I Interviewed a United States Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot

[@kagan.dunlap]

My hope is that anyone considering flying for the military sees this.

[@andrewo.9412]

That’s me, but I’m 32 now. I’m currently a flight paramedic on the civilian side, and it didn’t cure my want to fly helicopters lol.

[@stevenwright1829]

That's me. I'm trying to go warrant in the national guard to fly. So this video was very informative, thank you

[@bnezbit5477]

I just got accepted into WOFT as a street to seat applicant, I ship out soon and can’t wait to serve. Awesome video, love your stuff.

[@kagan.dunlap]

Congratulations! I appreciate the support!

[@MrgotPump]

how long from your app being send did you get accepted? im putting together a packet rn

[@Andrewlang90]

What a great interview, well done Kagan. He talked, and you just guided the conversation while he spewed a wealth of important info for any future pilots. Love this format, would love to see you do more of these

[@kagan.dunlap]

I really appreciate the kind words! I really wanted him to be able to give his perspective and share his experiences, I don’t really know much about airframes but I think there’s definitely people out there who could benefit from listening, especially those who are interested in flying

[@jameshowell3408]

I’m 17YO and enlisted in the Alabama national guard about 5 months ago and have been interested becoming a warrant officer pilot. This video helped me out so much thank yall.

[@simplymotivated1511]

Been in the NG for 11yr & present, i obtained all the benefit like GI, Montgomery bill ect, deployment combat & non combat, completed army schools oversea training, JRTC, state mission ect.

[@kagan.dunlap]

Yeah I will never hate on the guard, it’s not a bad gig. I know a lot of Marines that went guard actually.

[@captainkill5983]

Literally just signed on for the Idaho Guard as a 15T a couple weeks ago. Super stoked!!!

[@kagan.dunlap]

You’re gonna love it from what I hear!

[@grumpy1311]

Snowmobiling East of Bangor ME years ago. Taking a break in middle of small remote pond , and a heli came in hot over the cliff/ ridge w doors open and guy standing on skids . Never even heard the heli until it broke the Ridgeline. I think they were possibly going to land on the ice of the pond , but were as surprised to see us sitting there as we were to see them! They seemed to react to us being there and promptly disappeared over the treeline. Great remote training area with varying topography. Thank you for your skill and dedication gentlemen 🫡

[@kagan.dunlap]

Thanks for the dope story and support!

[@doodoo66]

You should do this more. I like military podcast but most of them are like Jocko and pretty intense. This is more my speed

[@kagan.dunlap]

I’m definitely planning on doing more. I really like talking to people with different experiences

[@Gun_sac.k64]

Good ol’ Pauly T. Dude was my stick buddy during primary. Great dude.

[@donjohnson8649]

TAXING?? I went through IERW in 1975 I loved every minute of it as it was a BLAST. I graduated as a Warrant Officer (Wobbly 0ne!! Wooo hoo!!) Later flew C-12s, U-21s, T42s, Blackhawks, Hueys again for a tour just before I retired and was a Battalion Standardization Officer and then NVG platoon leader on my second tour in Germany. Along the way in that career I was an IP at Ft. Rucker instructing in the Tactics phase of flight school. I enjoyed every day of it as instructing was VERY satisfying to me! Retired after a couple of decades of fun in 1991. I was out flying gliders the other day and there was a forest fire contract UH-60 out flying around and around doing some training at the same airfield (MEV). I wondered if that just happened to be one that I flew back in the day and that REALLY made me miss the old days!!

[@pignalio8583]

About to join the CO guard as a 15T. My goal is to become a pilot and this video has given me so much helpful information, thank you

[@Stormnorman15]

Greetings from WA! Funny enough, I was just in Bangor at the beginning of January to meet my Gf’s parents. I’ve been looking in to the “street to seat” program for active army, trying to learn all I can about the processes, and came across your video. Thanks for sharing!

[@CherryColaWizard]

Been serving for 4 years on active duty. Flying looks like a rewarding job, maybe I'll put in a packet for it.

[@MikeTurnerProductions]

That’s my cousin! Can’t wait to listen!

[@kagan.dunlap]

Heck yeah! Dude was awesome! Next time you see him tell him I said I appreciated him taking the time to sit down with me!

[@mrmichael972]

Sharp guy. Thanks.

[@jasonservary477]

Bar harbor is absolutely beautiful

[@kagan.dunlap]

I used to go there as a kid on weekends. Definitely an awesome spot!

[@jalenheggs3422]

I am Georgia NG currently on hold for common core. I got selected to fly chinooks so my expected school length is 2 years

[@jalenheggs3422]

And the state just switched me to Blackhawks lol

[@campbowwowkoseckipets7307]

My company made the avcatt sims that go into those trailers

[@AllianceOG]

That's my brother right there 💪🙏

[@kagan.dunlap]

That’s your actual brother?!

[@AllianceOG]

@@kagan.dunlap Yessir! My big bro 💪

[@jakemac875]

This video is awesome. I've gotta find a simulator with a blackhawk

[@anthonymccormick2029]

Well I can tell you now there’s a five month hold for the ch-47 chinook course.

[@kagan.dunlap]

Good lord really? Why’s that?

[@anthonymccormick2029]

IP and FE shortage. 47 classes are only 8 students at a time and starts every 2 weeks as well so it has a pretty significant bottleneck.

