How many aviation slots?
- Thread starter SOLL
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Aviation had 109 slots for the Class of 2020, an increase from 2019 (100), 2018 (92), 2017 (95).
Aviation has a much different selection process than most branches and involves a formal application with interviews, testing, and medical qualification. An Aviator can provide more detail.
Class rank has far less significance in branch selection than it once did. In looking at some earlier classes where class rank was weighed more heavily, the lowest class rank for Aviation was generally in the 400 - 550 range, about the top half.
In the simulation for 2020, the lowest was 702 without BRADSO, and 973 with BRADSO. BRADSO means the cadet volunteered for three extra years of service commitment.
Aviation has a much different selection process than most branches and involves a formal application with interviews, testing, and medical qualification. An Aviator can provide more detail.
Class rank has far less significance in branch selection than it once did. In looking at some earlier classes where class rank was weighed more heavily, the lowest class rank for Aviation was generally in the 400 - 550 range, about the top half.
In the simulation for 2020, the lowest was 702 without BRADSO, and 973 with BRADSO. BRADSO means the cadet volunteered for three extra years of service commitment.
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There were ~90 for 2021. Class rank is not as important as it used to be. Other applicable experience, like a private fixed-wing license, mentors, STEM majors, etc are highly valued (though by no means required). These opportunities are presented here, besides getting your fixed-wing license. If you do have it, you can join the Aviation Club and fly regularly.
The best part about talent-based branching is that those who are very passionate about a branch are able to get it, regardless of class rank. It is still a factor, but can be outweighed by other things that I mentioned above.
The best part about talent-based branching is that those who are very passionate about a branch are able to get it, regardless of class rank. It is still a factor, but can be outweighed by other things that I mentioned above.
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80-120 slots a year is ballpark what the Academy historically had been allocated.
Basic requirements to be considered:
1) Be able to pass a flight physical. This process is done your cow year. If you don’t have a valid flight physical by branching, you won’t be selected. There are conditional flight physicals given for those who go the LASIK/PRK route if necessary/wanted to bring eye sight up to the necessary minimums. This is usually the first and largest hurdle to eliminate people.
2) Pass the SIFT. It’s an aviation aptitude test. Again, you’ll do this cow year through the Education Center on post. I don’t remember what the passing score was but I would recommend as you get into the process, look up it to get an idea of the types of questions you’ll be asked. It isn’t a test to study necessarily, but it was nice to have seen some of the types of questions so you aren’t figuring out what they’re asking of you at the actual test.
3) Decide if you want to pursue a general Aviation slot or MEDEVAC. MEDEVAC commissioned officers doctrinally come out of the Medical Service Corps. It used to require a separate interview for conditional acceptance to a flight slot if you were selected for Med Service. Researching the differences in mission sets and career progressions between a general Aviation and Med Service pilot will help drive this decision making process. There’s some crossover when you get to the force (typically if a unit is short Med Service branched pilots, they’ll slot regular Aviation commissioned officers over from the black hawk community. You won’t necessarily see a lot going the other way).
After that, it’ll fall into the rest of the way that other branches are selected under the talent management program. Interviews, preferencing by you and the branch, recommendations from TACs, etc. You just won’t be considered if you can’t pass the first two though.
Also something to consider, but BRADSO may or may not be available moving forward. Flight school commitment for completion is now ten years from pinning wings
Basic requirements to be considered:
1) Be able to pass a flight physical. This process is done your cow year. If you don’t have a valid flight physical by branching, you won’t be selected. There are conditional flight physicals given for those who go the LASIK/PRK route if necessary/wanted to bring eye sight up to the necessary minimums. This is usually the first and largest hurdle to eliminate people.
2) Pass the SIFT. It’s an aviation aptitude test. Again, you’ll do this cow year through the Education Center on post. I don’t remember what the passing score was but I would recommend as you get into the process, look up it to get an idea of the types of questions you’ll be asked. It isn’t a test to study necessarily, but it was nice to have seen some of the types of questions so you aren’t figuring out what they’re asking of you at the actual test.
