I'm interested in becoming a fighter pilot in any of the three branches that have fighters. How does that process works?

Ari Renold — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:08:35 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2022 4:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:47:13 -0500

Your best bet is to talk to a recruiter

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2022 5:03 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:03:01 -0500

Ari Renold As mentioned by SSG Private RallyPoint Member, you need to talk to a recruiter. Before you do, research the military branches to find out what each has to offer and what the requirements are to become a pilot. Many of your questions will be answered by your own research, so you will have focused questions to ask a recruiter.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 1 at 2022 5:58 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:58:55 -0500

Have good fitness scores, solid health to include vision, and be well on your way to a college degree. Besides that you need to be talking to a recruiter to get the details and get started

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2022 7:05 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:05:08 -0500

The most successful option would be to attend the academy for that branch.
The next most successful option would be to attend ROTC for that branch, finish at the top of your class and get the 1-2 flight seats that det gets per year.
The least successful option would be to apply for OCS/OTS and maybe get a flight school seat, which is just a handful per year.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2022 2:53 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:53:22 -0500

https://www.navy.com/flynavy

U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot Careers | Navy.com

As a U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot, you'll join one of the most innovative and high-tech aircraft in the world. Learn what it takes to become a Navy fighter pilot.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2022 2:56 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:56:07 -0500

Speak to a recruiter and decide if the Marine Corps is a good fit for you

Before you commit, do your research. Learn about the military and whether life as a Marine is right for you. Talk to a Marine Corps recruiter about how your career goals align with the Corps’ training opportunities and mission needs.

THE PATH TO BECOMING A MARINE CORPS AVIATOR
https://officer.marines.com/docs/oso/aviation/Aviation_Information.pdf

Aviation_Information.pdf

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2022 3:04 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 15:04:39 -0500

COMMANDING THE SKIES
https://www.airforce.com/careers/detail/pilot

Pilot - Requirements and Benefits - U.S. Air Force

Learn what it takes to become a pilot. These skilled professionals deploy to wherever there’s a need as fighters, trainers, bombers, advisers and more.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 3 at 2022 1:41 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:41:32 -0500

Not much in your profile to help me answer the question. Here's some general information. All of the Services post information on their web pages about requirements to join the service and be commissioned. They also post additional information for people wanting to enter aviation. Check them out. For Departments of Air Force and Navy, you'll need to pass a flight physical and score very well on aptitude tests, including a specialized aptitude test for those wanting to be a pilot.

You will need at least a bachelor's degree to become an officer. You'll need to apply for Officer Candidate School (OCS) or gain a commission through ROTC. If you already have your degree, then OCS is the way to go. If you are working on your degree, look into ROTC.

Pilot training is next. The Air Force operates a two-track pilot training program. You will attend primary training. Near the end of that phase, based on your academic and flying abilities, you will be selected for the fighter-attack-bomber track, or the tanker-transport track. If you are good enough to get the fighter track, then you will be on the skills and abilities needed to fly a fighter. After that is fighter lead-in training. Again, your skills will determine if you are permitted to go on to a fighter or bomber aircraft. After that there is aircraft-specific training for aircraft like the F35, F22, B-2, etc. I'm not as familiar with the Navy pilot training course. They have a multi-phase training program.

Based on numbers of aircraft by type, the Navy and Marine Corps have a majority of fighter aircraft. (The Air Force provides most of the transport aircraft support for the Department of the Navy.) Keep in mind that aviation is not the primary mission of the Navy or Marine Corps. It is an operational support function; however, the mission of the Air Force is to fly, fight, and win. The front-line service members in the Navy are Sailors who operate surface and subsurface vessels; Marines, the riflemen who carry out the amphibious missions. The front-line service members in the Air Force are pilots and other aircrew.

You should talk with Air Force active duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard recruiters. Also talk with Navy and Marine Corps recruiters, active duty and Reserve. Reserve and National Guard may have a number of reserved slots for pilot training.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2022 6:49 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 18:49:24 -0500

Truth is everyone wants the glory of being a fighter jock. But the reality is most end up in other aircraft.