AFROTC pilot slots

chrisbefin

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Messages
15
Hi all,

I just got accepted for a 4 year type 7 AFROTC scholarship. I am now deciding between AFROTC and AROTC, where I also have a 4 year scholarship. More than anything I want to be a pilot. From the research I have done so far AF is the way to go for that. I know I have to perform well in school and in PT and then have to make it through UPT and all that. But what are the actual statistics on it. What percentage of graduating AF cadets make it into UPT and then earn their wings? I know these numbers change a lot year to year but in the current climate what are the best predictions for the class of 2022? Also, would selecting any particular major increase my chances of getting selected for a pilot slot? If I were to go Army, what are my chances of being a pilot for them?

Thanks in advance
 
I would say talk to your recruiters from both. That's really the only way to know for sure. They will be able to give you the requirements and statistics to make an informed decision.
 
I can give you some info. I think overall there are about 1100 pilot spots every year. Air Force academy gets 500-550 spots. Rotc gets somewhere between 350-450 spots depending on who you talk to on this forum and the rest go to OTC. Per Wikipedia, AF Rotc commissioned 2083 officers in 2006. I dont know how that compares to 2018, but lets assume its close. So if we split the difference and go with 400 spots, 400/2083 = 19%. Of course not all of those 2083 who commissioned qualified for or even wanted to be a pilot, so the percentages get better. Having said that, dont have official numbers, but people on this forum have said that may 25% of those who start Rotc, actually finish and commission. For one reason or another the rest quit.

Getting a pilot spot assuming you qualify medically is rather easy as long as you do well in things they look for. Having said that, you could do great in all these things and still not get a pilot spot. Why, its a mystery. There are plenty of people who do well in all aspects and still dont get a spot.

This is what you need or do well in order to get a spot

1. Private Pilot License- There is no requirement for one and they will tell you plenty of people gets spots without ever being in the air once. This is completley true, but having a license is to your advantage
2. Have a good GPA over 3.0 . The irony of this is that depending on the time period, like right now, having a 3.5 in a humanities could be more advantage than getting 2.9 in Aeropsace engineering. Having said that, I think they give preferences to the those with STEM majors
3. Do well on the AFOQT which is like a SAT/ACT test that has a pilot and navigation section. My son got a 95 on pilot and I have to assume a big part of it is that he had around 150 hours of flight time at the time.
4. Do well on the TBAS test which a computer test of basic aviation skills. Again flying skills and I think video game playing helps with that. The test is sort of a mystery and while there is some info on it, the cadets are not allowed to discuss this test
5. Get a high PCSM score. This is score that is made up of #3, the pilot portion of the AFOQT test, the score from #4 the TBAS test and #1, number of flight hours. My son PCSM score with out flying hours was 70. With the flight hours it was 98. 99 is the top score. I read somewhere that the average scores for those who make UPT is something like in the 70s or so.
6. Get a high PT score (physical training)
7. Get invited to Field Training which occurs in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year. The last two years, approx 90-100% of those in Rotc where invited. Not only must you pass the course, but you will be rated and you need to be somewhere between middle to high. This year they are talking that maybe 75% or so will be invited. This is regardless if you have a scholarship or not. Too many people in Rotc and not enough spots. The advantage I hear is to those who have STEM majors with better than average GPAs. This of course contradicts what I said in #2 regarding grades and majors.
8. Finally, you commander will rate you. Again middle to high would be preferable.

There are two type jobs in the Air Force, rated and not rated. If you want to be a pilot, you then apply to the rated board and all this info is given to them. Here is the kicker, there are 3-4 other rated jobs. They include RPA (drones), CSO (navigator) and 1-2 others. When you apply you will tell them that you want Pilot first and CSO second and so on. The board then decides and can give you Pilot or any other 3-4 other rated positions. If you get Pilot, then you are all set except you then need to get a full Pilot phyiscal where you can pass or fail depending on your physical and many cases your visuual situation. Lets say that give you CSO. If you take it but still want to be a pilot, there is a chance that they may latter bump you up to pilot. As people fail their pilot physical or for other reason, spots open up and some people get up bumped from what they were offered to pilot. If you dont accept CSO or whatever was offered, then you are done and you can never apply for another rated position. Now once you become active duty, you can apply for a pilot spot or any other rated position. These are people who were never offered a rated spot in the first place. As I said before supposedly if you were offred CSO and you turned it down, you arent supposed to be able to apply again when you are active duty. Others in the board have said that the AD boards may not care or even know that you turned down a rated position while in Rotc. Who knows and probably better to play it safe. Hope this helps
 
Actually, which way to go can depend on what you want to fly. Fixed wing? Go AFROTC. Rotary? Go Army.
 
