A Information to Overcoming Medical and Monetary Challenges within the Typically Overwhelming Journey from Enlisted to Airline (E2A)
Avgeekery is proud to associate with Erik Sabiston to share a collection of articles on learn how to turn out to be a pilot within the aviation trade. Erik was founding father of RTAG, a company that has helped hundreds of pilots and non-pilot navy members flip their experiences into an expert profession in aviation. He’s additionally an airline pilot, founding father of the extremely profitable Make the Donuts podcast, and has led a number of aviation-related companies to success.
Keep tuned for a complete reference collection geared in the direction of different particular teams, equivalent to helicopter pilots, fixed-wing navy aviators, and enlisted/non-aviator officers focused on transitioning to navy flight college. For now, get able to discover ways to bankroll your wings with out promoting that deployment automotive to procure at 35% curiosity (We child…)
Shield Your FAA Medical: Scrub Earlier than You Soar
E2A of us, earlier than you chase these wings, scrub your medical data like you need to have scrubbed your first enlistment contract. Service members’ data can conceal misguided data (assume “coronary heart arrhythmia”) inadvertently entered beneath your title.
Catching errors now saves time and money later by recognizing situations that might floor you. It additionally permits you to expunge errors or repair points earlier than they turn out to be disqualifying.
You’ll want somebody with expertise to assessment your medical historical past. Attempting to decipher it your self is like studying NOTAMS. I’d slightly watch an apple core flip brown.
Veteran Service Organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV, and so on.) can truly assist discover all of the stuff lurking on these pages earlier than the FAA hears about it. Hotlines just like the AOPA Medical Certification service (membership might apply) or skilled aviation medical experts can present fast, usually free consults. Bought a tough medical problem?
Don’t wing it. Attain out to execs like Wingman Med for skilled assist navigating FAA pink tape. For those who want a particular issuance, it’ll transfer by Oklahoma Metropolis about as quick as MRE cheese unfold does by your decrease gut, however at the least your navy paycheck will hold the payments paid whilst you wait.
You good now? Then go get that Class 1 FAA medical ASAP
Too many people on the journey from enlisted to airline pilot drop a fortune on coaching solely to crash right into a mountain of medical issues when it’s time to go get a job. Don’t be that man who finds out post-ATP/CTP that the FAA doesn’t need you flying commercially in case your PTSD analysis makes it sound such as you’re nonetheless affected by main points. Begin now, otherwise you’ll be caught on the bottom, nonetheless watching others dwell the life that you just wished.
Beneath, I’ll stroll by the three routes that you would be able to take to reach at your eventual purpose…the cockpit. Be at liberty to learn the main points on all of the choices under. Or, if you happen to already know your path, be happy to click on forward to learn extra data on learn how to obtain it.
Enlisted to Airline: Present Me the Cash (Collegiate Route)
Flight coaching runs $80,000-$150,000, greater than a navy rest room seat (barely). However if you happen to’ve endured a Med Cruise, you may deal with this. Enlisted and non-aviator officers have entry to advantages that civilians would kill to have in the event that they weren’t so afraid of, effectively, killing. No, a four-year diploma is now not a requirement, nevertheless it’s nonetheless good to have. Let’s unpack this duffel bag and get you airborne.
Collegiate Route Funding Choices for Veterans
CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE: Nonetheless in uniform? The Division of Protection Credentialing Help Program funds certifications, however flight coaching eligibility varies. The Military gives as much as $2,000/12 months ($1,000 cap for pilot licenses) for Energetic Obligation, Nationwide Guard, and Reserve by ArmyIgnitED, masking non-public pilot or instrument rankings at Half 141 faculties. You may find yourself with a two-year service obligation, however the guidelines on these things change extra usually than a report time for a Division run. The Air Pressure gives as much as $4,500/12 months for Energetic Obligation, Guard, and Reserve through Air Pressure COOL, funding one flight coaching credential (e.g., non-public pilot) at a time with no extra obligation. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard supply as much as $4,500/12 months by Navy COOL, Marine Corps COOL, and Coast Guard COOL, however flight coaching isn’t coated, as credentials should align with MOS/AFSC/rankings (e.g., aviation upkeep, not piloting). Once more, this program is continually altering.
