Help on career choice

[MajorProblem]

Here's the deal: I'm 16 and in Army JROTC. I'm obsessed with flight, especially military flight. Whatever I do, I'm joining the military. My problem is that I wan't to go into the USAF Academy, but I don't think I'll make it. My other choice is ROTC at Texas A&M. Now the deal is that very few AF ROTC graduates become pilots like I really want to be, all the rest get desk jobs, which is a nightmare for me. But I could go into Army ROTC and select to become a helicopter pilot. But then, there's a part of me that want's to be an infantry or armor officer, but that would mean few career choices after I retire. I need to set my goals now.
Here's the basic breakdown:
1. Fixed-wing pilot: hard and needs lots of luck, could become "chair-borne ranger"
2. Helicopter pilot: easier, but less pay and is very selective
3. Ground-pounder: easiest, but my heart is in aviation
Advice please?

[Shamu]

If you REALLY like flying why not think about getting your pilots liscence then going to college for flying? That's what my cousin did and now he's going to be a commercial jet pilot. I'm not quite sure how the military pilot stuff works, but if you really want to be in the military and fly, go for it!

[MajorProblem]

I don't want to be a commercial airline pilot really. The military is what's for me.
EDIT: BTW, I know the Navy accepts pilots after laser eye surgery, but does anyone know how the Air Force treats this? My eyes aren't too bad, but I still wear contacts.

[Iekleane]

I'm pretty sure you would need your vision corrected too many problems could arise if your contact falls out or shifts around.

[MajorProblem]

Yes, the military offers free laser eye surgery since corrective lenses are not allowed for pilots all around. Although I have heard a special contact the Navy developed that corrects the eye for maybe half a day or so after you wear it for a few hours.

[Marblehead]

The army does the same thing. There are a lot of oppourtunities to be a helicoptor pilot in the army. Last time I heard they were grabbing PFC's and sending them to warrant officer school. They'll correct your vision as well.

[MajorProblem]

Yes, my First Sergeant in JROTC told me that you can go straight from enlistment to flight training, but I still need a college education...

[Kaji]

If you want to get into the USAF academy, put what you have into getting there. If it's like the USNA in Anapolis, you can keep applying so long as you're not 22 before the start of your first year. If there's a prep school for the USAFA like there is for the USNA, that's a guaranteed ticket if you can get into it. Enlisting can also give you an edge when seeking an appointment, although go for the prep school if it's an option and you don't get in on your first shot.

[LimbyLoo]

Apply to the Air Force Academy anyway. Even if you're dead sure you wouldn't make it in, keep your options open. Don't rule out any possibilities, no matter how absurd they seem. Honestly, you just never know what's going to happen.

If aviation is your passion, like you said, then by god do aviation! And once you get out of whatever training you end up doing, you should realize that your future isn't limited to either military or commercial airlines. There are so many options. My advice is to do some heavy research on your own.


just out of curiosity: Did you ever consider the Coast Guard at all?

[MajorProblem]

heh, nope, I didn't, I'm no good on ships to tell the truth. And yes, I am applying anyways, and thanks Kaji, I'll look into a prep school. I never thoght of that

[stillbornsinger]

You should consider the Navy a bit more I think... there are a whole lot of Navy planes, and if you want to go in with a fighter and blow stuff up, usually Navy planes are the first to go in. You'll be more likely to end up in a transport or bomber in the airforce I would think... Also more Navy pilots have been in space then air force pilots, if that shows anything.

try for the two Academy's, if you can't get those then try for ROTC. I really wouldn't advise you to go enlisted first. It might work out for you, and it does for many people, but it will be a lot more difficult and will take more time. If you can get into a college or Academy, ROTC will pay for tuition and give you some money.

The army would be a great last resort, they are screaming for people... your chances of becoming an officer for the army around around 100% if you play your cards right and don't have any disqualifying problems.

[Rogue_7]

Yeah, consider the Navy. Flying off an aircraftcarrier is pretty much the most challenging thing you can do with an airplane on a regular basis. I'd certainly apply to the Airforce Acadamy. Cause hey, who doesn't love Colorado?

As far as fixed vs Helicopters, Fixed has all the glamour and speed, but one must admit that busting tanks with an Apache holds a certain allure...

[Kusoyaro]

Sweet, my father was a pilot in the RAF before I was born, he said he had to take like a billion enghineering and math courses, plus a trillion flight hours and be super alert and not drink, all of which totally dissuadeed me, but still. It's an awesome ambition. My post was worthless

[erbiumfiber]

I was in Air Force ROTC in engineering school, on scholarship (left after my third year, huge and tedious story behind that). Anyway, some people gave up the scholarship to get a slot that was designated for pilot training (!) Way back then (1982-86) you could get a slot in ROTC that was designated to train for pilot. Ironically, if you were an engineer, they wanted you in some sort of engineering group, not as a pilot. When I went on a T-37 trainer jet during field training I asked all these pilots what they majored in. The answer was English, Philosophy, Psychology, etc.

