Maximizing ways to get pilot slot AGE 15

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youngflyer

Well-Known Member
Well I am thinking that i would like to take the military route for aviation and wanted to maximize my chances to get a pilot slot. I am age 15(I know, kinda young) get pretty decent grades, wear contacts, and am in very good physical shape. What should I work on to maximize my chances to get a pilot slot. Any particular majors, anything? Thanks!
 
When I was your age, I was trying to go to the Air Force Academy.

I'd say if you want to be a military pilot, start looking at what you can do to either get into a service academy or ROTC scholarship. To that end, take the PSAT, ACT, and SAT a few times. For the service academies, you apply in the spring of your junior year; for ROTC, you apply in the fall of your senior year. You'll want to have taken the test two or three times to maximize your scores (take it once for practice, one for score, and then one more for improvement).

The Academy admissions department is pretty good at giving you ideas of competitive scores. I took the tests about 8 times to be competitive.

I'd say your major isn't as important as good grades and showing leadership potential. What is "leadership potential"? Varsity team captain, student government, Eagle Scout, JROTC, CAP, etc. Even if you can't fit into any of those, try to swing something showing leadership (shift leader at McDonald's).

Good luck!
 
Mike's got the big picture covered pretty well.

The thing you need to realize is that there are several important milestones you need to achieve before you can even start maneuvering toward a pilot slot. More importantly, realize that getting a pilot slot is a moving target. What is true today may not be true tomorrow -- it's sure as heck NOT the same as it was when I was trying to get a slot in the early 90s.

In the short term, take Mike's advice -- get good grades, stay in shape, play school sports.

Focus on getting yourself into a college and getting into a ROTC program -- OR aiming for an Academy if that's what you're interested in.

Most importantly, keep reading forums with people in similar situations and keep yourself smart and up to date. I recommend the forums at baseops.net and airforceots.com -- they both have sub forums specifically for the types of questions you're asking.

As time passes and requirements change, those places will naturally keep abreast of the latest in the discussions.
 
Well I guess for now I cant do it because I have every requirement except the stupid 20/20 uncorrected near vision. I guess I will just have to take the civilian route.
 
youngflyer said:
Well I guess for now I cant do it because I have every requirement except the stupid 20/20 uncorrected near vision. I guess I will just have to take the civilian route.
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Perfect vision is not a requirement.


In regards to Mike's advice about the Air Force Academy, I will agree with most of it. While Leadership is an important factor, it shouldn't be your goal. The Air Force Academy looks for well-rounded, motivated individuals that can be developed into leaders. Pick classes and extracurricular activities that interest you, and do your best to excel at them. It's important to be involved and have fun.

If you haven't looked at the Academy's admissions website, you should take a look. There is good information on Eligibility, Preparation, and How to apply. Take a look: United States Air Force Academy


You asked in your original post, and in the thread title, how to maximize ways to get a pilot slot. When I was in your shoes, I wanted the exact same thing. I chose USAFA over AFROTC and NROTC scholarships for that very reason -- but none of those opportunities were guaranteed to begin with. If USAFA doesn't work out for you, AFROTC may offer you an opportunity to get a pilot slot. If the Air Force doesn't work, maybe Navy ROTC will work. If ROTC doesn't work out, there's the possibility of earning a college degree first and then entering the service through an Officer Training School.

The options that I did not know about when I was in your shoes, that I wish I would have known more about, were the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve paths. I might have joined an Air Nat'l Guard unit in my home town, gone to a local university, gone to pilot training, and been well on my way to a career in aviation had I known about that path. There are some disadvantages to that route, but it's another route, and part of the "maximizing opportunities" equation.


Now that I've said that, it's time for a step back and a dose of reality. Don't join the military to fly -- join the military to serve. Flying is indeed a great benefit, but it should not be the primary goal. If you don't have your priorities correct, you're in for some big disappointments.



Good luck.






.
 
When I was 15, I was in the exact same boat as you. Here are my recommendations, there are lots of options.

Work on getting good grades, good SAT/ACT scores, and get involved in outside of school activities. The more the better, and positions showing leadership are great for example sports, boy scouts, CAP, music, clubs at school. They want to see someone well rounded.

Start contacting a guard unit in your hometown now, also start talking to congressmen about applying to the Academies. Apply to all of them, also apply for ROTC scholarships in Air Force, Navy, and the Army around the beginning of senior year of high school. My advice is stay away from recruiters because they will try to get you to enlist and tell you how easy it will be to become an officer later and get a pilot slot. Contact the ROTC offices at a University near you to get info on applying.

