Pilot Slot out of USAFA

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franknd

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Is it still the case that, if you are medically qualified and want it, you are extremely likely to get a pilot training slot as a USAFA graduate?
 
franknd said:
Is it still the case that, if you are medically qualified and want it, you are extremely likely to get a pilot training slot as a USAFA graduate?
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Put it this way... Just under 600 slots for class of 23. As far as I know, those weren't full because of the complaints I heard from my upper classman. The amount changes each year so keep that in mind. Normally 400-500 I believe. It's not guaranteed to get a slot even if you are medically qualified. It's based on the needs of the air force
 
FlyFalcon said:
Put it this way... Just under 600 slots for class of 23. As far as I know, those weren't full because of the complaints I heard from my upper classman. The amount changes each year so keep that in mind. Normally 400-500 I believe. It's not guaranteed to get a slot even if you are medically qualified. It's based on the needs of the air force
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Regarding the bolded part, I'm aware of that. The question is oriented toward whether the needs of the Air Force have historically accommodated pilot slots for all, or most all, medically-qualified USAFA grads. It has long been my impression that they have, but some of that impression is based on decades-old hearsay.

And I'm not following your comment about the slots for class of 23. Are you saying that they weren't all filled, but that some qualified cadets didn't get a slot (hence "the complaints")?
 
franknd said:
Regarding the bolded part, I'm aware of that. The question is oriented toward whether the needs of the Air Force have historically accommodated pilot slots for all, or most all, medically-qualified USAFA grads. It has long been my impression that they have, but some of that impression is based on decades-old hearsay.

And I'm not following your comment about the slots for class of 23. Are you saying that they weren't all filled, but that some qualified cadets didn't get a slot (hence "the complaints")?
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Historically, the Air Force's needs have allowed 400-500 pilot slots to be allocated to USAFA grads every year. This is 40-50% of an entire class, and given that many do not want pilot (especially with the rise of space force) or will be DQ'd, most medically-qualified USAFA grads that put in for pilot end up with pilot. Obviously, not everyone who wants it will get it, but from everything I have seen, USAFA is still the best way to go if you are looking to get a pilot slot. The class of 23 had an unusually high number of pilot slots, but I have still heard of people who are bummed because they didn't get pilot.
 
Total change from back in the 90's it seems. I just worked with a guy who lived in fear of not getting a pilot slot for all 4 of his years at USAFA in the early 90's. Dude still hasn't gone back to visit since graduation from the trauma!
 
From what I remember, through the class of 91 everyone that wanted to go to pilot training that was medically qualified could go. And there was a standing waiver for eye sight to 20/50. And being medically qualified for pilot training made it a bit easier to get an appointment. If someone who was medically qualified did not want to go to pilot training they had to visit with the officers in their chain of command all the way up to the Superintendent. One person I know of decided not to go through that hassle and instead dropped out of pilot training shortly after showing up at Vance.

Class of 92, again from what I remember, was still guaranteed pilot training.....eventually, since they had already incurred a commitment from starting their junior year and the post cold war draw down in budgets drastically limited pilot slots.

From 93 and on is is when I believe guaranteeing pilot training to those medically qualified ended.
 
Has anyone heard that they have greatly reduced pilot slots for CO 2024-2027?
 
My c/o 2024 cadet said they were notified today that there would be less pilot slots for 24 and 25 due to backlog of those waiting for pilot training currently being 1-1.5 years. He was pretty upset to read that.
 
hopefulmom182 said:
My c/o 2024 cadet said they were notified today that there would be less pilot slots for 24 and 25 due to backlog of those waiting for pilot training currently being 1-1.5 years. He was pretty upset to read that.
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Were they able to quantify what "less" means?
 
AFrpaso said:
Were they able to quantify what "less" means?
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My "guess" is they won't know that until they get closer to the time they're actually assigning seats. With such a backlog, it makes no sense to select and wait 2-3 years...use the officer in other fields.

FYI, it's not just USAFA.

One of my former students is a USNA '21 grad, marine, and is starting the intro to flight (prior to T-6) in December, he's being told. If "all goes well" he'll wing in 2024? Maybe? He said the current "naval forces" backlog is 14-18 months minimum.

A young lady I'm VERY close to (think like a daughter to me) is a newly qualified SH-60S Seahawk pilot...she pinned on full lieutenant in June...think about that...four years for initial qualification. When I had four years under my belt in the AF...I was an aircrew commander and had over 1000 flying hours with global deployments. When she's ready to upgrade...I'd have been an IP already and switched to a new aircraft.

Times change...
 
hopefulmom182 said:
My c/o 2024 cadet said they were notified today that there would be less pilot slots for 24 and 25 due to backlog of those waiting for pilot training currently being 1-1.5 years. He was pretty upset to read that.
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My son graduated college and Commissioned May 2021- He reported to base March 2022. Casual Duty until June 2022 and began PreFlight Phase- Academics in UPT 2.5. He is now in T-6 Training and hopefully late Feb./early March 2023 will get his track selection and silver wings.
Due to backlog, they did ask for volunteers to delay. My son did not, but a friend he Commissioned with and both arrived at the same base about 3 weeks apart did, so he was to begin UPT in December 2022. However, they have now asked him to begin earlier (I am going to assume this month).
 
From 2020-2021, none of the pilots were retiring as no one was hiring. However, people are now leaving the AF as the airlines are hiring again. Retention levels have gone back to normal so there is a need for pilots. As has been said a million times before, there is more than enough people who want to be a pilot, so they don't need new sources. What they are losing are its senior pilots. Pilots do their 10 years and then leave.
 
based off what I have seen, If you are qualified and want one, you have a pretty good shot. A 23er in my squad who is ranked in the low 900s for his OPA received a pilot slot.
 
hopefulmom182 said:
My c/o 2024 cadet said they were notified today that there would be less pilot slots for 24 and 25 due to backlog of those waiting for pilot training currently being 1-1.5 years. He was pretty upset to read that.
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Same
 
hopefulmom182 said:
My c/o 2024 cadet said they were notified today that there would be less pilot slots for 24 and 25 due to backlog of those waiting for pilot training currently being 1-1.5 years. He was pretty upset to read that.
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Tell him not to get too upset. My 2LT c/o 2022 is currently awaiting pilot training. His class heard rumors around his 3Deg year that there would only be 200 slots for class of '22. As it turned out, there were close to 450 and almost everyone who was qualified got one. Hang in there!
 
FYI, civilian pilots getting onboard to the major airlines sooner than military pilots who have a 10-year obligation. On average, civilians starting at Delta, United and American in their mid 20's, military early 30's and the name of the game with the majors is seniority which translates into making Captain faster and the big bucks faster.
 
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