High school senior looking into AF/ANG

[Unknown Member]

There are a few ways to become a military pilot.

AFROTC (AD): the name speaks for itself. you are in an ROTC program throughout college while earning your bachelors and receive your commission into the Air Force upon graduating.

ANG (Reserves): one of the more recommended routes. you get the freedom to complete your bachelors independently without any military restraints that you would get from ROTC or the academy. you take the required tests (AFOQT and TBAS), get a PPL and apply to any unit around the country you’re interested in.

The AF academy (AD): In simple terms, along with the academics, it’s an arduous college that teaches you what it means to be a an officer in the Air Force. you also receive your commission after graduating. if your looking into AD, the academy gets the most pilots slots of all AD routes.

OTS (AD): OTS is a 9 week program after college that pretty much summarizes what you would learn and do in AFROTC or the academy. Upon graduation you will receive your commission into the AF.

These answers aren’t very broad and if you’re looking for more info, check out the articles. They are great sources of information.

[Tardy]

Okay, I read some of the articles, and joining the ANG certainly looks really good. What does that look like? How do I go about applying somewhere?

[MaasHole]

My opinion, contact a recruiter at the base you are interested flying at whether that’d be fighter base or heavy base. They’ll want to meet with you and discuss what your interests are then they’ll put you through the enlistment process. If you’re really interested in flying I’d recommend joining a maintenance shop that works on the aircraft OR doing something in the Operations group.

[wikz]

Maashole is giving some pretty sage advice, but you dont have to enlist to be a guard pilot.

Im attempting to to go the enlisted route. (here’s a demo so you can get an idea of how to as well).

Currently a freshman in college. (need a bachelors to apply).

I enlisted last week into my unit. (helps get your foot in the door)

I am currently waiting to do my PPL after college because I dont have the time or money as of right now during semesters and summers. I want to do it without intermittent’s to save money.

Im also waiting to do the AFOQT and TBAS after college because I feel I won’t have enough time to study in the summers to really do well. (you can only take the AFOQT 2x and once more with a waiver and the TBAS 3x and once more with a waiver). I believe you have to contact your unit to set up a test? someone please correct me if i’m wrong..

once you have all qualifications, you wait for the unit you’re interested in to post a UPT board, apply and hope you get an interview. if selected, you interview with the board and they decide if you’re hired or not.

if you dont want to go the enlisted route just refer to my plan but cut out the enlisted part. (you can also take the tests or PPL whenever you want, this is just my way).

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by  wikz.