What exactly have you researched and read? As I said above, baseops.net forums have endless threads on every aspect of pilot training, and none have misinformation of that degree (I'll be more specific, misinformation of that degree gets slammed less kindly than the brilliance evidenced by avaitorhi above was in this thread).

You'd be doing ROTC types of think in college if you join ROTC. Otherwise...not so much. If you join guard as a LM while in college, you'll be a LM. Then when you get your degree you can compete in same unit for a commission and a pilot slot. Good spot for it, it's a big unit with all the different airframes, equals higher slots.

There are a lot of ways to be a guard pilot, one of the best is already to be enlisted in that unit. They're concerned about hiring the right guys. If they already know you're a stand up sharp guy, you're halfway there.

Sounds to me like you ought to join. Good luck.

 

Quality of flying... 200-250 hours/year in a Hornet.... well I'd almost give my left nut for that.... not only the flying... but it seems like your flying would have a really noble purpose... planning missions, training to get better at everything, defending a nation.... that would be the best kind of flying!

 

And you would be right about all of that....but I'll you what I would like to do which would carry just as much job satisfaction would be to join the USCG and fly LE and rescue missions - in any platform.

Imagine sitting around the dinner table and your family asking you how your day went and you can answer "Today my crew and I pulled a family of four off of a sinking boat and tonight they are sitting at the dinner table together too."

USMCFLYR

 

+1

the guy claiming PRK or PLAAF could be neutralized with a couple of destroyers is either:

a.) one of those fat, bearded "experts" on the military channel who has never put his ass on the line for anything more than a twinkie

or

b.) a bad guy trying to stir the pot to collect on us.

either way, kudos to previous posters for keeping it professional and unclassified.

 

That's great. So I'm going to have to be waterboarded and crap to be a pilot? Wonderful. That should be fun. It won't deter me, but I'm not going to like it.


You gave me the type of answer I wanted to hear. I was more asking how hard is it to become a fighter jock? I know that people get to choose their aircraft based on their rank in the class, but how challenging is it to get that fighter slot? I am a dedicated, hard worker. Last year I ranked 14 in my high school class of around 600. Then again, flight school is a million times more intense than even the most difficult classes in High school.

So, if I work hard and am dedicated to what I do, in your opinion will I have a decent chance of getting a fighter slot? Or is there only a select few of personality and body types that have any hope of getting the fighter slot? Like I said before, I dedicated, hard working, intelligent, and I can handle stress well. I am NOT very competitive, and I'm even though I'm not a wimp, I'm not by any means the "tough guy" type. Just thought I'd put that out there.

Two quick questions: What is LE? And are A-10 slots generally as hard to get as fighter slots?

 

Though I am not in the military, I am preparing a packet for the Air Force and through searching, I've found the information regarding the "Resistance" is classified, so even if it is implemented into the training, nobody can talk about it. Besides, if you want it badly enough, what does it matter? They could beat me to a bloody pulp if it means after that I'll get to fly ANYTHING for the United States Military and defend they greatest document in the world (The Constitution) and the American People.

That's actually not true. From what I've read, everybody makes a list and whether or not they get what they want depends on a lot of IFs.
-IF there are slots for them
-IF they are deemed appropriate to pilot those aircraft by their instructors (keep in mind, most USAF fighters are single seat... meaning no co-pilot)
-IF they are at least in the top half, but probably they'd have to be at the very top of their class.


The answer to these questions can all be found online, using a simple google search. Since you want to be a pilot for the military, I'm assuming you want to go to college. When the time comes to do research for a project, google searches will be elementary and they'll expect you to not only find the information but properly cite it. It's great that you're looking for information this early, but these questions have been asked ad nauseam.

P. S. LE=Law Enforcement.

 

Yes - you will either get waterboarded or some other type of mal/mistreatment - at least in the USN/USMC SERE school. You'll have to ask an AF guy for details they can discuss in their training. Btw - that is only PART of what they will do to you. No one **likes** SERE school. That is why you make numerous copies of your graduation certificate and put them in different places both personally and professionally so if anyone ever tries to say that you didn't go; you have PLENTY of proof that you did!

It is hard. It involves everything I said PLUS luck in many places. Sort of like life really.

No, no, no....PEOPLE don't get to chose anything and ranking in class is only part of the equation. At the most you get to put in a DREAM sheet which is basically your wish list. The Marines are famous for their HELO drafts. Since 75-80% of Marine aviation is Helos, there are times when it doesn't matter how well you do in your class ranking - you are going to be a Helo pilot. In every service - needs of the particular service is the first and foremost discriminator. When I selected out of the Strike pipeline - we even had to go before a board and be interviewed and ranked by the members of the board - so class ranking didn't always decide your community.

blujay - academic ability is only one part of many in becoming a pilot and making it through flight school. There are LOTS of smart people book people who can't handle making decisions at 500 mph in a fighter or at 100' in a helo. Hand-eye coordiantion is very important for instance. Your high school class ranking will not matter that much I promise unless you are truly a high school rocket scientist and then maybe the test world has a special place for you (and we need them too)

No....I didn't say that. If you work hard and are dedicated you will have a descent chance of getting a commission and having a chance to compete for a pilot slot, make it through pilot training, and get winged in some Type, Model, Series of aircraft.

Sorry blujay - but if you are just in high school - I'm guessing the chances are that you haven't even really experienced much stress in your life yet; at last what some would consider REAL LIFE stress. You have experienced high school stress and maybe some competitive sports stress. I will tell you this though (talking about USN/USMC strike/fighter community here but I'm sure the same can be said for fighter/attack in the USAF) - it is a VERY competitive community and you're required to grow a very thick skin both in training and in your career.

A-10 are attack slots and yes....they are competitive I'm sure. It is the aircraft that I wanted to fly in USAF and I know quite a few of them from college and they have similar stories as any other community - but they do seem to know how to have A LOT of fun too!

USMCFLYR

 

Problem I see hear is this kid is worrying about stuff he shouldn't be at this time. Great to have goals...such as flying tacticla jets....but concentrating on school, getting excellent grades, concentrate on the effort to get into a program and eventually flight school. Worry about what you will fly later on down the road if and when it comes to that.

As USMCFLYR mentioned, selection (at least Navy/Marin Corps) is decided by the needs of the service. I'm one of those who finished with a 50+ NSS, making the jet cut, and being selected for E2/C2. Such is life sometimes in the military. Sometimes, to be successful, you do what you have to do not what you want to do. Sure, I wanted to be a carrier pilot which I was but I certainly wanted tactical jets. In the end though, it was all good.

 

No matter who was disappointed after selection - - I have rarely come across a person whom after their first tour haven't enjoyed their communtiy and their time in the fleet. In today's Navy especially - you have a great chance to either get your choice out of flight school (jet wise) and if not, then wait a few years and you'll probably switch platforms. We currently have two former S-3 pilots, a former E-6 pilot, and a former Marine WSO going through the program or just finished.

Enjoy your T-45 experience Bunk. I had dinner with a couple of them a few weeks ago and they were enjoying the heck out of the VTs!

USMCFLYR

 

Well, in less than a year and a half I'll be off to college which means maybe ROTC. So I'm going to have to decide what I'm gonna do fairly soon. Not now, but somewhat soon, right? I'm already fully focused on grades, that's no problem.

The problem is, I really don't know much about the military. What would the difference between joining USAF, the Marines, the Navy, the Guard, etc and being a pilot besides the type of planes I would fly? Different chances of being a pilot? Different training? Different hours? At the moment, the guard sounds really good to me because of its part-time schedule that will allow for the pursuit other things.