Enlisted to Pilot

Hastingsj

Dreamer
Joined
Nov 16, 2016
Messages
5
Good afternoon.. So after reading a fair amount of the posts here, I might be on the wrong forum site but hey you don't know if you don't ask haha.

So I'm getting ready to take the AFOQT and finish my degree in Aeronautics from Embry Riddle. My GPA will be around 3.35 when all is finished. I never attended USAFA or ROTC. To be fair, it took me awhile to figure out what I actually wanted to do in the military and I'm a little late in the game. I'm 25 years old and have 5 years AD complete. My ultimate goal at the end of it all would be to commission with a pilot slot and become a helicopter pilot. I know you get assigned an airframe but hey, gotta have a goal.

Does anyone have experience with this situation or know what I can do to increase my odds? I have a few awards, nothing big and performance reports are above average. Any advise/words of wisdom is appreciated. Thank you!
 
So, you are currently enlisted?
If you did an E-to-O program, that might be the most direct way.
OTS does not offer a ton of pilot slots, but I would imagine there are a few now (that AFPC finally figured out it is short on pilots).
Other options might be commissioning into the Guard or Reserve. These can be great deals, but there are some trade-offs.

If you are dead set that you want to be helo pilot, Army WOFT is probably the best shot. The Army has more helos than the Air Force has airplanes. That said, both Army and AF helos are considered secondary things. If you want to be the hot-shot pilot, helicopters probably aren't the way to go. (If you want to have the most fun, and do the strangest things flying, it's a good choice!...I might be biased.)
 
Haha I appreciate the reply's. Yes I am currently enlisted as an E4, doing what I can to get E5 by next year. To start I am not dead set on helo pilot. To be brutally honest, I just love flying. I only have about 8 flight hours so far then I got deployed.. I plan on continuing when I return. The flying mission is awesome and when it really comes down to it, I would love to be any sort of pilot (besides commercial, I cant imagine ever doing that job). I would prefer to get helo's, bombers, or fighters. Facing reality I do understand that my chances to get a fighter/bomber is way slim.

I haven't looked into Army WOFT to be honest. I would much rather stay in the AF, got a taste and I'd rather not leave haha. I intend on applying for the Rated OTS in June and hope for the best. I think at this point its all good scores on my AFOQT, TBAS and PFT as well as finishing my degree. Its weird my works cut out for me and I'm trucking away, I just doubt the odds.
 
I would much rather stay in the AF, got a taste and I'd rather not leave haha.

Okay, I'll bite. What does "got a taste" of life outside of the Air Force mean?
Also what was your last job in the AF? If you don't like Army (or Marines), don't discount other non-Army branches. the Navy and Coast Guard have helos and other airframes too.
 
Well to start, I've got nothing against my army brothers. I've been deployed with army and its insane how different the two branches operate. Before joining the military, after high school, I was going to college. I end up dropping school because I didn't want to commit to a loan. After getting married, I worked pizza delivery, 2 landscaping jobs and managed my own accounts on the side and we barley were making enough to really improve our quality of life. That's when I joined the Air Force as enlisted.

First few months were rough but when checks starting coming in and they were finally correct, we were doing ok. Then we got to our first base and they put us in a house! We were so excited for our new lives. My MOS/AFSC is 6c0x1 - Contracting Specialist. We are "Business Advisors" for the government and specialize in procurement and acquisition. We purchase everything for the guys on base weather it be army, marines, AF, (dont see much navy) from base Custodial Service to tools and equipment. Its a great job, just not really what I see myself doing for the next 15 years if I have opportunities elsewhere.

Thank you for the reply.
 
I've been deployed with army and its insane how different the two branches operate.

Well, the Army is the military so that would certainly be a culture shock. If you aren't interested in WOFT, you're just throwing away your largest chance of flying.

That said, both Army and AF helos are considered secondary things.

Not really sure what this means, especially where the Army is concerned.
 
Well, the Army is the military so that would certainly be a culture shock. If you aren't interested in WOFT, you're just throwing away your largest chance of flying.

... haha, I'm not going to say your wrong. Not going to lie, glad I joined the Air Force. I am not throwing it out the window, just want to make it on the AF side through the OTS route first then apply for WOFT. Wonder if I could get both ready... My friend back at Holloman who was working with me just picked up for a WOFT spot. He should be at flight school now. Thanks for the comment.
 
Well, the Army is the military so that would certainly be a culture shock. If you aren't interested in WOFT, you're just throwing away your largest chance of flying.



Not really sure what this means, especially where the Army is concerned.
Helos are not the raison d'etre for either service. We support (and are dang good at it!)
 
Helos are not the raison d'etre for either service. We support (and are dang good at it!)

That's not a very good comparison between the services. The USAF definitely treats their RW assets as ramp FOD and a second class community. The Army views aviation very differently. As far as being the "raison d'etre", I don't know what you'd consider the Air Force's to be. Bombers? Fighters? All offensive airframes? The Army's reason for being is the offense, i.e. Maneuver/Fires branches. Aviation in the Army is squarely in that realm.
 
I would look into Coast Guard OCS, they have lots of pilot opportunities for fixed and rotary wing.
 
I would look into Coast Guard OCS, they have lots of pilot opportunities for fixed and rotary wing.

So I looked into the CS. For the most part they really want people who already have flight experience it seems like. I'm taking the AFOQT soon, I've been studying a ton for it. I'm doing what I can to get top scores then see if OTS wants me.. If not then I'm going to either wait until the next cycle or look into Army WO. Thanks for the suggestion though and I'll check it out again to make sure I didn't miss anything.
 
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