GI BILL: Ignore the barracks attorneys, your non-public pilot certificates IS coated beneath the Put up-9/11 GI Invoice. In-residence school packages can fund your complete coaching, whereas VA-approved standalone faculties cowl a piece. Use the “WEAMS” web site to search out your college. Funding resets each August 1, so time your programs like a precision method from FAF to MAP. In 2024, over 5,000 veterans used GI Invoice advantages for aviation, per VA knowledge. The Put up-9/11 GI Invoice (Chapter 33) and Montgomery GI Invoice (MGIB, Chapter 30 for Energetic Obligation or Chapter 1606 for Chosen Reserve) supply veterans distinct advantages for flight coaching, with variations in protection, cost construction, and applicability to in-residence/on-line collegiate packages versus standalone Half 141 flight faculties. Let’s break it down, Barney model, lets?
POST-9/11 GI BILL
Protection: Covers 100% of in-state tuition and costs at public schools or for veterans with 36+ months of Energetic Obligation service post-10 September 2001 (prorated for much less service). For personal or out-of-state faculties, it’s capped at $29,920.95 for the 2025-2026 educational 12 months. You’ll additionally get a month-to-month housing allowance (based mostly on E-5 BAH charges for the college’s ZIP code, averaging $1,934.80, much less for online-only packages) and as much as $1,000/12 months for books/provides. Personal pilot certificates are coated if a part of an accepted aviation diploma program (e.g., Embry-Riddle’s Bachelor’s in Aeronautics).
Eligibility: Requires at the least 90 days of Energetic Obligation post-10 September 2001, or 30 days with a service-connected incapacity discharge. Advantages final indefinitely for these discharged on/after 1 January 2013 (Eternally GI Invoice).
Fee: It’s paid on to the college for tuition/charges; housing and e book stipends go to the veteran. This feature requires month-to-month enrollment verification.
Instance: At Embry-Riddle (a Yellow Ribbon participant), a veteran may get full tuition for a bachelor’s with flight coaching plus housing and books, maximizing advantages.
MONTGOMERY (you might be so outdated) GI Invoice
Protection: It pays as much as $2,150/month (2025 fee) for 36 months, on to the veteran, no matter program sort. This covers flight coaching inside aviation diploma packages however solely as much as 60% of accepted fees for flight-specific prices (e.g., lab charges for PPL, IR, CPL). Veterans should cowl any tuition/charges exceeding this quantity out-of-pocket. No housing allowance or e book stipend is given, and personal pilot certificates are coated solely as a part of an accepted diploma program.
Eligibility: You should serve at the least two years on Energetic Obligation (MGIB-AD) or Reserve/Guard service (MGIB-SR). Advantages expire 10 years after separation (MGIB-AD) or when Reserve/Guard service ends (MGIB-SR).
Fee: Month-to-month funds are despatched to the veteran, not the college, requiring cautious budgeting for tuition-heavy packages.
Instance: At a public school like Central Texas School, MGIB may cowl $2,150/month for a 2-year aviation diploma, however you’re on the hook for any shortfall, and no housing assist means you’re sofa browsing or scorching bunking it such as you’re on a submarine.
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
Put up-9/11 GI Invoice: This is applicable to veterans with 100% eligibility at non-public or out-of-state schools (not vocational faculties). Collaborating faculties (e.g., Liberty College, Embry-Riddle) waive a portion of tuition/charges exceeding the $29,920.95 cap, and the VA matches it dollar-for-dollar. For instance, Liberty gives as much as $13,100/12 months, matched by the VA for a complete of $26,200 above the cap, masking most or all remaining prices. Energetic Obligation members and spouses grew to become eligible as of 1 August 2022.
The Montgomery GI Invoice isn’t eligible for Yellow Ribbon, as MGIB doesn’t cowl tuition straight or supply extra funding for personal/out-of-state faculties. You’re caught with the $2,150/month cap, like an excellent DTS declare you get caught with only for going to coaching through the Christmas vacation.
Notice: Completed with all of your flight coaching, however nonetheless have cash left over? Go get as a lot training as you may! Life occurs, and you can find yourself furloughed or lose your medical. Put together your self for this risk if life throws you a curveball. It’s an effective way to spend your overnights as a brand new airline pilot. Slam-clicking to check in your lodge room provides you an excuse to skip the obligatory enjoyable time on the bar along with your boomer Captain, as he reveals you 153 pics of his new house renovation on his flip cellphone. Plus, the additional cash is good to have throughout these first couple years of low pay!