Kinnem makes a good point. The Army loves to brag about how it actually has more aircraft than any other service. This is true, but they're (almost) all rotary. If you're dead set on whirly-birds, then by all means, the Army is the place for you. The famous 160th SOAR probably has the best helicopter pilots in the world. Nevertheless, the Air Force does have helicopters, but the mission is a bit different: Air Force helicopters pilots do primarily combat search and rescue, and it's a hard-core mission to fly into a war zone to pick up folks who have already been shot down. However, if it's fixed-wing that you desire, well, nobody does it better than the USAF-- end of story. Not to mention, the Air Force has all sorts of platforms, i.e. everything from small fighters to big cargo jets, and they've got a lot. Bottom line: what service you join depends on what you want to do.

I don't have any experience with AROTC aviation selection, but I can speak to AFROTC. With that said, get used to the following phrase: "the needs of the Air Force." You'll hear that a lot regarding selection rates for all sorts of jobs, especially for pilots. In other words, selection rates will vary depending on how many pilots the Air Force needs. Right now, there's extremely high demand due to both a pilot shortage and a need to grow the military. Accordingly, there was a high number of pilot slots given to AFROTC cadets this year. By 2022, however, the flood gates will start closing as the Air Force fills the necessary slots. Regardless of these fluctuations, the AIR Force, as America's primary aerial service, will always require substantial numbers of pilot. Either way, the path to earning a pilot slot is simple: be the best. Excel at all of the things Humey talked about (and pass a flight physical), and you'll have no problem.
 
This thread should be flagged and tagged for future pilot wanna-be’s. There are no guarantees
 
Air Force UPT is going to expand in the foreseeable future. Currently we're at producing ~1100 and we're intending to increase to nearly 2000 in the near future. If you want to be a pilot and have the academics/health to do so expect to be a pilot! In today's environment I suggest majoring in something you want to do after the Air Force or interests you. I did engineering originally to be competitive for a pilot slot but the major never interested me. My grades suffered and when I switched to a major I enjoyed I saw a massive increase in quality of life and my grades.
 
Is it alright to post rated board statistics? I haven't seen anyone else post the numbers so I'm hesitant to do so myself. The most recent AFROTC rated board was not very selective and selection rate was very high. Average scores have been lower than in past years.
In general, be a good cadet. Put in your best effort, get good grades and PFA scores, study for the AFOQT and get a good night's sleep before TBAS and you shouldn't have to worry about getting selected. At least that's the gist that I've gotten.
To prepare for a selective year, shoot for 70+ PCSM, 97-98 PFA, and 3.5+ GPA, and put your best effort into getting top third RSS (Commander's ranking).
Can't talk on AROTC at all.
 
Air Force UPT is going to expand in the foreseeable future. Currently we're at producing ~1100 and we're intending to increase to nearly 2000 in the near future. If you want to be a pilot and have the academics/health to do so expect to be a pilot! In today's environment I suggest majoring in something you want to do after the Air Force or interests you. I did engineering originally to be competitive for a pilot slot but the major never interested me. My grades suffered and when I switched to a major I enjoyed I saw a massive increase in quality of life and my grades.
Can you show me where you saw/read that they are going to double the pilot pipeline?

Not to take this thread off topic, but unless they open a new UPT base and buy a lot of T1/6/38s, plus simulators I can't see how they can do that since currently they are already operating at 110%, not only at UPT, but IFF for fighters and every airframe school house.
~ Simulators run 6 1/2 days a week, and 24 hrs a day during those 6 1/2 days.

I think you do have to ask whether you want helo's or fixed airframe. If helo is the answer than you probably should also look into NROTC.
 
Can you show me where you saw/read that they are going to double the pilot pipeline?

Not to take this thread off topic, but unless they open a new UPT base and buy a lot of T1/6/38s, plus simulators I can't see how they can do that since currently they are already operating at 110%, not only at UPT, but IFF for fighters and every airframe school house.
~ Simulators run 6 1/2 days a week, and 24 hrs a day during those 6 1/2 days.

This is from listening from the 19th AF Commander that came to each UPT base during the T-6 pause. He actually wants to open up a new T-6/T-38 only UPT base that would be all contractor IPs much like IFT. A quick solution is to cut parts of the T-6 and T-38 syllabus to speed up the timeline. T-1 has already had a significant amount of hours cut. Along with this solution is the development of using virtual reality to enhance sims and potentially cut UPT down to 6 months (This solution is currently being tested in a UPT class). What you and I have known UPT to be for the past couple of decades are making dramatic changes to double the production. What happens after one pins on their wings is a mystery to me.
 
