<p>...and nothing better than driving one. A note to ponder on AF vs Navy flying: The AF measures 'experience' in flying hours. Naval operators measure experience in the number of 'traps,' or landings aboard the carrier. Night weather traps are harry. While AF fighter pilots will return to base when the fuel 'bingo' is hit, our Navy counterparts head to the ship to meet their trap time. It's a primary focus of their entire flight. Miss your trap time and you could foul the entire carrier air wing's schedule. Also, don't forget the deployments and impact on your family. It's not all Top Gun.</p>
<p>And in the Air Force if something goes wrong you have my youngsters & brothers in the ARFF truck ready to pull your fat from the fire.</p>
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You can put in your best effort, but at the end of the day if you are 3rd on the list of drops and the first two guys want the -38 track, you are going T-1's or T44's, etc.
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<p>This is very true. I washed out of pilot training, however, my class just had their track select a week ago. From an objective standpoint, it was a pretty solid class with several people with very good numbers. However, when it came down to it, there were only 2 T-38 slots. Also, despite that several people had put T-44s either 1st or 2nd on their list of preferences, only 2 active duty people got them. The one guy who wanted helos got them. All the other AF guys got T-1s. Indeed, there are no guarantees... there's also no guarantee a given person will make it through UPT, even if they put in maximum effort. Out of my original class of thirty, plus the guy in a class ahead who washed back, only 24 are still there.</p>
<p>Sorry if this is a sensative question UNcynical and also forgive if it has been asked before because im sure it has but if you get a pilot slot and then wash out what happens to you? Are you allowed to retrain in another role or would you be discharged from the Air Force?</p>
<p>At this point in time, they are retaining people. There are some points in time where people are not this lucky. It all just depends on Air force needs and whether or not they think they've gotten their money's worth. As for follow-on assignment options, at least at my previous base, it depended a lot on individual circumstances. The people in my class who just flat out quit did not get anything on their "wish list" while the few of us who did everything we could to succeed, or had legitimate reasons for leaving, were given assignments on our list. It should go without saying, though, that the assignments on a wish list are subject to Air Force needs as well.</p>
<p>By the way, I'm now a behavioral scientist. I'll continue on my Master's degree soon, which I started prior to pilot training, and will hopefully be back at the Academy as an academic instructor in four or five years.</p>
<p>And I will mention that despite the end result being washing out, pilot training was an incredible experience. I had great instructor pilots, and my classmates were wonderful people--friends I will keep for a very long time. Plus, I did make it through my solo, which was one of the most awesome things I've done to date.</p>