My nephew is interested in becoming an A-10 pilot in the Air Force. What should he start doing now while he's in high school?

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It is a top shelf Cadet Program that normally runs about 10% of the entering class at the USAFA. My son is in it and is 14 years old. He has already taken ground school for his private pilots lisc, and is leaving next week for Search and Rescue School.

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Invent a time machine... the days of the A-10 are numbered. the Air Force has been trying to kill the program every year for a while now. Eventually they will succeed.

Well the first step is to get into some sort of commissioning source after high school, like the USAFA or AFROTC. He will want to be proficient in math and science. If he does not get into a service academy, that is not a show stopper. Many people like myself got it out of ROTC.

Step 2 is to apply for a pilot slot when he is one year from graduating from college. The requirements that they look at are grades, PT scores, commanders recommendation and what is known as the pilot composite score or PCSM. The PCSM score is generated from the aptitude tests. When I got mine, the commander's recommendation carried the most weight for a single item. It is the make or break. Meaning someone may be weak in one of the other areas but get a good commanders rec and get a slot. Conversely a real strong candidate in the above areas may not get selected if the commander thinks they are a dirt bag. Also when applying for a pilot slot, they ask a question if you would take a Navigator or ABM slot if not selected. My advice is to say no.

Step 3. Once you have a pilot slot and graduate and commission and go to UPT, you have to be in the top 25% of your class and in the top 3 or 4 people to get into the T-38 track for tactical aircraft which are fighters, bombers and the A-10.

If he wants to maximize his chances of becoming an AF pilot, he needs to do all he can to be competitive to get into USAFA (GPA, honors and AP courses, athletic achievement, leadership roles, SAT/ACT scores, whole person development). Much higher pilot slot rate than ROTC. But if he doesn't get accepted into USAFA, all the prep work will still help him compete for a pilot slot within ROTC. He needs to be reminded that for active duty, aircraft assignments (ie, which airplane you get) is detemined by the needs of the AF first (cockpits they need to fill at the time he graduates UPT), and by his class ranking 2nd. If he graduates in the top 3 of his class, he will very likely get to pick at least the type of aircraft (fighter, bomber, special ops) if not the exact weapon system. It is extremely unlikely, 6 or 7 years from now (4 yrs college plus 1 year UPT), that there will be a need to fill A-10 cockpits. But one of the best ways to assure he gets a fighter (if he still wants one at that point...some people find out they don't enjoy 6 G's every day) is to accept an assignment as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot (FAIP - pronounced "Fape") in the T-6 Texan. He may find that the Texan is the closest thing to the A-10 in terms of flying performance and responsiveness. http://theroadtoafwings.blogspot.com/p/upt-phase-1-and-2.html

Lots of good input here so far. Of course, the best way to assure a pilot allocation is to graduate from the USAFA. SSG Ayscue recommended he join Civil Air Patrol. As a longtime CAP member and SAR pilot myself, I strongly agree. CAP experience does weigh positively on his application and his experience will expose him to the USAF environment. Probably better is to join AFJROTC (of course, he can do both). This will appear even more favorably on his application; plus, a number of JROTC cadets receive AFA appointments resulting from their cadet and academic performance. Finally, and this may be most important; he needs to hit the books and perform well academically and seek recommendation letters from his congressmen and senior officers (minimum O-6, preferably flag).

I'm command an AFROTC det and am career pilot - very familiar with this area. All gouge up to know pretty accurate. Agree A-10 days are numbered but lots of other opportunities. If he wants to pursue, some additions from ROTC persoective: 1) PCSM biggest factor in pilot slot selection (40%). Increase PCSM by getting private flight hours, even earning license. 2) study and work and don't suck! ACT/SAT, CGPA, phys fitness

The Air Force tried to mothball the A-10. I suspect it will be sent to pasture as soon as they can. Strange with it being a premier ground support aircraft, able to take a beating while casting bad guys in all directions, allowing our troops recuperation time. My old boss was an A-10 pilot, went through the US Air Force Academy, retired as a full-bull Col.

Good grades, extra-curricular activities, community involvement show a well rounded young man. 20-20 vision is a must.

Tell him to practice his BRRRRRRRRRRRP-ies every day!

The A-10 was barely saved from the history books last year. Leadership wants it replaced by the F-35. Leadership also wants more drone pilots. I say shoot for being and F-35 pilot and if that doesn't work, the future is in drones!!!