Wanting to be a pilot

3

311Sam

New Member
Well I am 24 years old, and I am thinking about a pilot career. I am open to joining the military for it but I am worried that I might be alittle too old. I am currently going to college but as of right now I only have 33 credits. So I need about 90 more to get a bachelors and be able to enlist as an officer. I talked to some people at the local recruiting office and they were not much help. They just recommended that I get a bachelors in some kind of engineering and that the test I have to take to be a pilot is "really hard".

I have always liked airplanes and I have an A&P license and have about 3 years of aviation maintenance experience. I quit that job a year ago because I wanted to get a degree in something so I could make more money. I originally planned on computer science but now I have a big feeling that I should be pursing a career as a pilot. I need to make up my mind quick because I am getting old!

So am I too old to join the military? Mind you I will be 28 or so once I get my degree. And exactly how hard is this test that the recruiters speak of? What other options do I have?
 
I can't answer your question, but I'm interested to hear the answer. I'm also 24 and military aviation has always been a fantasy. I have a degree, but I'd need CRT so we're probably talking 25yo by the time I'd sign. Does the military want impressionable kids right out of college or do guys like us have a shot?
 
Back when I was in about 6 years ago, the cutoff age for pilot used to be 28 and 29 for navigator.

And you don't have to have a major in engineering unless you want to be a test pilot; in fact, unless you really really want to be an engineer or are really good at math, I'd say don't go engineering. Rather, do something you enjoy and can excel at and get the best GPA you can.
 
Don't join because you want to fly.

IF you join, you better make damned sure it's because you want to fight for our country ... i.e. our current/future admin.

Example: Iran isn't a REAL threat anymore, but it's POSSIBLE they may be, so ... yeah, lets go ahead and send 8,000 troops initially, and try to make it the 53rd state.

Join because you want to fight for more American real estate, NOT because you want to fly.

EDIT (ADD): With your A&P, you have all you need to pass the non-pilot portion of any test, and all you need is basic PPL knowledge to pass the pilot portions of the tests.

Recruiters = waste of military budget. Ask here, there are PLENTY of military folk who've been there and aren't relying on recruiting stats. Remember, you're just a number to them. If you wanna know, ask here, I assure you, you're in good hands, and you'll get many perspectives.
 
You're not to old by any means. I turned 27 while in Army flight school, and there were many older than me. As far as the test for the Army, its called the AFAST, and with a little study, it is not that hard. As far as recruiters, you can find some that are willing to help you out, just do a lot of homework on your own. I am in the Reserves, and if thats the way you want to go, you can go directly to the unit you want to join, and talk to them. If I can help you out, let me know.
 
Thanks for the help everyone. Yes I have no problem fighting for the Country!

I will try and figure out what the age cut off limit is. I looked on the air force rotc website and it was kind of bland. A university here offers an airforce rotc program. Not sure what that is about. The rotc website makes it sound like that if you want to fly you just need to let somebody know. Sounds funny?
 
Hacker15e said:
This is the most asinine statement I've read on jetcareers yet.

Do you think we're in the British Empire or something?
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We have bases in South Korea, Japan, Germany, England, Iceland, etc. Apologies for being vague, but that's what I was referring to. US setting up a base(s) there to establish foothold, just like we're trying to establish the Russian-provoking missile defense system.
 
http://wantscheck.com/PilotSlotResources/OTSPilotSlot/tabid/62/Default.aspx

Finish that degree quickly. There are plenty of study books/online resources available for the AFOQT. Browse around on wantscheck.com because some of the AFOQT sections are no longer on there. I've not taken it yet, but if it's anything like the books, it's basically the SAT all over again with a few questions about airplanes and some ridiculous "flight instrument" questions. Prepare most for the sections that will affect your pilot score (they're listed on wantscheck somewhere).

http://www.petersons.com/airforce/books.asp

You'll need to take the TBAS as well, which is apparently like playing a video game except you have to memorize a few numbers while playing. There is information online, but not a heck of a lot.

Get your PPL - it will go a long way in your interview and increase your PCSM score.
 
Apologies, fellow JC'ers, for the threadjack.

88MPH said:
We have bases in South Korea, Japan, Germany, England, Iceland, etc.
Click to expand...

...and none of which are "American real estate" as you put it in your first post. I'm stationed at a base in England, and it's called "RAF Lakenheath", not "Lakenheath Air Force Base". Give you any clues as to if it's US soil or not?

Either way, that's not what you meant in your post...c'mon, really. You said:

"Join because you want to fight for more American real estate"

Are you saying that what you mean is "join because you want to defend a US base in a different country"? Please. This right after you say "Iran isn't a REAL threat anymore, but it's POSSIBLE they may be, so ... yeah, lets go ahead and send 8,000 troops initially, and try to make it the 53rd state."

Ahhh, there we have a clue as to what you really meant. The only way I can interpret your post is that you really mean to say, "Join the military if you want to participate in US Imperialism across the globe."

Which is what I said was asinine.
 
If this is something you really want, enlist into a Guard/Reserve unit NOW!! I enlisted at age 24 as a loadmaster, finished my degree while I was activated for 3 tours to the desert, and have since been selected to attend pilot training for my unit. I am 28 yrs old now and am just waiting for my class dates.

You have to be in pilot training by your 30th birthday. You will have to bust your @$$ - but it is very possible!!

Good luck and Keep us posted.
 
Kato said:
If this is something you really want, enlist into a Guard/Reserve unit NOW!! I enlisted at age 24 as a loadmaster, finished my degree while I was activated for 3 tours to the desert, and have since been selected to attend pilot training for my unit. I am 28 yrs old now and am just waiting for my class dates.

