John HS graduation

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

I wanted all of you to know John graduated HS this weekend. They canceled all the services, and everything so it's been really hard, but I made him dress up, handed him a diploma, and had him move his tassel before I oked a cap toss. It's been very hard. The school just left them hanging with almost no instruction even in his AP class, no chance to retake Acts, just dumped into the world. He has held fast to aviation so college shooting is nearly out. Memphis & Ohio state fit the bill, and Ohio may still look at him next year, but Memphis was, well for a better description RUDE. I think he is going to keep shooting and going to WAG JO trials, and as many opens as he can to put up good scores for possible transfer. I've let him take a few days off to finish school, but come Tuesday it's practice.

I hope to God on June 1 the USA Shooting meetings reschedules JO, but I fear they will cancel. That will crush John. He wants to compete so bad he is borrowing my brothers Mosin-Nagant so he can shoot vintage sniper matches. Man that boy can shoot anything.

Anyway I wanted to invite you to his canceled graduation ceremony and ask if a few of you would send him a graduation card. Nothing else is needed, but the card. With everything canceled he only got 6 cards and was pretty let down. The rest of you cross your fingers, toes, eyes, anything you can cross that the don't cancel JO trials. Take care and be safe.

Paula




John Hamilton
4750 Corydon Ridge Rd NE
Corydon IN 47112

 

[300_whisper]

Has looked at the military academies? They have rifle, pistol, shotgun, and a combat weapons team (3 gun). He’ll have to take a year off though since the application process takes a year. It’s free and he has a 100% chance of getting a good paying job when he graduates

All academies offer flight branches too. If he wants to study aviation his only major available would be aerospace engineering.

 

[riflewoman]

If his vision is 20-20 uncorrected, take this year and get him pilot training to at least solo. There he can stop, but with solo done, he’ll stand a much better chance of getting an aviation slot.

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

Thanks guys. I don't think the academies will take him. He started shooting for NJROTC his sophomore year, and went from sporter to precision A-Team (travel team, best 4), in about 2 months. It caused a lot of programs with being bullied. We knew something was off but he wouldn't talk. His grades tanked, and it came to a end 2 weeks before school was out. They found him in a bathroom in a puddle of blood with a broken nose. I had to threaten with an attorney to get protection for John the next year. Shooting has been a cruse as well as a blessing. In Indiana make up classes can only be a C, so it hurt him in more than one way with his GPA.

John already has completed ground school, has 12 flight hours, is ready to start solos. He is 20/20 (2better, but I don't know what that is), and has passed his Flight Physical. We went to a Navy recruiting center 2 weeks ago, they wanted him to go enlisted and work his way up to pilot. So if you know a recruiter, he wants military.

I feel like he is one good break away from really hitting something good, but I'm not versed on a lot of these things and feel I'm letting him down. COVID closed all shooting events just when he was really making progress. The kid sure doesn't have luck, but I pray that break will happen and he will know to take it. He will be a pilot, that I am sure.

Thanks guys, if you have ideas let me know. You may be the break.

 

[riflewoman]

Have him at least get an AVSAB, maybe a recruiter can get that arranged. The AVSAB score determines even which branch you may enter. If he’s intelligent but with poor grades, it will still show...

even with that he can start with community college and (essentially) retake his senior year. They might not transfer, but in a different setting his true potential will come through.

tough being an outsider in HS... been there.

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

Have him at least get an AVSAB, maybe a recruiter can get that arranged. The AVSAB score determines even which branch you may enter. If he’s intelligent but with poor grades, it will still show...

even with that he can start with community college and (essentially) retake his senior year. They might not transfer, but in a different setting his true potential will come through.

tough being an outsider in HS... been there.

Thanks Rifle woman. He took the ASVAB, I think it was a 75, but don't quote me. He has been accepted to a couple schools, but their entire 1st year is what he has already done in HS. I'm not sure if he will work and pay for flight time and get his Private License then go into college. It's really up in the air. Vincennes has their school in Indy no dorms/cafeteria /med clinic ect. You rent them an apartment, that worries me a lot. But thank you for trying to help.

