ROTC vs OTC

aviatorrbt

aviatorrbt

New Member
Hey for those who are in the military now as pilots,
Do you know if it is easier/better to be in ROTC if one is looking to obtain a pilot slot? I read that OTC has only like 100 spots out of the 800 (or so) each year and ROTC officers get more spots. Does anyone know how this works?

Thanks a lot. :)
 
I assume you mean in the Air Force?

Ya know, there other services who fly...;)
 
I've always heard that as well. I know that they change the size of the OTS classes depending on how many new Lt's they need, whereas the Academy and ROTC remain approximately constant year to year. I would imagine that this winds up affecting pilot slots as well, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
Yes, that's the way it works.

ROTC is the Air Force's primary officer scrounging machine. OTS is a route intended as a 3 month "indoc" course to the air force way of life to fill the holes, and to provide an option to enlisted and civilian folk already with degrees.

I applied to OTS in 2005, didn't get in, but that was during the first round of Force Shaping, which is still going on. IMO it's much easier to get into, and approved for a pilot slot via ROTC.
 
And I have a related question...is it gonna be more difficult for the non-technical-major candidate to get a slot going through ROTC?
 
Boltonpilot said:
And I have a related question...is it gonna be more difficult for the non-technical-major candidate to get a slot going through ROTC?
Click to expand...

If I remember right, they have 3 separate boards.

1) Tech
2) Non-tech
3) Rated - i.e. Pilots/Navs

Major has no play in getting a rated slot.

This was as of 2005, so things may have changed since then.
 
I've seen the stats from previous years for the UPT slot breakdowns

about 600 for the zoomies
500ish for rotc cadets
usually less than 80 for OTS guys.

By the numbers, it's not hard to get a slot in ROTC as long as your cadre likes you.

I've heard ROTC is getting 580 something slots this year, the most in recent years.

Major does not matter for pilot boards. GPA does. (rotc)
 
ROTC is by far the "easiest" way to obtain a pilot slot, other than coming out of the Academy. When I was in, 10 out of 12 received pilot slots, the other 2 got Navigator slots. This was in the late 90's however.

Currently, the AF is trying to down size. There is an over abundance of 2nd and 1st Lts. So many in fact, that if you was out of UPT you no longer have to full fill the 4yr. commitment that you had to in the past.

Not sure what you are looking to fly, I assume fighters! If you are looking at a more traditional aircraft or rotary craft, look into the Coast Guard. I wish I would have looked at them a little harder (I was blinded by 16 syndrome badly). The Coast Guard is a great gig from what I gather and you live in some great areas of the country.

Check out their website, they guarantee flight school if you are physically and academically capable. However, their requirements are a bit more stringent than the AF. Hope this helps!
 
thanks a lot! i am not sure what i was looking to fly - but i will look at the coast guard and maybe figure that out.
 
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