I know there are a few pilots on here from a few different branches. I'm curious about your life stories; how did you get to the point where you are today? Did you go to the academy, ROTC, OCS? Do you choose which type of aircraft you choose or is it assigned to you?
Say I were to do Army or Air Force ROTC, if I branch aviation what are the chances of me actually flying (with respect to each branch)? I have heard it is largely warrant officers that fly. I know you have to work hard to be high enough on the OML to branch aviation, but could I get stuck as a flight tech when I really want to go to flight school?
Basically: I want to fly, what do I have to do?
Before everyone else chimes in with it: joining the military with the knowledge that ONLY flying will make you happy is a guaranteed way to be disappointed. Joining to serve and HOPING to fly is a good approach.
As a commissioned officer in the Army you can fly through USMA or ROTC, which is to say aviators come from both commissioning sources. Your chances are slightly better through USMA, numerically speaking.
I highly encourage you to look through the Army Aviation thread in the USMA forum. Below is an excerpt from it, which I posted in answer to the "only warrant officers fly" myth. Also, in the army the "flight techs" are enlisted. Officers are aviators.
Excerpt:
Army aviation is different from other military aviation branches in that all commissioned aviators will hold command positions. Your job will never be to "just fly." You will be a platoon leader, company commander, and possibly even get a second command if you're good.
You will lead your soldiers and officers, manage the maintenance workflow of your aircraft (more on that if folks are curious), create and implement an aircrew training program, execute the commander's flying hour program, and train your platoon or company on your mission-essential tasks for wartime. Oh, and you'll be expected to be as competent as your best warrant officer in the cockpit, if not more so.
Will some warrant officers fly more than you will? Yes. Instructor pilots and maintenance test pilots will for sure. They outfly all the other warrant officers. But everyone must meet their semi-annual minimums. You can't just be put on a shelf. As a PL, you'll fly quite a lot, especially if you're deployed. Heck, I still logged 3-4 flights a week after I moved up to being a Battle Captain. I flew enough hours as a PL to meet the senior aviator badge requirements (just waiting on time, now).
So, the idea that warrants do all the flying and you will not is an outright myth, mostly perpetuated by well-meaning but clueless non-aviators. There will be times when you don't fly. But there will also be times when the thought of another hour in the cockpit makes you sick.
Aviation is a very rewarding field, especially in the Army. You will have a chance to fly with the best helicopter crews on the planet. You will have the opportunity to lead outstanding Soldiers. You will have the chance to be part of the "close fight" in a way that many others will never experience. And they pay you extra to do it.
Why branch anything else? Remember, kids...any dummy can carry a rucksack and a rifle. There's no entrance exam for the infantry.