Air Force UPT is going to expand in the foreseeable future. Currently we're at producing ~1100 and we're intending to increase to nearly 2000 in the near future. If you want to be a pilot and have the academics/health to do so expect to be a pilot! In today's environment I suggest majoring in something you want to do after the Air Force or interests you. I did engineering originally to be competitive for a pilot slot but the major never interested me. My grades suffered and when I switched to a major I enjoyed I saw a massive increase in quality of life and my grades.
Can you show me where you saw/read that they are going to double the pilot pipeline?

Not to take this thread off topic, but unless they open a new UPT base and buy a lot of T1/6/38s, plus simulators I can't see how they can do that since currently they are already operating at 110%, not only at UPT, but IFF for fighters and every airframe school house.
~ Simulators run 6 1/2 days a week, and 24 hrs a day during those 6 1/2 days.

I think you do have to ask whether you want helo's or fixed airframe. If helo is the answer than you probably should also look into NROTC.
There have been several articles about how the AF is trying to open another UPT base. Dont know about doubling it, but they do want to increase the numbers
 
Current production can produce 1200 pilots. If we are at maximum production all four bases can produce a total of 1600 pilots. An extra base can produce the 2000 the Air Force wants in the end but they'll need to bring more IPs which the MWS community cannot provide enough.
 
I can give you some info. I think overall there are about 1100 pilot spots every year. Air Force academy gets 500-550 spots. Rotc gets somewhere between 350-450 spots depending on who you talk to on this forum and the rest go to OTC. Per Wikipedia, AF Rotc commissioned 2083 officers in 2006. I dont know how that compares to 2018, but lets assume its close. So if we split the difference and go with 400 spots, 400/2083 = 19%. Of course not all of those 2083 who commissioned qualified for or even wanted to be a pilot, so the percentages get better. Having said that, dont have official numbers, but people on this forum have said that may 25% of those who start Rotc, actually finish and commission. For one reason or another the rest quit.

Getting a pilot spot assuming you qualify medically is rather easy as long as you do well in things they look for. Having said that, you could do great in all these things and still not get a pilot spot. Why, its a mystery. There are plenty of people who do well in all aspects and still dont get a spot.

This is what you need or do well in order to get a spot

1. Private Pilot License- There is no requirement for one and they will tell you plenty of people gets spots without ever being in the air once. This is completley true, but having a license is to your advantage
2. Have a good GPA over 3.0 . The irony of this is that depending on the time period, like right now, having a 3.5 in a humanities could be more advantage than getting 2.9 in Aeropsace engineering. Having said that, I think they give preferences to the those with STEM majors
3. Do well on the AFOQT which is like a SAT/ACT test that has a pilot and navigation section. My son got a 95 on pilot and I have to assume a big part of it is that he had around 150 hours of flight time at the time.
4. Do well on the TBAS test which a computer test of basic aviation skills. Again flying skills and I think video game playing helps with that. The test is sort of a mystery and while there is some info on it, the cadets are not allowed to discuss this test
5. Get a high PCSM score. This is score that is made up of #3, the pilot portion of the AFOQT test, the score from #4 the TBAS test and #1, number of flight hours. My son PCSM score with out flying hours was 70. With the flight hours it was 98. 99 is the top score. I read somewhere that the average scores for those who make UPT is something like in the 70s or so.
6. Get a high PT score (physical training)
7. Get invited to Field Training which occurs in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year. The last two years, approx 90-100% of those in Rotc where invited. Not only must you pass the course, but you will be rated and you need to be somewhere between middle to high. This year they are talking that maybe 75% or so will be invited. This is regardless if you have a scholarship or not. Too many people in Rotc and not enough spots. The advantage I hear is to those who have STEM majors with better than average GPAs. This of course contradicts what I said in #2 regarding grades and majors.
8. Finally, you commander will rate you. Again middle to high would be preferable.

There are two type jobs in the Air Force, rated and not rated. If you want to be a pilot, you then apply to the rated board and all this info is given to them. Here is the kicker, there are 3-4 other rated jobs. They include RPA (drones), CSO (navigator) and 1-2 others. When you apply you will tell them that you want Pilot first and CSO second and so on. The board then decides and can give you Pilot or any other 3-4 other rated positions. If you get Pilot, then you are all set except you then need to get a full Pilot phyiscal where you can pass or fail depending on your physical and many cases your visuual situation. Lets say that give you CSO. If you take it but still want to be a pilot, there is a chance that they may latter bump you up to pilot. As people fail their pilot physical or for other reason, spots open up and some people get up bumped from what they were offered to pilot. If you dont accept CSO or whatever was offered, then you are done and you can never apply for another rated position. Now once you become active duty, you can apply for a pilot spot or any other rated position. These are people who were never offered a rated spot in the first place. As I said before supposedly if you were offred CSO and you turned it down, you arent supposed to be able to apply again when you are active duty. Others in the board have said that the AD boards may not care or even know that you turned down a rated position while in Rotc. Who knows and probably better to play it safe. Hope this helps