Enlisted to Airline: Present Me the Cash (Vocational Route)
What about Half 141 Flight Colleges (Non-Diploma Vocational Packages)? First off, if a college says to you, “We’re getting GI Invoice any day now!” don’t stroll away, run. For those who’re on a observe, lap them. This ranks proper up there with, “For those who enlist now, you may switch to flight college as quickly as you get out of primary coaching.” Don’t consider the hype. Getting accepted for the GI Invoice takes flight faculties years, longer than some enlistments final. So, what do you get with these packages if you happen to’re not enthusiastic about research teams with 18-year-old school college students?
Vocational Route Funding Choices for Veterans
POST-9/11 GI BILL
Protection: You’ll be able to rise up to $16,535.46/12 months (2025-2026) for vocational flight coaching at FAA-approved Half 141 faculties (e.g., Pray Aviation, US Aviation Academy). Reimburses 100% of accepted fees (tuition, flight instruction, simulator charges) as much as this cover. For E2A and non-pilot officers, this selection requires a personal pilot license (PPL) and a second-class medical certificates (first-class for ATP) earlier than beginning. You’re not getting a housing allowance or e book stipend for vocational coaching.
Eligibility: Identical as above (90 days Energetic Obligation post-10 September 2001 or 30 days with a incapacity discharge). Funds are issued after coaching completion, with faculties submitting fees to the VA.
Fee: Veterans pay upfront and are reimbursed as much as the cap, which might sting like that nineteenth spherical of Anthrax pictures in case your money circulation is tight.
Instance: At a Half 141 college, the VA may reimburse $16,535.46 for a CPL course, however you’ll have to entrance the fee and pray the paperwork doesn’t get misplaced within the forms.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL
Protection: Reimburses 60% of accepted fees for Half 141 vocational flight coaching, as much as the $2,150/month cap for 36 months. Requires a PPL and second-class medical certificates (first-class for ATP). It does cowl superior rankings (IR, CPL, CFI, ATP). No housing or e book stipends for you, and veterans should cowl the remaining 40% out-of-pocket.
Eligibility: Identical as above (two years Energetic Obligation for MGIB-AD or Reserve/Guard service for MGIB-SR). This profit expires 10 years post-separation (MGIB-AD).
Fee: Reimbursed to the veteran after coaching, based mostly on submitted fees, with each $466 paid equating to at least one month of MGIB entitlement. Price range such as you’re at JRTC and operating out of TP.
Instance: For a $20,000 CPL course at a Half 141 college, MGIB may cowl $12,000 (60%), leaving you to scrounge $8,000, with no housing to melt the blow.
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
Put up-9/11 GI Invoice: Hold dreaming. Yellow Ribbon is unique to degree-granting establishments (schools/universities). You’re capped at $16,535.46/12 months for vocational coaching, so select your college correctly or threat a monetary nosedive.
Montgomery GI Invoice: No soup for you. You seeing a development right here? Right here’s a pair extra VA profit updates: Final 12 months’s Supreme Courtroom ruling on Rudisill v. McDonough permits vets who’ve served a number of intervals to mix their Montgomery and Put up-9/11 bennies, giving them a brand new complete of 48 months of eligibility! Going for a STEM diploma? Get one other $30,000 by the Edith Nourse Rogers Scholarship. Log in to VA.gov to be taught extra.
Enlisted to Airline: Present Me the Cash (Mo Cash!)
Workforce Innovation and Alternative Act (WIOA): This Division of Labor program paid for my business and instrument rankings! Open to these going from enlisted to airline, it’s free cash in case your flight college applies. Your college has to use, so make them conscious of what they’re lacking out on. Anticipate consumption checks and month-to-month check-ins for a 12 months. States management the funds, so confirm residency guidelines.
VR&E (Vocational Rehabilitation): Don’t skip this! For those who’ve received a VA incapacity ranking of at the least 10% with an employment handicap, VR&E retrains you for high-demand careers like piloting, usually paired with a university diploma by an accepted program.
