Army Pilot to Air Force Pilot Transfer
 

Hey everyone, thank you to all that post on this forum, I have found many useful posts and answers here. This is my first post. I found a couple previous posts on this subject but they seem to be fairly out of date and I wanted to find out if anyone had any current information on Army pilot to Air Force pilot transfers.

My current situation:
I am currently a CW2 flying helos in the Army. I am 26 years old and I still have some years left on my commitment that I would like to finish up. After that I would like to join the AF and fly fixed wing. My ultimate goal would be to fly the KC-10, but I am open to whatever the AF needs are. I have a masters degree and multi engine fixed wing if it means anything. After reading through some forums I’m under the impression that there are two ways to make the transfer…either UPT or FWQ.

So my questions are:
1.) As a Warrant Officer, will I have to go to OTS and UPT essentially starting from “scratch” with my career or could I go to the Fixed Wing Qualification I have been reading about.

2.) I am a little unclear with the age requirements. From my understanding there is no age cap for rated aviators unless I need to attend OTS (in which it would be 34 yrs old). Am I correct?

3.) What do you guys think would give me the best shot at a FW spot and which offers the best career opportunities, ANG or AF Active Duty?

4.) Who would be the best person to talk to for getting a transfer like this going and what is the first step? I am thinking I will try to get the process going when I am 1 year left in the Army.

5.) Lastly, should I even do a transfer? Or should I just wait until the end of my commitment and I am out of the army to apply as a civilian with prior military experience?

I appreciate everyone’s help. If anyone has any suggestions/experience/answers please share. Thanks!

To Question 1--Yes, you'd basically be starting from scratch and attending OTS and UPT in their entirety. Your rank would be O-1"E", so you'd get better pay than a regular 2Lt. As of 10 years ago, Fixed Wing Qual was limited to Air Force officers already rated as helo pilots.

To Q4--Times change, but (again, as of 10 years ago) there is (was) no active duty inter-service transfer like you're wanting.

Edit, to add--I've no idea how things are right now in the Guard/Reserves, but speaking generally, I would say your best shot is probably to find a unit that is hiring pilots, and who would appreciate an experienced person.

Can't send you a PM...

Check out Aviation Jobs Portal - Guard and Reserve Job Listings - Free Job Search Online. You'll find a lot of opportunities on that website. If you're focused on living in a certain area or flying a certain airplane, and the corresponding unit isn't listed, use some diligence in tracking down a phone number and cold-calling the unit for information.

Nothing is more important in getting hired than visiting the unit, getting to know the culture of the squadron, and figuring out if they're a good fit for you/you for them.

Good luck!

RotaryPilot167,

Look around APTAP.org - Professionals Helping Professionals. lots of folks there who've walked that path.

Good luck.

You need to go see a Air Force recruiter for officers. You'll apply for a pilot slot just like everyone else. You should be a shoe in with your Army aviation background. For what its worth, we have a first assignment A-10 guy in my SQ that has almost the same background as you. Start with the AF recruiter. Also, look at the guard or reserves. I'm going to a KC-135 unit that is getting the KC-46 and we have an old Army helo guy as well. Good luck.

My info is dated, but I've known several Army WOs that crossed over. All did OTS and UPT.

Army Pilot to Air Force Pilot Transfer
 

Forget the AD. Pledge a Guard or Reserve unit that corresponds with the airplane you'd like to fly and the location you'd like to live in. You'll still go to OTS and UPT. With your Army experience, both should be remarkably easier than for most. Good luck!

Army Rotorhead huh?
How many years do you still owe the Army? I think the cut off for AF UPT is age 29-ish?

Ok, so go Air Guard, and try to learn to use toilet paper.

(that's a joke Francis)

I was in your shoes about 15 years ago. I was an ARNG WO flying MEDEVAC Hueys and wanted to transfer. There are a couple ways to go about it:

1. Apply for OTS/UPT through an active-duty AF Officer Accessions recruiter. You should have an edge above other college grads. Then you will attend OTS and do the full UPT course. It's a busy program but again it'll be easier for you since you've got some airmanship built up already.

2. Find a Guard/Reserve unit and attend either OTS (AFRC and some ANG slots) or AMS (Guard only). You will then most likely attend UPT but some Reserve units can get a FWQ slot.

From what I've heard, the USAF is trying to get rid of the FWQ syllabus altogether, and even then, for a former Army helo guy, the FWQ syllabus you would need isn't too far removed from the normal UPT course. There are (or were) two FWQ courses...one was almost a full-up program designed for pilots with no FW experience, and one for AF helo pilots who did T-6/T-37s in UPT and only need a Phase II top-off then their Phase III (T-1/T-38) training.

The question you need ask is do you want to be active duty or Guard/Reserve? Good luck!

There were two guys at upt with me that did exactly what you're trying to do. Applied, OTS, then UPT. FWQ is dead, and they both had to do full up UPT, treated exactly the same way as the other studs. As for whether or not it was easier for them I can't speak to that.