Just a quick point. There's no advantage whatsoever to having a pilot license when it comes to rated boards. It's all hours. The guy with 45 hrs and no license will get the same boost in PCSM points as the guy with 45 hrs and a license. It's that simple. Whether or not you have a license doesn't play into categorization on the rated board. The only reason you check a box when applying is so they'll know not to send licensed guys to IFT, which most argue is good to go to in order to break of the flying rust and get into the UPT routine.
Also, you can crush the pilot portion of the AFOQT if you're good at math and study well. Guys with little to no flying experience do great on it all the time, the aviation knowledge it covers is pretty basic.
The only advantage in being a tech. major is in getting selected to FT, after that it's quite arguable that easier majors are an advantage in that it's more likely you'll have a higher GPA for the rated boards. But at the end of the day, major in what you enjoy most, that's the best advice I've heard on that.
 
I can give you some info. I think overall there are about 1100 pilot spots every year. Air Force academy gets 500-550 spots. Rotc gets somewhere between 350-450 spots depending on who you talk to on this forum and the rest go to OTC. Per Wikipedia, AF Rotc commissioned 2083 officers in 2006. I dont know how that compares to 2018, but lets assume its close. So if we split the difference and go with 400 spots, 400/2083 = 19%. Of course not all of those 2083 who commissioned qualified for or even wanted to be a pilot, so the percentages get better. Having said that, dont have official numbers, but people on this forum have said that may 25% of those who start Rotc, actually finish and commission. For one reason or another the rest quit.

Getting a pilot spot assuming you qualify medically is rather easy as long as you do well in things they look for. Having said that, you could do great in all these things and still not get a pilot spot. Why, its a mystery. There are plenty of people who do well in all aspects and still dont get a spot.

This is what you need or do well in order to get a spot

1. Private Pilot License- There is no requirement for one and they will tell you plenty of people gets spots without ever being in the air once. This is completley true, but having a license is to your advantage
2. Have a good GPA over 3.0 . The irony of this is that depending on the time period, like right now, having a 3.5 in a humanities could be more advantage than getting 2.9 in Aeropsace engineering. Having said that, I think they give preferences to the those with STEM majors
3. Do well on the AFOQT which is like a SAT/ACT test that has a pilot and navigation section. My son got a 95 on pilot and I have to assume a big part of it is that he had around 150 hours of flight time at the time.
4. Do well on the TBAS test which a computer test of basic aviation skills. Again flying skills and I think video game playing helps with that. The test is sort of a mystery and while there is some info on it, the cadets are not allowed to discuss this test
5. Get a high PCSM score. This is score that is made up of #3, the pilot portion of the AFOQT test, the score from #4 the TBAS test and #1, number of flight hours. My son PCSM score with out flying hours was 70. With the flight hours it was 98. 99 is the top score. I read somewhere that the average scores for those who make UPT is something like in the 70s or so.
6. Get a high PT score (physical training)
7. Get invited to Field Training which occurs in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year. The last two years, approx 90-100% of those in Rotc where invited. Not only must you pass the course, but you will be rated and you need to be somewhere between middle to high. This year they are talking that maybe 75% or so will be invited. This is regardless if you have a scholarship or not. Too many people in Rotc and not enough spots. The advantage I hear is to those who have STEM majors with better than average GPAs. This of course contradicts what I said in #2 regarding grades and majors.
8. Finally, you commander will rate you. Again middle to high would be preferable.

There are two type jobs in the Air Force, rated and not rated. If you want to be a pilot, you then apply to the rated board and all this info is given to them. Here is the kicker, there are 3-4 other rated jobs. They include RPA (drones), CSO (navigator) and 1-2 others. When you apply you will tell them that you want Pilot first and CSO second and so on. The board then decides and can give you Pilot or any other 3-4 other rated positions. If you get Pilot, then you are all set except you then need to get a full Pilot phyiscal where you can pass or fail depending on your physical and many cases your visuual situation. Lets say that give you CSO. If you take it but still want to be a pilot, there is a chance that they may latter bump you up to pilot. As people fail their pilot physical or for other reason, spots open up and some people get up bumped from what they were offered to pilot. If you dont accept CSO or whatever was offered, then you are done and you can never apply for another rated position. Now once you become active duty, you can apply for a pilot spot or any other rated position. These are people who were never offered a rated spot in the first place. As I said before supposedly if you were offred CSO and you turned it down, you arent supposed to be able to apply again when you are active duty. Others in the board have said that the AD boards may not care or even know that you turned down a rated position while in Rotc. Who knows and probably better to play it safe. Hope this helps

