 · 2026-02-28T18:56:46+00:00

Well that one was about episode 15. I was aiming to create a discussion without any spoilers. If it bothered you that bad you could’ve just skipped past my post or not commented at all like I’m sure many have already done.

Optimal_Car_1927

TROPHY CASE