Possibilities for the military
 

Hello everyone,

I'm fairly new to APF, as I've made only one other post. I'm trying to figure out what my options are for the military as I want to become a pilot. Some background - I'm an incoming junior at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. My GPA is pretty good - 3.74 - though I hope I can improve upon it. And my SATs were at 1210 on a 1600 scale (I include this because I hear the SAT is comparable to the AFOQT). I have no experience with ROTC, but we do have a detachment at UNLV. I was wondering if anyone could help me develop at a prospective outlook, so to speak. I'd love the opportunity to serve in the Air Force, Navy, or any reserve units. Ideas?

Thanks!

Ryan

First thing you should do is contact the ROTC detachment at UNLV. The second thing you could do is contact a recruiter and ask about OTS/UPT. Keep in mind it's very possible the recruiter may lie to you. Another thing you can do is contact local guard and reserve units. I know that Reno has hercs, but not sure about the rest of Nevada. If you elect to contact your local ROTC unit, be sure to be humble and respectful. If you join the unit, the guy you talked to is liable to be the guy that decides your future. You don't want to come across as arrogant, condescending, or entitled. Not that you would, of course, just throwing that out there. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I posted my gpa and sats to see if anyone thought that would be competitive or not. I had contact the detachment commander about 2 years ago, but life and other commitments had gotten in the way (or rather, I allowed them to get in the way).

I've heard that slots for fighter jets are extremely competitive. Does the same hold true for tankers/cargo? For me, it'd be a dream to fly a KC-10 or -135.

you wont know aircraft or even TRACK of aircraft until after the first part of UPT for the Air force...... you cant say.. its fighters or nothing...... you get a slot....and take your chances. The slots them selves were pretty damn competitive when I went thru the process 20+ years ago....im sure some younger guys can chime in .... they have a tracked system now ...

What I mean by that is that when i went thru ALL of us did Phase I in T-37's and Phase II in T-38's....even us TTB ( tanker, transport, bomber ) guys. Now they use the beechjet mil version for phase II i guess for TTB guys....probably makes alot more sense but man the memories of flying the T-38 are priceless...

Anyways ...the closest thing you can get to guarantee a aircraft is guard and reserve... and if its a fighter unit, u still have to be qualified in UPT for fighter aircraft or find another unit.. well thats the way it use to be anyways.... good luck.

You still have time to do the last two years of ROTC - POC program. If they (AF) stills calls it that...Contact your ROTC detachment and speak to them about it.

I've never been in the reserves. I've been active duty for a long time and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Been stationed in Colorado Springs, Germany, Japan, England, Italy,Maryland, California, Virginia, Washington DC.

Been deployed to: Saudi Arabia, Poland, Belgium, Pakistan, New Zealand, Tunisia, etc...

-LAFF

You're good as far as GPA goes. However, bring it anyway...Doesn't hurt.

Study for the AFOQT - you should do fine but you always want to do better.

I would also get a PPL to help you pilot selection (can't remember what the AF calls it) score.

AFOQT - you want 90s in the pilot/nav sections.

-LAFF

Sorry to go OT, but what were you deployed to NZ for? :D

Your GPA and test scores are very competitive. You didn't mention your major, which is also important. The USAF prefers "technical" degrees but non-tech's aren't a no-go (my major was Accounting).

Your next hurdles will be the AFOQT (AF officer's qualifying test) and the Physical. You'll probably need two years from entry into ROTC until graduation/commisioning but the ROTC guys will tell you what the current programs are.

Go talk to the Commandant of Cadets or whatever officer they let you see at the ROTC detachment. You'll usually get a straight word from them. A pilot would probably have better gouge than a non-pilot.

If you talk to a recruiter and he doesn't tell you what you like, go talk to a different recruiter. They're notorius liars and want YOU to solve THEIR problems, not the other way around.

Slots for fighter's are extremely competetive but that competition doesn't even start until pilot training. I think tanker spots are easier to get (Please don't flame me tanker dudes). On day-one of UPT, all Lt's are equal, no matter what your GPA, major, School, or SAT scores.

You'll get varying opinions about being in the active duty. I loved it but realize it has it's own unique challenges. It's not for everybody. If you think you can be sent to the armpit of the world and still enjoy it because you're working with great people, serving your country, and doing/seeing things that very few people ever do/see, then you might like it. If you're married and your wife doesn't share your sense of adventure, start putting your name on your CD's now.

Beer drinking and fixing telephones. I took 40 days of leave after my TDY and spent the time backpacking around the South Island. Beautiful country. Easy country to hitchhike / travel in. Spent a lot of time sleeping on the beach / under the stars in the mountains. I recommend it to everyone as a place to visit.

-LAFF

Also consider - you can be in ROTC while getting a MS/MBA. Best to talk to the PAS at your local Det. Its a good deal.

I went thru ROTC and don't regret it. Det 610 - University on ND.

-LAFF

Thanks for all the advice. I do appreciate it.

My major is political science. I picked the degree because I enjoy the subject matter. I'd like to be able to tack on finance or perhaps something else business-related, however that would take me an additional 2 years to graduate. I've sent an email out to the detachment at UNLV and have yet to receive a response. I have received a response from the AF Reserves, so that is a consideration as well. I don't think I'd be able to fly fighter aircraft because I stand at 6ft 7in. I remember a recruiter mentioning something about not being able to eject properly (boy that'd be fun!).

Yikes, you're a big boy.


I think there's a 245lb. weight limit for the T-38 ejection seat.

.. guys who actually know what they're talking about feel free to correct me!

searching my brain for a weight limit on the ejection seat and that just doesnt sound right. Not saying it isnt as that was over 20 years ago, just doesnt right a bell.

The T-38 limit is actually 215 without signing a waiver. The ACC mandated limit for the ACES II is 245.

Thanks Hack.... :)......

We had a training flight at Willy named "Hacker"..... or is that just a coincidence?

Coincidence. Unfortunately, I went through UPT after Willy was closed :(

Don't sweat that too much if you are going Navy or Marines. I know FA-18 pilots who are music majors, poly sci, history, etc. Your GPA tends to be more important in initally getting the flight school slot. I will say, however, that having a background in a technical field makes the AQT/FAR test go a lot easier though, which is probably just as important as GPA.

Getting a little off subject, but that was one cool thing about Willie. All the flights had names instead of letters and the names had been around since the beginning of time. My Father was an instructor there in the 60's and I went through in the late 80's through Hacker and Scatpack.

Some of the others I remember: Beercan, Boomer, John Black, Gombey

The weight issue doesn't worry me too much. I am a big boy, but I weigh about 225lbs. After tonight's dinner, I know I can stand to drop about 15lbs
:-D.

The Navy and Marine Corps do not have ROTC programs at my school. The Army, however, does. Does anyone know why a technical degree is more consequential for the Air Force than the Navy or Marines?