Yeah, a lot can happen in 20 years, but it just seems like if you get a useful engineering or science degree they have a "critical need" for you in weapons systems acquisitions or something.

Also, my ROTC scholarship designated not only "engineering" as what I had to major in, but the particular branch of engineering (in my case, mechanical, but I changed over to materials). So you really had to be sure of your major BEFORE you ever got to college! Again, I hope it has changed but somehow it would surprise me if it hadn't.

Just some thoughts which may or may not be relevant any more. Just be careful regarding anything you sign- I was told I had to sign some papers that would have a retroactive effect on my scholarship, which made me go on to the third year when I could have dropped out at the second. They can be really sleazy about some things...

[erbiumfiber]

Just checked out the AFROTC page and not much has changed- especially not the curriculum (which was kind of a joke and super easy compared to the college courses I was taking). Here's the deal on becoming a pilot through ROTC:

http://www.afrotc.com/collegelife/flying/selectionProcess.php

So you basically do a bunch of stuff your junior year but of course they factor in those all-important "needs of the Air Force" (which I bet if you're an EE major, they need you somewhere else other than the cockpit...).

Do well on your SATs. Take a prep course. Makes a huge difference. From what I could tell, I was picked purely on my SAT scores- I was no great physical specimen, not a jock, etc.

[MajorProblem]

heh, I get seasick, but since a aircraft carrier isn't affected too bad by waves I assume, I guess it might not be too bad. Anyone who has knowledge of how hard it is to become a pilot in the Navy, say something. And thank you guys for the help, It's really helped in more than one way. Currently my plan I think is too apply for the USAFA and USNA and at Texas A&M and use AFROTC. Backup plan: use the "High School to Flight School" program to become a helicopter pilot. Any suggestions are still welcome, and thanks again!

BTW, I'm going to only be back this weekend, really busy with new JROTC position

[koku]

i find you do best what you love most. Someone has to make it in. Assess what would happen if you don't make it in.

for example, "If it doesn't work out, am I screwed or is it just a matter of trying something else?"

If you're not losing too much but knowing that you didn't make it, I'd just go for it. If it's what you really want to do.

Unfortuantly i don't know too much about the army and how it works so i'll just join the "go for it!" crowd.

[AgentOrange]

Not sure how it is in the AF, but in the Navy you have to be an officer to be a pilot. To be an officer you have to have a college degree, though it doesn't matter what it is in. If you don't have a degree, you could join into the AA (Airman Apprentice) program and be part of the aircrew. You'll be getting flight hours just by being on the planes and helis while you learn about them and while you're taking the classes you need to get a degree. This is only one option though. There are many different ways to go about it, this is just how it was told to me yesterday (my brother was asking the same thing).

Talk to an AF recruiter and a Navy recruiter as they will be able to tell you the best about their respective programs. Whatever you do, it'll take some time to get there but just stay focused on your goal and you'll get it in the end.

[stillbornsinger]

Talk to an AF recruiter and a Navy recruiter as they will be able to tell you the best about their respective programs. Whatever you do, it'll take some time to get there but just stay focused on your goal and you'll get it in the end.

Do be carefull though talking to recruiters, they tend to oversimplify things and make them a bit more glamorous while leaving out the nitty gritty.

There are special recruiters for officers and for ROTC, you should really be talking to one of those, even if you don't have the degree yet, they can get you on the right track to be successfull.

If ROTC, academy and college with you footing the bill all don't work out then consider the apprentice program but I'd really advise doing that as a last resort but an effective means to an end.

[Panhandle Martinez]

1. If it's aviation you're interested in, sounds like your heart is in the right place. Get your pilot's license. You can accomplish this in about 9 months and $6000 if you have the skills. I took my checkride after 50 hours of training and $100/hour. Some people need more and some people need less. If you have a CFI or aircraft owner as a relative, you're fucking gold. If you have it in you, go for it.

2. Don't fuck up your eyes. There are about a hundred reasons not to laser or slice (if you go with microkeratomy) your cornea, including but not limited to reduced structural integrity in your eyeball. If a patient even survives this surgery with eyes to see with, his eyes can pop like grapes if he hits his head the wrong way.

No one wants that, and in the USAF you definitely don't want that.

[AgentOrange]

Do be carefull though talking to recruiters, they tend to oversimplify things and make them a bit more glamorous while leaving out the nitty gritty.

There are special recruiters for officers and for ROTC, you should really be talking to one of those, even if you don't have the degree yet, they can get you on the right track to be successfull.

If ROTC, academy and college with you footing the bill all don't work out then consider the apprentice program but I'd really advise doing that as a last resort but an effective means to an end.

Yeah, I would definitely say watch out for recruiter BS cause they will try to feed it to you. I thought that was common knowledge because of recent event concerning recruiting tactics. Try going to their websites and looking through the forums, you'll find some answers there.

I wasn't recommending the AA program, just throwing it out there to show there are different ways to go about it. Just check around and see what your options are, you still have plenty of time to make a choice.

