Been considering the military route for a year now....

dvtpilot

dvtpilot

Well-Known Member
So without providing a lengthy backstory....I'll try and skip to the details everyone needs to hopefully help me out here.

The basics:

Currently 25 years old, just started a 4 year degree this Sept. Obviously will be finishing up at 29 or possibly 30 if things go sideways for some reason. I have looked into all the branches with AF being my primary goal. It seems that I'd be cutting it damn close to the 30 y/o cutoff to go there, so then I started looking into both Navy and USCG.

Now comes the questions.....

1. On an honest level, is it even feasible to get all I need to do to make it for the USAF? I'm thinking the answer is probably slim to impossible, but don't have anyone in my family to ask these questions to...so here I am.

2. Nowhere could I find the cutoff age for the USN.....is it 30 also?


3. Since the USCG offers a higher age cutoff for age 35, does anyone know how hard it would be to get in there in comparision?


Feel free to ask for more details, I just included what I figured would be pertinent to the questions as best I could.
 
Pretty sure the age cut-off for the Navy is 27.5 and maybe slightly older for NFO. You might want to try a search at www.airwarriors.com the site for Naval Aviation. I would search before asking though, trust me on that.
 
I can only use myself as an example. I started the application process at 23 with degree in hand, but didn't get to flight school (AF) until 25. It's a SLOW process starting with putting together a package of relavent materials, getting selected for an interview, waiting around for the results from at least two boards, medical screening, waiting for a class date to attend OTS, flight screening, waiting for your UPT class to start. You get my drift. You're about 7 years behind the power curve; if you plan to finish your degree at 29-30, you're most likely SOL unless you can accererate that process considerably. Good luck even being taken seriously without a degree completed (or nearly so). Not to sound harsh; best of luck.
 
I haven't looked at the CG's age requirements lately so I'm not sure how it may have changed. That being said the 35 year old accepance for OCS used to be based on folks that had prior enlisted time they would be credited X amount of years depending on how long they had been in.

As far as flight training the CG is a little different than the other services in that unless you get accepted under some special programs you cannot apply for flight school until you are either a commisioned officer or a student at OCS. When I went through the cutoff for flight school was around 30 and beyond that you would need a waiver. In my experience the CG had more hoops to jump through and took longer to finally get to flight training. That being said things may have changed since I went through. I highly recommend the CG as a military career, but I am a little biased.
 
CGFlyer said:
I haven't looked at the CG's age requirements lately so I'm not sure how it may have changed. That being said the 35 year old accepance for OCS used to be based on folks that had prior enlisted time they would be credited X amount of years depending on how long they had been in.

As far as flight training the CG is a little different than the other services in that unless you get accepted under some special programs you cannot apply for flight school until you are either a commisioned officer or a student at OCS. When I went through the cutoff for flight school was around 30 and beyond that you would need a waiver. In my experience the CG had more hoops to jump through and took longer to finally get to flight training. That being said things may have changed since I went through. I highly recommend the CG as a military career, but I am a little biased.
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Didn't at least one of the CGs commissioning sources (Academy, OCS?) require a sea tour prior to being able to apply for or go to flight school?
 
MikeD said:
Didn't at least one of the CGs commissioning sources (Academy, OCS?) require a sea tour prior to being able to apply for or go to flight school?
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Up to about 2004/2005 time frame all CG Academy graduates had to serve a sea tour before they could apply for flight school or any other shore based billet. That policy has since changed and now Academy grads can apply for flight training following graduation. However, there is only a small number of slots available so most Academy grads still end up serving their first tour afloat. I know one of the first guys that went strait from the Academy to flight school and if I remember correctly there was only about 5 flight school slots for his entire graduating class.
 
Take loaded semesters and summer school and finish school in 3 years. If you haven't already, do your best to test out of as many basic courses as possible. You might consider your degree choice as well - engineers have a much harder time graduating early than basket weavers because 1) the courses are tough, and 2) they have to be taken in sequence.

You are a few years behind, but things are not dire yet. Your best option is ROTC. If you choose OTS, you may be rushed or you may not. From the day I sat down with a recruiter to the day I will enter UPT (Oct 13) will be a little over a year. Being a reservist helped speed that along. See my post from a few weeks ago if you're interested in going guard/reserve.
 
Have you considered Army WOFT? No degree required. You just can't be adverse to becoming a rotorhead.
 
Thanks for all the replies thus far. Exactly the cross section I was hoping for.

Looks like everyone replies about the AF were about on target with what I was thinking too.

Good to know that extra info about the CG, since the website doesn't make it very clear.

As far as ROTC goes, I know ASU has the AFROTC program in place, and I didn't realize that until after this semester started...sooo....it's something I'm looking into for Soph. year.

