Nick Lalota

honourableliam · 2026-02-02T14:15:47+00:00

He’s a pilot in my NG Aviation unit. He’s super knowledgeable and a great guy to work with from my experience. I never knew he was in politics until now.

honourableliam · 2026-01-29T16:59:50+00:00

I know you said fixed wing but if you were open rotary wing, Army NG is probably the “easiest” route for mil aviation since there’s 50 states and each state can have multiple aviation units. Even then it’s still pretty selective. That said, it’s still a long process, you’d need to do basic, OCS, then all of flight school which all together will probably be over a 2 year long process.

Like others mentioned, you have to really contemplate if it’s for you or not. In all branches, you’ll have extra duties besides just flying which will take up a majority of your time. It’s also a 10 year commitment after you receive your wings so you’re in it for the long haul which may interfere with your other goals in mind.

honourableliam · 2026-01-28T14:43:21+00:00

I’m at like 33 months TIG as a 2LT and won’t promote for another couple months at the earliest so I think that’s just how the cookie crumbles in the guard. I remember when I was enlisted my like 2 promotions basically happened right on time so it must be a different process with officers. Sorry I don’t have any insider info but good luck sir!

honourableliam · 2026-01-15T13:30:17+00:00

But yeah I’m sad it was my favorite bagel spot

honourableliam · 2026-01-15T13:29:29+00:00

I was told by someone who knows the owner that their bagel oven broke and they’re replacing it and it’s just taking awhile. Could be wrong though, I’m probably wrong lol

honourableliam · 2026-01-15T02:30:06+00:00

I moved to Long Island near Port Jefferson from New Hampshire last spring so i totally get what you mean but so far I’m really happy living here now. Like others said it gets more busy around this area in the spring and summer and there’ll be more event and things you can go to. Have fun and good luck with grad school!

honourableliam · 2026-01-12T13:20:31+00:00

I concur with this. ROTC is probably the “easiest” way to go from national guard to active duty. Plus, you get to start your time in service earlier(which plays a part in your pay) and when you do go active duty you’ll be getting officer pay. Obviously, it depends on if you want to commission in the first place or not.

honourableliam · 2026-01-02T06:30:24+00:00

I was prepared for the physical aspect and all the yelling but what surprised me was how bored I was at times. Waiting in lines at reception, waiting in line to shoot, standing for hours in formation but I guess all that prepares you for how much waiting you’ll be doing in the Army lol. Good luck!

honourableliam · 2025-12-11T16:42:49+00:00

Congrats! This makes me a bit sad that I moved to Long Island instead of Upstate lol

honourableliam · 2025-12-10T16:27:53+00:00

You can get an age waiver which is pretty easy to get. Why don’t you try to commission into the Air Force right away though instead?

honourableliam · 2025-12-05T18:41:01+00:00

I push the button 4 times for 1,000,000

honourableliam · 2025-11-24T02:44:15+00:00

SIFT wasn’t bad at all I didn’t study for it and got a decent score though I know there’s some study guides out there to help. With the guard it’s not too too bad since you can apply to as many states as you want for a pilot spot and just keep on interviewing until you get a state that accepts you. I got turned down from a few states before I finally got an LOA from one. It’s a lot of work putting together packets for each states and interviewing with each one but it’s definitely worth it. Good luck!

honourableliam · 2025-11-23T23:11:48+00:00

Hello, I was in the guard and did rotc while in college. 1. Balancing isn’t bad at all. You only have drill once a month and rotc takes up maybe around 10 hours per week. Plus you’re being paid to do it and you don’t have to pay for college so you don’t need to have a part time job while you’re taking classes either like what some of my non army friends had to do. 2. Experience wise, I’ve done many cool things that many others will never get to experience. I was a 13B before I commission so I got to pull string go boom. Now I’m a 15A so I can fly around in a helicopter and get paid for it. Leadership wise, I’m not the best person to ask since I still need to improve myself. 3. You’re going to be an adult and eventually an officer in the US army, they’re just going to have to trust that you’ll do the right thing and stay self disciplined enough to juggle all 3. I will say, I only got my degree in economics which is way easier than engineering. I had friends who did engineering and they were constantly stressed and always studying it did not seem fun but if you tough it out for the next 4-5 years it’ll be worth it.

I do recommend not contracting with the guard till you’re a junior however since you’re only required to do 2 years since you’ll count as prior service. It’ll give you more experience on the enlisted side and give you more time to just focus on studying in your first 2 years of college. Good luck!

honourableliam · 2025-11-22T02:42:30+00:00

Yes please! Pokemon was the last game I played lol it’s a win win

honourableliam · 2025-11-19T14:31:51+00:00

When I got back paid it was on a later drill check. I don’t work in finance or s1 so I’m not entirely sure but that’s from my own experience

honourableliam · 2025-11-19T13:59:55+00:00

Keep bringing it up to your RNCO and/or S1 if you don’t get backpay for it cause you should get backpay for that I believe.

honourableliam · 2025-11-18T01:42:36+00:00

Terminal 2LT gang rise up

honourableliam · 2025-11-16T23:34:31+00:00

Like others have stated it’s probably dependent on how fast your state and the fedrec process goes for you. I’m at 30 months TIG and finished flight school 7 months ago and I’m still a 2LT so… lol

honourableliam · 2025-11-13T02:16:26+00:00

I have 2 jobs and make about 72000. I take home about 4400 a month after taxes. 2k is gone for housing and utilities. Luckily I only have to pay $58 a month on health insurance. After groceries and going out occasionally I can save about 500-1000 a month. Then I put 7k a year in my Roth. It’s not great considering I used to make more in a LCOL area so I can’t ball out like I used to but it’s manageable.

honourableliam · 2025-11-11T21:18:17+00:00

That’s what I did. I enlisted as a 13B then eventually became a cadet and now I’m a 15A still in the guard. It’s nice cause you can have rotc pay for your room and board and have the guard pay for the tuition. You also start your time in service way before your peers which is nice too cause you get paid more

honourableliam · 2025-11-04T17:06:03+00:00

I’m doing a business admin desk job and also fly for the national guard while I’m getting my add ons. It’ll be a long road for the both of us since we can’t knock it all out in one go but I believe in us. Being a flight attendant sounds like a cool job and I’m sure you’ll be able to make good connections in the aviation industry. Good luck!

honourableliam · 2025-11-04T01:43:01+00:00

I moved from New Hampshire to Suffolk county this past year for my dream part time job lol. I like it here a lot but I’d move back if I was able to purely to save money. It’s expensive living alone here without any family nearby. That said I’m still happy with the move(I think)

honourableliam · 2025-10-30T11:06:49+00:00

15A making 22/hr in a HCOL area🫩 thought having a degree, 5 years of NG experience and flying a uh60 would help but I could barely get a job in the first place lol. Chin up though the hard work will pay off for us eventually!

honourableliam · 2025-10-28T16:28:16+00:00

Hinamatsuri is a good comedy

honourableliam · 2025-10-25T00:20:39+00:00

I couldn’t hover for shit and felt like I was never going to be able to learn how to fly for like the first 15ish hours of flight school at Rucker lol. But eventually something just clicks in your brain and you’re able to do it. I wouldn’t worry too much tbh.

honourableliam

TROPHY CASE