You have to be in pilot training by your 30th birthday. You will have to bust your @$$ - but it is very possible!!

Good luck and Keep us posted.
Click to expand...

How does the ROTC thing work? The websites make it just sound like you get paid to go to school and then you work for the airforce once you get your degree. It can't be that easy can it?
 
Hacker15e said:
Apologies, fellow JC'ers, for the threadjack.
Click to expand...
Ditto
Hacker15e said:
Ahhh, there we have a clue as to what you really meant. The only way I can interpret your post is that you really mean to say, "Join the military if you want to participate in US Imperialism across the globe."
Click to expand...

To All: Due to my retrospection inspired by hacker, with my apologies, please disregard my previous associated excerpts due to my excessive editorializing.

Sincere apologies. :o
 
311Sam said:
How does the ROTC thing work? The websites make it just sound like you get paid to go to school and then you work for the airforce once you get your degree. It can't be that easy can it?
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I'm not too familiar with the ROTC program but from what I understand it is a good way to go and definitely something to look into. I am not sure of all that is involved but it isn't as easy as described above that's fo' sho'.
 
311Sam said:
How does the ROTC thing work? The websites make it just sound like you get paid to go to school and then you work for the airforce once you get your degree. It can't be that easy can it?
Click to expand...

It's essentially just another set of classes that you take at the same time as your regular degree, along with some extracurricular activities each week.

From what I remember, it was a 1-hour class three times per week (I did it for all four years, but you can do it for just two). There is a 3-ish hour "Leadership Laboratory" every week, which is basically drills and learning/practicing marching and general military stuff. Occasionally there are weekend activities, some are volunteer some are mandatory. There is other stuff that you can participate in, too, like Drill Team/Honor Guard or community service clubs like Arnold Air Society.

The biggy is "Field Training", which is a 4 or 6 week training camp that takes place during the summer between semesters. It is like boot camp on steroids, with a focus on physical fitness and leadership.

I did not find it difficult to work ROTC in around getting my degree.
 
As far as getting paid while going to school, I was getting $100 a month during ROTC. It's nothing; maybe bought me a couple of days of lunches on campus.

I heard it went up to maybe $400 or so, but don't count on ROTC providing you an income during school. A lot of people in ROTC still needed extra jobs to supplement their school/living.

I would definitely recommend ROTC versus OTS, simply because with ROTC slots are projected out over coming years just like the service academies, whereas with OTS the slots are a lot less predictable.

I know there are a lot of threads in here about how the slots work with ROTC/OTS/Academies and manpower projections. I'd say do a search for them if you want to know more about the process.
 
rotc sounds promising. I am going to try and talk to the local recruiter soon. The next problem is my vision. It is horrible. I have always read that it just had to be correctable to 20/20 though. However in the requirements section for rotc it states you must have uncorrected vision of atleast 20/50. I can almost guarantee I don't have that. I never worried about it because I figured that I could just get surgery but it also list that corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier, but why? And how would they know that I have had corrective surgery?
 
The age requirement is 30, but there are waivers. I've known guys who entered AF pilot training at 34 years old, so it is not too late. However, going through AFROTC is dicey, here is why. There are close to 1000 guys competing for slots each year with only 500 or so slots available, (this is constantly changing). So you have to compete. Traditionally, guys who started rotc later and finishing in less than 4 years (so guys who entered with a couple years of college already behind them) did not have as much time and experience as other cadets in the same year group. This put them at a disadvantage. I have seen guys do ROTC for 3 years and still get pilot slots amongst those guys who did 4 (or guys like me who did 5, hehe) but also i've seen a lot of 2 and 3 year guys only end up getting a navigator or Air battle manager slot. My recommendation is go guard, its a completely different process involving interviews and applications, and if you don't get a slot, try the following year and usually they will remember your name (especially if you made a good impression the previous year). ok good luck
 
311Sam said:
rotc sounds promising. I am going to try and talk to the local recruiter soon. The next problem is my vision. It is horrible. I have always read that it just had to be correctable to 20/20 though. However in the requirements section for rotc it states you must have uncorrected vision of atleast 20/50. I can almost guarantee I don't have that. I never worried about it because I figured that I could just get surgery but it also list that corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier, but why? And how would they know that I have had corrective surgery?
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First of all, if you are on scholarship then you will receive a stipend, $100/month for first year all the way up to $400/month for seniors. if you are not on scholarship, you will get stipend once you finish field training for two years, starting at $300/month and then going up to $400/month. If you want to fly, your corrected vision has to be 20/20, uncorrected i have seen guys get waivers up to 20/90. Color blindness, keratoconus, and a myriad of eye conditions are automatic disqualifiers without chances of getting a waiver. The Air Force opthalmologists are very good at seeing if you received any kind of eye surgery. PRK is approved for flying, but I would wait until on active duty to get it, however it means doing a non flying job for two years or so before you have a chance of competing for a pilot slot (and active duty slots are very very competitive). ok good luck
 
ROTC is good to become a officer, but doesnt help you get a UPT slot, and AFROTC are down across the country, im in school right now and am involved but not apart of the program and i can tell you that they are having a hard time to fill these slots...its not hard to get a AFROTC slot at all, they give you stripends and help fund your education... great! this being said... now you owe them 4 years, pilot slot or no pilot slot, i know many cadets that have been through the program and about 1 that i know off got a slot at UPT, its a hard reality... if you get your education on you own terms and go the OTS route, you can try to get a aviation contract, and get into UPT, these are the words from a navy pilot himself,i could be wrong? but i do know get you PPL, its almost a must now days, they want people that have the best chances to complete the program, high GPA goes a long way, make contacts, visit you local airwing, i agree with Zondaracer, go guard, good luck
 
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