[Ardo Zubairu]

oh location is your advantage...here one i can read about career choice only in the forum or in the newspaper.

[Sardaukar]

This is a tad off-topic, but holy shit, I always thought I was the only person who hated Final Fantasy.

[Y.T.]

If ever a WWII style war begins, I'll sign up for flying
ground attack aeroplanes. Would be fun... flying coffins.
Or, beat everyone in a net
contest in : "whose mind gets uploaded into every cruise missile"...


2. Don't fuck up your eyes. There are about a hundred reasons not to laser or slice (if you go with microkeratomy) your cornea, including but not limited to reduced structural integrity in your eyeball. If a patient even survives this surgery with eyes to see with, his eyes can pop like grapes if he hits his head the wrong way.


They slice away that much?
http://www.youreyesite.com/surgical.htm

So, the new procedure is not that drastic on struct. integrity....
Besides, machines are the future. The fighter pilots are the first
ones to face it.

[MajorProblem]

Yeah, I know I'm restarting this a while after it ended, so shoot me :p.But yeah, you do have to be an officer to be a pilot in the AF. Also, I was not planning to get civilian laser surgery, since that is suicide for a military pilot. My main problem with getting a pilots license is that my family is not wealthy at all, and we can barely afford a college fund, let alone $6000 worth of flying lessons. I would so do it if there were a cheaper way, but I guess I'll have to live with it. You think they'll count my hours on my flight sim on the comp? Has got to be over 200 :p
YAY another person who hates FF!

[Mechs]

Here's the deal: I'm 16 and in Army JROTC. I'm obsessed with flight, especially military flight. Whatever I do, I'm joining the military. My problem is that I wan't to go into the USAF Academy, but I don't think I'll make it. My other choice is ROTC at Texas A&M. Now the deal is that very few AF ROTC graduates become pilots like I really want to be, all the rest get desk jobs, which is a nightmare for me. But I could go into Army ROTC and select to become a helicopter pilot. But then, there's a part of me that want's to be an infantry or armor officer, but that would mean few career choices after I retire. I need to set my goals now.
Here's the basic breakdown:
1. Fixed-wing pilot: hard and needs lots of luck, could become "chair-borne ranger"
2. Helicopter pilot: easier, but less pay and is very selective
3. Ground-pounder: easiest, but my heart is in aviation
Advice please?

Major Problem I was just like you. Im also 16 going on 17 and took two years of Army JROTC. I was a cadet Staff Sergeant. When I was like 12 I wanted to be a Fighter pilot. Then around last year I thought how hard it would be to become and pilot and then how the airforce is downsizing....I just said skip it ill go with the easiest....and thats a gound pounder. Im going to go talk to a recruiter on monday. I still have a interest in flying but now I really want to be in the Army as a 11B. What advice I give to you is if you really want to be a pilot then go for it. Thats just about the only thing I can think of. (Note: Im really scared to tell my parents what I want to do in the army. Especially when the war is going on and stuff. Think you caan give me some advice :))

[MajorProblem]

You can ask to go to Warrant Officer school. Since you had 2 years of JROTC, they might very well accept you. Also, DO NOT let the recruiter push you around. You are the boss, he is trying to sell you something. You tell him what you want to do and, since they're desperate for recuits around now, I'm thinking they'll accept what you want (as in job-wise). In terms of talking to your parents about it, can't tell you much except that you can retire very early if you're a veteran.

EDIT: I don't necessarily want to be a fighter pilot above everything else, if I had a choice I would fly an A-10A or a B-1B.

[Mechs]

The A-10 is a good choice. I heard many stories about that planes survivablity (not even sure thats a word). And yeah thanks for that tip on the recruiter. I was thinking that myself but what I want to do is basicly the grunt work so I was thinking I wouldnt have a any problems. And I dont really want to become a warrant officer. I want to be a commissioned officer but I was going to do it through OCS after I got enough college credits.

[Evil Lurker]

If I was considering going into the military right now (beeen there, done that, but not as a pilot), and had my heart set on being a pilot, I'd be concerned about one thing:
There is a big push right now to get humans out of the high-risk missions and replace them with robots. You're already seeing it with systems like the Predator and Global Hawk, and it's going to spread to the ground attack and interceptor designs too, and pretty fast (they're testing the concept right now).
You need to ask yourself: If I pursue this and it ends up there are no (or very few) fighter pilot jobs by the time I'm trained, am I willing to fly cargo or refueling (etc.) aircraft? Or maybe get put into avionics maintenance (and if you've got an EE background, you can be sure that's where you're going).
Just food for thought, but check out what I'm saying and make your own conclusion. I think the "fighter pilot" career field is rapidly becoming extinct, since a robotic design can pull 20 g's. They'll eat manned aircraft up like popcorn when they hit the scene, and it won't take more than 5 years to see it happen.
Whatever you decide, though, I wish you the best. :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3591684.stm