Air Force?
 

Is it possible just to go to the Air Force and let them teach you how to fly. Can anyone tell me what they teach and what do you have learn by yourself after you leave? How does it work? Thank you.

Use the search function above...

Here's a quick summary (this applies to most fixed-wing military flying jobs, not just USAF)...

- First, it will be very competetive.
- You will need a clean criminal record (a few traffic tickets are OK).
- You need to be a US citizen.
- No older than 27-28.
- You will have to be an officer, so you will have to go to OCS before flight school if you are accepted.
- You will have to have a 4-year degree with a high GPA (lower GPA is OK from a TOP-NOTCH school). Technical (engineering, computer science, chemistry, etc) are HIGHLY preferred.
- Varsity athletic background (high school or college) is normal.
- You will need to pass an extensive medical exam,and will need 20/20 vision in each eye WITHOUT correction (you can get laser vision surgery to meet this requirement... PRK only)
- You will need to contact an officer recruiter in order to get the paperwork started...the paperwork package will require a LOT of initiative on your part.
- You will be put through a short civilian flight training indoc/evaluation before you are accepted into the military...you have to pass this.
- For a civilian with no military experience it will be VERY helpful if you have at least a private pilot license.

Also, be aware that you will be signing up to be a military officer FIRST, and a flyer second, especially in the Navy/USMC...think about that before you do it.

If you are doing this to get experience for the airlines, I would recommend a fixed-wing Air national Guard Unit. Otherwise you might get assigned helicopters, which will not help much for the airlines.

Good Luck

Agree with all EXCEPT:

I don't think Varsity anything is normal or required...except maybe drinking...but even that seems to be changing these days.

You don't have to go through OTS; that's just one of three methods of entering the active duty. The other two methods are:

Go through ROTC in college. They have programs as short as 2 years, but you need to finish with a Bachelor degree.

Go to the USAF academy.

Another entire track is direct entry into the Air National Guard or USAF Reserve. You will end up going to the exact same pilot training and fly the exact same airplanes as the active duty but the entry requirements are very different. Whole 'nuther subject.

Also, there is no way to go to USAF pilot training and end up with a helicopter assignment. You should know long before you sign on the dotted line if you're going for fixed or rotary wing.

Nah the Air Force doesn't teach you how to fly. They just through you in the plane, as long as you flew Falcon 4.0 or Microsoft flight sim you can be a fighter pilot!


NEXT!!

"Also, there is no way to go to USAF pilot training and end up with a helicopter assignment. You should know long before you sign on the dotted line if you're going for fixed or rotary wing."

Just curious...did they do away with the "Joint Specialized UPT". When I went through ('94), some of the active duty guys went to Helo training. They didn't know they were going until the drop.

Also, they may have changed the rules about eye surgery, but I'd research this very carefully before I had anything done.

I think he meant going to UPT as a guard guy you won't get helos if your unit isn't already flying them.

Tanker Bob - you just opened up a can of .......

There is also a 10 year service commitment in the Air Force after you complete Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT).

I will add my thoughts in because in 3 weeks I will find out if I got a pilot slot in the USAF. There are a couple things that aren't exactly right....

You can fly rotary, its an option after UPT. Most people don't want it. If you do go rotary you will either be flying special operations or missle support out at the ranges.

And I don't think there are any guard or reserve units flying helos.

* Normal color vision
* Distant vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/50
* Near vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
* Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
* Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
* Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
* Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
* Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches

PRK is really touchy right now. If you want it, let the AF do it.