Advice for cadets seeking flight school post-grad.

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serviceacademylover1

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I have recently been accepted into CGAS, and it is my goal to go to flight school to fly helicopters post-grad. Obviously this is very far out but from what I have been told flight school is the most selective thins post grad.

From what I have read, the best things to do are
1. Grades
2. Military performance
3. obtain a pilots license.

Anything else that would boost my chances of gaining this commission post grad?
 
I can't speak to the coast guard specifically but when I was college the ROTC kids that were serious about military flight school were engineering majors. And i went to Embry-Riddle. You'd have thought the flight students were top picks but the military wants engineers for their pilots. Reasoning is they want someone who can understand the complex systems. They figure anyone can fly a plane, but an engineer can make better use of it, and handle complexities, especially in an emergency, better than most. I don't know what your intentions are for your major but if it's not some flavor of engineering you should seriously consider it.
 
serviceacademylover1 said:
I have recently been accepted into CGAS, and it is my goal to go to flight school to fly helicopters post-grad. Obviously this is very far out but from what I have been told flight school is the most selective thins post grad.

From what I have read, the best things to do are
1. Grades
2. Military performance
3. obtain a pilots license.

Anything else that would boost my chances of gaining this commission post grad?
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Regardless of whatever good information you receive here, don’t think that “this is very far out.” You yourself wrote that it is the most selective. So you are starting a 5-year job interview, beginning on day 1. And whenever you get a chance to talk with a current USCG pilot, especially newer ones, pick their brain. If you live anywhere near an air station, you may be able to schedule a visit before CGAS starts. Think road trip.
 
Northwoods said:
I can't speak to the coast guard specifically but when I was college the ROTC kids that were serious about military flight school were engineering majors. And i went to Embry-Riddle. You'd have thought the flight students were top picks but the military wants engineers for their pilots. Reasoning is they want someone who can understand the complex systems. They figure anyone can fly a plane, but an engineer can make better use of it, and handle complexities, especially in an emergency, better than most. I don't know what your intentions are for your major but if it's not some flavor of engineering you should seriously consider it.
Click to expand...
Spot on guidance. In the Navy engineering majors (see exact list if desired) are Tier 1 majors while professional flight students are Tier 2.
One detail as food for additional thought though - those commissioning into the Armed Forces can't 100% guarantee that they'll be trained to fly by the military even if they commission and serve. Some very interested in flying people with Aeronautics/ UAS/ Aero Eng. graduates end up on sub, swo nuc, cyber, NFOs, etc. service assignments - it's ultimately based on the needs of the ____ (Navy, Army, Air Force). Every year including this fall, we saw a lot of heartbreak from posters here and IRL who wanted to fly, and will not be.

So, we all only get so many journeys around the sun, and if you or your young adult is 100% certain that in this lifetime they NEED to be a pilot and to serve, even if you aren't provided the opportunity to fly for the military while you serve as an officer, then the hedge bet here is to get your commercial license and a big chunk of your restricted R-ATP qual hours before commissioning and serving with professional flight - becoming a pilot as a college major. In that path, you when you get out will have less hours (R-ATP at present is 1000 hours) and in short order will get scooped up by the airlines and on your way.

The path of being approx 27, with an eng. degree, five years experience as a swo or whatever officer, then working toward your ATP with1500 hours for years when at that point you may have a family to support and you're working for 20-25 hours per week as a CFI - eventually - isn't great. The cost too until you get your commercial can be very high. Don't get me wrong, Eng degrees are highly marketable for $$$ positions - no need to cry in one's soup for them, but - I'm just speaking to those candidates for whom flying as a career in this lifetime is a must-do to consider this option. It's not cheap, but getting the training is a great way to secure your future in the skies . *and if you are a female candidate, lots of scholarships to cover flight fees (which ROTC does not cover) because of the shortage of STEM women in this field.

