Originally Posted by
thrust
1. Go to the baseops.net forums. Spend a couple days reading everything there. Every question you could ever have, as well as tons you didn't know to ask, have already been answered by the thousands to come before you. If after that you still have questions, ask away.
2. Stay as far away from active duty as possible. If you've really done your research, you'll see that the vast majority of AD folks want out ASAP. There's a reason for this: it blows.
3. Whatever you do, don't go to the academy. Go to a large football school, get a degree in something you'd like to do should flying not work out, have fun, and apply to guard/ reserve units after you graduate. You'll thank me later.
Hopefulpilot,
Thrust is absolutely right on all three points.
1. Baseops.net forums offers a huge wealth of information.
2. If you want to just be a pilot, but still have the opportunity to serve your country as an officer, DEFINITELY go into the guard or reserve. See the mistake I made below in item 3. Right now, speaking from not only my experience, but experiences of many of my buddies, active duty morale is at an all-time low and MANY want out. I can't speak much to the guard and reserve, but I would leave active-duty today if I could. From everyone I have talked to in the guard and reserve, they are having MUCH better experiences there. The biggest reason is that active-duty pushes career progression and every officer is expected to someday become a General even if the officer just wants to have the opportunity to serve his country for several years then get out. Either way, I think it is very honorable for a person to serve even if they want to get out after their commitment is up, but active-duty does not see it that way.
3. When I was slightly younger than you, 16, my USAF Academy and ROTC liaison officer (who was a pilot in the Guard) told me "remember there are other opportunities out there like the guard and reserve and they will pay for your school too." I did not listen because I had my sights set on the Academy. I wish every day now that I would have listened to him. I ended up going to the Academy and left just prior to my sophomore year and went to a state school and did ROTC---best decision I have ever made and I had the time of my life at "a regular College" and still was able to get a pilot slot. I am not talking down the Academy, many of my best friends went there, it just wasn't for me.
My recommendation Hopefulpilot:
Go and research guard and reserve. I am currently a pilot training instructor pilot and some of my students are going the guard/reserve route. Some of them joined a guard or reserve unit as an enlisted troop at your age and did their reserve time on the weekends as a maintainer, loadmaster, AGE troop, etc. Their units helped pay for them to get through college and upon graduation, they went to officer training school then pilot training and they went back to become a pilot in their unit. Others joined a guard or reserve unit after college and went straight to officer school then pilot training. The other great thing about the guard and reserve is that you have the option to stay with your unit your entire career if you want to, as opposed to active duty where they move you around every three to four years (from personal experience that is very hard if you have a family). Just do a ton of research and call your local guard or reserve unit and they should be able to help you out. Best of luck!