What are my chances of becoming an Air Force Pilot?

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ShaggyAce

Filing Flight Plan
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ShaggyAce
I will be starting my sophomore year of college in September and it has always been my dream to fly planes for the air force. I also plan to join AFROTC soon. I will however be majoring in Finance because my college doesn't offer engineering degrees. As of now, my GPA is 3.32, but I plan to improve it. I have had one flying lesson before and plan to continue. I think I have like 2 hours flying experience :). Will my finance major prevent me from becoming a air force pilot?(I hear you need engineering degrees). I am also willing, if absolutely necessary, to switch to Computer Information Systems as a major.
 
The fastest seat into an air force jet is to marry the base commander's daughter. I've seen it done!
 
Talk to the AFROTC advisor ASAP, that's the best source of information.
 
Don't forget that you also need to pass the physical exam- you can search online for AFI48-123, which are the physical exam guidelines. There is an attachment for initial pilot exam, or Flying Class I, which are the standards that would apply. Good luck.
 
I have heard that one way to do this is to join the AF Reserve. Once in a flying unit you have a much better chance of working the "job" into a flying one.

Good Luck
 
I don't know much about the entry qualification particulars, but I have heard that it's now a minimum 12 year commitment, so keep that in mind.
 
I'm not sure about the Air Force but I understand that the Navy has canceled the IFS program that would screen Naval Aviation candidates at the Naval Academy because there are 400 people waiting at Pensacola for initial flight training. In 3 years this might change but for right now the military has more pilots then it needs.
 
murphey said:
Talk to the AFROTC advisor ASAP, that's the best source of information.
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I'll second this. If you're seriously considering this, they'll pay for your sophomore year of school with no obligation. The obligation kicks in after you begin your junior year.
 
The USCG is always looking for pilots. You do your initial training at Pennsacola with the USN and then go to either rotor or fixed wing school. Lots of openings in the fixed wing area. Some unhappy rotorheads being transferred against their will to fixed wing.

USCG flies Falcons and C130s
 
dillardrg said:
I have heard that one way to do this is to join the AF Reserve. Once in a flying unit you have a much better chance of working the "job" into a flying one.
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Those Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units get only one or two pilot training slots a year. AFROTC has a lot more opportunity in that regard.

As stated above, first check to see if you meet the physical requirements, and then talk to the ROTC instructor officers (preferably one wearing wings).

As for college major, one of the best pilots we had in the F-111 community was a music performance major in college. He went on to attend the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC, the USAF equivalent of Top Gun) and was instrumental in developing the long-range fighter employment concept publicly introduced on the Libya raid in 1986 and a core component of USAF fighter employment from Desert Storm to this day. Not bad for a guy who majored in trombone playing.
 
Likewise, guy I knew was an art major, went in years after graduating, was well into the program (was in Tweets, I think), when that whole "don't ask, don't tell" thing popped up. Resigned his commission, went on down the road. Too bad.
 
SCCutler said:
Likewise, guy I knew was an art major, went in years after graduating, was well into the program (was in Tweets, I think), when that whole "don't ask, don't tell" thing popped up. Resigned his commission, went on down the road. Too bad.
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Do we have a smiley for "opening a can of worms"?
 
icon-70.gif
 
My father graduated from the first class of the Air Force Academy in 1959, and flew F100s. I wanted to be an Air Force pilot also, but was told because of my crappy vision, it was never going to happen. Five years ago I had laser eye surgery, and took up flying again. If was fifteen or twenty years younger I would try again, now of course the military accept laser eye surgery.

Anyway, go for it.
 
the latest information is available in the Waiver Guide, for AF flight surgeons. Tried to attach the PDF without luck.
 
My suggestion is find a pilot that is currently flying for the air force and ask for his recommendation on how best to get your wings.

If you talk to the AFROTC, tell him you want to talk to some current pilots. Easier of course if you have an air force base reasonably close by, but I would recommend traveling a couple hundred miles if necessary to talk to people have done it fairly recently, and listen to how they say to best do it.

Best to talk to those who have successfully done it and found out what they would have done differently and learn from their successes and mistakes.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
Former Army Retention Specialist.
 
Just got accepted into AF pilot training last year, PM me!! I was in your exact situation not long ago.



Best
 
ShaggyAce said:
Will my finance major prevent me from becoming a air force pilot?(I hear you need engineering degrees). I am also willing, if absolutely necessary, to switch to Computer Information Systems as a major.
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I don't think your degree matters. In fact, you could set yourself up for life after the military with such a degree. In 1982 I tried to get into the USAF as a pilot even though I had a BA in Accounting. However, at my flight physical at Offutt AFB Hospital I was 1/4" too tall sitting height, and was rejected as a pilot.

Good luck.
 
I would think the operant data would be the ratio of applicants to training slots, and the average credentials of those admitted. No clue for either, but wishes for the best of luck for the OP, and thanks to Rudy for his service.
 
I know for a fact that the Navy and the Air Force accept laser eye surgery, but I can guarantee that the Navy only allows PRK (wikipedia it!).

If I were you, I would also consider applying to the Navy's BDCP program during your sophomore/junior year of college. If you get into the program, you swear into enlistment during college, and get paid as an E-5 (i think) just for taking a fitness test every month. After you graduate, you go to Officer Candidate School and after 3 months you commission as a Naval Officer. Then you report to Pensacola! It's a pretty good deal.

Also, in regards to Introductory Flight Screening (IFS): it has not been cancelled. It has been shortened to the pilot's first solo.

(go Navy)

for more info, go to usnavyocs.com and airwarriors.com!
 
I've been a pilot in the USAF for just over 10 years now. Your major does not matter in the slightest - do whatever you like. Honestly your GPA does more for you in your undergrad than your degree does. Later on, it might beneift to have a tech degree, but not initially.

ROTC is a great way to get a pilot slot (that's how I did it). ROTC can also help pay for college, there are lots of scholarship options out there. If you don't want to do ROTC, all is not lost. Once you have your college degree, you can apply to OTS and (no matter what they tell you) you can get a guaranteed pilot slot before going to OTS.

The commitment is 10 years AFTER pilot training. Right now there is about a year wait to start UPT and UPT is 53 weeks, so that's where the 12 year commitment thing comes from. It's actually 10, just works out to be around 12 when all is said and done.

Remember, there is a decent chance that you could bust your ass for a year in UPT then end up getting a RPV out of the deal. That just plain sucks. Lots of guys are getting them and its not going to stop anytime soon. However, if you end up flying a real airplane, you'll love it. (the flying anyway, not the qweep) PM me if you have more ?'s, good luck with your decision!
 
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