KBAR

One thing to keep in mind is that if you go through OTS (Officer Training School - for those that already have their degree) on a pilot slot, you have a GUARANTEED pilot slot. AFA and ROTC can't do that for you regarding that detail. It's a competitive route, but it's the only way to make SURE you're going to UPT if you're not in the ANG. FYI

DustoffVT

Have to add - If you want to be a officer/PILOT instead of OFFICER/pilot, I have to plug Army warrants...

There are fixed wing opportunities if you rank high enough in your class. If you just want to fly and helo is ok, there's a lot of options. There are Army aviators (fixed and rotor) working at every major and fractional. But, you will spend MUCH more time over there than AF guys. Trust me.

Spongebob

Quite simply, if you're having a reservation about the military, don't do it. You'll be miserable about most things (family separation, putting up with that d!ck IP in the training command, non-flying duties (in the Navy, those are far more important than whether you're the ace of the base wrt getting what you want for follow on tours), the work hours, dealing with Seaman Timmy's drinking problem, Airman Boado's amateur porn tape (I kid you not!) etc. etc.) to the point where you won't enjoy the good (flying) and fantastic (day traps). Yes, you'll average about 350 hours a year, but you'll be working your a$s off during each one of those hours. 8 hours of autopilot is easier than 45 mins of ACM, and that is recognized in the civilian world.

Bottom line (from me) is that you got to want to serve as an officer first, then flying is a cool bonus and time away from the boss. If you go in thinking "I'm gonna learn to fly then go to the airlines" life is going to suck. When the time comes (commitment's up) everyone looks at their situation and decides what is best.

Sorry to be the fun sponge,

Spongebob

41DS

I joined the Marine Corps for one simple reason, I wanted to fly fighters and they were the Marine Corps was the only service that would guarantee me a pilot slot. I understood the risks of joining and talked to enough military pilots to know that no matter what I flew in the military it would be an experience like no other. Like everyone said your on the right track. Keep researching and then make your decision. If you know what your getting into then I think you'll be happy with your choice no matter what you decide. Good luck!

MalteseX

In a nutshell. Go ROTC/OTS/OCS, go guard/reserve (if able), if not, pilot training, go guard/reserve after commitment is up.

I'll try to help because I was pretty much in your shoes not THAT long ago. I went military and ended up staying for 20 years active duty before I went to the airlines. I had several civilian ratings BEFORE and during the time I was in the military, so I paid for flight time as well.
If you want to fly military and civilian, try to go Guard or Reserve. If I had it to do over again, I'd do that.
I had an appointment to the AFA too, but I blew it off and got an AFROTC scholarship.... that allowed me to fly as a CFI, chase women, have a job, a car and an apartment while going to a state school. More freedom, same result and school paid for.....
AFA is good, and a good school, but it wasn't for me... I'm not that disciplined and didn't want to be.
It is not "easy" to get stuck in non-flying assignments in the AF. Almost impossible if you are a good stick and have a good attitude.

I went to the military to fly and get it paid for, to fly jets... not Service before self etc. I went there to fly then get out. Ended up staying 20 years and was a commander a couple of times etc..... but I'm not joking; I wasn't into the "total commitment" and it worked for me. But you can't ever let that attitude show--to anyone.

Other jobs than flying: I've been: Scheduler, public affairs officer, duty officer, safety officer, tactics officer, training officer, instructor pilot, standardization/evaluation officer; executive officer, operations officer, and commander all WITHIN a flying squadron: Inspector general, exercise evaluation officer; readiness officer; Operations Officer; budget officer and safety chief OUTSIDE the squadron during staff tours. And a STUDENT at Air Command and Staff College (9 months) Joint Forces Staff College (6 months); and Air War College (9 months).
How long flying moving up through the ranks? I flew for 16 of 20 years with breaks for the schools above and for a staff tour at the Pentagon (2.5 years). I flew 8 different types of aircraft and logged about 7.5K flight hours in the military. With all the free time i had in the military at the "lower" ranks, I flew about 1500 hours of civilian flying --- CFI, charter, own aircraft etc.

It's not "easy" to get stuck in non-flying assignments in the AF. It will happen if you stay in at about the 12 year point as part of "normal" career progression--but it doesn't happen earlier unless you are not a good stick or have a bad attitude---this is not an absolute; it CAN happen, but it's not "easy" to get stuck non-flying. Toll on family life---was not a probem at all for me. It is for some. I guess that's a personal experience. You will be deployed and will be gone from home some (depending on what you do and what aircraft you fly--from very little to a lot). I was home a lot.

