Air Force Questions

T

The Notorious STG

New Member
Ok, so I will spill my situation, and I'd like to know what people think about whether or not I have a shot at getting a pilot slot in the Air Force.

I'm 26 years old, have a BA in History, have 150 hrs as private pilot with IFR ticket. Vision correctable to 20/15 with contacts/glasses....blind as crap without.

Enlisting straight out in the AF, what are my chances of getting that coveted pilot slot?
 
The Notorious STG said:
Vision correctable to 20/15 with contacts/glasses....blind as crap without.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong.... but I think that right there may be a problem.
 
I'm an instructor pilot with the AF, so I may be able to shed some light on this. "Blind as crap" is a little non-specific, but the regs used to limit you to 20/70 without, correctable to 20/20. Might be waiverable, however, as I've heard of all kinds of things that the AF has been willing to waiver when they are short on pilots.
The bigger problem that you'll have is age. Used to be that you had to start pilot training at 27 and a half. That doesn't leave you very much time if your plan is to ENLIST, do your enlisted training, get an enlisted job, get an OTS slot, become an officer, and THEN get a pilot training slot.
The last problem is that the AF is trying to get rid of about 40000 people over the next couple of years, and has therefore shut down OTS. Basically, if you're planning to ENLIST you're chances of a pilot slot are pretty slim these days...at least for the next several years. Academy, ROTC, Guard or reserve may be better routes. In your situation the academy is out (age limit again+out of college already). I don't think an ROTC program would work for you either (already out of college, again). May be able to look into getting hired Guard or reserve.
 
Force Shaping?

fish314 said:
Might be waiverable, however, as I've heard of all kinds of things that the AF has been willing to waiver when they are short on pilots.
Click to expand...

fish314 said:
The last problem is that the AF is trying to get rid of about 40000 people over the next couple of years...
Click to expand...

This is what I don't understand about the AF. The AF is willing to let anyone in on a waiver, but what about the people they already have on active duty?

At my workplace, we're losing 2 O-2s. Without getting to deep into the AF's new Force Shaping, and for a lack of better words, they've been politely asked to leave the AF. Now what makes it interesting is both have applied for a pilot slot and both have been denied. But, it gets even better; one of the O-2 is a CFII. Now, someone, please explain this on to me?!?

And to add to this, last year we lost a O-3 to the Army to fly helicopters. The AF was giving him the option of an enlisted career or a pink slip. He choose the pink slip in the form of "Blue to Green."
 
1) Hadn't heard they were shutting down OTS. If that is true, I'd say chances are negligible

2) Force shaping never makes sense. The military is always put in the bad position of having to react to Congressional mandates. That was the case years ago when they were having to dump flyers left and right to meet end strength goals. AF leadership knew what was coming down the road, but had no choice.
 
Air National Guard has the same age and physical requirements as the active duty AF. And in some ways the competition is even more fierce.
 
Given that Active Duty seems short on pilots, I'm a little peeved my condition can't be waived ... I WANT to fly, they NEED me :banghead: ....

... OTS--Latest board: 56/420 accepted. Got this from my OTS recruiter and I do give it its due weight despite coming from a recruiter ... he know's I'm already in the military, I know what I need and what's going on, so there's been no BS to filter with him.
 
The Notorious STG said:
So is there ANY way I can get to pilot an F-15/F-16 in this lifetime??
Click to expand...

Become a movie star or sports figure, and ask for a flight for publicity purposes. Lets the AF show off for recruiting 18 year olds.


I'm really not trying to be frivolous, but waiting until 26, with admittedly lousy eyesight, to start expressing an interest in military flying is about 10 years too late


(BTW, getting accepted for a UPT slot is a long, long way from flying a F-15/16)
 
im 19, my vision is 20/30 right meow. It needs to stay this way. what are some things that i can do to keep my eyes from getting worse, other than not reading?

also: my parents (both have horrific vision) have told me that if i correct that 20/30 to 20/20(or better?) with contacts or glasses, my eyes will get worse over time. comments/experiences?

final question, in the wrong thread, but oh well. I checked on a 3rd class medical requirements for vision, and one needs to be 20/40 uncorrected or better if you want to fly uncorrected, correct?
 
frog_flyer said:
im 19, my vision is 20/30 right meow. It needs to stay this way. what are some things that i can do to keep my eyes from getting worse, other than not reading?

also: my parents (both have horrific vision) have told me that if i correct that 20/30 to 20/20(or better?) with contacts or glasses, my eyes will get worse over time. comments/experiences?

final question, in the wrong thread, but oh well. I checked on a 3rd class medical requirements for vision, and one needs to be 20/40 uncorrected or better if you want to fly uncorrected, correct?
Click to expand...

Don't use the glasses/contacts. I can tell you from experience that it will do nothing but harm your eyes.
 
frog_flyer said:
im 19, my vision is 20/30 right meow. It needs to stay this way. what are some things that i can do to keep my eyes from getting worse, other than not reading?
Click to expand...

I don't mean this as a joke, but I don't think the computer helps vision at all. Staring at a CRT for long periods has been detrimental to me over the years.
 
SibePilot311 said:
I don't mean this as a joke, but I don't think the computer helps vision at all. Staring at a CRT for long periods has been detrimental to me over the years.
Click to expand...

What about LCDs?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top