3) Decide if you want to pursue a general Aviation slot or MEDEVAC. MEDEVAC commissioned officers doctrinally come out of the Medical Service Corps. It used to require a separate interview for conditional acceptance to a flight slot if you were selected for Med Service. Researching the differences in mission sets and career progressions between a general Aviation and Med Service pilot will help drive this decision making process. There’s some crossover when you get to the force (typically if a unit is short Med Service branched pilots, they’ll slot regular Aviation commissioned officers over from the black hawk community. You won’t necessarily see a lot going the other way).
After that, it’ll fall into the rest of the way that other branches are selected under the talent management program. Interviews, preferencing by you and the branch, recommendations from TACs, etc. You just won’t be considered if you can’t pass the first two though.
Also something to consider, but BRADSO may or may not be available moving forward. Flight school commitment for completion is now ten years from pinning wings
shock-n-awe
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Isn’t WP branching going to be done nationwide with ROTC for co 2022? That will be interesting.
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Nope. They scratched that for 2022. Might happen for my class, however.
shock-n-awe
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Glad they postponed it.
Personally I would prefer it to remain the way it’s been, separate. Although I am just a little bit biased.
Personally I would prefer it to remain the way it’s been, separate. Although I am just a little bit biased.
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From a personal level, I agree. I obviously see how difficult the USMA experience and the value of the training we receive in comparison to my ROTC brothers and sisters. I do think we deserve some boost in branching for what we endure, at least for those who do take advantage of the opportunities presented here.
From an Army-wide level, however, I understand the desire to change it. The Army wants the best Aviators, not the best Aviators from West Point and a couple from ROTC. It would broaden the talent pool and USMA would become less combat-arms focused.
Selfishly, I hope they wait until at least after my class to make the switch. Unless they factor in the difficulty of getting a high GPA here, it negates much of the benefit of coming here.
UHBlackhawk
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Under the old system, Aviation branch was normally much more competitive for USMA than for ROTC. I can guarantee if I had been USMA versus ROTC with my GPA I wouldn't have had a chance. The new ADSO has changed things. I'm not sure how the branching with ROTC would also change it.
The system is tweaked and changed from one year to the next. It's hard to say how branching will be done in four years. All you can do is your best and see where the chips fall.
The system is tweaked and changed from one year to the next. It's hard to say how branching will be done in four years. All you can do is your best and see where the chips fall.
MidwestDad
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BRADSO pretty much irrelevant now with 10 yr AV commitment.
DS just branched in first class to be 10 years AFTER pinning wings [more like 11-12 yrs on avg.]
Haven't seen [and never will] 2021 detailed distribution of class ranks vs slots but I can confirm several relatively well ranked cadets changed their branch choice this year. '21 got a raw deal.
You won't see any change in highest rank to branch but the median rank will shift down. Biggest rub is that commissioned officer stick time drops off fast after ~4 yrs anyway.
Army is short on aviators now so expect 90-110 slots annually for foreseeable future.
DS just branched in first class to be 10 years AFTER pinning wings [more like 11-12 yrs on avg.]
Haven't seen [and never will] 2021 detailed distribution of class ranks vs slots but I can confirm several relatively well ranked cadets changed their branch choice this year. '21 got a raw deal.
You won't see any change in highest rank to branch but the median rank will shift down. Biggest rub is that commissioned officer stick time drops off fast after ~4 yrs anyway.
Army is short on aviators now so expect 90-110 slots annually for foreseeable future.
UHBlackhawk
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I haven’t spoken to any Cadets who felt they got a raw deal, but I’m sure there are some on Jodel. If anything all the ones I’ve spoken to, even those in the “comma club”, seem happy with their fate. Perhaps they are just happy to see the end of a difficult year.
I think we will see more assessments of 1LTs into Aviation as well.
MidwestDad
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Come to think of it I never saw the usual report of OML vs branch this year. Might have to resort to Google.