Lose sleep over lethal weapons, life risking issues? None. Ever ... lose sleep? No way. This is the part that I MISS!
How cool is the F-16 etc.... the military aircraft and missions are pretty darn cool---really. The missions are what I miss. Airline flying is BORING.
Transitioning? In my case no loss of skill. I flew charter in Citations and had my own plane--flew aerobatics with a club and maintained CFI and taught at aero club. I never lost touch with civilian side; either general aviation or corporate. With the free time you have and the money you have for training (according to your post); with military pay you'll be able to fly GA whenever you want. I also volunteered to fly medical supplies to remote areas of North America-- there are lots of things you can do... remember; you'll have free time especially if you stay single.
Military pay is good these days....especially with tax breaks. After about 8 years, your military pay is better than most flying jobs out there and you saved all that money on training as well

You are an officer first and you will go to a non flying job if you want to get promoted--you MAY not have to if you don't depending on the AF needs at the time you get to O-4. Depends on what you want. You are an officer first, but that doesn't mean you can't fly throughout your career. I ended up flying 16 years out of 20 with 7500 military flight hours. Some of my buddies flew for all the 20 years but retired as a Major (O-4)

Do I regret it? Absolutely not. It worked for me. Also got free flight training, free schooling, etc. Have 40K per year in play money now. The only thing I would have done differently was go to the reserves at year 8.... but I wouldn't have the 40K per year now.

Bottom line: Go to ROTC/OCS, pilot training then guard/reserve. While you are in the guard/reserve you can get the airline job and accrue seniority. I recommend the military route vs civilian only---and when you get out, you have all that training.
Or you can be a Doctor and make enough cash to buy you own jet!!!!
Good luck; you sound like you'll do well.

Estee

Maltese
Well said!

Sputnik

Great post

But this is where I got to say, "results not typical."

Sadly I've seen very little in my career to indicate flying skills--to include a complete lack--really has much impact in the assignment process. Though in my FAIP days it was clear that a number of bases had dumped their unable to upgrade guys on us.

More to the point though, I've really seen very few folks make it to 20 and stay in flying the entire time outside of school. So I seriously congratulate you for that one, it's inspiring. The folks I do know that stayed in a cockpit all ended as 20 year majors.

If I had to guess I'd say you hit the 12 year point somewhere in mid to late 90s, when the pilot shortage was at it's worst and the assignment Gods consequently were willing to leave staffs empty, and more unusually, send guys from school straight back to flying. Everyone I know at ACSC has walked in trying to get a cockpit on the backside, don't know anyone who's pulled it off yet. It ain't called air command and STAFF college for nothing.

Best of all, it appears that CONUS staffs are going to 4 years long unless you get picked up for command. And if you don't get picked up for command....I think it's getting back to the historical norm where they don't keep a half dozen O5's hanging round the squadron anymore. And therefore your reward for the staff is...more staff.

Anyway, that's the way my thinking went. I really didn't want to do a staff and didn't. We'll see what it does to my career later.

I wasn't being sarcastic up there, it really is pretty inspiring that you were able to fly so much, and have that kind of career. Not to mention 7.5K hours is pretty crazy. I don't know anyone up that high, and I'm a heavy guy. It's rare to see anyone over 5K on active duty.

kronan

I would think hard about the pros/cons of the AFA.

Pros,
first 2 yrs are free
60% of grads continue on to flight school
even if your vision isn't perfect, you will go to pilot training (how blind you can be depends on the yr)
great education

cons,
it is not a real school, so the closest you will come to the typical college experience is the prep school and the occasional weekend
people will yell at you from time to time during your first year
you don't get summers off, but there are a lot of good times to be had.


Like any school, it is what you make it. Keep your sense of humor and you'll likely make it through fine.

Do the ROTC thing and have your vision go from 20/20 as a senior......will more than likely lose your pilot slot and off you go into the career you didn't want.

RogAir

If you want to fly, and by that I mean really experience the thrill of it, go in the military. I know I'm going to **** a lot of people off by saying this, but IMHO after 20 years of flying, the only "real" flying I've done has been in the military. And I'll break that done further-- the 5 years I flew the T-37 and the flying I'm doing now in the C-17, which I'll break down further to say the time spent lowlevel flying, air-refueling, and assualt patterns/landings. Any time spent with an autopilot on IMHO opinion is not flying (and I have 10 years with a major airline) and the civilian flying I've done autopilot off just isn't that thrilling. Flame away!! So why do I "fly" for a major airline if it isn't real flying? Money and QOL (which went down the crapper on 9/11). My advice--if you want to fly go into the military, otherwise go get a real job!