<p>Anyone going for pilot? Anyways, I’ve been thinking of becoming a pilot and was wondering whether I would have an equal chance of becoming a pilot if i did AFROTC instead of Air force Acadmeny. Oh…and one question, is special forces(not pilot) part of the Air Force and is that for enlistees or college grads too?</p>
<p>mmm, I'd say you have a much greater chance of flight training from the Academy.</p>
<p>Spec Ops is possible. Air Force has two types, CRO and CC. CRO is Combat rescue officer. Basically, fly in in a Pave Low or paradrop and the rest is self explanatory. It's a hard core job. CC is combat controller. They are the guys with the HUGE radio equipment that run around with Army and Navy spec ops and direct air components of the missions. BOTH are officers only. So, college grads pretty much.</p>
<p>I have always been told that you have a better chance of getting a pilot slot out of the Academy (compared to AFROTC) because about 500 slots go to the Academy and 500 to ROTC. Since there are many more officers coming out of ROTC than there are coming out of the Academy, you have a better chance when you graduate from the Academy to be a pilot.</p>
<p>i think that if you are smart enough to get through the academy, you are smart enough to get a pilot slot through rotc. rotc and the academy are two different candidate pools. many rotc cadets got rejected from the academy, while just about nobody gets rejected from ROTC. Also, it seems like everybody going to the academy shows up wanting a F-22, while in ROTC the cadets are more opened to other jobs.</p>
<p>AFA gives waivers for eyesight worse than 20/50 for pilot training, mild color weakness, and many other conditions. These are rarely waived for ROTC.</p>
<p>So if you have perfect eyesight that isn't going to change while your in college......</p>
<p>
many rotc cadets got rejected from the academy, while just about nobody gets rejected from ROTC
</p>
<p>uh....I was accepted to the Academy and rejected by AFROTC, so, no, they do reject people. ;) A lot of people here have their hearts set for heavies and bombers, not fighters. Be careful on those assumptions, especially about being open to other things. In the end, everyone is a 2nd LT and has to earn their way, boths paths have very similar people. </p>
<p>With that said, if you come here, and you want to fly, most likely, you will. Last year, I think, they didn't actually fill all their slots.</p>
<p>Question: Hornetguy, how do you get accepted by the Academy and rejected by AFROTC?</p>
<p>is that really true that not that many people want to fly fighters? </p>
<p>and about the opportunity for flight slots out of the Academy. when i went on a visit a few weeks ago, the cadet i was with told me that the person who graduated dead last in 06 even got a slot. so if you want to fly, the Academy is going to be the best route.</p>
<p>
is that really true that not that many people want to fly fighters?
</p>
<p>Sorry if I miscommunicated, yes plenty want it, but not everyone. It's competitive yes, but I can't see it any more competitive through ROTC because you all end up in training with Academy grads as well. Honestly, that would put you at a disadvantage. The Academy grads will usually have more experience both flying and in the AF as a whole. But yes, the Academy is really the best route.</p>
<p>@RTBdad - I don't know.....maybe I wasn't planning a field in their top desires (ie electrical engineering and Computer Science.) Either way, I'm better off here.</p>
<p>"Anyone going for pilot?"</p>
<p>Haha, I wish... Too short. :)</p>
<p>academy: if you graduate, you will get a pilot slot if you want it and are pq (and you can get a waiver for a lot) with very few exceptions
rotc: if you graduate at the top, you might get a pilot slot if you want it and are pq (have practically no medical issues since waivers are very hard to get for rotc)</p>
<p>Academy is better if you want to fly, hands down. Nearly all of those who graduate, are PQ, and want a pilot slot will get one. (about 50% of each class, if I recall correctly)</p>
<p>I've talked to a few grads currently in pilot training. Going through the academy, while a whole lot tougher, will prepare you MUCH better for the rigors of pilot training than a normal college with ROTC would. I've always heard that pilot training was just as tough as going through the academy (at least), so the transition would be extremely difficult for someone straight out of a civilian college. I can personally see why while I've been here. This is especially applicable to fighter pilot slots, which only ~1/15 people in pilot training get.</p>
<p>Not to mention that at the academy, about 500 out of 900 graduates are guaranteed a pilot slot (generally everyone who wants a slot will get one), while ROTC gets 500 slots to fill out of 10,000(?) graduates from various colleges. Do the math =)</p>
<p>Great example I heard from an alum about why some of the crazy knowledge memorizations at the Academy can help you in pilot school: When you need to recall preflight checklists or what 5 things you need to do when faced with engine failure, memory recall under pressure is critical. The Academy spends a lot of time, it seems, making sure cadets can spit back all kinds of things while being yelled at or faced with a "beating." Sounds pointless, but apparently these are some things that have actually helped pilots in pressure situations. Can't speak from experience but they guy I spoke to had some pretty graphic examples of emergency situations.</p>
<p>FYI - Northwestern Prep School Students are required to memorize 20 words a day, and be able to write the correct spelling, (breaking down the syllables and puctuation), and write the definition verbatum. This quiz is given every morning before the first class. After students have had 200 words, the group of 75 are seated in the main lounge area. There name is called, a word is given, then they must stand up immediatly and recite the definition with NO HESITATION, otherwise they get it wrong. Test scores can range from 0 out of 7 correct, to 7 out of 7. Its a pressure cooker. </p>
<p>Obviously, this is on top of the daily school work of English, Math, and Science.</p>
<p>But can they recite a 151 word quote plus the introduction perfectly while doing push ups at 6am in the morning?</p>
<p>:p Just poking fun.....what you said sounds very good, and is similar to what students have to go through at pilot training. Sounds like a good place to go for ROTC if you want to become a pilot.</p>
<p>"Sir, Major General John M. Schofield's graduation address to the graduating class of 1879 at West Point is as follows."....</p>
<p>I don't want to rehash everything that's already been said, but in general, it is easier to get a pilot slot out of the Academy then out of ROTC, due to the numbers that get allotted to the two commissioning sources. However, there are a few years in Academy history where nearly all people who were slotted to be pilots got yanked as there were cutbacks, so there are no guarantees. Also, getting a pilot slot from USAFA not only requires getting accepted there but also graduating. ;) I say that as my class had a 26% attrition rate.</p>
<p>As far as fighters go, a lot of people do want them, but not EVERYone wants to go this route. Many people who want to fly enter the Academy wanting to be a fighter pilot, but it's not uncommon at all for their horizons to be broadened over time. When I got there, I was positive I wanted to go that route, however, after spending a couple summers in different flying squadrons, I realized there are more options out there and also that there are some big differences (especially in mentality/mindset) between them. (At this point in time, I'll be happy with whatever I get out of UPT, which I start in the middle of next year).</p>
<p>"However, there are a few years in Academy history where nearly all people who were slotted to be pilots got yanked as there were cutbacks"</p>
<p>That was the class of 1994, the bathtub years in pilot training.</p>
<p>bathtub years? could you elaborate on that AFA81?</p>