Just a quick point. There's no advantage whatsoever to having a pilot license when it comes to rated boards. It's all hours. The guy with 45 hrs and no license will get the same boost in PCSM points as the guy with 45 hrs and a license. It's that simple. Whether or not you have a license doesn't play into categorization on the rated board. The only reason you check a box when applying is so they'll know not to send licensed guys to IFT, which most argue is good to go to in order to break of the flying rust and get into the UPT routine.
Also, you can crush the pilot portion of the AFOQT if you're good at math and study well. Guys with little to no flying experience do great on it all the time, the aviation knowledge it covers is pretty basic.
The only advantage in being a tech. major is in getting selected to FT, after that it's quite arguable that easier majors are an advantage in that it's more likely you'll have a higher GPA for the rated boards. But at the end of the day, major in what you enjoy most, that's the best advice I've heard on that.
Yes I get that they go by hours and not a pilot license, but then numbers pretty much dictate if you have one. I mean they go hand in hand. Under 60 hours, you probably dont have one. Over 60 hours I would find it very hard to believe they dont. My son has over 201 hours but he has a private, commerical and multi-engine license. My point being unless you take a lot of lessons without ever testing for a license, you are going to have a license of one sort or another. I mean honestly if someone had 100 hours of flight time and no license, I would think something is wrong. As for test taking, no one said you cant do well without having flying experience, but it can help
 
I can give you some info. I think overall there are about 1100 pilot spots every year. Air Force academy gets 500-550 spots. Rotc gets somewhere between 350-450 spots depending on who you talk to on this forum and the rest go to OTC. Per Wikipedia, AF Rotc commissioned 2083 officers in 2006. I dont know how that compares to 2018, but lets assume its close. So if we split the difference and go with 400 spots, 400/2083 = 19%. Of course not all of those 2083 who commissioned qualified for or even wanted to be a pilot, so the percentages get better. Having said that, dont have official numbers, but people on this forum have said that may 25% of those who start Rotc, actually finish and commission. For one reason or another the rest quit.

Getting a pilot spot assuming you qualify medically is rather easy as long as you do well in things they look for. Having said that, you could do great in all these things and still not get a pilot spot. Why, its a mystery. There are plenty of people who do well in all aspects and still dont get a spot.

This is what you need or do well in order to get a spot

1. Private Pilot License- There is no requirement for one and they will tell you plenty of people gets spots without ever being in the air once. This is completley true, but having a license is to your advantage
2. Have a good GPA over 3.0 . The irony of this is that depending on the time period, like right now, having a 3.5 in a humanities could be more advantage than getting 2.9 in Aeropsace engineering. Having said that, I think they give preferences to the those with STEM majors
3. Do well on the AFOQT which is like a SAT/ACT test that has a pilot and navigation section. My son got a 95 on pilot and I have to assume a big part of it is that he had around 150 hours of flight time at the time.
4. Do well on the TBAS test which a computer test of basic aviation skills. Again flying skills and I think video game playing helps with that. The test is sort of a mystery and while there is some info on it, the cadets are not allowed to discuss this test
5. Get a high PCSM score. This is score that is made up of #3, the pilot portion of the AFOQT test, the score from #4 the TBAS test and #1, number of flight hours. My son PCSM score with out flying hours was 70. With the flight hours it was 98. 99 is the top score. I read somewhere that the average scores for those who make UPT is something like in the 70s or so.
6. Get a high PT score (physical training)
7. Get invited to Field Training which occurs in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year. The last two years, approx 90-100% of those in Rotc where invited. Not only must you pass the course, but you will be rated and you need to be somewhere between middle to high. This year they are talking that maybe 75% or so will be invited. This is regardless if you have a scholarship or not. Too many people in Rotc and not enough spots. The advantage I hear is to those who have STEM majors with better than average GPAs. This of course contradicts what I said in #2 regarding grades and majors.
8. Finally, you commander will rate you. Again middle to high would be preferable.

There are two type jobs in the Air Force, rated and not rated. If you want to be a pilot, you then apply to the rated board and all this info is given to them. Here is the kicker, there are 3-4 other rated jobs. They include RPA (drones), CSO (navigator) and 1-2 others. When you apply you will tell them that you want Pilot first and CSO second and so on. The board then decides and can give you Pilot or any other 3-4 other rated positions. If you get Pilot, then you are all set except you then need to get a full Pilot phyiscal where you can pass or fail depending on your physical and many cases your visuual situation. Lets say that give you CSO. If you take it but still want to be a pilot, there is a chance that they may latter bump you up to pilot. As people fail their pilot physical or for other reason, spots open up and some people get up bumped from what they were offered to pilot. If you dont accept CSO or whatever was offered, then you are done and you can never apply for another rated position. Now once you become active duty, you can apply for a pilot spot or any other rated position. These are people who were never offered a rated spot in the first place. As I said before supposedly if you were offred CSO and you turned it down, you arent supposed to be able to apply again when you are active duty. Others in the board have said that the AD boards may not care or even know that you turned down a rated position while in Rotc. Who knows and probably better to play it safe. Hope this helps