Anyone interested in learning more about this option is welcome to DM me.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
Spot on guidance. In the Navy engineering majors (see exact list if desired) are Tier 1 majors while professional flight students are Tier 2.
One detail as food for additional thought though - those commissioning into the Armed Forces can't 100% guarantee that they'll be trained to fly by the military even if they commission and serve. Some very interested in flying people with Aeronautics/ UAS/ Aero Eng. graduates end up on sub, swo nuc, cyber, NFOs, etc. service assignments - it's ultimately based on the needs of the ____ (Navy, Army, Air Force). Every year including this fall, we saw a lot of heartbreak from posters here and IRL who wanted to fly, and will not be.

So, we all only get so many journeys around the sun, and if you or your young adult is 100% certain that in this lifetime they NEED to be a pilot and to serve, even if you aren't provided the opportunity to fly for the military while you serve as an officer, then the hedge bet here is to get your commercial license and a big chunk of your restricted R-ATP qual hours before commissioning and serving with professional flight - becoming a pilot as a college major. In that path, you when you get out will have less hours (R-ATP at present is 1000 hours) and in short order will get scooped up by the airlines and on your way.

The path of being approx 27, with an eng. degree, five years experience as a swo or whatever officer, then working toward your ATP with1500 hours for years when at that point you may have a family to support and you're working for 20-25 hours per week as a CFI - eventually - isn't great. The cost too until you get your commercial can be very high. Don't get me wrong, Eng degrees are highly marketable for $$$ positions - no need to cry in one's soup for them, but - I'm just speaking to those candidates for whom flying as a career in this lifetime is a must-do to consider this option. It's not cheap, but getting the training is a great way to secure your future in the skies . *and if you are a female candidate, lots of scholarships to cover flight fees (which ROTC does not cover) because of the shortage of STEM women in this field.

Anyone interested in learning more about this option is welcome to DM me.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the perspective here. As we continue the waiting game for the application process, Embry-Riddle is plan B, but definitely a solid one for my son who loves to fly.
 
JRowsNC said:
Thank you for the perspective here. As we continue the waiting game for the application process, Embry-Riddle is plan B, but definitely a solid one for my son who loves to fly.
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Depending on the campus for Embry Riddle make sure to read up on current student experiences and make sure your student understands all the steps to make sure they get flight hours. I have a kid who graduated from Embry (not in flight ) and the struggle for flight students has been very real over the last few years, when multiple parents are posting with the same types of issues you know it’s not a one off thing.

Wishing your applicant luck and an appointment so that plan b isn’t necessary !
 
serviceacademylover1 said:
I have recently been accepted into CGAS, and it is my goal to go to flight school to fly helicopters post-grad. Obviously this is very far out but from what I have been told flight school is the most selective thins post grad.

From what I have read, the best things to do are
1. Grades
2. Military performance
3. obtain a pilots license.

Anything else that would boost my chances of gaining this commission post grad?
Click to expand...
Class rank matters, show up do your best everyday… once you get to the Academy you have 200 weeks make every single one count!

Last year I think close to 10% of billets went to flight school out of CGA so opportunities are there
 
hopefulmominla said:
Class rank matters, show up do your best everyday… once you get to the Academy you have 200 weeks make every single one count!

Last year I think close to 10% of billets went to flight school out of CGA so opportunities are there
Click to expand...
Class rank definitely matters for billets, but flight billets are a bit different. Anyone interested in a flight billet has to complete extra medical tests, has to pass the ASTB (Aviation Selection Test Battery), and has to complete an interview. According the the current 1/c cadets I know, the interview process has a lot of weight on the flight billets, meaning cadets lower in rank could still get a flight spot if they ace the interview and do well on the ASTB.
 
Obtaining a pilot's license or not has little bearing on getting selected, in my opinion.
 
hopefulmominla said:
Depending on the campus for Embry Riddle make sure to read up on current student experiences and make sure your student understands all the steps to make sure they get flight hours. I have a kid who graduated from Embry (not in flight ) and the struggle for flight students has been very real over the last few years, when multiple parents are posting with the same types of issues you know it’s not a one off thing.

Wishing your applicant luck and an appointment so that plan b isn’t necessary !
Click to expand...
I'd happily give my experiences at ERAU, but I graduated almost 23 years ago and was an engineer, not a flight student.
 
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