joemes

I am looking into becoming a military pilot, and I know that this field is competitive. I enjoy all kinds of flying, from fixed wing to helicopters, so I do not have a preference as to what I will fly. What branch of the military would I have the best chance at becoming an aviator? I know that the Army has a warrant officer program for flying helicopters. Would this make it less competitive because they only offer helicopters or would it make it more competitive simply because there are not as many slots? Or would the Air Force be the least competitive just because they have the most aircraft in their fleet? I just love to fly, so it does not matter if I am deployed on a ship for 8 months in the Navy, or if I am flying rescue missions off the coast of Alaska with the Coast Guard. I just want to fly and I want to know what military branch offers me the best chance at getting to do this?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

zondaracer

The Army actual has more pilots than any other service (at leas that is what an Army pilot told me), and most of them are warrant officers. My sister is an Army pilot but she webt through ROTC so it wad very competitive, but she found a round about way that was less competitive, which was through Medical branch which required her to apply to be a pilot after already serving on active duty, and I think she said there were 3 applicants for 8 positions in Med Branch, so she got a slot.

If you go to the Air Force Academy, getting a pilot slot is almost a guarantee (note I said almost, it varies some years to due demand for pilots). The real competitive part is getting into the Academy. AFROTC is less competitive to get into, but getting a pilot slot is competitive, and it varies from year to year, but for the 2006 year group, it was just over a 50% selection rate of those who applied. There are opportunities to apply once on acrive duty but it gets even more competitive. You can also apply via OTS (very competitive), or the National Guard and Reserves, and you have to apply to each individual unit, and competitiveness varies with each unit. Back in 2006, the commander of the Colorado Air National Guard said that his unit typically gets one or two slots per year and well over 100 applicants. On the other end of the spectrum, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard hired 6 guys off the street in one year. I talked to a squadron commander at the PRANG and he said they were looking at getting new aircraft in their unit, but it would eliminate the navigator most likely, but those navigators would get sent back through pilot school (so you could look at becoming a nav at a unit that would potentially eliminate navs, but this unit in particular would not necessarily be looking at hiring many new pilots).

I don't know too much about the other services and I'm sure other guys will chime in about all the services. If you really just want to be a military pilot, do a search on here and you'll find lots of information, and start seeing what you need to apply and start applying to all the different avenues.

Do you have a college degree yet? What flight experience do you have?

rickair7777

They army is probably least competitive in the sense that they do not require a 4-year degree and many applicants have the prevailing attitude that fighters are best, fixed wing is better, and helos are not so great.

The army training is of course top-notch and certainly not any easier than other services. The missions are a lot of fun too.

Also from a competitive perspective, you will be competing with a bunch of army enlisted folks with proven military records (due to the lack of 4-year degree requirement). With other services you are competing mainly with the other civilians in your commission source (Academy, ROTC, OTS).

Before proceeding you need to ask yourself one very big question:

- Do I want to fly, or do I want to be a military officer?

Your answer might be either end of the spectrum or somewhere in the middle....

If you just want to fly period, then attempt to go ANG or USAF reserve pilot. Get your training paid for, and then in a couple years you will be off active duty in a reserve drilling status. Get you CFI, build time, and then get a regional airline job. Your military and civilian careers will progress in parallel. If one doesn't work out, you still have the other. Note that this avoids accepting a scholarship or active-duty commitment which, if flying doesn't work out (medical, training fail), will stick you with a multi-year non-flying commitment.

If you just really want to be a military officer, look into the different services and their missions (also their operational realities which might be different these days), and apply for flight slots in the services which have the best opportunities for you. If the flying part doesn't work out, you still have a military career.

If you are somewhere in the middle, balance the above two approaches

Note that while the USCG has one of the most interesting missions, they do not offer flight guarantee slots (except to a very few folks who went to specific colleges). You have to sign up and complete OCS, and only then do you find out if you will be flying, driving ships, cleaning up oil spills, or inspecting safety equipment on civilian boats. I think the safest way to approach the USCG would be to fly helos in the army (try to get an MH-60 variant), get a commission, then transfer to the USCG. They will take other service aviators.

If you have a 4-year degree, you cans till join the army as a warrant, this will provide flexibility to stay in the cockpit since commissioned pilots get sent on non-flying tours. As long as you have the degree you can probably pick up a commission any time it suits your career plan.

KennHC130

Hard to throw a lot your way without knowing your current status...hours, schooling, etc. I used to push the AF a lot........USED TOO! After 25 years, I'd say this is as bad as I've seen it. Hardly any emphasis on the flying part compared to 15 years ago. You deploy a lot!! As an officer, you can virtually count on at least one 365 day deployment in a career, and multiple 6 month deployments. You will be able to count your time away from family and friends in years!! While at "Home station" you will spend much of your time answering/deleting useless emails and writing award packages and performance reports that come back for countless corrections, all the while sweating how bad the bean counters have screwed up the manning for the umpteenth time and wondering if a RIF is hanging over your head. Am deployed right now in a complete waste of taxpayer $'s with a few good dudes waiting on RIF results due soon.

If you are still in school, I would recommend getting on with a nearby guard/reserve unit and letting them get to know you and then hopefully getting them to send you through pilot training. Then go the way Rickair mentioned. With parallel careers, there is always one to fall back on.

Sorry if I sounded pretty negative at first. Mil flying is the best thing I've ever done and would encourage anyone to get into it whatever way they can. It's just a frustrating time right now in the AF IMO. And of course, change is inevitable. It should turn around again

Best of luck whichever way you choose.

Grumble

It's been said already, but if all you want to do is fly... think long and hard about joining the military.

60 hour work weeks get old quick, especially when you're only logging 10 hours a month or less.

USMCFLYR

So true......but what a 10 hours eh?

USMCFLYR

Hobbit64

My advice is to push on each and every door.

The process is a two way interview of sorts. Remember that you will learn the respective 'corporate culture' of each service while you are applying. You need to be comfortable with where you serve. If not, you will be miserable.

If/When the door(s) open, pause & evaluate the available options, then make a move.

I started the process with a certain goal and ended up on a completely different path. In hind sight I am extremely pleased with the way things turned out. Be Flexible.

Be relentless, energetic, and flexible.

P.S. Research the differences between the Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Components of each branch (if applicable). Draw a career map and see what fits you best.

Good Luck

UNCPHILLIPS

Hobbit,

Can I ask which path you ended up taking?

FLY6584

Go guard or reserves.

crewdawg

2!

What this guy said! I'll caveat that with AIR Guard/Reserve!