I have searched for this sort of information all over the web, and find uncertain answers...
Of those graduating from USAFA, do most want to fly? Of those, how many are able to become pilots? Is this a highly selective process?
TennisFan88
You state in your post that most cadets that request a pilot slot receive one--at least in your graduating class. I understand that all cadets that are selected for pilot slots must be medically qualified as well. In your experience, do most cadets that need the academy-provided eye surgery, in order to be medically qualified, received that surgery if requested? Thanks in advance for your response.
2 things to know about the PRK eye surgery you're speaking of:
1. Not everyone's eyes are "Candidates" for PRK surgery. And if you can't get the surgery to correct your vision, you can still put in for a waiver. There are plenty of pilots who get Contact Lens waivers and such because they didn't qualify for the surgery.
2. It's not only pilots who can get the surgery. ANYONE can request the surgery. If their eyes qualify and you are in your commitment year (C3C - Junior) at the academy, you can be accepted for the surgery. You don't have to be a pilot or want to be a pilot. So basically; IF YOUR EYES QUALIFY, you can have the surgery. It doesn't matter if you want to be a pilot or not.
Vision waivers are decently common out of USAFA.
The challenge, IMO, is not so much in getting a pilot slot, but doing well in UPT.
Then, the half that are pilot qualified, and still do want to be pilots, and do get their pilot slots, that NOT EVERYONE PASSES UPT and finishes up pilot training. Granted, the attrition rate of UPT and pilot training is only about 5% +/-; but there is that to consider.
A good percentage of UPT students wind up staring down on an 89 ride. (Fail that, and you are pretty much done.)
Do you get to choose what air craft you want to fly? Because the larger aircraft like the c-5, c-17, and KC-135 interest me alot more than for example an F-15. Would you build up to the larger aircraft? I have no idea how that would work. Thanks
Lots of info in general on UPT here that will give you the step by step.
http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/
Short answers: if you don't want fighters then you won't get them-they are highly desired and competition is tight.
KC 135 is not a highly requested one but the other two are.
I have been doing some homework and I was reading that after UPT you are assigned your first Air Base and what air craft you will fly and the plane you are assigned is the type of plane you will fly for the rest of your career. Correct?