[@vorden25]

That was cool.

[@kagan.dunlap]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@kgw100]

Army pilots are the craziest most skilled guys out there. Rucks and mortars etc are worn on the front in the army going into the bird. The CT tasm tried to recruit me but they lost my pha so back to meps right after an ETS 😅. Keys lol. The only thing you need to start an Abrams is a bolt cutter 😂

[@kagan.dunlap]

Every Army Pilot I’ve met was cool as heck, actually pretty much every pilot in general that I’ve met was an awesome person

[@SomehowUnsurprising]

Come on over to that side again and we’ll give you the perspective of the guys riding in the back seats. Doubt anyone is interested in the obvious job though when there’s few skilled pilots but grunts aplenty 😅

[@kagan.dunlap]

I rode in the back seats myself haha, although I prefer Chinooks

[@marcusmiller265]

hey there, I'm also super interested in this route, I'm in the Texas guard now deployed and trying to get into the warrant route awesome video and super helpful. do you think you could help me get into contact with CW3 Turner so I could ask him more questions?

[@KGSpradleyAuthor]

Get some!

[@FlyingGentile]

HYB is that a cleetus reference?

[@kagan.dunlap]

Where did you see HYB?

[@FlyingGentile]

@@kagan.dunlap 19:07

[@ashleynewsom8949]

Amazing interview. This was really neat. Black hawks need keys, I love it lol

[@kagan.dunlap]

I really appreciate that! I want to do more of these!

[@TankandDimples]

Is this the process across all branches or National Guard only?

[@kagan.dunlap]

Just the national guard from what I understand

[@johnb917]

I’m a C-130 pilot in the Air Guard. Need a college degree and most squadrons prefer a private pilot cert as well. Take the AFOQT and TBAS test. Prior enlisted usually preferred, but not required (I was hired off the street, but an airline guy already). Do any branch guard and fly at the airlines as your other job-best cheat code to a fun, fulfilling, lucrative career you could ever ask for! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@TankandDimples]

@@kagan.dunlap thanks bro!

[@TankandDimples]

@@johnb917 Thanks brother for all the information. Any specific college degree that increases chances?

[@coryvazquez2200]

Hey Tank. I haven’t had a chance to watch the video but I can tell you that you do not need a degree to become an aviator in the Army if you go the Warrant Officer route! You do need a 4-year degree to become a pilot in the Air Force though. It does not matter what the degree is in to qualify.

[@SassquatchTX]

How old do you gotta be before they won't take you as a pilot?

[@kagan.dunlap]

Now that you’d probably have to Google but he may have spoken about it in the video too

[@andrewo.9412]

@@AncientReandddd I’m 32 this Nov. lol. I’ll find a way.

[@SmithandWessonBlazer]

​@@andrewo.9412Age waivers are commonly signed for exceptional apllicants.

[@AdamQuidam]

There is more then shorts ? Thanks Captain🫡🥹

[@kagan.dunlap]

Indeed there are!

[@Brinda-r9b]

At Route 20 Fremont, Oh. in 2018, two of these almost landed. Oddly, subliminally, I heard, "Go outside right now. Do not waist one second." There they were.(black hawk helicopters almost landed.) Two separate occasions. Around 9:00 a.m. channel 13 on t.v. Equally interesting, I know, "Look to the right..." On a couple of occasions, and a helicopter military would fly over. Special forces and secret communications is in my line. So, who are you?

[@kagan.dunlap]

I’m just a dude pretending disguised as another dude who likes to talk to people

[@kiranandrews9710]

Is that a base in Afghanistan?

[@kagan.dunlap]

Nope, I’ve never been to Afghanistan

[@neelonghunglow]

Pro tip: your honda fob will NOT start a Black Hawk! Remember the right keys for drill weekends!😂😂😂

[@pitmezzari2873]

Are you speaking from experience?

[@patrickfougere0001]

I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE!!!!!! BECAUSE THATS WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW!!!! Im actually the QC for that airframe..... Im gonna give furry so much shit at the PC meeting. LMFAO.😅😅😅

[@kagan.dunlap]

lol I’m glad you didn’t actually say it😂

[@kagan.dunlap]

lol I’m glad you didn’t actually say it😂

[@patrickfougere0001]

@@kagan.dunlap OPSEC Sir!!! ....

[@Brinda-r9b]

Funny. Your a flavor of a brother. My mom said her and her "military" dog has Dunlap disease. 😊

[@kagan.dunlap]

Hahaha well hopefully that means they enjoy watching my stuff😅

[@MrgotPump]

ask if he will write me a letter of recommendation lol prior service 12b

[@tristnsedora7790]

Sir when you hoping on unsubscribe

[@kagan.dunlap]

Hopefully as soon as I’m able to schedule time to

[@tristnsedora7790]

@@kagan.dunlap hell yeah

[@moneyneversleeps.europe]

Greetings from Germany, I love the US military & your videos! 👍

[@kagan.dunlap]

Thank you for the kind words! I worked around the Germans briefly, all good folks

[@jaysonhaselton]

Do you miss the Korengal Valley?

[@kagan.dunlap]

Never been

[@jaysonhaselton]

@@kagan.dunlap sorry, you look like someone that I saw on Resprepo.

[@kagan.dunlap]

It’s okay, I just can’t claim that on my resume