Air Force Question

Well, you could tell your friend that the AF is buying over 1750 F-35s over the next twenty five years, and will also continue to fly over 200 A-10s, 225 F-15Es, 120+ F-15Cs, and 186 F-22s over the next few decades. And don't forget to mention that while we're going to start getting rid of the hundreds of F-16s we also fly as we replace them with F-35s, that we'll most likely keep a bunch of them around for a while (most likely for another 15 years at least).

Are we pushing for more and more UAV pilots, and going to keep pushing for more and more of them these for the foreseeable future? Certainly. But the opportunities to fly a fighter in the AF will still be there, and in greater numbers than other services (the Navy is only buying just a little over a third of the number of F-35s as the AF). If he's (or she) is that concerned that they won't get one and is just not even going to try; well, that's one less person you have to worry about competing against for the chance to fly one, isn't it? :thumb:
 
I think Bullet (you know I love that man:yllol:) gave you the best info to go back to your friend and say to him/her you are so wrong, now here are the facts. Shut your friend down. They are just jealous that one day you will be soaring the blue yonder and they will be wishing that they took the same chance as you!:w00t:
 
Also, how many pilot slots are there each year? How many go to the Academy, and how many to ROTC?
 
zak09115 said:
Also, how many pilot slots are there each year? How many go to the Academy, and how many to ROTC?
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What I have been told by upperclassmen here at the academy is about half the graduating class gets a pilot slot, so thats around 500.
 
along the pilot slot track....

ALO told son that since he is not pilot qualified it is harder to be accepted... true?
 
zak09115 said:
Also, how many pilot slots are there each year? How many go to the Academy, and how many to ROTC?
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At USAFA, I believe it's 55%. Usually everyone who's qualified will get a spot. I don't know how many from AFROTC, but it's guaranteed to be much less than 55%.

Now, of those grads who can make it through pilot training, I don't know.
 
When you say "now of those grads who can make it through pilot training, I don't know" do you mean like they haven't been trained good enough? Is pilot training like bct or something, why is it so hard? Is it physically or academically straining?
 
"When you say "now of those grads who can make it through pilot training, I don't know" do you mean like they haven't been trained good enough? NoIs pilot training like bct or something,Yes why is it so hard? There are many reasons. Some students can't handle the academics; some the physical requirements from altitude to g-forces to survival, etc... Each person is different. Some just realize that the commitment and dedication isn't what they want. Is it physically or academically straining?"Yes
 
So what do most AFROTC cadets become if not pilots? I know there's a lot of careers but does one stick out from the rest if being a pilot is not one of them?
 
zak09115 said:
When you say "now of those grads who can make it through pilot training, I don't know" do you mean like they haven't been trained good enough? Is pilot training like bct or something, why is it so hard? Is it physically or academically straining?
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A little pilot input here.

UPT (or SUPT) is a VERY VERY demanding program. Why?

The shortest way to describe it is this way: take the entire program of going from a person with a limited amount of flying experience and put them in a T-6 Texan II for "X" amount of time, take them through academics, simulator training, "cardboard trainer" time, flying, solo, aerobatics, navigation, instrument training, formation training, and THEN...

Toss them into either the T-38 or T-1A for advanced training either in a "cargo/transport" theme OR a "fighter/bomber" theme. MORE formation, MORE navigation, low-level, advanced aerobatics, air-refueling theory/practice, etc...etc...MORE academics, MORE simulators...

Oh did I mention the flying checkrides that are interspersed throughout the program? And that your performance on these checkrides has a DIRECT impact on "what will I do when I am a pilot? Which track will I get: fighter/bomber or tanker/transport or ???"

Oh yeah...did I mention that we don't fly on bankers' hours? Classes report EARLY sometimes (0300 or ???) and others arrive later and stay LATE. And that schedule changes, sometimes weekly? Talk about fatigue.

And put ALL of that into a program that's complete from start to finish in only 49 weeks.

FLYING IS NOT HARD. I've been an instructor pilot for 21 years and have, around, 7,800 hours of IP time in both the aircraft and simulators. I've taught some brilliant aviators and some complete "tools" to fly. Flying is easy. But that's NOT what being an AF pilot is about. Perfect example and I think Bullet can agree with me here: I found flying the F-15 to be simple! It's got so many systems that "do it for you" that it's an easy plane to "fly." But that's not all there is to the Eagle. You have to be able to employ it in battle.

