How can I determine if I am competitive for an Air Force pilot slot after enlisting?

Bill Davis — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 20:38:03 -0400

I’ve always wanted to be a pilot; a friend of mine who’s a Chief is trying to talk me into the Air Force.

Here’s the dilemma:
I’m 21, no degree. So I’ll have to enlist and do college active duty which, if I’m correct will probably take a lot longer than 4 years (no?).
And my vision is crap. As in 20/350 uncorrected, which I know is disqualifying as is, but I’m hoping to get PRK in a couple years anyway.

So: enlist, degree, PRK, commission.

What are the actual chances that works and I get a pilot slot? Like for heavies; not even going to try for fighters.

I know it’s theoretically possible but I feel like it’s not realistic.
I’ve been given the impression that unless you go to the academy or at least did ROTC you’re not getting a slot.

Thank you for your input

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 1 at 2020 8:41 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 20:41:32 -0400

Talk to recruiter- but think you are barking up wrong tree kid.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Sep 1 at 2020 8:47 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 20:47:40 -0400

You need to talk to a recruiter. Plain and simple. Air Force is no joke on vision when it comes to pilots, no doubt you could enlist and commission but the pilot part is iffy.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2020 9:44 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:44:09 -0400

Great advice has already been offered about talking to a recruiter. You are 21 years old. Have you taken any college classes and what do you do for a living? After I was discharged, I worked full time and went to school full time. I was at work, at school, studying, eating or sleeping. I obtained my degree in 5 years but I had no social life. The career that I wanted required a degree, so I worked hard. You can do the same. After you talk to a recruiter, sit down and establish a plan with goals. Plan, set goals, implement. Make course adjustments if needed.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2020 9:47 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:47:14 -0400

No idea about the Air force. I wouldn’t ask a recruiter they will just tell you to enlist. Ask an actual Air Force pilot. When I was at Fort Rucker flying my neighbor was an Air Force pilot he was from ROTC. I would say the route you speak of sounds more challenging vs ROTC/academy route. However, that is pure speculation.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2020 10:02 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:02:36 -0400

Hi Davis,

The Air Force has a program called Deserving Airmen.
https://aimhigherin.com/2012/11/deserving-airman-commissioning-program.html/amp

I am currently in the process of doing it now. Essentially you can enlist and get your degree while enlisted; they usually like Bachelor of Science, but in the end it doesn't matter. What matters is the Air Force Officer Qualification Test. Its like the ASVAB but harder and add a Navigator/Pilot testing portion. Those portions will highlight who the Air Force wants.

Even if the Deserving Airmen is for a general open slot Officer, if you score high on your AFOQT you will be picked for Pilot or Navigator Trainee.

My airmen was just chosen to be a Navigator. Didn't score high enough on the Pilot question, he had a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

Aim High Erin: Deserving Airman Commissioning Program

Long overdue post on what I

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2020 10:05 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:05:12 -0400

FYI I was prior Army for 11 years. Since joining the Air Force Reserves, I've never seen so many Enlisted members with Bachelors, Masters, and even Doctorates degrees. They choose to be Enlisted.

Depending on your job, I am a MedTech. All of our Officers are Nurses, surgeons, respiratory, anesthesiologist, etc. Different world from the Army

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2020 10:11 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:11:39 -0400

Also for your PRK question. It has to be an approved Air Force facility.

WAIVER GUIDE Updated: Mar 2011 Supersedes Waiver Guide of Oct 2009 By: Col John Gooch (Chief, ACS Aerospace Ophthalmology), LtCol Michelle Aaron (Chief, Aerospace Vision Section), and Dr. Dan Van Syoc Waiver guide reviewed by the AF/SG Consultant for Ophthalmology, Refractive Surgery, Lt Col Charles Reilly. CONDITION: REFRACTIVE SURGERY (RS) I. Overview. Vision correction with spectacles and contact lenses poses some operational disadvantages, such as fogging, displacement, and potential equipment incompatibility. The AF approved RS to reduce dependence on traditional optical correction. This led to implementation the USAF Refractive Surgery (USAF-RS) program. The USAF-RS program has three management groups: (1) Trained aviation and aviation-related special duty (AASD) personnel, (2) Applicants to AASD, and (3) Warfighter personnel. This waiver guide provides program management directions for the first two groups. The USAF-RS program authorizes two primary categories of corneal refractive surgery (CRS) for eligible AF active duty and AF Reserve Component (ARC) members; Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) and Intra-Stromal Ablation (ISA) procedures. Approved ASA procedures include: photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), epithelial-laser in-situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK), and laser in-situ epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). Approved ISA procedures include: standard laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), All Laser LASIK (using a femtosecond laser for flap creation). Wave-Front-Guided (WFG) technology combined with ASA and ISA procedures are also approved and include WFG-PRK and WFG-LASIK. Some CRS techniques, such as radial keratotomy, thermokeratoplasty, and intra-corneal rings, are associated with less predictable outcomes and more post-treatment complications and are not authorized. Intra-ocular RS techniques, such as clear lens extraction and phakic lens implantation, are not authorized.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2020 10:15 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 22:15:49 -0400

