Pilot slot before signing

frog_flyer

FredFlyer
i know rotc you sign and then fight for a slot.

how bout reserves, OTS, ANG.

can you get a slot before you commit?
 
A JC member is doing Marine OTS/OCS (not sure which is for what) and they have a program in which guarantees you a slot in what you choose. In his case he got a pilot slot before he signed and he gets to keep it as long as he doesn't get medically disqualified.
 
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If you are a pilot in the mil, and you get medically disquallified, do you serve the rest of your years doing something else or are you eligible to be honorably disacharged due to medical reasons?
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you sign a contract to serve. then they tell you what to do.

nothing should change; you're still obligated. anyone who knows what theyre talking about care to comment?


dont forget to help with my question too!
 
frog_flyer said:
i know rotc you sign and then fight for a slot.

how bout reserves, OTS, ANG.

can you get a slot before you commit?

OTS -- you get a slot and then sign and attend OTS. After OTS, you go to pilot training. AFRES and ANG are usually the same way, you will interview with a particular unit, get selected to attend UPT, then sign, get activated and go to UPT. After UPT you will return to that particular unit and fly that particular aircraft.

If you get medically disqualified, you will still be required to serve out a commitment, although it will be less than the pilot commitment. Usually 4 years.
 
So if you fail the initial physical do you still have to serve to four years of duty, or is it only if something happens after the initial physical that makes you medically disqualified?
 
So if you fail the initial physical do you still have to serve to four years of duty, or is it only if something happens after the initial physical that makes you medically disqualified?

It depends. I know in the Navy if you get NPQ'd in flight school or fail a yearly flight physical, they'll reassign you up to the lowest common denominator. Surface Warfare Officer (SWO). If you're so broke-d!ck and can't be a SWO, then you'd be medically discharged, but at least you'd get paid disability percentage for the rest of your life.
 
Does the same thing happen when you cannot pass the tests (written and flight) that they give you as well?
 
Does the same thing happen when you cannot pass the tests (written and flight) that they give you as well?

In the USAF, if you wash out of Undergraduate Pilot Training, you will serve out the rest of your contracted service time in another non-flying specialty.

The USAF is currently facing a "lieutenant glut" right now -- in 2004 and 2005 they commissioned too many junior officers, and they have been eliminating them from the service in droves. In 2005, if you washed out of UPT, you were let out of your service contract, too. Not sure if that is still the case today, though.
 
I was told that in most cases (ROTC) you will know whether or not you have a slot before the cutoff for dropping out.
 
You contract when you return from field training (over your sophomore summer) and your board isn't until dec? of your junior year. You're under contract before you know if you get a rated slot.


I've heard about guys getting busted at Brooks and not having to serve at all. What the hell does the USAF need "just another 2lt" for?!
 
A buddy of mine had flight school in his Army contract. They couldn't give it to him cause he was in a critial job at the time, but since it was a breach of contract, they offered to give him an honorable discharge or to keep serving in his current job (combat medic) He served his time as a ground pounder in the Army and later got a pilot slot with the Air Force.

I'm pretty sure with the Air National Guard you apply for a specific position, ie F-15 pilot, and if you don't get it, no commitment. The reserve may work the same way, not real sure. I was supised to find that you don't actually need to live where your reserve unit is. Say you live in CA and the only A-10 slots are in MA. You can do that, you just need to find your own way to MA once a month etc etc
 
A buddy of mine had flight school in his Army contract. They couldn't give it to him cause he was in a critial job at the time, but since it was a breach of contract, they offered to give him an honorable discharge or to keep serving in his current job (combat medic) He served his time as a ground pounder in the Army and later got a pilot slot with the Air Force.

I'm pretty sure with the Air National Guard you apply for a specific position, ie F-15 pilot, and if you don't get it, no commitment. The reserve may work the same way, not real sure. I was supised to find that you don't actually need to live where your reserve unit is. Say you live in CA and the only A-10 slots are in MA. You can do that, you just need to find your own way to MA once a month etc etc

From what I heard, don't count on only once a month.
 
I was wondering about the ANG/Reserve slots myself! Nice to figure that out! :)
One question here on deployments. (PLEASE do not flame me, I understand if the military turns out to be my career route then I know I'll get deployed, that's part of what I'll have signed up for)
How often does one get deployed internationally as a ANG or Reserve pilot, especially fighter pilot? Just curious with the war that's going on right now and all.
 
How often does one get deployed internationally as a ANG or Reserve pilot, especially fighter pilot? Just curious with the war that's going on right now and all.


I'd say it varies a lot by unit. From what I heard, the 125th FW for example doesn't didn't deploy to the sandbox (I think) because their mission is NORAD. I can be terribly wrong here so don't hold me accountable.
 
No you're right on. The air-to-air fighter guys are the way to go if you want to stay home. While others fight the war, they spend their time training in stateside MOAs and making bad reality TV shows. They also earn air medals to keep them competitive for promotion by flying CAP over the white house and defending it from cessnas. If you want to stay home, go air-to-air fighters. If you want to go to war, pick an aircraft with an attack role or a tactical airlift or strat bird.
 
A kid in my det said he wants to fly F-111s....


I didn't want to break the news to him.

Lol! Some kid back in HS Army JROTC always argued with me that the Army did fly the A-10 and that he was gonna join the Army and fly it. Oh well, hope he likes helos.
 
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