AFROTC or NROTC For Pilot Slot

[user987]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, I did not see it...

Does anyone know the annual # of pilots trained in AF and Navy? Or % of applicants that get rated slots?
If someone's goal is to be a pilot and open to either AF or Navy ROTC, does it make a big difference which ROTC he enters? Or, is it that if you excel in either program and associated academic major, you have a good shot in both?

 

[kinnem]

Well, the AF has more planes than the Navy, assuming you want fixed wing. You will only have a shot at it in either program if you excel in the program, demonstrate good leadership, and have a good college GPA. You don't need to pursue a particular major in order to become a pilot.

 

[Humey]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, I did not see it...

Does anyone know the annual # of pilots trained in AF and Navy? Or % of applicants that get rated slots?
If someone's goal is to be a pilot and open to either AF or Navy ROTC, does it make a big difference which ROTC he enters? Or, is it that if you excel in either program and associated academic major, you have a good shot in both?

My son and I had the same conversation. As mentioned before, the Air Force has more fixed wings. As a Navy pilot you may wind up flying helicopters although that could happen in the AF. Also, you could be the worlds best pilot, but you could suck at landing on a aircraft carrier. To me however, if you dont make it as a pilot, there seems to be more interesting jobs in the Navy. My son chose AF but I would choose the service not based on being a pilot but rather what would be your number 1 choice (pilot) and #2 choice be. So if its pilot and Drones, then it would be AF. IF its Pilot and CSO (navigator ) it would be AF. If its Pilot and having a job on a Navy vessel, than Navy. And so on.

 

[5Day]

If you want an idea of the % that go pilot/aviation here is the math and assumptions I made for you. Basically comparing where newly commissioned officers from usafa and USNA went and assumed that the same percentages held across all commissioning sources. Thus should be a pretty good assumptionbto give you an order of magnitude idea.

From USNA graduate service section https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/2018-service-selection.58430/
Navy Pilot- 233
Navy NFO -67
USMC Pilot -67
USMC NFO-1
Total aviation 368
Total 1053

Or 35% of the USNA graduating class went aviation. You can make the assumption that NROTC and OCS had similar ratios, which should be pretty close

This is the easiest I could find for air force for 2016 graduating class http://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/788557/graduating-class-of-2016-fact-sheet/

Graduates Going To Pilot Training: 345
Graduates Going To Remotely Piloted Aircraft: 60
Total pilot 405
Total graduated 795.

For air force you can assume 50% went pilot

So Navy 35% pilots compared to 50% for air force

But, what does that mean to you? Both services need a large percent of pilots. (You already knew that) the air force needs more pilots (You already knew that) Will you be the one that gets that pilot slot? If you graduate #1 It is extremely likely that you will get your first choice. If you graduate #2 your chances decrease. Pick the service that best fits you if you do not get that pilot slot.