I am 18 right now and I want to be a pilot for the USAF as the tittle states. I just graduated from HS and was supposed to go to the University of Illinois at Urbana for a degree in aviation. I had no money so I had to cancel my admission and since then I been in a limbo like state. I will be able to go next year and was wondering what can I do between now and then to start my career as an aviator?

 

The no money thing is going to hurt you. Enlist in the Air Force in the flying career field. Get your degree and apply for Officer Training School. If you don't get your degree, apply to ROTC or USAFA.

You desire something that will require a lot of time and commitment. You can't fly in the AF unless you are an officer. You can't be an officer unless you have a four year degree. Ask yourself how you plan on getting your degree. If you have the grades, apply for ROTC or USAFA and try to get a full ride.

Good luck. I hope you get what you want.

 

Currently I am not eligible to join the arm forces due to some unfair circumstances, which makes that much more of a challenge to get where I want to be. Those circumstances are also why I could not afford to go to college. Got anymore suggestions?

 

go to your loacal JC. Get some of the GE classes out of the way. Get a job start saving and try to build your credit. They you can apply for loans. You could also try filling out the FASFA. It is a goverenment form that could help you get government loans, and money.

 

Again my "circumstances" do allow to work,apply for FASFA or take out any loans. I am currently trying to get into the stock to make money and next semester I will go to JC to get my GE's out the way.

 

Unfair circumstances? The US armed forces are about as fair as it gets...

My guess is that if you are currently disqualified from even enlisting in the military, your chances of ever becoming an officer and getting a pilot slot are very low.

 

I really don't want to pry in to your personal life but I am baffled at what could be keeping you from going to college, getting financial aid, or enlisting in the military.

As a side note, I wouldn't recomend enlisting in the Air Force just to get money for college unless you really have to. It may not seem like it but a four year contract is a long time, and it drags on and on and on if you don't want to be doing what you're doing. Make sure that you are joining the military for the right reasons, don't just do it because its cool.

*Edit - What Rick said.

 

HAha

No, they do not disqualify in the future. It's not like I committed a crime or anything like that. I am just looking for a way to get associated with the aviation world and learn the lingo and such.

 

I don't mind at all but If I told you guys it might get into a lot of trouble. Lets just say the gov cant help me with anything like loans tuition or anything else for that.

 

Without money that can be a challenge. But you could try and do what I did when I was broke and awaiting my flight training. I saved up enough money to take my first lesson and found a good pilot's association at the local airport to become a part of. The instructor was sensitive to my situation and whole heartedly encourage my efforts. He would let me sit in on other people's ground lessons, "Sandbag" on their flights as an observer (With their consent of course), and even gave me some free flight time all in exchange for some elbow grease. I helped out around the Association's office, and spent quite a bit of time scrubbing down their planes. All in all it was a steal. On my weekends I got to sit around and listen to experienced pilots talk about aviation, take free flights, and I got to know every nook and cranny of Cessna 152's, 172's, and 172RG's.