I am a junior in high school and I want to find the cheapest route to an airline pilot. Due to the tuition and other expenses, I decided that the ROTC program would help a lot. However, I am wondering which branch would pay for my college and let me serve the least.
undecided
- Thread starter dawit77
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You’re asking a basic question that should first be answered by you doing preliminary — and very easy — research on the AROTC, NROTC and AFROTC websites. There you’ll find all you need to know about scholarships and service commitments.
ROTC, along with the SAs, have a primary mission of producing commissioned officers. So if that’s the route you take, becoming an airline pilot will have to be a secondary consideration. Others will pitch in shortly with details about the longer commitments for military aviators.
By “cheapest,” sounds like you mean least expensive. Know that ROTC scholarships, while covering a significant amount of college costs, shouldn’t be considered a “cheap” path. Many who have taken that route and have served their country would tell you that it’s rather costly, for many reasons including the risk of life.
ROTC, along with the SAs, have a primary mission of producing commissioned officers. So if that’s the route you take, becoming an airline pilot will have to be a secondary consideration. Others will pitch in shortly with details about the longer commitments for military aviators.
By “cheapest,” sounds like you mean least expensive. Know that ROTC scholarships, while covering a significant amount of college costs, shouldn’t be considered a “cheap” path. Many who have taken that route and have served their country would tell you that it’s rather costly, for many reasons including the risk of life.
Perhaps you may need to re-think your decision to apply for ROTC then. If your main goal is to become a pilot, and not serve your country as an officer, then ROTC is not for you. In addition, there is no guarantee that even if accepted into an ROTC program that you may become a pilot, as the needs of the service branch would dictate what service you may be afforded. Good luck to you in your goals, and whatever path you may take.
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Might want to start over with your means to an end after thinking about this statement some more.
FrauTeufelshund
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Since you are new to the forum, I think it would be wise that you formulate your questions so the whole forum doesn't hate you from the get-go. You "pay back" your "free" ROTC scholarship with your service. Years and years of it. If you do not want to be an officer, find a different way to become a pilot.
EDIT: Have a look at this thread. It might help you with some of your questions. https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/afrotc-school-choice-help.79945/#post-800377
I apologize for the "the forum hating you" comment, that wasn't formulated well either. The part of the sentence "let me serve the least" makes it sound like you are unmotivated about the service obligation and are not going into this for the right reasons. Good luck on your path to becoming a pilot.
EDIT: Have a look at this thread. It might help you with some of your questions. https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/afrotc-school-choice-help.79945/#post-800377
I apologize for the "the forum hating you" comment, that wasn't formulated well either. The part of the sentence "let me serve the least" makes it sound like you are unmotivated about the service obligation and are not going into this for the right reasons. Good luck on your path to becoming a pilot.
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No worries. You’re young. Frankly most who say they want to serve their country as an officer really have no idea what that means at your age. As far as anyone “hating” you from your comment, they forgot what it was like being young. I find your honesty refreshing.
The military can be a path to getting the credentials you need to be an airline pilot. Problem is it can be a long and painful process if that’s your only goal. I would suggest looking into AF and Navy aviation and see if that’s something that interests you. The commitments are long, often 10+ years before you can get out. Applying to a civilian flight school is quicker and will get you to your goal quicker. It is more expensive though.
That being said, I recommend you look into a career as an officer. I flew in the Navy for 20 years and loved it. I loved being an officer and leading Sailors as well as flying. I’m retired and now fly commercially as an airline pilot. I wouldn’t have it any other way. The best of both worlds.
If you have any questions I’m more than willing to help ya
Flyer1700
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These are the responses we need
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^ This.
ProudDad17
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Another thing to consider before applying to any ROTC program or service academy is that, for the most part, getting aviation is not guaranteed. You could go through NROTC hoping to get assigned to aviation, but end up being assigned to subs; or to aviation, but as an NFO, not a pilot. Or you could get aviation, but end up flying helicopters, not fixed wing. Marines do offer an aviation contract. I believe it is available after your sophomore year. The bottom line is if you go the ROTC or service academy route, you have to be willing to serve wherever you are needed and assigned. if you decide this is still the route you want to pursue, look into the missions of each branch and what service paths are available to you. Pick the one that has paths that most interest you if you were not to get aviation.
EDelahanty
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The Army has very few opportunities for fixed wing pilots. So thatshould cut your research into ROTC by 33.3%,
In addition to needs of the service and the requirement that you be an officer and leader first, irrespective of your military specialty, many would-be pilots don't make it to flight school for medical issues, many of which arise after the SA or ROTC, and even if selected for flight school, many wash out.
Here's the thing: you're young and likely don't really know what you want to do yet. Even if you do, there's a whole world out there waiting for you to experience. Try to read and watch and visit as much as you can about the services, their academies, and their other commissioning programs. Follow your heart without regard to the desired end state and you'll be happy in life.
If you are not drawn to military service irrespective of the potential to fly, you are not likely to be adequately committed to the groundwork you must lay far before even being considered for a coveted flying spot. And God forbid you put all that work in only to incur a service obligation where flying is not in the cards, you're not likely to make decisions that best serve the men and women you'll be responsible for leading.
So, if you want to be a pilot and fly commercial air craft - there are numerous flight schools that you can attend without a miltiary obligation. I personally have no problem with your motives re ROTC, as long as you understand and willingly commit to meet your service obligation. I was glad to earn the GI Bill and it paid for my grad schooling after service in the Army. But realize ROTC scholarships don't offer you "free" college. Most pay up all or a portion of tuition and some other fees, books and a small monthly stipend. As a junior in high school, realize that by the time you graduate from college - more than 5 years from now - the military services needs for pilots will have changed. Two years ago the Air Force PAS at my undergraduate college was pleading for anyone in the Advanced Course to sign up for pilot training. Last year the Air Force announced it had too many officers and was offering reserve service or even transfer to another military branch of service for contracted cadets. You could be fortunate enough to earn an ROTC scholarship, and not be selected for their pilot training, your medical condition could become an issue, the drone fleet could be the dominant way that air war is conducted - and you will end up a drone pilot, etc., etc., etc. The best advice anyone can give a high school junior is - work really hard on your grades - your grades will determine your future options in college as well as the military.
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I don’t mind your candor about your motivations. Many enter the service with similar desires to gain skills, earn a living wage, gain free medical and dental care and other benefits, and high-minded ideals come in second.
There is a lot of research and thinking to be done on your part. The service websites have all kinds of information about career paths, obligated service (years of payback time starting after a certain point in training), medical standards, etc. Flight school takes X time, training in your assigned aircraft takes Y time, your obligated service years take Z time. If you contract at ROTC, that is a serious obligation you have undertaken. The cultures and missions of the services are all different. If you don’t fit well, you won’t be happy, and you may not succeed. The needs of the service will ALWAYS come first. If they have enough warm bodies going into aviation, your warm body will be steered elsewhere. There are no guarantees.
The only thing I ask you to do, though, regardless of your private motivations, and for the sake of those you would someday lead, is read the words of the Commissioning Officer’s Oath below. If you are willing to “well and faithfully discharge the duties” and serve honorably, I have no issue with your motivation. The idea of service might grow on you. It happens.
“I ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
In addition to that Oath, should you go the AFROTC route, you will have to also memorize the Armed Forces Code of Conduct, and repeat it at summer Field Training.
Is this you?
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
II. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
III. If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
Is this you?
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
II. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
III. If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.