Don't want to be a pilot.

I don't really want to be a pilot (well, my vision isn't good enough so I never really considered it), but I want to go to the AFA in hopes of either being an engineer or going into special ops. Does the fact that I don't want to fly make me more or less desirable to the academy? (since the majority of people applying do want to fly)

H2Opolodude said:

I don't really want to be a pilot (well, my vision isn't good enough so I never really considered it), but I want to go to the AFA in hopes of either being an engineer or going into special ops. Does the fact that I don't want to fly make me more or less desirable to the academy? (since the majority of people applying do want to fly)

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Again; the majority might want to fly when they are thinking about applying to the academy; but people change their mind often. Come assignment time, only about half of the class wants to be pilots.

As for your vision, the air force academy will give you corrective eye surgery if you qualify within certain parameters. My son had the surgery; wound up with 20/15 vision; and received a pilot slot.

As for your chances of getting into the academy; the academy prefers those who are "Pilot Qualified". This doesn't mean they want everyone to be a pilot, just that pilot qualified is the highest level of medical/phyical qualification. They want the most options. They prefer a cadet that can qualify to do ANY job. Remember; in the end, it's the needs of the air force that matters. Your desires are taken into consideration, but they are not the final determining factor.

H2Opolodude said:

I don't really want to be a pilot (well, my vision isn't good enough so I never really considered it), but I want to go to the AFA in hopes of either being an engineer or going into special ops. Does the fact that I don't want to fly make me more or less desirable to the academy? (since the majority of people applying do want to fly)

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I think you have to be pilot qualified to do special forces. That's what one of my friends who just graduated from AFA just told me anyways...

I'm sure physical and medical requirements for the ground side of AFSOC are fairly strict, but they have little to do with flight physicals, AFAIK.

Thank you all for the responses!
Christcorp: That was a really good point you made about being willing to take any position in which the Air Force needs you. I definitely overlooked that when I had first said I didn't have an interest in flying. I do, after all, have an interest, I just thought that my vision wouldn't allow me. That's really great news about the corrective surgery though! I had no idea they still allowed people to fly after corrective surgery.
Sam: Yeah, I think you do need to be pilot qualified for spec. ops.

If this is true, does that mean that I would be eligible for special ops after corrective surgery? My dodmerb stuff came back "qualified" with no waivers necessary.

Not everyone at USAFA wants to fly, This year they did not even fill all the pilot slots that were available

H2Opolodude said:

Thank you all for the responses!
Christcorp: That was a really good point you made about being willing to take any position in which the Air Force needs you. I definitely overlooked that when I had first said I didn't have an interest in flying. I do, after all, have an interest, I just thought that my vision wouldn't allow me. That's really great news about the corrective surgery though! I had no idea they still allowed people to fly after corrective surgery.
Sam: Yeah, I think you do need to be pilot qualified for spec. ops.

If this is true, does that mean that I would be eligible for special ops after corrective surgery? My dodmerb stuff came back "qualified" with no waivers necessary.

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Make sure you don't get corrective surgery before you arrive at the Academy. I am pretty sure that having corrective eye surgery will disqualify you for admission to the Academy.