Too old, or OK? (USAF)
 

This Post is for USAF pilots:

I am interested in going into the Officer program. I am 21, and by the time I finish my BBA, I will be 23/24. Is this too late to enter the Officer program, and then go through flight training thereafter? I am already a Civilian CFII/MEI. I am assuming it would be transitional training since I have all of the primary training complete?

What is the deal with corrective lenses? Any idea? If you wear glasses/contacts and want to fly, is the corrective surgery manditory/recommended? Also, if you have asthma of any sort, does this disqualify your military medical? (Allergy/Sport induced asthma)

Thank you to all who have input.

Lax

Transitional training!!?? Are you trying to stir the pot? You'd start out in undergraduate pilot training and your first instructor could be a 300 hour FAIP (first assignment instructor pilot) who never got anything past a ppl. It is a far cry between a CFII/MEI and being a military aviator. Try flying 12 inches from the wingtip of another airplane while coming down final on a formation landing and you will see the unique skill set you will have to dedicate yourself to in order to develop. Asthma is a disqualifier as is bad eyesight. Hope this helps--just trying to be straight-up.

Thanks for the honesty. Sorry, I don't know the Military lingo.

I am interested in flying FIXED-WING for the military as an alternate route to take. I will double check my disqualifications with an examiner, but I appreciate your opinion. Welp...I guess its back to the grindstone.

Lax

Usaf
 

Laxrox43:

I would advise you to get the study guide that will help you to prepare for the Air Force Officers Qualifying Test (AFOQT).

I studied for, took and passed the Officer's Selection Battery Test (OSB) for the US Army. I scored a 97 out of a possible 115 points. Passed it on the first attempt. OORAH. ;)

Best wishes & blue skies.

atp

Cool-Cool. Thanks ATP

Corrective surgery and the military is a very complicated topic. First find out if your existing eyesight is good enough for the USAF, you do not need 20/20 uncorrected. Check with the airforce, not the internet forums, cuz the requirements change.

I believe ACTIVE asthma to be a DQ. If you have a history of asthma that is not active, and you are very athletic you might be OK. Again, check with the air force, they are the only ones who can give you the straight answer.

Thats what I was going to do:p I only took the above advice as a 'grain of salt'...

Lax

Military flying is a totally different animal. I have seen many "experienced" UPT students, who proclaim their vast civilian aviation background, struggle and barely make it through the program. If you act like you "know it all", you are wasting everyone's time -- you'll be packing your bags soon. If you go there willing to learn their way of doing things, you'll do fine. Attitude is everything.

UPT is no joke.
 

First, UPT is a doosey. They're not going to just hand you a set of wings, you're going to earn it. Even in Navy Undergrad Pilot Training I saw guys wash out, even a private pilot/rotar wing civilian pilot washed out. Good luck with your decision and the medical stuff is something to sort out first, but keep in mind that this is no joke and even getting fixed wing isnt a done deal. I knew a guy that flew the H-53 out of Hurlburt in FL.

First of all, that CFII/MEI stuff means nothing to the Air Force. Don't go in thinking you know more or have more experience than anyone else because you have a bunch of civilian hours. The instructors will crush you! It is good experience and will help you but you will not get special treatment and still go through the same program as a guy who has 40 hours.

Second, the Air Force aint just a flying club. We have other duties outside of flying that take up a majority of our time. Also, there are many other jobs for officers in the AF that have nothing to do with flying and there is no guarantee that you will get a pilot training slot. In that case you would have to do somthing else for a few years and then apply and meet a board.

If you really want to be in the Air Force and you have a few years of college left I would recommend joining ROTC and try to compete for a slot there. That is the best way to "get your feet wet" with what AF life will be like before signing your life over to "the man".

As for the eyesight thing, don't do anything to your eyes!! As long as you can correct to 20/20 with glasses/contacts you are fine. I wear glasses everytime I fly.

Not sure about asthma but if it's slight then you should be OK. It may disqualify you from flying so you may not want to tell them if you can hide it and don't need to be sucking on an inhaler every 5 minutes.

Good Luck!