Employing the Eagle; being able to work the radar, the HUD, the weapon systems, knowing where your flight is, where the threats are, who is priority, what's your fuel state, what's the best weapon to use, are you within the proper parameters, are you in compliance with the rules of engagement, and in the meantime keep flying, maneuvering, etc..etc...etc...THAT IS HARD!

And getting through UPT is HARD because of the compressed schedule, the amount of knowledge being crammed into your head, and the total alien environment you're in. What is that environment? A 3-dimensional world. You now have to be able to "see" things happening before they happen, to plan for yourself and perhaps another plane, or several (formation), then use that planning in a defined airspace that you MUST stay within the boundaries (vertical, horizontal), etc...etc...etc...

BUT it's that training that affords you a taste of what's to come in employing your aircraft later: it gives you the ability to know how to prioritize inflight so that you CAN develop the SA to succeed.

In my opinion, those are the reasons some folks just don't make it through UPT. MOST of the folks I saw not make it did NOT have trouble "flying" but had trouble with the "situational awareness" or "3-dimensional thinking" COMBINED with the flying, academics, etc.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
zak09115 said:
So what do most AFROTC cadets become if not pilots? I know there's a lot of careers but does one stick out from the rest if being a pilot is not one of them?
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There are SO many positions that ROTC/Academy/OTS graduates fill that to try to list them ALL here would take forever.

Just a few:

EVERY engineering field you can name
EVERY maintenance field you can name
Missile Launch Officers
Air Battle Managers
Space/Satellite Battle Component Officers
Law Enforcement
Mission Support
Life Support
Egress
Security Forces
Combat Intelligence
Navigators (Not really anymore, more like Weapon Systems Operators)
Contracts
Procurement

And the list goes on and on and on...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
There are a lot more things to do. Like 75% of the people I ask want to fly, but theres a kid in my squad who wants to be a JAG another wants to fight in cyberspace, I want to be an ALO, there are many other GREAT opportunitys than flying.
 
flyersboy114 said:
another wants to fight in cyberspace.
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You're friend is awesome! lol, if I didn't want to pursue AI so much, I would pursue the new Air Force Cyber command. So torn between the two. :frown:

If I could only do both........
 
I've observed that there's is no guarentee that you will be put in a specific career field. Typically, if your college major is engineering, and you do not become a flyer, you will work in that field...but the needs of the air force will trump anything.
If needed, that engineer could end up in security forces or human resources. Unlikely, yes, but if you know you want to work in a specific area (like jarvin in AI) it would be wise to know there is no guarentee that you will have that choice, regardless of commisioning source.
 
Also; realize that to be a pilot, you do NOT need to have a degree in engineering. There are a lot of pilots with degrees in behavioral science and similar degrees. ANY degree major is acceptable to be a pilot. Assuming you pass the physical, UPT, and other requirements. You major degree is not a pre-requisite. Unless however you have aspirations to be a test pilot or similar goals. Then, a degree in aeronautical engineering or similar would be either a requirement, or a major factor in your selection. Depends on what it is you are wanting. But a normal F-15, F-16, C-17, C-5, etc... doesn't require a major in any particular field of study. later... mike....
 
And say if I don't get a pilot slot, I would like to do something in the Air Force's Space Program, what kind of careers are in that field.
 
If you want to get an edge for UPT, do what we did with DS, get a ppl. It will help now with your AFOQT and later when you start flying.

AS far as careers, it probably is best to spend time on the af.mil website. There are just too many to name and list, especially since we do not know you personally.
 
The PPL definatly won't hurt you, but in my experiance really doesn't help you much either the bigger item seems to be an instrument rating and really instrument hours, however these both take a lot of time and money so if you're not getting them just for the sake of getting them they're not worth it as far as getting ahead in flight school.
 
It is a good idea to get PPL for the academy and all, but dang is it expensive. Even at the academy aero club it was a whole bundle of money (I don't know about you, but I don't have an extra 4K laying around). If you can afford it, by all means go for it, if not, there lots of other things that can look pretty good on a resume.

Later,

Brian
 
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