Make sure you take some high school classes that show some emphasis in math and science, but don't do it to the point it hurts your grades. Once you get into college, your MAJOR DOES NOT MATTER for Air Force pilot slots. If you want to be a test pilot, then you will need an engineering or physics degree, but otherwise, pick a major that you will enjoy and that will allow you to get a decent GPA. Work on GOOD GRADES and being the best cadet you can be. Then, always have a backup plan, because even some of us with perfect vision get medically disqualified for other reasons. Also, you don't need perfect vision, check out www.wantscheck.com and www.baseops.net for further information. Goodluck, feel free to PM me.

Lastly, start taking some flying lessons, hours aren't necessary but they definitely help, especially if you are going for a guard slot. They definitely help for ROTC slots in the Air Force, and at the Air Force Academy almost everyone gets a slot right now for those who are qualified and want one (of course this could change in the future).

Myself, just like TONYC, wishes that I had gone the guard route or the reserve route from the beginning had i known back then what I know now.
 
Zondaracer said:
When I was 15, I was in the exact same boat as you. Here are my recommendations, there are lots of options.

Work on getting good grades, good SAT/ACT scores, and get involved in outside of school activities. The more the better, and positions showing leadership are great for example sports, boy scouts, CAP, music, clubs at school. They want to see someone well rounded.

Start contacting a guard unit in your hometown now, also start talking to congressmen about applying to the Academies. Apply to all of them, also apply for ROTC scholarships in Air Force, Navy, and the Army around the beginning of senior year of high school. My advice is stay away from recruiters because they will try to get you to enlist and tell you how easy it will be to become an officer later and get a pilot slot. Contact the ROTC offices at a University near you to get info on applying.

Make sure you take some high school classes that show some emphasis in math and science, but don't do it to the point it hurts your grades. Once you get into college, your MAJOR DOES NOT MATTER for Air Force pilot slots. If you want to be a test pilot, then you will need an engineering or physics degree, but otherwise, pick a major that you will enjoy and that will allow you to get a decent GPA. Work on GOOD GRADES and being the best cadet you can be. Then, always have a backup plan, because even some of us with perfect vision get medically disqualified for other reasons. Also, you don't need perfect vision, check out www.wantscheck.com and www.baseops.net for further information. Goodluck, feel free to PM me.

Lastly, start taking some flying lessons, hours aren't necessary but they definitely help, especially if you are going for a guard slot. They definitely help for ROTC slots in the Air Force, and at the Air Force Academy almost everyone gets a slot right now for those who are qualified and want one (of course this could change in the future).

Myself, just like TONYC, wishes that I had gone the guard route or the reserve route from the beginning had i known back then what I know now.
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Alright thanks! So it looks like I need 20/30 near uncorrected to be competitive? I was planning on getting my pilots license way before this and almost have enough money. I wanted to major in aerospace engineering so that is good. Have not taken my SATs yet so I have no clue about that yet. I am in good shape. Also I have one more question. Should I get laser surgery? Would that be considered corrected and if so, how could they determine what the uncorrected vision is? Thanks!
 
youngflyer said:
Alright thanks! So it looks like I need 20/30 near uncorrected to be competitive? I was planning on getting my pilots license way before this and almost have enough money. I wanted to major in aerospace engineering so that is good. Have not taken my SATs yet so I have no clue about that yet. I am in good shape. Also I have one more question. Should I get laser surgery? Would that be considered corrected and if so, how could they determine what the uncorrected vision is? Thanks!
Click to expand...

You shouldn't be too worried about your vision just yet. The AF currently allows both PRK and LASIK corrective surgery. From what I understand, PRK will not restrict you to a type of airframe while LASIK will (I believe you can't fly fighters with LASIK). LASIK has just recently been approved though so that might change.
 
Zondaracer said:
Once you get into college, your MAJOR DOES NOT MATTER for Air Force pilot slots.
Click to expand...

This is exactly where you have to be very careful...because this changes ALL THE TIME.

When I was in ROTC 10-12 years ago, this was true -- your Major didn't matter so long as you got good grades. As recently as 4 or 5 years ago the OPPOSITE was true -- you essentially HAD to have a technical degree to be considered for a pilot slot.

So, as I said...this is a moving target. Keep yourself informed and make choices appropriately.
 
I was in ROTC about a year and 4 months ago, and the policy was still that the major did not matter for getting a pilot slot. However, it was much harder to get a scholarship without a technical major. It was pretty much an automatic scholarship if you were majoring in electrical engineering, aerospace, nursing, and a select few other majors (as long as you had the minimums). Also, if you messed up (for example underage drinking or just not the most outstanding cadet), it was harder to be retained in ROTC without a technical major.
 
I went the Academy route, and what these guys are saying pretty much matches my experiences also. I graduated in '98 and at that time if you were medically qualified to fly there were slots open, regardless of your major or really any other qualification or whatnot. I know that for the guys in the classes of 92-94, though, it wasn't that same story. For those guys, you had to be up there in the order of merit in order to get a slot. So long story short, it sort of ebbs and flows as the number of pilots the Air Force needs grows or shrinks.