Just a quick point. There's no advantage whatsoever to having a pilot license when it comes to rated boards. It's all hours. The guy with 45 hrs and no license will get the same boost in PCSM points as the guy with 45 hrs and a license. It's that simple. Whether or not you have a license doesn't play into categorization on the rated board. The only reason you check a box when applying is so they'll know not to send licensed guys to IFT, which most argue is good to go to in order to break of the flying rust and get into the UPT routine.
Also, you can crush the pilot portion of the AFOQT if you're good at math and study well. Guys with little to no flying experience do great on it all the time, the aviation knowledge it covers is pretty basic.
The only advantage in being a tech. major is in getting selected to FT, after that it's quite arguable that easier majors are an advantage in that it's more likely you'll have a higher GPA for the rated boards. But at the end of the day, major in what you enjoy most, that's the best advice I've heard on that.
Yes I get that they go by hours and not a pilot license, but then numbers pretty much dictate if you have one. I mean they go hand in hand. Under 60 hours, you probably dont have one. Over 60 hours I would find it very hard to believe they dont. My son has over 201 hours but he has a private, commerical and multi-engine license. My point being unless you take a lot of lessons without ever testing for a license, you are going to have a license of one sort or another. I mean honestly if someone had 100 hours of flight time and no license, I would think something is wrong. As for test taking, no one said you cant do well without having flying experience, but it can help

I know a fair amount of guys who have 50+ hrs and deliberately didn't close out a license because they want to go to IFT. I have 81 hrs. and only needed the check ride but also lean toward doing IFT. It's not a massive difference, it's just what some people prefer.
And I know you didn't say that, and I'm sure it can help in some way, but there really isn't much of a correlation.
 
I can give you some info. I think overall there are about 1100 pilot spots every year. Air Force academy gets 500-550 spots. Rotc gets somewhere between 350-450 spots depending on who you talk to on this forum and the rest go to OTC. Per Wikipedia, AF Rotc commissioned 2083 officers in 2006. I dont know how that compares to 2018, but lets assume its close. So if we split the difference and go with 400 spots, 400/2083 = 19%. Of course not all of those 2083 who commissioned qualified for or even wanted to be a pilot, so the percentages get better. Having said that, dont have official numbers, but people on this forum have said that may 25% of those who start Rotc, actually finish and commission. For one reason or another the rest quit.

Getting a pilot spot assuming you qualify medically is rather easy as long as you do well in things they look for. Having said that, you could do great in all these things and still not get a pilot spot. Why, its a mystery. There are plenty of people who do well in all aspects and still dont get a spot.

This is what you need or do well in order to get a spot

1. Private Pilot License- There is no requirement for one and they will tell you plenty of people gets spots without ever being in the air once. This is completley true, but having a license is to your advantage
2. Have a good GPA over 3.0 . The irony of this is that depending on the time period, like right now, having a 3.5 in a humanities could be more advantage than getting 2.9 in Aeropsace engineering. Having said that, I think they give preferences to the those with STEM majors
3. Do well on the AFOQT which is like a SAT/ACT test that has a pilot and navigation section. My son got a 95 on pilot and I have to assume a big part of it is that he had around 150 hours of flight time at the time.
4. Do well on the TBAS test which a computer test of basic aviation skills. Again flying skills and I think video game playing helps with that. The test is sort of a mystery and while there is some info on it, the cadets are not allowed to discuss this test
5. Get a high PCSM score. This is score that is made up of #3, the pilot portion of the AFOQT test, the score from #4 the TBAS test and #1, number of flight hours. My son PCSM score with out flying hours was 70. With the flight hours it was 98. 99 is the top score. I read somewhere that the average scores for those who make UPT is something like in the 70s or so.
6. Get a high PT score (physical training)
7. Get invited to Field Training which occurs in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year. The last two years, approx 90-100% of those in Rotc where invited. Not only must you pass the course, but you will be rated and you need to be somewhere between middle to high. This year they are talking that maybe 75% or so will be invited. This is regardless if you have a scholarship or not. Too many people in Rotc and not enough spots. The advantage I hear is to those who have STEM majors with better than average GPAs. This of course contradicts what I said in #2 regarding grades and majors.
8. Finally, you commander will rate you. Again middle to high would be preferable.

