Is it possible at all? (For an immigrant to become an officer)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
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<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I am from Nepal and I am immigrating to the US this July. (Will get my Green Card in July)</p>

<p>I am going to college in MO. I’m double majoring in Computer Science and Economics. Academics have never been a problem for me at all, I should be able to do pretty well.
SAT scores are CR 660 and M 640.</p>

<p>I will become naturalized(become a US Citizen) when I’m 25 and I will give my Nepali citizenship.</p>

<p>I am planning to apply for Air Force OTS after I become a citizen. (I can not apply immediately after finishing college because I will not have become a citizen by then.)</p>

<p>I have a few questions about the whole process.</p>

<p>First, do they even let immigrants who become naturalized citizens become officers in the USAF. Or apply to OTS?</p>

<p>Second, can I even dream of getting a flying job? (I know this is ridiculous)
And forget me. Do OTS people ever get a flying slot? I think flying slots are given out in the order of USAFA>AFROTC>OTS. Has anyone from OTS ever gotten to fly a fighter?</p>

<p>Third, I will be 25 when I enter OTS (I mean if I am allowed to). Is that too old?</p>

<p>I am willing to give it everything that I have.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>I don’t have a damn thing to complain about even if they don’t let me do any of that stuff.
I am just happy to get out of this godforsaken country (Can you imagine? We have power for 4 hours a day). I love the United Sates and will proudly serve in any capacity I can – USA, USN, USMC, CIA, officer, soldier, whatever. Just that it’s a dream to become an USAF officer. </p>

<p>Plus, I can speak Nepali, Hindi, German in addition to English. Will that be of any help. I will learn Arabic/Farsi/Pashtu if they offer these languages in my college.</p>

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<p>1) Yes you become an officer through OTS once you are naturalized.<br>
2) Yes I know of people who have gotten pilot/nav slots out of OTS. And yes I am sure people from OTS have gotten fighters. Once you are accepted in to UPT it does not matter where you came from–it just matters how well you perform there.
3) The requirement is that you enter UPT before you turn 30, so you are fine with the age.</p>

<p>I would definitely take Arabic if it is offered at your college and you can handle it. If you become fluent in it you will be in great demand (and you’ll get paid more :slight_smile: )</p>

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<p>Pretty much “yes” to all of your questions.
OTS gets fewer pilot slots than the academy or ROTC, but they still get some. Technical majors are in high demand for OTS, so I’d think you’d be in good shape with at comp. sci/econ degree. Do your best academically, stay fit, and get some leadership positions while in college (through work, clubs, sports teams, or whatever you want to do). A good GPA, leadership experience, and a high level of physical fitness will make you very competitive for OTS.</p>

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<p>Yes!</p>

<p>If you want to “guarantee” a fighter slot (providing you have the ability in UPT) then find either an Air National Guard unit that has fighters or an Air Force Reserve Unit that flies fighters. Get hired by one of them and that’s what you’ll fly, after UPT.</p>

<p>BUT…even OTS grad’s get fighters…once you get to UPT, it’s your “stick ability” and your “academic performance” that determines the track you take: tanker/transport or fighter/bomber/attack.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks guys. I really do feel hopeful now. I’ll give it everything that I have got.</p>

<p>One more question. Will the USAF help me with my college loans. If so, then how does it work?</p>

<p>@flieger83: Why is it like that with ANG or AFR? Are they 2nd teir to Active Duty? I’m sorry but I don’t understand it. Is it like less people apply/wanna be in ANG or AFR? Is the pay less? Can you holds some other civilian job if you are ANG or AFR?</p>

<p>And has anyone seen immigrants in any of the branches become an officer? Have there been immigrants before me who have done it?</p>

<p>Do you guys have a problem with an immigrant becoming an officer? Will I face discrimination because I am an immigrant?</p>

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<p>I certainly don’t have a problem with an immigrant becoming an officer. Immigrants tend to be a lot more grateful for what they have and have the motivation to better themselves and serve faithfully in order to repay the US for improving their lives so much - or at least that’s the sentiment I get from reading your posts. You seem like a really smart and motivated guy and I would certainly feel safer with you in the armed forces. </p>

<p>And all those foreign languages are great - having someone truly fluent in that many languages is an extreme rarity.</p>

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<p>Thank you 50freefly.
Nepali and Hindi are my native languages. English was the language in school. I had nothing to do after a left high school, so I spent time learning German. (The fact that we have many bases in Germany encouraged me to learn)</p>

<p>Can someone take a look at this link.
<a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/WiscANG-F16-Madison-Skyline.jpg[/url]”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/WiscANG-F16-Madison-Skyline.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you zoom in, the rank of the guy who flies the lead aircraft is TSGT.</p>

<p>How can that be? I thought all pilots, not to mention people who fly fighters, would be officers. Or is it becase they are ANG? </p>

<p>Can someone explain to me the differences between ANG, AFR and Active Duty?</p>

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<p>I’m not quite sure how you can see the rank that the pilot is wearing. When I zoom it is still way too small to see rank. But, regardless, there is no way that the guy flying is a TSgt. All USAF pilots are officers (except for UAVs :)).</p>

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<p>Ohh, maybe I’m wrong then. But I’m talking about the text just below the cockpit. Looked like TSGT to me.</p>

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<p>Pilot’s name is typically on the left side…on the right side it COULD be the “dedicated crew chief” assigned to that aircraft.</p>

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<p>It’s most likely the crew chief, yes.</p>

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<p>ANG - Air National Guard. It is the modern day militia and is officially state run, although they activate as a component of the regular Air Force on deployments and are then paid by the federal government. While drilling, not deployed, they work mainly weekends.</p>

<p>AFR - Air Force Reserve. They are what many consider part time warriors, they train usually one weekend a month and a few weeks during the year outside of deployments. They are federally paid and deploy on the same cycle as active duty, although usually as a unit rather than individuals.</p>

<p>AD - Active Duty Air Force. They are full time members of the military and their sole job is the Air Force. </p>

<p>As to why it might be easier to get a fighter with an ANG or AFR unit - they hire directly for the job. In the AD side you would be required to apply for OTS, then hope for a UPT slot, then hope for a fighter slot. If you go to an ANG unit you can have them reserve your slot out of UPT for whatever airframe they have open and they arrange everything else for you.</p>

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<p>In addition both the AFR and ANG have full time members so you could work full time in any of the three divisions.</p>