FLightle

We need to make a very important distinction...

After attending college and earning your space physics degree, you said "enlist" in the Air Force. I think what you meant to say was (if not, this is what you would have to do) : "Participate in the Air Force ROTC program while in college so that you can graduate and get picked up for an Air Force flight training slot upon graduation..."

If you enlist, you will have to become an officer prior to earning those wings. Possible routes to doing that are getting into the Air Force's OCS (Officer Canidate School). The acronymn might be different than the one I just quoted but either way, that's the only realistic way of becoming an officer if you enlist first. Not to mention, you might have to wait a few years to get picked up for OCS.

Basically, you have a lot of hard work ahead of you to get picked up into Air Force flight training. Thats the same with any branch of service. Go Army!

Check into both colleges' ROTC programs because what degree you have almost doesnt matter but a techinical degree would benefit you much more.

Just my .02,

Forest Lightle

gringo

Having flown with ex Air Force as well as ex Navy and Marines in my civilian career, I can definitley say one thing- the Navy and the Marines were ALWAYS more laid back and fun in the cockpit. Most (not all- there was a Sled driver who was pretty cool) Air Force guys tend to have a chip on their shoulders, and were USUALLY a pain in the @$$ to fly with. Again, I say USUALLY, not ALWAYS.

That all being said, the QOL at the Air Force is DEFINITLEY better, but Air Force guys, side by side next to Navy or Marines, tend to be a bunch of pansies.

Very much a more `corporate`environment in the Air Force, rather than a `military´ one.

But whatever suits you best, go for it! You won´t regret going the military route, wether it´s Air Force or the Navy or Marines.

Disclaimer- I spent 4 years in the Marines, and if I had to go back, at this point it would be to the Air Force. But ONLY because I´ve already done the Marine route, and I earned my bragging rights.

C5Guy

So for the airforce/navy/marines how is the aircraft selection determined? How do they decide wether to assign you to transport, fighters or helicopters?

Its been about 9 years but when I went through with pilot training (52 weeks) half way between you track select in either the T-38 for fighters/bombers or the T-1 (Beech400) for transports. You are rank ordered with your classmates, and depending how well you did you get to pick your future. In my class everyone got a choice for fighters or heavies. The final selection on graduation is up to the needs of the Air Force. I'm separating this fall but its been the best experience of my life. I've probably been to more countries than not. For an aviation start I highly recommend the military any any of its branches.

ubermich

strictly careerwise, go the armed forces route. you'll get to a major in just about the same time as the "traditional" route, but your pay is much better along the way, and the airlines will know the kind of training you recieved. the problem with the armed forces is the commitment. for twleve years you have only a little, if any, choice in where you live.

that means that if you happen to be in some random city, and you meet a girl that you really like, then you can't be an idiot and move to the other side of the country for her. would that be a stupid thing to do? yes. but personally, i like having that kind of freedom.

i have four very close friends of mine who are air force pilots. three of them hate the military. one guy says that fighters are lonely and he wishes he worked in a crew environment. another one told me that the military takes the fun out of everything - even jumping out of an airplane. i know a lot of people would disagree with these statements, but i guess they just tell you that the military isn't for everyone.

crewdawg52

Go military. You got 5 choices, all of which pay for your mulit-million flight school.

1) Navy : Spend 6 months at a time looking at 5000 other horny guys
2) Coasties : Not to bad. Lots of interesting places to be based and one
hell of a satisfying job.
3) Marines: Yea right. Dig a hole in the ground and call it home, eat sh*t
from a plastic bag (MRE's)
4) Army : See Marines
5) Air Force: Lots of choices to fly interesting stuff, be based damned
near anywhere in the world, (or get to see it). While
TDY, have clean sheets, a working remote for the
TV, and good golf courses.

Did 12 yrs active in the USAF. Enjoyed all but 2 1/2 yrs. By the time you can get out, the airline industry will be better off and if you wanted to, finish your 20 with a guard or reserve unit.

AgonzAPC

USAF its the best place to go. The ranks dont move as fast as the other three, but the individual is well compensated.. I would love to fly USAF, but I cant.

Alex

calcapt

I was prior Navy (F-14) and won't get into the bragging rights thing but if I were advising a young man today I would say USAF is the way to go. The six month cruises on the boat are hard on families. The Air Force is a more civil place to work and they have some awesome airplanes. When we used to fly cross country we would always stop at AF bases for the night because their facilities were always so much better than ours. When the Navy built Naval Air Stations they would go out and build a nice runway and then run out of money. They would then ask DOD for more money to build nice facilities which they never got. The Air Force on the other hand would start first by building beautiful facilities and approach DOD for more money to put in a runway. They always got that money! I guess it proves the Air Force is smarter in that respect. Coast Guard is another good option because of their unique mission but I honestly do not know enough about it to make a case. A friend was there and flew C-130s and had a lot of good things to say about it. The Navy is good training but a hard life; but, those F-14 night carrier operations make for some good stories.... and bragging rights! Good Luck.....

crewdawg52

One other thing about the Navy, Marines, and the Coasties......You have about a 50 - 50 chance of getting helo's. The army has very, very few fixed wing aircraft.

fosters

This guy is crazy. 2-4 years as a CFI? Are you joking? Only if you have 3 DUI's. I have a former student who went from 0 time to airline pilot at a jet regional in 13 months (he were so young that going to a prop regional with 12 month upgrades wouldn't help him). 4 months of that was as a CFI. And that was with taking 6 months off inbetween the ratings and job due to family issues. The cost? He spent around $33k total.

I live near a large Navy base. I have neighbors that are F18 guys. All but one of them have roommates, and the one guy that does not has an ironing board for living room furniture. Yeah, that's a great life...

What's that? We're invading IRAN? Off you go. Base closing? Sorry you have to move. I went through that when I was growing up (dad was AF) and lived in more places as a kid than most people do their whole lives. At least with the airlines, if you don't like it, you quit, there's no 12 year deal. If the base closes, you have the choice to commute.

Military is a good route for SOME, but don't go to the military just because it's cheaper, or 'quicker' (it isn't IMO), go because you actually want to serve your country!!!

Punkpilot48

Yeah I grew up in a navy family and budget cut time was very stressfull. The difference between military stability and regional airline stability is people will always want to go to chicago. However people dont like spending money on the military in peace time.