There are two type jobs in the Air Force, rated and not rated. If you want to be a pilot, you then apply to the rated board and all this info is given to them. Here is the kicker, there are 3-4 other rated jobs. They include RPA (drones), CSO (navigator) and 1-2 others. When you apply you will tell them that you want Pilot first and CSO second and so on. The board then decides and can give you Pilot or any other 3-4 other rated positions. If you get Pilot, then you are all set except you then need to get a full Pilot phyiscal where you can pass or fail depending on your physical and many cases your visuual situation. Lets say that give you CSO. If you take it but still want to be a pilot, there is a chance that they may latter bump you up to pilot. As people fail their pilot physical or for other reason, spots open up and some people get up bumped from what they were offered to pilot. If you dont accept CSO or whatever was offered, then you are done and you can never apply for another rated position. Now once you become active duty, you can apply for a pilot spot or any other rated position. These are people who were never offered a rated spot in the first place. As I said before supposedly if you were offred CSO and you turned it down, you arent supposed to be able to apply again when you are active duty. Others in the board have said that the AD boards may not care or even know that you turned down a rated position while in Rotc. Who knows and probably better to play it safe. Hope this helps

Just a quick point. There's no advantage whatsoever to having a pilot license when it comes to rated boards. It's all hours. The guy with 45 hrs and no license will get the same boost in PCSM points as the guy with 45 hrs and a license. It's that simple. Whether or not you have a license doesn't play into categorization on the rated board. The only reason you check a box when applying is so they'll know not to send licensed guys to IFT, which most argue is good to go to in order to break of the flying rust and get into the UPT routine.
Also, you can crush the pilot portion of the AFOQT if you're good at math and study well. Guys with little to no flying experience do great on it all the time, the aviation knowledge it covers is pretty basic.
The only advantage in being a tech. major is in getting selected to FT, after that it's quite arguable that easier majors are an advantage in that it's more likely you'll have a higher GPA for the rated boards. But at the end of the day, major in what you enjoy most, that's the best advice I've heard on that.
Yes I get that they go by hours and not a pilot license, but then numbers pretty much dictate if you have one. I mean they go hand in hand. Under 60 hours, you probably dont have one. Over 60 hours I would find it very hard to believe they dont. My son has over 201 hours but he has a private, commerical and multi-engine license. My point being unless you take a lot of lessons without ever testing for a license, you are going to have a license of one sort or another. I mean honestly if someone had 100 hours of flight time and no license, I would think something is wrong. As for test taking, no one said you cant do well without having flying experience, but it can help

I know a fair amount of guys who have 50+ hrs and deliberately didn't close out a license because they want to go to IFT. I have 81 hrs. and only needed the check ride but also lean toward doing IFT. It's not a massive difference, it's just what some people prefer.
And I know you didn't say that, and I'm sure it can help in some way, but there really isn't much of a correlation.
I wasnt trying to say you needed a pilot license, only that it is helpful to have the hours. The hours usually go hand in hand with the license. Its funny that you say you want to go to IFT. There are two schools of thought on that one. Some say you should go as it will help with UPT and other says not to go because there is always a chance you can cut from the program if you screw up at IFT.
 
I can give you some info. I think overall there are about 1100 pilot spots every year. Air Force academy gets 500-550 spots. Rotc gets somewhere between 350-450 spots depending on who you talk to on this forum and the rest go to OTC. Per Wikipedia, AF Rotc commissioned 2083 officers in 2006. I dont know how that compares to 2018, but lets assume its close. So if we split the difference and go with 400 spots, 400/2083 = 19%. Of course not all of those 2083 who commissioned qualified for or even wanted to be a pilot, so the percentages get better. Having said that, dont have official numbers, but people on this forum have said that may 25% of those who start Rotc, actually finish and commission. For one reason or another the rest quit.

Getting a pilot spot assuming you qualify medically is rather easy as long as you do well in things they look for. Having said that, you could do great in all these things and still not get a pilot spot. Why, its a mystery. There are plenty of people who do well in all aspects and still dont get a spot.

