Getting a pilot slot, USAFA v. AFROTC

I'm wondering if there's a change in the wind about the whole pilot slot AFA vs ROTC vs OCs thing...........

To be clear, I have a son at USNA. Wants to be a Marine, maybe Marine air.

We were told that this past year, the ONLY Marine air slots went to USNA grads. No NROTC. Just wondering if that is a current political trend......

I can't help but wonder that if one's dream is to fly, then the SA's are the more sure route to take.
 
In the AF it really comes down to the UPT pipeline. Traditionally when the pipeline is flowing @50% of UPT classes will be AFA and the other 50 will come from ROTC/OTC. When the pipeline closes, that % will rise for the AFA and decrease for the other two.

Currently, the AF has canceled OTC for FY11, so there will be no pilots, since there will be no graduates.

The rule of thumb is if you go to the AFA and want to fly, plus are mq to fly you can get a UPT slot. This is not true for ROTC. ROTC the rule of thumb is if you are involved in your det., carry a gpa of @3.2+, your chances are strong...hit that 3.0 marker and not so much. The reason why is that ROTC cadets as a jr will meet a national board in the early winter. From there they will rack and stack you against everyone. They know the amount of slots available and anyone above that number who requests UPT gets it, below and you will get a different AFSC.

For our DS's det., only 1 cadet out of the past 3 yrs did not get UPT, and it was because his gpa was at the 3.0 marker.

I do agree if flying is your dream the best option is an SA.
 
there are plenty of pilot slots at USAFA. They added a lot more for the 2011 class. Some slots weren't even filled. They're making these opportunities more available for USAFA cadets as it has been extremely competitive in the past. that said, you still have to work hard and have a good GPA, MPA and positive standing in the wing.
 
Uhh... over 50% isn't exactly "extremely competitive" for getting a pilot slot. The hard part is getting accepted and graduating.


...of course, UPT isn't a cakewalk either.
 
Having just recently finished FTU for the KC-10 I can pretty much back up what PIMA said about the journey. I am an Academy grad as well and I can say for sure that my priorities and my viewpoint on things has changed dramatically. When I applied to USAFA I wanted nothing more than to be a thunderbird. I grew up loving rollercoasters, skiing, and anything active. I really wanted to skydive as well and being a fighter pilot was all I could think of.

However, once I got to pilot training things really changed for me. I loved flying ad did very well. I was number 2 in my class of 28 in the T6 and was given the choice of the fighter vs heavy track. After everything that I went through up to that point I found that my interests and career goals had changed and I turned down a T38 to go for heavies. I was again near the top of my class at graduation and got my first choice to the KC10. I am currently deployed to the middle east flying refueling missions. I absolutely love what I do and really do not even question my decision. I never would have guessed as a High School Senior or even an Academy junior that i would be here today and would love it this much.

It really is a LONG road and it is not an easy one. My class actually only had 20 of 36 (we had 8 people drop back from earlier classes into our class after TRACK select) actually receive their wings. If being a fighter pilot is your dream, definitely go for it, in fact my roommate in pilot training is flying F16s right now. It still is there, but the slots are VERY limited.
 
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