Does West Point Commission Pilot’s?

2025mustelse

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I was told by a s source that there are a lot of pilot slots out of West Point, but I’ve been unable to corroborate this information.
 
West Point produces helicopter pilots. Apaches, Blackhawks, Chinook are the platforms.
 
I was told by a s source that there are a lot of pilot slots out of West Point, but I’ve been unable to corroborate this information.
Yes, the Army has an Aviation branch. Primarily it is rotary-wing, but there is some fixed-wing. I don't know if it's still the case, but at one time the Army had more platforms than the Air Force.
 
Total aircraft numbers are pretty close, last I heard. Most Army officer pilots are more to supervise and lead the unit, vs "line flyers." AF pilots are officers and make up both the line flyers and leadership, so they usually get more flight time than Army officer pilots. (Army Warrants usually get quite a bit of time.)

*There are some UAS enlisted pilots in the AF, for the Global Hawks.
 
I was told by a s source that there are a lot of pilot slots out of West Point, but I’ve been unable to corroborate this information.
To answer your question simply....YES, USMA does Commission pilot billets with the accompanying additional ADSO. I believe it is like Branching any other specialty, you need to go thru the "new" branching process, use Bradso if needed and then complete the flight school and medical. As stated by @raimius, the numbers of acft both rotary and fixed are pretty high, but again as an Officer you primary duties after your first tour will likely be supervision, training, or administration, the majority of Army pilots are Warrant Officers.
 
most Army helo pilots are Warrant Officers, roughly 100 pilot slots each year for USMA but large numbers go to fixed wing assignments like reconnaissance or VIP airlift
 
Fixed wing slots are some of the fewest to come by out of the Army’s flight school. It’ll vary by needs of the Army but think 1-2 slots for fixed wing per selection every other cycle in comparison to drops that will pretty much always have a mix of black hawks and apaches with maybe a chinook thrown in as well. When I went through, there were zero fixed wings in the two classes before me, my class, and the class after. Don’t go Army Aviation unless you’ll be happy flying a helicopter.
 
A young man I helped get into USMA (I know, USAFA ALO...but he was a great candidate of mine) commissioned into aviation and went Blackhawks. He flew all manner of missions.

Then one day when he was a captain, he sent me an email that said: "check the signature block..."

It gave his name, rank, etc., and underneath it said "commanding." Okay...he's a company commander but of what? I dug into the army lists...he was now flying MC-12's. That took him...quite some time to get into.

They're out there...but as Casey said..."helo's" are the army's realm.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
As mentioned earlier, USMA has approximately 100 slots for flight training annually. 10% of the Army's fleet comprises of fixed wing aircraft including a small number of VIP jet aircraft.

No attack fixed wing aircraft allowed by an USAF/Army agreement.

But be advised, BRADSO no longer applies for this one reason regarding aviation selection. As of 10/1/20, flight school (IEFT) commitment is 10 years after receiving your wings. Closer to 11-12 year total obligation. BRADSO is only additional 3 years over your 5-6 year obligation for attending USMA not IEFT.

I imagine a few cadets are allowed to branch transfer into another military service upon graduation. No idea if flight school would be guaranteed.
 
As mentioned earlier, USMA has approximately 100 slots for flight training annually. 10% of the Army's fleet comprises of fixed wing aircraft including a small number of VIP jet aircraft.

No attack fixed wing aircraft allowed by an USAF/Army agreement.

But be advised, BRADSO no longer applies for this one reason regarding aviation selection. As of 10/1/20, flight school (IEFT) commitment is 10 years after receiving your wings. Closer to 11-12 year total obligation. BRADSO is only additional 3 years over your 5-6 year obligation for attending USMA not IEFT.

I imagine a few cadets are allowed to branch transfer into another military service upon graduation. No idea if flight school would be guaranteed.
yup. every Army flyers want to try out for the 160th
 
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