Active Duty version

https://www.908aw.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1764192/non-extended-active-duty-airmen-commissioning-program/

Non-Extended Active Duty Airmen Commissioning Program

The 908th Airlift Wing’s top priorities are enhancing combat capability and developing our Airmen.One way to help develop Airmen is through the Non-Extended Active Duty Airmen Commissioning Program

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Sep 1 at 2020 11:13 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 23:13:14 -0400

You may want to consider speaking to an Officer Recruiter.
Whole different world. The enlisted recruiters job is to “enlist” you. He won’t be lying by saying it “could “ happen.
The officer recruiter can tell you under today’s standards if you would qualify. Who knows what the world looks like in 5-6 years?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2020 12:45 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:45:15 -0400

If you work hard you can get your bachelor’s degree in 2 yrs but then again you can always join the Army and build your resume up to go flight warrant

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2020 2:28 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 14:28:51 -0400

I never went officer. I did graduate college after I got out, though. I knew a few people that were going to class while they were in. You're right; it will take more than four years. That length of time assumes you can go to school full time. If you're active duty, that will be impossible.

Don't let that dissuade you. The degree is absolutely doable. The mission always comes first, but AF leadership will do whatever possible to help you out. Get your Associate's degree from CCAF (it's required for E8), and finish your Bachelor's elsewhere.

Response by CPT William Gordon made Sep 4 at 2020 3:37 PM

CPT William Gordon — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 15:37:05 -0400

I would recommend doing college ahead of enlisting and get your Assoc. degree talk to your recruiter about ROTC and see what they can do about paying for the next two years and get a commission after graduation. Also check into the laser treatments to make sure your a candidate for the type you need. The Army is always looking for Helicopter pilots so that might be a good place to start and then transition to fixed wing.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 7 at 2020 8:34 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:34:38 -0400

Vision will stop you. Need a degree, need a private license in most cases, and earning a degree depends on you and the time you invest. I did none in four years but LA Tech accepted much of my AF leadership courses to help fill some gaps. You have until you are 29 to get this all done. But I digress, your vision will more than likely stop you before you start. I would ask a recruiter if there are drone pilot options open to you, but then you have to start with the other things listed.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 7 at 2020 10:29 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 22:29:16 -0400

First decide if you want to go to college. If yes, then how to pay for it. Loans, scholarship, GI bill. Loan or scholarship route can get you started soon.

The vision is a major issue. Please look up physical requirements for a commission and for being a pilot. Www.af.mil has the list. Also check requirements to enlist.

ROTC or OCS can lead to a pilot slot if you pass the physical and qualifying test. How well you do in pilot training will determine the type of aircraft you get to fly.

Army aviation warrant officer program is another option. A college degree is not required. Look up the program at http://www.army.mil. Again the vision requirement may be limiting.

If you want to enlist, I wholeheartedly recommend the Air Force.

The Official Home Page of the U.S. Air Force

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Response by TSgt James Potter made Sep 8 at 2020 1:11 PM

TSgt James Potter — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 13:11:27 -0400

Why not look into the AF Academy, you need college anyway I do not know what is required or what age is too old. I think someone else said you need to see a recruiter. I think you are a bit optimistic on a pilot slot, but I don't know for sure Good luck. "Jet Noise, the sound of Freedom"

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Sep 8 at 2020 3:04 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:04:31 -0400

This my friend if why the Army had (and may still have) a high school to flight school program for Aviation Warrant Officers.

Response by TSgt James Potter made Sep 9 at 2020 3:08 PM

TSgt James Potter — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:08:28 -0400

Hey Bill would you mind keeping us updated on your progress?

Response by Bill Davis made Sep 9 at 2020 7:21 PM

Bill Davis — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:21:49 -0400

Thanks everyone for your responses, I really appreciate it.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Oct 5 at 2020 4:45 PM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 16:45:39 -0400

Stay where you are. Your best chance of flying is a Piper Cub and private pilot's license. No degree; no flying status. Degree--6-8 years, depending on the degree. AGE and HEIGHT Requirements: Pilot / Navigator 18 - 28 1/2 yrs. old * 64 - 77 inches EYES: visual acuity of 20/30 without correction; 20/70 in each eye correctable to 20/20.