Is it possible for a commissioned officer to become an instructor pilot in the Army? Or is that track only open to warrant officers?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 10:40:29 -0400

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 10:41 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 10:41:55 -0400

It’s common in the Reserve Component at least.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 10:48 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 10:48:21 -0400

It is absolutely possible to become an Instructor Pilot as a Commisioned Officer. However, it is not very common and would very likely not happen while you are an LT. You would submit an IPC course packet just like you would for any other school. Whether it gets approved or not depends on your CoC and the needs of the Army. Right now your best bet to become an IP would be as an O-3 Apache pilot. Best of luck to you!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2018 12:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 12:28:25 -0400

I think it's more common in the Guard than it is elsewhere. I know of at least 4 commissioned officers that are IPs. One is a LTC who is our BC and the AASF Commander. Two are Majors, one of whom is also an IP at Rucker. One is a Captain, our AASF maintenance officer.

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made Mar 22 at 2018 6:52 PM

CPT Nicholas D. — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 18:52:02 -0400

Yes, there is no grade restriction for an officer attending IPC. However, it’s a bell curve. As brand new IERW grad, your chances start at impossible (need 50 hrs of PC time and some airframe IPCs have a minimum time in the aircraft). Once you get a few hours into your logbook, make PC, (Sr 1LT-CPT) your chances are improving. As you crest the oak leaf and make major (unless you are an AASF guy in the Guard/Reserves) your chances will decrease to nil again. The Only O5/O6s I have ever heard of attending IPC are State Aviation Officers (ARNG) possibly the occasional Battalion Commander, but the prospect diminishes back to improbable. BUT... if you time it right, and you are a good stick... it is possible.

Response by COL Tomm Mountz made Jul 19 at 2018 11:20 AM

COL Tomm Mountz — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 11:20:26 -0400

Open to commissioned officers.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:29 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:29:49 -0400

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2016/02/25/test-pilot-program-opens-for-experienced-army-aviators/

I just sent this in generally, look through it, trust me, you'd probably need to be more senior to get it, however, I thought you'd find it of interest...it was a good question, certainly....

Test pilot program opens for experienced Army aviators

Applications are being accepted from qualified aviators for one of the most demanding training regimens in the military, the Army Experimental Test Pilot Program.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:33 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:33:11 -0400

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology

Read this also, pure allowed to submit for it, all warrants and commissioned are, in all services, though you'd once again probably need to wait till you're more senior, God know, I tried, I couldn't get it....

Air Force Institute of Technology - Wikipedia

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education for the United States Armed Forces and is part of the United States Air Force. It is located in Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton. AFIT is a component of the Air University and Air Education and Training Command.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:36 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:36:47 -0400

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Postgraduate_School

I had a recommend for here, I couldn't get it either, though once again, God knows, I tried...they now have an online PhD in comp sci (CS) you !iht find of interest, I don't know if you'd be allowed, I !merely !emotion it to male you aware of it....

Naval Postgraduate School - Wikipedia

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a graduate school operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees. Established in 1909, the school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the National Academies' National Research Council research associateship program.[3]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:38 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:38:51 -0400

http://www.ntps.edu

I'd seen this some time at, apparently, it handles overflows from the services, when there isn't room at the Navay or USAF TPS programs, you might also look at flight test engineer (FTE), of you're a STEM grad, as well, one of the civil servants over !e was an alternate for USAF TPS FTE, he couldn't get it and got out as a result....

National Test Pilot School - The World's Test Pilot School

NTPS; World’s premier civilian flight test education organization teaching test pilots and flight test engineers to safely plan & execute flight test programs.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:40 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:40:54 -0400

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_du_personnel_navigant_d%27essais_et_de_r%C3%A9ception

You're also allowed to submit for this one in France, I asked about it when I was USAF, out might not have seen this, they do take US exchange stidemts, I'd read....

Bad title - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:42 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:42:25 -0400

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Test_Pilots%27_School

Sa!e here for tha UK school, you can submit for this also....

Bad title - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:44 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:44:02 -0400

https://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/five-military-students-named-rhodes-scholars-1.198437

If the can get this, you might also, if you'd want to try for it....

Five military students named Rhodes Scholars

The prestigious academic honor brings the chance to study at the University of Oxford next year.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 5:52 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:52:43 -0400

Here's the thing, I realize your original question, however, I !merely thought to try to expand your viewpoint somewhat, of only to !make you aware of other possibilities to try for as well, in addition to instructor pilot...it'd help to know more, your bachelors, major, grades, GPA, so far as you !might care to elaborate...I only say that as I have an interest in career/educ questions, so, the more you relate, the more I and others Jere can suggest, honest...I'd he most eager to hear more should you wish to chat further, as I'd said, it was a qiie god question....also, ask about exchange for aviation with other services and other countries, if only to do a tour with tjem, the broader your exposure, the greater your chances of going for instructor, I should think, you know? One of my unit Caps did a tour wit an Allied country in South America, Chile, I believe, I was too stupid to listen to him at that time, he always extolled the virtue of doing such a tour many times, I assure you, honest...as aviation, I should think you'd have a fairly decent chamce, of you evined interest in doing such an exchange, whether with USAF, Navy, USMC, USCH, even NOAA Commissioned Corps, all of them have rotary wing which I'm assuming you are, as do Allied countries, of course....also, have you considered also getting fixed wing qualified? And, also, getting FAA rated in airframe and powerplant, of only for tje technical exposure? I realize that last suggestion might perhaps sound rather offbeat, however, I merely mention it as a topic for you to consider, I realize you !might not want to go in that direction, of course....please do elaborate on your background, I'd be most eager to know more, as I'd said....

Response by CW4 Keith Dolliver made Jul 14 at 2020 11:01 AM

CW4 Keith Dolliver — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 11:01:00 -0400

I realize this is a bit dated now, but as others have said, yes it is possible for commissioned officers to become IPs in the AD component, however that will never be your job, i.e. you're still going to be a commander, staff officer, etc. Generally you'll never get it at a regular unit, the track is usually incidental to your position; i.e. flight school company commander, DES staff, etc.