I think if you are talking active duty, though, the Academy will provide the best odds in terms of number of slots vs. number of cadets. That said, take a look at the guard/reserve route also. Those guys go into pilot training knowing what they are going to be flying when they come out the other side, which is a very nice thing. You also know where you will be living and you won't be moving every 3 years like you do active duty.

At the high school level, about the best thing you can do is be well rounded. Do well in school, do well on your SAT's or ACT's, and have some extra-curricular stuff going on that you enjoy. And that advice pretty much goes for whatever route you pick, from Academy to ROTC to applying to the guard/reserve.

Oh, hey Hacker:010011100110100101100011011001010010000001110011011010010110011101101110011000010111010001110101011100100110010100100001
 
I am at the Academy now about to graduate...I got a pilot slot as a management major with a 2.5 GPA....i know its low...but dang this place is hard haha

The Academy now gives PRK to anyone that wants to fly...so i dont think your eyesight will be a problem. Everyone hit the nail on the head, get good grades and be well rounded.. oh and score really high on the ACT/SAT
 
You are 15, try to have fun THE RIGHT WAY now and maybe visit ROTC det's at college tour's or whatever. The Air Force looks for people with high moral's, so don't get an underage or a drug possession or in trouble in school. Remember, you don't need a scholarship to get a pilot slot.
I'm in ROTC right now, if you PM me I can tell you all you want to know.
-Wes
 
ian said:
got a better shot getting a pilot slot at the academy than rotc ;)
Click to expand...

Again, while this is probably true right now, that has not been always true in the past, nor is it a sure thing that it is going to be true in the future.

What the original poster needs to do is continue to see what the current trends are and make a caclulated decision based on his own capabilities and wants.

There IS MORE to a career than simply getting into SUPT. DO NOT make decisions with life-long affects (ROTC vs USAFA, tech vs non-tech major, etc) simply to get a pilot slot. You HAVE TO consider what your career/life path might be if you DO NOT get a pilot slot.
 
Hacker15e said:
There IS MORE to a career than simply getting into SUPT. DO NOT make decisions with life-long affects (ROTC vs USAFA, tech vs non-tech major, etc) simply to get a pilot slot. You HAVE TO consider what your career/life path might be if you DO NOT get a pilot slot.
Click to expand...

I agree. When I was in HS, I had my whole life figured out - I was going to the USAFA, major in Aero Engineering, get a pilot slot, and eventually become an astronaut.

Instead I went ROTC, majored in Electrical Engineering, opted not to compete for a pilot slot, and became a software engineer and manager, and I love my current career and don't regret any of those decisions I made.

I know a LOT of people who chose tech degrees for their major because they thought it would enhance their chances of getting a pilot slot. Before considering a tech major, I would recommend you read my perspectives article on the main page. I know more people who got pilot slots as history majors than as electrical engineering majors; who is going to look better by the review board, the guy who got a 3.9 GPA in history or the guy who got a 2.7 GPA in EE? It's all just numbers to the review board (and yes, more goes into it than that, but I think you see my point).

Getting a pilot slot not only requires you having the best package to submit to the board, but a large degree of politics and luck as well. The politics come into it when your commander has to decide whether or not to submit you, endorse you, and back you to the review board; a good friend got held up on this one simply because his commander didn't support him. As for luck? As hacker15e said, it ebbs and flows and changes all the time. My senior year at ERAU we went from 36 pilot slots to 1 because of the drawdown; for the first 3 years I was in the AF, they were banking pilots, which was when guys would graduate from UPT and go fly a desk for 3 years waiting for a cockpit to open up. You can imagine that in such a situation with a surplus of pilots, the UPT pipeline all but dried up. Three years later, they were waivering everything left and right because of the subsequent shortage.

But back to hacker15e's point, at all of the decision points, you have to ask yourself, "What if I don't get a pilot slot? Do I still want to do this?" An example is when I had the chance to go to the USAFA following my freshman year at ERAU. Yeah, it would have helped me better my chances of getting a pilot slot, but 1) it would have meant going to school for yet another 4 years (at the USAFA, you always do 4 years no matter when you "transfer" there) and 2) I liked my situation at ERAU - my friends, my classes, the environment, and hey - I was already a quarter of the way to graduation.

Good luck to you. Just to put things in perspective, I was so disappointed when I found out that I didn't make the final cut to go to the USAFA and didn't get picked up as an alternate. I thought my life as I knew it was over. Looking back on it from now, not getting accepted was one of the best things that happened to me. And if someone told me then that several years later I would love engineering so much that I would choose NOT to risk my engineering slot for the possibility of getting a pilot slot, I would have told them they were smoking crack...
 
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