Originally Posted by
ZackN
Terrific! Thank you for the info! Once I finish my degree, should I hold out for a pilot slot or do you think I should go in as an AF flight nurse and apply from within? If I did the flight nurse thing, I was considering using the pre-commission program while I'm still in school....Don't know if that would help me or ultimately hurt me?
I assume the flight nurse is an officer?
If you are enlisted, while not technically required to, the services have a tradition of ALWAYS allowing you to pursue a commissioning program in any service doing any specialty (unless they think you are a dirt bag). Even if you are in a high-demand skill-set, they will release will you.
But if you are already an officer in a critical skill, or even a non-critical skill with a training obligation, they have no requirement to let you transfer to a "cooler" skillset. Make sure you find out IF they will release a flight nurse for pilot training, and if they will require you to serve a certain amount of time. Each military skill community has managers who "own" that manpower pool...even if the squadron commander wanted to send you to flight training, he can't do it without the concurrence of the people who own your specialty.
I know in the navy a doctor, SEAL, or submarine officer who asked for pilot training would be told to shut up and get back to work...after they stopped laughing.
If you are enlisted, at least you know they will release you for pilot training.