Army WOFT is something I've looked into as well. May not be a bad option as well. I'm not opposed to helos in any way.
 
Navy is commissioned prior to age 27. I know of some guys right now in primary who are older than that, but I know for sure of only two guys I went to OCS with who were 29 while at OCS, but both were priors and had an age waivers. What I have heard is that only priors can get the waiver, but who knows what could happen.
 
DVTPilot.
Just to float another couple ideas past ya. Think AFROTC accepts cadets mid-year (at least they did when I was a cadet, and while I worked as a recruiter) so def. get over to the AFROTC department and ask an officer what the deal is, you could be in when semester flips in January. PS the first 2 years are gimmes so there is no commitment to the military/plus its an easy A to pad the GPA if you absolutely loathe it.

Next, check into NOAA. (http://www.careers.noaa.gov/career_fields.html) and (http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/) I know it sounds crazy, but I met a few guys who fly for them. And they chase hurricanes, chart icebergs, and other pretty interesting stuff. They pay exactly like the military officer scale, but flight school is civilianized (i.e. outsourced to Embrys/FlightSafetys of the world) and advanced training is w/military (Navy/CG) Their fleet isn't as expansive or sexy as the Vipers, Raptors and Ospreys oh my we have in the AF, but Citation, Twin Otters, King Airs, Jet Rangers and a few Gulfstreams still sound pretty good to me.

There's a big big world out there, good luck

Cheers

fj
 
As noted, timing is your issue - At this point, if you want to fly for the Military, you need to seriously consider attending an ERAU extension campus, not Prescott or Daytona Beach, but an extension campus. You can major in Pro Aero (easy) and knock out the degree in 2-3 yrs tops if you're dedicated. CLEP/DANTES as many courses as you can (may be pricey, I was enlisted at the time and the tests were free) and take online classes when needed.

Unless things have recently changed, the traditional classes were easy and only nine weeks long, the online classes were longer and more work.

You can worry later about recieving a reputable degree from a reputable institution when working towards your Masters, you don't have that luxury right now.
 
FJ,

Good call on the NOAA links. Didn't even cross my mind to be honest. Nice to know that stuff exists and I do find that pretty interesting. Time for some more reading on that!

Kato,

Funny you mention the extension campuses. I was actually going to do that thru the local PHX office, with that degree plan in mind. It may be the way to go on that type of route for sure.

Again, thanks to all so far for your replies. Got me thinking about things I probably may never have considered in the past! I'm always open to ideas, so if there's anything else in mind, throw it out there.
 
dvtpilot said:
FJ,

Good call on the NOAA links. Didn't even cross my mind to be honest. Nice to know that stuff exists and I do find that pretty interesting. Time for some more reading on that!

Kato,

Funny you mention the extension campuses. I was actually going to do that thru the local PHX office, with that degree plan in mind. It may be the way to go on that type of route for sure.

Again, thanks to all so far for your replies. Got me thinking about things I probably may never have considered in the past! I'm always open to ideas, so if there's anything else in mind, throw it out there.
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Last noaa guys I talked to told me that you had to do a full "enlistment" or whatever they're calling it before you'll be likely accepted into flight training. They fly up here quite a bit.
 
ppragman said:
Last noaa guys I talked to told me that you had to do a full "enlistment" or whatever they're calling it before you'll be likely accepted into flight training. They fly up here quite a bit.
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From their website.....

The NOAA Corps has only two venues for recruiting pilots:

  • Personnel brought on board for the distinct purpose of P-3 support or
  • Acceptance to flight training following an initial three year assignment at sea as a bridge watchstander. Unless you are a current P3 Pilot or Navigator, you will only be considered for the flight program following an initial three year sea assignment. A officer candidate is not guaranteed aviation training upon commissioning.
    Note: Pilots and Navigators have strict vision and other physical requirements.
 
I was in ASU AFROTC for a semester but couldn't keep up with the time commitment in addition to work and school. It was a great place and I really wish I was able to stay with the program.
 
deadringer86 said:
From their website.....

The NOAA Corps has only two venues for recruiting pilots:

  • Personnel brought on board for the distinct purpose of P-3 support or
  • Acceptance to flight training following an initial three year assignment at sea as a bridge watchstander. Unless you are a current P3 Pilot or Navigator, you will only be considered for the flight program following an initial three year sea assignment. A officer candidate is not guaranteed aviation training upon commissioning.
    Note: Pilots and Navigators have strict vision and other physical requirements.
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That's interesting about the NOAA route. I wouldn't be opposed to being a ship officer my entire NOAA career if I couldn't get into flight training.

What are the requirements for going this particular route? My degree will be in psychology which is obviously not one of NOAA's study areas.
 
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