blastoff

Can't speak to current conditions, but at least in the last decade its seems moderately competitive candidates got Pilot Slots, or were Alternates who ended up with a Pilot Slot. Having to be the #1 guy in class to get to UPT hasn't been the norm (3-4 guys per class more like it). I'm just poking fun at Zoomies, but if he wants to go I don't see why he feels he needs to go to OSU first.

What he should not do is go neither ROTC or USAFA, then try to get an Active Duty OTS slot. Unless he decides he wants to go Guard/Reserve street hire, he should do something soon.

USMCFLYR

Are you prepared for the required time in the military if your DREAM is to become a Commercial Airline Pilot, while others around you are continuing to press forward on the track in the civilian world?

Going into the military, serving your country, and finishing your commitment with a particular skill set that is usually very marketable in the civilian world is a great track - and a fullfilling experience in my opinion. A military flying background provides you with the opportunity to transition into civilian aviation; but I'm not sure if you should USE IT to get to where you are trying to go. There is an awful lot of commitment required upfront.

Best of luck in the process Buckeye.

USMCFLYR

SaltyDog

Buckeye,
Sounds like me 30 years ago. I ended up 9+ years active duty in the Navy as a tailhooker. Now a commercial airline pilot and am very happy with my adventures as a military and commercial bus/truck driver. In college spent time with USMC, USAF (interservice transfer to Navy .....) Too stupid to go to ANY academy, but what a great opportunity for youngsters! Always wanted to be an airline pilot after a military career. Throw the dice, go after your heart. Lots of good advise has been passed for you to consider, but only you are going to be in your circumstances as they are at the time you pursue your goals. BTW, all the services (and USCG) are good and have a variety of advantages/disadvantges based on your desires/goals.
I wish you the best and leave you with my favorite encouragement. Many here that have posted have lived this quote.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Calvin Coolidge quotes (American 30th President of the United States, 1872-1933)

Regards
SD

AirDingo

Unless you want to be a military pilot I'd not recommend USAFA. It is a long, hard drudge with little of the fun at a normal college. At the end, if you are lucky and keep your Pilot Qualification, you get another year plus of having to make the cut in UPT. It is work and not very glamorous.

After that you have a 10 year commitment (I believe that is the current.) You'll deploy and quite possibly get shot at while hurling metal in anger. On the other hand, you might also (increasing probability) draw the flying desk known as a UAV and THAT will be the end of your dream.

Think carefullly. If you want to be a military pilot USAFA is perhaps your best choice.

If, as you said, you wish to be a commercial pilot and don't want any of the above...I'd go a different route.

Best of luck.

joepilot

As some others have done, I strongly reccommend Air National Guard or Air force Reserve, not ROTC. (I did the AFROTC route, but the commitment was much less then, and I did not have to take the risk of getting stuck with a UAV.) If you can get hired by the Guard or Reserve, you will know up front what aircraft you will be operating, and you will have a UPT slot.

Joe

CaptFuzz

If your goal is to become a commercial pilot, you may want to reconsider the commitment and time involved in the direction you are considering. You're looking at 1 year at OhioState, then 4 years at the academy, one and a half to 2 years before finishing undergraduate pilot training and getting your wings, then a 10 year commitment to the Air Force following that. That means you'd be putting off your goal for at least 17 years. There's also the very real possibility that you wouldn't get a pilot slot. Then you'd have a 5 year active duty commitment after the Academy (for 10 years total) and considerably longer if you end up becoming a navigator, air battle manager, or the new rating of UAS pilot.

You should also consider that the military sees you as an officer first, then a pilot, and they pretty much own your life. You will be doing what they need you to do (with only some consideration of what you might like assuming they happen to need someone to do what you would like to do at the moment when you're available to do it) and putting up with a lot of BS in the process.

There's also the issue that your purpose in life will be to go help end the lives of others. That tends to get glossed over with a lot of patriotic jingoism (or a lot of talk of the rare humanitarian mission you might do), but it is a reality that should at least give you some pause if you still have some sense of your humanity.

If you really want to become a commercial pilot, I would suggest looking into a aviation college or taking flight lessons while attending a traditional school. The civilian route is also full of difficulties, but you don't have to put your goals off for nearly two decades and can retain some control over the direction of your life instead of handing the reins over to an organization that doesn’t have too much consideration for your desires.

blastoff

Just to make sure everyone understands, you have a far better chance of getting a pilot slot in ROTC than as an off-the street guy trying to get hired at a Guard/Reserve unit. Just understand the risks, and yes, the Reserves is an awesome way to do both (Civ/Mil) without waiting for the 10 year commitment to expire. But both Active Duty OTS and Guard/Reserve slots go to about 2-5% of the people who initially send in packages.