Fox Two, first of all let me commend you both on your presentation here (quite mature) and also your forward thinking! You've got the beginnings of a solid "personal Campaign Plan". Armies (and in the end Nations) live or die by well executed Campaign Plans.
It seems that you are willing to accept that risk that if you have a goal of being a pilot, but may not follow that particular path for whatever reason, that you would still be quite comfortable with considering a career in the military. Inch is right when he states that going through cadets and getting your GPL or PPL does not necessarily guarantee success in flight training. Absolutely true, and many guys who have made it thought flight training and received their wings will tell you that "aptitude" is important, but "attitude" will make or break you. This is also true in non-flight related issues in life as well, BTW.
Now, that said...(this is the "however")
...it certainly won't kill you to pursue flying within the cadets. I received my GPL in Trenton and would have likely received my PPL in North Bay were it not for having to hop on the Sacred White Cow (the old CC-137 Boeing of days past) and fly out to Chilliwack for BOTC. Oops...planning and preparation slightly "below the line". Of course I figured trading a relatively sure thing (PPL on a Power Scholarship, I had done reasonably well on Glider Scholarship) was very much worth the risk of potentially not making it through CF flight training. What I learned/experienced through cadets was just as valuable to the attitude portion of success I mentioned earlier as the aptitude.
If you are considering a potential career in the CF, then I might suggest that a "dual" reserve (militia) and cadet path might be worthy of consideration. The militia time does two things...one, it starts pensionable time that is added to your Reg Force time if and when you choose to enter Reg service, and two, it gives you a very solid skill set for dealing with military life...particularly as all arms/elements will be involved in expeditionary/deployed operations in the future. The air cadet side of things will flesh out that flying/air environment piece and maybe, just maybe assist you during flight training (assuming you are selected through ACS). Having seen what I've seen for a couple of decades of service, I would actually rank your choices:
1) Militia only,
2) Both militia and cadets, and
3) Air cadets only
Reality is that it would take a lot of time to do both, and schoolwork, etc... It would have to be a decision you make in the end.
Now, FoxTwo -- on a bit of a serious note, and I really hate to get overly dramitic here, but I have to address something that could seriously lead to an early failure in your career...it's this "Worshipping 'Inch' Thing"! We'll have to work really hard on that...maybe SeaKingTacco and I can convince you that Inch isn't quite the role model for you as you might think. Now, don't worry, it's not a fatal flaw...we can work on it with you! ......
p.s. These wings are much cooler than the Sea King driver wings Inch showed you!
Cheers,
Duey
. The problem is that the Scots meet up on Thursdays, same as ground school at cadets. Also after this summer, my camps will be devoted to scholarships assuming that I make it. Is there any way that this Combat Ready Infantry can work around my stupid schedule? Now when it comes to schoolwork, how do I not say this without looking cocky... I'm above average. I plan to stay this way. I am excellent at time management. I never missed a parade night through cadets once I'm that devoted. If I enrol in the Scots for some reason, should it be as an officer or NCO do you think? See also, I can if I wanted to, get my PPL outside of cadets, but it comes out to $9 750 (self-explanatory) My dad on the other hand has A LOT of experience. Close to 10 000 hours with PPL and his Commercial Career so he's really supportive and sees where I'm coming from, but mom... you know how mom's can be :