 

[300_whisper]

I can’t speak for the other branches but here’s the requirements. Make sure if you see a recruiter you specifically lay this out, and read the contract carefully. They will promise you the world to get you to sign and then throw you into whatever branch they need you most in. So make sure it’s super specific contract for flying.

https://m.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.m.html?&iom=AFTU-20-980_N_PSEA_71700000059780646_700000001989777_43700049511637745_58700005432960597_+army++warrant++officer&gclid=CjwKCAjwztL2BRATEiwAvnALcs1JyRAJr1BoU4_7PPV1A92fC933572CK6cJQv86ARYv4uEOAIEfTxoCtUcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[std7mag]

As i told my daughter when she turned 18 and graduated.
Congratulations! Welcome to the world of adulthood, it really sucks sometimes.

I read aviation, and my mind went to mechanics.
I went to Frederick Community College in Frederick, MD for my A&P license. 2 year course, and many places offer it.

Then i saw pilot....

Flight time was expensive 30 years ago! No clue what it is now!
And not to discourage, but aviation, especially airlines are one of the first things hit when any turn of the economy happens.
Not much going on for pilots right now, but mechanics is another story.

Best advice.

Figure out what kind of aircraft interests him, and join the appropriate service.
Fixed wing-Airforce.
Helicopters- Army or Marines.
Coastguard has both.

Best of luck!

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

As i told my daughter when she turned 18 and graduated.
Congratulations! Welcome to the world of adulthood, it really sucks sometimes.

I read aviation, and my mind went to mechanics.
I went to Frederick Community College in Frederick, MD for my A&P license. 2 year course, and many places offer it.

Then i saw pilot....

Flight time was expensive 30 years ago! No clue what it is now!
And not to discourage, but aviation, especially airlines are one of the first things hit when any turn of the economy happens.
Not much going on for pilots right now, but mechanics is another story.

Best advice.

Figure out what kind of aircraft interests him, and join the appropriate service.
Fixed wing-Airforce.
Helicopters- Army or Marines.
Coastguard has both.

Best of luck!

Thanks std7mag

I know pilot right, but he made this decision when he was 7 and has been working on it since then. It's actually a good time to be a pilot. I'm not sure what happened, but age restrictions is going to cut a large number of pilots in the next 5 years. UPS, FEDEX, & others are going to the HS programs recruiting so once John gets his ATP or R-ATP he will be set, it's just getting there.

PS flight time is between $120-$180 an hour, you need a min of 40 hours. He has 12, will prob pick up 5-10 with a friend who owns some planes, so that would leave at least 20. Tall order. I just have to have faith that it will all come together. Faith is the hard part for me.

 

[drover]

He should take a look at the University of ND, they have one of the best pilot training schools in the US, not only do you graduate as a pilot but you also have a college degree. The last time I checked the airlines picked up nearly every graduate from their program.

https://aero.und.edu/aviation/


drover

 

[std7mag]

40 is just the basic pilots license.
Then is multi engine & IFR.
ATP is beyond that.
Realistically looking at upwards of 1,500 hours.

UPS, Fed Ex would be good options. Mostly night flying though.

Lots of airliners parked right now. And unless things pick up again, there's gonna be a lot of competition, and they'll have more flight hours.

 

[300_whisper]

He took the ASVAB, I think it was a 75, but don't quote me.

He can keep retaking it till he gets a 110. There are books for studying for it. Once he takes a couple he’ll get comfortable and know what to expect. 75 is good for about 90% of jobs in the military but for languages, flight, and special forces he’ll need a 110. Again, not hard to do. If he does the army, he’ll spend 2 years training at fort Rucker and then assigned an aircraft frame and get stationed with a combat aviation brigade (CABs) and fly helicopters his whole career (if he wants to go army).

The best part it’s all free! Lol

He’ll also be a warrant which is cool, because you get the perks of being an officer without all the BS and they don’t have to deal with enlisted craziness too. It’s a sweet spot.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Lots of good advice here. To me the real question is, what does John want to do?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Henderson state university in arkansas has an aviation program and its not that expensive living there, lots of jobs to find as well

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

Thanks guys. He just graduated Friday so I'm not going to stress him yet. He and 4 other graduates went camping and fishing to celebrate. He just got home and found out about the riots. We live just outside of Louisville, so he is overwhelmed and scared. When you see stores you have shopped in, and buildings you know on fire it brings it home. I canceled my hematologist apt for tomorrow because it's at Nortons right on Broadway. Too scared

I have an apt with a friend who runs a flight school on Friday. He is going to evaluate John for private license. If John did Purdue Global classes 4 prerequisite over the summer and fall he could join 2nd year students in the spring semester. It would also free him up to practice daily, and shoot many events.

Thanks again guys. I you all. Please be safe from Covid, and Riots.. I'm thinking and praying for all of you.