This is what you need or do well in order to get a spot

1. Private Pilot License- There is no requirement for one and they will tell you plenty of people gets spots without ever being in the air once. This is completley true, but having a license is to your advantage
2. Have a good GPA over 3.0 . The irony of this is that depending on the time period, like right now, having a 3.5 in a humanities could be more advantage than getting 2.9 in Aeropsace engineering. Having said that, I think they give preferences to the those with STEM majors
3. Do well on the AFOQT which is like a SAT/ACT test that has a pilot and navigation section. My son got a 95 on pilot and I have to assume a big part of it is that he had around 150 hours of flight time at the time.
4. Do well on the TBAS test which a computer test of basic aviation skills. Again flying skills and I think video game playing helps with that. The test is sort of a mystery and while there is some info on it, the cadets are not allowed to discuss this test
5. Get a high PCSM score. This is score that is made up of #3, the pilot portion of the AFOQT test, the score from #4 the TBAS test and #1, number of flight hours. My son PCSM score with out flying hours was 70. With the flight hours it was 98. 99 is the top score. I read somewhere that the average scores for those who make UPT is something like in the 70s or so.
6. Get a high PT score (physical training)
7. Get invited to Field Training which occurs in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year. The last two years, approx 90-100% of those in Rotc where invited. Not only must you pass the course, but you will be rated and you need to be somewhere between middle to high. This year they are talking that maybe 75% or so will be invited. This is regardless if you have a scholarship or not. Too many people in Rotc and not enough spots. The advantage I hear is to those who have STEM majors with better than average GPAs. This of course contradicts what I said in #2 regarding grades and majors.
8. Finally, you commander will rate you. Again middle to high would be preferable.

There are two type jobs in the Air Force, rated and not rated. If you want to be a pilot, you then apply to the rated board and all this info is given to them. Here is the kicker, there are 3-4 other rated jobs. They include RPA (drones), CSO (navigator) and 1-2 others. When you apply you will tell them that you want Pilot first and CSO second and so on. The board then decides and can give you Pilot or any other 3-4 other rated positions. If you get Pilot, then you are all set except you then need to get a full Pilot phyiscal where you can pass or fail depending on your physical and many cases your visuual situation. Lets say that give you CSO. If you take it but still want to be a pilot, there is a chance that they may latter bump you up to pilot. As people fail their pilot physical or for other reason, spots open up and some people get up bumped from what they were offered to pilot. If you dont accept CSO or whatever was offered, then you are done and you can never apply for another rated position. Now once you become active duty, you can apply for a pilot spot or any other rated position. These are people who were never offered a rated spot in the first place. As I said before supposedly if you were offred CSO and you turned it down, you arent supposed to be able to apply again when you are active duty. Others in the board have said that the AD boards may not care or even know that you turned down a rated position while in Rotc. Who knows and probably better to play it safe. Hope this helps

Just a quick point. There's no advantage whatsoever to having a pilot license when it comes to rated boards. It's all hours. The guy with 45 hrs and no license will get the same boost in PCSM points as the guy with 45 hrs and a license. It's that simple. Whether or not you have a license doesn't play into categorization on the rated board. The only reason you check a box when applying is so they'll know not to send licensed guys to IFT, which most argue is good to go to in order to break of the flying rust and get into the UPT routine.
Also, you can crush the pilot portion of the AFOQT if you're good at math and study well. Guys with little to no flying experience do great on it all the time, the aviation knowledge it covers is pretty basic.
The only advantage in being a tech. major is in getting selected to FT, after that it's quite arguable that easier majors are an advantage in that it's more likely you'll have a higher GPA for the rated boards. But at the end of the day, major in what you enjoy most, that's the best advice I've heard on that.
Yes I get that they go by hours and not a pilot license, but then numbers pretty much dictate if you have one. I mean they go hand in hand. Under 60 hours, you probably dont have one. Over 60 hours I would find it very hard to believe they dont. My son has over 201 hours but he has a private, commerical and multi-engine license. My point being unless you take a lot of lessons without ever testing for a license, you are going to have a license of one sort or another. I mean honestly if someone had 100 hours of flight time and no license, I would think something is wrong. As for test taking, no one said you cant do well without having flying experience, but it can help

I know a fair amount of guys who have 50+ hrs and deliberately didn't close out a license because they want to go to IFT. I have 81 hrs. and only needed the check ride but also lean toward doing IFT. It's not a massive difference, it's just what some people prefer.
And I know you didn't say that, and I'm sure it can help in some way, but there really isn't much of a correlation.
I wasnt trying to say you needed a pilot license, only that it is helpful to have the hours. The hours usually go hand in hand with the license. Its funny that you say you want to go to IFT. There are two schools of thought on that one. Some say you should go as it will help with UPT and other says not to go because there is always a chance you can cut from the program if you screw up at IFT.

Plenty of opinions to go around on IFT, and each option has its merits. I asked a lot of active pilots before I made the decision. It's generally viewed as a plus. And if someone manages to get cut from IFT they probably wouldn't have made it through UPT anyway.
 
Before going to UPT I thought that it was best to avoid IFT if you had the chance. However, after having gone through the program I think that IFT does a great job of exposing students to the UPT "framework." The few washouts that I saw there were mainly due to poor study habits and people not caring. Hard work and a good attitude are generally a formula for success as a student pilot and IFT was no exception. With that being said, I would never question someone in electing to skip IFT if they thought that was best.
 
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