Bigrod
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USAFA traditionally has been the place that if you qualify and want a pilot slot you get a pilot slot. AFROTC gets roughly the same number of spots allocated but obviously spread around the whole country which typically makes it a lot more competitive to receive.
Volbeater7734
Member
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I’m way out of my league but it sounds like if your going to USAFA it’s not getting a pilot slot that’s the problem, it’s passing the flight physicals.
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Historically USAFA has more allocated pilot slots than medically qualified students to take the slots. As a result, anyone who wanted to fly could -- all subject to change in the future based on needs of the Air Force.
Interestingly, students who are medically qualified but choose another career field have had to meet personally with the Commandant (1 star General Officer) to explain why they are choosing not to fly. We have had a pilot shortage for as long as I can remember and a key objective for USAFA is to graduate pilot candidates to fill critical operational shortages.
Interestingly, students who are medically qualified but choose another career field have had to meet personally with the Commandant (1 star General Officer) to explain why they are choosing not to fly. We have had a pilot shortage for as long as I can remember and a key objective for USAFA is to graduate pilot candidates to fill critical operational shortages.
USAFA_86
USAFA class of 2025
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Did they fill all of the slots? Also, does anyone know what would happen if there was more USAFA graduates that wanted to go to UPT than slots allotted for the Academy? Would they then compete with ROTC grads?
The slots have not been filled yet, they just put in their preferences a few weeks ago. I do not know the answer to your other questions, but I do not think they would compete with ROTC, I think what ever their assignment they draw just before graduation, is their job.
It easier to get a pilot spot from USAFA. They used to say that if you wanted a spot and you were medically qualified, you got a spot. On the other hand, its hard as hell to get into USAFA. That means you need a 4.0 and almost perfect SAT scores to get in. Yes, i know there are those who get in and dont have perfect or near perfect scores. On the other hand, it is really easy to get into AFROTC. I mean it is as easy as signing your name on a paper and again assuming you medically qualify. Staying in AFROTC takes time and dedication but its not brain surgery. However it then becomes competitive because ARFOTC gets like 450 pilots slots while there are around 2000 cadets in a graduating year (compared to 500 spots among 1000 USAFA cadets). The numbers work somethng like this. USAFA gets around 500-550 spots. Rotc gets 400-450 with OTS getting anywhere from 0-150 spots. If Rotc and the academy take all the spots, OTS gets nothing.
From what I read, and it could be wrong, if the USAFA had more requests then spot, they wouldnt take away spots from Rotc. More importantly, i have read they they typically have a hard time giving out all of the pilot spots. There are only about 1000 cadets in the academy. Many dont want a pilot spot and many dont qualify for a pilot spot. Therefore there hasnt been more demand than actual spots.
SOFLO2024Dad
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My understanding is the reduction is due to a backup in the training pipeline due to Covid effecting this class only.
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You will want to consult with the international student team at USAFA for specifics. My understanding is that most international students know their follow-on career field PRIOR to arriving at USAFA. The pilot slots we are discussing are for US Military members. We do train international students in our pilot programs, but this is all worked out at a diplomatic level. I have heard stories at least one international cadet from a small country with 1 plane that flies and several that don't that are now used for spare parts. The USAFA cadet is the named pilot for the one working plane -- no pressure man!
I highly doubt that unless your nation is sending you to UPT for flight training but that would mean you are severing in your home country's Air Force. In regular UPT, they have pilots from Gulf Nations as well as Japan. IN ENJPPT, which is sort of the elite UPT class, it is directed at training Nato and American Pilots. Again, all of the Nato pilots go home and fly for their own country. As it is, my son who is American born was considered a dual citizen (we flew to my wifes home country when my son was 2 and this country required that he fly with their passport.) My son had to renounce the citizenship of that country (when in college) even though technically he never asked for it. Normally they dont agree to this until they are at least 26 because this country has a draft and dont want people to excuse themselves from military service by renouncing their citizenship. So no you cant go if you are international student unless you are sponsored by your home country
Curious. No horse in the race. With the airlines laying off pilots, will many USAF pilots who were planning to leave the service shortly for the friendly skies change their plans and stay in? If so, will this affect the number of slots available to cadets, USAFA and ROTC? would this scenario be "good" for the AF because of the pilot shortage? Will former USAF pilots, now laid off, re-up?
Good question. Yes AF pilots who had intended to leave have extended their stay in the AF (sounds like a vacation). Some of them are doing it for 4 or 5 months and I would guess some are doing it for longer. The question is how many of those who intended to retire but never put in their papers have now decided to wait. As for you question about number of slots available, this makes no difference to number of spots are opened. It will neither increase nor decrease the spots. The Air Force does not have a numerical problem with the number of pilots who are in their initial first ten years of serving. This is constant and maybe in higher than normal. The problem has always been with the number of senior pilots who are Majors and above. These are the guys and gals leaving the AF and going the the Airlines. That is why the whole idea of creating more pilots was never a solution to the missing number of pilots. Think of it as a hose. If the water is turned on high or low, it still going to leak out if there is a hole in the middle of the hose. Once you hit your ten years of flying, lots of pilots were leaving. So even if the majors and he LT Colonels are staying, they are still going to need the same number of brand new pilots every year. What could happen is that UPT would slow down.