You’ll usually want a personal pilot license first, however for eligible E2A vets, it’s a golden ticket to superior coaching with out worsening your situation. In 2023, VR&E supported over 1,200 veterans in aviation packages, per VA stats. You actually need to compile a stack of paperwork and proof to counter the seemingly inevitable objections of some VA counselors. Even if you happen to select to get a level in one thing extra helpful than aviation, don’t let this profit slip previous you.
DoD SkillBridge: Not funding, however a sensible transition software. This Division of Protection SkillBridge Program enables you to work with trade companions for as much as six months whereas drawing full navy pay and advantages. Coaching should be free or low-cost, you may’t earn a paycheck throughout SkillBridge, and there must be a stable probability of a job if you happen to carry out effectively.
You’ll additionally must be allowed to return to your unit for out-processing. Smaller operators have embraced SkillBridge in the previous couple of years, netting themselves low cost meat servos and mechanics. Use warning, although. Some SkillBridge corporations cost these employers a number of thousand {dollars} per veteran to fill out a couple of sheets of paperwork and funnel you to their companions. What looks like an excellent deal isn’t at all times finest for you; it’s finest for them. Skip the intermediary until it’s your absolute dream gig, however look into it.
In response to DoD reviews, over 3,000 service members used SkillBridge in 2024, and it beats doing PT. Undecided in case your command will help you? Be respectful, however remind them that they’ll be paying in your unemployment advantages once you go away uniform if you happen to don’t discover work.
Forces to Flyers and FAA Aviation Workforce Growth Fund: The Forces to Flyers program linked vets with aviation coaching, however has since paused operations. Even when it doesn’t return, it helped many vets. I do know a regional pilot and former E2A who used it.
The FAA Aviation Workforce Growth Fund can be a lesser-known program that gives grants straight to colleges and organizations that prepare pilots. In 2024, $10 million was awarded. In response to FAA reviews, AWDF usually advantages veteran-focused packages. Analysis these; they’re like a headwind on takeoff.
Excellent Scholarship Alternatives
Scholarships are a TOGA increase for E2A coaching. These are just some of probably the most well-known organizations providing scholarship alternatives for these on the journey from enlisted to airline. I’ve listed them under from smallest to largest annual awards.
Nationwide Air Transportation Basis (NATF) gives $5,000-$10,000 yearly in $1,000 scholarships for pilot coaching, specializing in security and excellence.
Arab American Aviation Professionals (AAAP) funds Arab American pilots with $5,000-$10,000 yearly for certifications, selling range in aviation.
Sisters of the Skies awards $5,000-$10,000 yearly for Black girls pilots, supporting non-public and superior rankings.
TPNx (The Pilot Community Alternate) gives $5,000-$15,000 yearly in scholarships by its networking occasions, connecting pilots with funding alternatives.
Latino Pilots Affiliation (LPA) awards $10,000-$20,000 yearly for personal, instrument, and business rankings. Energetic membership and enrollment in a U.S. flight college are required.
Tuskegee Airmen Basis funds minority pilots with $10,000-$20,000 yearly, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen legacy.
Experimental Plane Affiliation (EAA) awarded $238,000 in 2024 for personal pilot certificates and rankings, open to Younger Eagles and members.
RTAG awarded $250,000 in 2024 for veteran-focused flight coaching, emphasizing RTP (Rotor Transition Program) and E2A candidates.
The Ninety-Nines gives $500,000-$600,000 yearly through the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship, serving to about 50 girls pilots in 2024.
Skilled Asian Pilots Affiliation (PAPA) awarded greater than any of the “Huge 7”, round $1,000,000 in 2024 for certifications, supporting Asian American pilots.
Plane Homeowners and Pilots Affiliation (AOPA) awarded almost 400 pilots $1,300,000 in 2024 for main and superior coaching.
For extra alternatives, examine Pathways to Aviation for a curated scholarship record and be a part of the Aviation Scholarships Fb web page for real-time updates and group ideas. Begin making use of now. For those who don’t, you’ll have zero excuses for why you may’t afford flight coaching, like touchdown with calm winds on a protracted runway. Start yesterday, even when your DD-214 is years away.
In Half 2, we’ll dive into constructing flight hours and balancing training to prep in your airline profession so you may go from enlisted to airline.
Need assistance? Attain out at sabistonconsulting.com or [email protected]. Additionally, tune into the Make the Donuts podcast for insights from aviation specialists and airline execs to gasoline your E2A journey.
I’ll see you within the terminals!– Sabby
