Amount of Clubs

[silver329]

I am a prospective candidate for the USAFA class of 2026. I am very interested in pursuing a flight path during my time as an officer. I am currently looking into the flying team, air combat club, and aviation club. Is it possible to fit all of these clubs into a cadets schedule? Also, what is the limit to the amount of clubs a cadet can participate in?

 

[WildBlu3]

There is no official “limit” to clubs you can be in. I have a few friends on the flying team, and it takes a lot of time away from them. The flying team is not a club you can just up and join, you have to be selected. If selected you will not be doing anything else due to the time commitment. I am not familiar with the other two clubs, but I would assume it’s similar. It is not realistic to expect that you will be able to be in all three.

 

[I_Like_Coffee]

There is no official “limit” to clubs you can be in. I have a few friends on the flying team, and it takes a lot of time away from them. The flying team is not a club you can just up and join, you have to be selected. If selected you will not be doing anything else due to the time commitment. I am not familiar with the other two clubs, but I would assume it’s similar. It is not realistic to expect that you will be able to be in all three.

With the flying club, do you know if there is a certain flight hour threshold you need meet to be competitive? I currently have my ppl, but am unsure about how many hours I should have built up to have a shot at the club this coming year if I get appointed.

 

[Small_Goose]

With the flying club, do you know if there is a certain flight hour threshold you need meet to be competitive? I currently have my ppl, but am unsure about how many hours I should have built up to have a shot at the club this coming year if I get appointed.

For the Flying Team, PPL is the only experience level that is required in order to compete for selection. Any flying you do beyond that is for your own enjoyment/proficiency. Check out https://www.usafaflyingteam.com/home for more information. The air combat club is a new club that gives cadets interested in fighter aviation an opportunity to learn about basic tactics and exposure to pilots from the community. The Aviation Club was restarted last year and focuses on helping cadets get their PPL by going to the FBO at the USAFA airfield. If you already have your PPL you can still join to go to meetings, stay current, etc. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!

 

[raimius]

Generally, one or two clubs is about the most an average cadet can balance, and it depends on what clubs they are. Some clubs demand a lot of time. For example, when I was there (a while ago, lol) the airsoft club was a weekends only thing. I had to drop that when I joined the Combat Shooting Team, as it practiced at least three days a week and almost always had something on the weekend.

 

[I_Like_Coffee]

For the Flying Team, PPL is the only experience level that is required in order to compete for selection. Any flying you do beyond that is for your own enjoyment/proficiency. Check out https://www.usafaflyingteam.com/home for more information. The air combat club is a new club that gives cadets interested in fighter aviation an opportunity to learn about basic tactics and exposure to pilots from the community. The Aviation Club was restarted last year and focuses on helping cadets get their PPL by going to the FBO at the USAFA airfield. If you already have your PPL you can still join to go to meetings, stay current, etc. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!

Awesome, thank you so much!