Superkids2
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What are the best college AFROTC programs particularly if you want to become a pilot?
Best AFROTC programs
- Thread starter Superkids2
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This question comes up every year for the various service ROTC programs.
The AFROTC programs are all governed by the same policies and standards.
The usual consensus on advice here is to focus on what school is the best fit for you. If you are happy at the school, you will usually do well in the program. Build your school list first and start researching. Visit or make contact with the units. See what feels right to you in terms of school and unit. Big, medium or small unit? Proximity to AF base for training exposure? How the unit feels to you if you can make a campus visit, what you learn from cadets in the program, what impressions you form of cadre. Look for that place where you feel “just right” and the cadets seem like “your people.”
In NROTC, I know that X aviation seats are made available each cycle, and it’s a national competition across all units to get one, with no quota set per unit. I would suspect AFROTC works the same way, but I will defer to the many here with direct experience and knowledge of how pilot selection works.
Certainly, some units will have reputations as high-performing units, but that can change over time. The rule of thumb in the military is roughly 30% of active duty staff changes out every year. That can change the culture of a unit.
If you find a school where you thrive, a unit where you can excel as a cadet, and do well in all the requirements for pilot selection, you will have a good shot.
Have you gone to unit school websites, done some legwork, read about the overall process, paying attention as to whether it’s an official or unofficial source and how recent the info is?
See this random sample:
All just IMHO, of course.
The AFROTC programs are all governed by the same policies and standards.
The usual consensus on advice here is to focus on what school is the best fit for you. If you are happy at the school, you will usually do well in the program. Build your school list first and start researching. Visit or make contact with the units. See what feels right to you in terms of school and unit. Big, medium or small unit? Proximity to AF base for training exposure? How the unit feels to you if you can make a campus visit, what you learn from cadets in the program, what impressions you form of cadre. Look for that place where you feel “just right” and the cadets seem like “your people.”
In NROTC, I know that X aviation seats are made available each cycle, and it’s a national competition across all units to get one, with no quota set per unit. I would suspect AFROTC works the same way, but I will defer to the many here with direct experience and knowledge of how pilot selection works.
Certainly, some units will have reputations as high-performing units, but that can change over time. The rule of thumb in the military is roughly 30% of active duty staff changes out every year. That can change the culture of a unit.
If you find a school where you thrive, a unit where you can excel as a cadet, and do well in all the requirements for pilot selection, you will have a good shot.
Have you gone to unit school websites, done some legwork, read about the overall process, paying attention as to whether it’s an official or unofficial source and how recent the info is?
See this random sample:
All just IMHO, of course.
Last edited:
Superkids2
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Thank you very much
Amont SMCs TAMU, VMI and The Citadel generally commission the most Air Force Officers and have a history of getting more pilots slots; Embry-Riddle also commissions a large number due to its highly regarded program in Aeronautical Engineering, one of only about 7 in the country.
Tac-p21
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While VMI produces many Marine and Army officers, the AIr Force ROTC program at VMI is stellar. VMI has produced many thunderbirds, test pilots, and a high number of Air Force generals. I believe the only Chief of Staff 4 star general produced by the SMCs was General Jumper, a VMI graduate.
The key is to ask the right questions and look at the data. How many are selected for summer training and can continue in the program the last handful of years? How many are selected for aviation (and asked for it)? If aviation isn’t your goal then what specifically do you want to do? Ask about that. Ask about tech vs non-tech results.
I dont think it makes any difference which program you go to. The best program is in the school you will do your best. A 4.0 GPA from an average state school will get you farther than a 2.0 average from MIT even though MIT is ten times as hard. A program that fits your personality will do much more for you than a program you are miserable at that produces a lot of pilots