which branch is best for me to get a pilot slot.

[wjtw9802]

Hello,
Thank you for giving me your time to reading my forum and I really need an advice on which branch to pick.

I am currently a freshmen in college and was planning to do AFROTC this semester but our school detachment cut some chunk of people due to high volume of applicants. I am definitely gonna try again for next semester and again if I do not get in spring semester.

The reason I want to join the Air Force because mainly I want to be a pilot and the lifestyle they offer compared to other branches really interests me. Not only that, I really want to learn leadership skills and I love being physically active.

After doing some research I have realized that air force is not the only way to become an aviator. Navy, Coast Guard, and Air National Guard offers pilot training along with leadership skills. Looking more into the Navy, I do not think being on a ship for months at a time is for me. Huge respect to people who do/did tho.

Currently, my plan is to become a pilot in the Air Force. If I do not get a pilot slot then it would be Cybersecurity or Intel for 4-6 years and then join the (Air National Guard or Coast Guard) while being in civilian flight school with the G.I bill partially paying for it.

Are there any other route/branches for me to maximize my chance of becoming a pilot?
and also what are the main differences between Air National Guard and Coast Guard(other than locations)?
lifestyles, benefits, and etc.

 

[Usnavy2019]

Hey,

Currently a Navy flight school student. Can't really comment on the other branches outside of generics, but for the Navy, being a pilot is part of the job. In other words, you're an officer first and a pilot second. Regardless of an officer's warfare specialization, they all should be capable of leading Sailors and making decisions. While a good chunk of your time is spent doing pilot stuff, it's not just show up, kick the tires, light the fires, and grab a beer after a flight. Admin and generic training requirements must be completed as well. The vast majority of Naval Aviation revolves around the sea... as it should. However, there are also land based platforms in the Navy. Namely, the E-6B Mercury, the EP-3E Aries II, and the P-8A Poseidon.

The E-6B Mercury conducts the the TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) mission for the Navy and the nation. It has two primary missions: talk to ballistic missile submarines and act as an ABNCP (Airborne Command Post) if the US receives a strike from a nuclear weapon. Pretty cool mission if you ask me and an even cooler mission name. Hopefully, you won't do it for real though.

The EP-3E conducts SIGINT (Signals Intelligence). It does some high profile secret squirrel stuff and they fly a ton. I don't know much else.

The P-8A Poseidon conducts ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), maritime patrol, and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). It will also occasionally be used for SAR (Search and Rescue) due to their equipment and range/endurance.

On which branch can give you the best chance, I think that is kind of tough to answer. There are too many nuances. Slots change so much every year. The Air Force will likely have more slots than the Navy due to the nature of their missions (centered around flying versus a part of the total force), but usually the spots match up correspondingly to the amount of people interested. That's not to say it's not competitive, but it seems that there are way more people wanting to join the USAF to be a pilot than people joining the Navy to be a pilot.

Another big factor in branch consideration is what mission attracts you and what you want out of your service. If you want to travel the world, then the Navy is for you. If you want to fly all over the world in big planes then the USAF is for you. If you want to fly fighters part time at home while pursuing a civilian career, then the ANG is for you. If you want to do SAR has your primary mission set, then the Coast Guard is for you (for the record the Coast Guard deploys as well).

Flying will only take up part of your time in the military so it is important to identify one with a culture and mission that you are jazzed about. Getting a pilot slot is only a small battle in your career. You're going to have to deal with your chosen service (each has goods and bads) for ~10 years after you get that spot.

My calculus when deciding branches was figuring out what branches had jobs that I'd be happy with doing if I couldn't fly. For me, the sea services (USN, USMC, and USCG) checked that box and the USN ended up working out.

 

[MidCakePa]

Marine Corps has pilots (fixed and rotary), as does the Army (mainly rotary). There are nuances to both, i.e. Marine pilots are rifle officers first, Army pilots are mostly warrant officers. But two opportunities often overlooked.

 

[Thunderbolt462]

Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve are literally the Air Force, but part time. Same jobs. Same planes. Same mission. Same training. Just different bases, and you don't really move every four years like active duty.

Coast Guard is its own thing. Helicopters and some fixed-wing turboprop heavies.

They're apples and oranges other than both having the word "guard" in the name.

I'd also encourage you to use the search function on the forums. This question gets asked every few weeks.

 

[OldAFRet]

Hey,

Currently a Navy flight school student. Can't really comment on the other branches outside of generics, but for the Navy, being a pilot is part of the job. In other words, you're an officer first and a pilot second. Regardless of an officer's warfare specialization, they all should be capable of leading Sailors and making decisions. While a good chunk of your time is spent doing pilot stuff, it's not just show up, kick the tires, light the fires, and grab a beer after a flight. Admin and generic training requirements must be completed as well. The vast majority of Naval Aviation revolves around the sea... as it should. However, there are also land based platforms in the Navy. Namely, the E-6B Mercury, the EP-3E Aries II, and the P-8A Poseidon.

The E-6B Mercury conducts the the TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) mission for the Navy and the nation. It has two primary missions: talk to ballistic missile submarines and act as an ABNCP (Airborne Command Post) if the US receives a strike from a nuclear weapon. Pretty cool mission if you ask me and an even cooler mission name. Hopefully, you won't do it for real though.

The EP-3E conducts SIGINT (Signals Intelligence). It does some high profile secret squirrel stuff and they fly a ton. I don't know much else.

The P-8A Poseidon conducts ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), maritime patrol, and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). It will also occasionally be used for SAR (Search and Rescue) due to their equipment and range/endurance.

On which branch can give you the best chance, I think that is kind of tough to answer. There are too many nuances. Slots change so much every year. The Air Force will likely have more slots than the Navy due to the nature of their missions (centered around flying versus a part of the total force), but usually the spots match up correspondingly to the amount of people interested. That's not to say it's not competitive, but it seems that there are way more people wanting to join the USAF to be a pilot than people joining the Navy to be a pilot.

Another big factor in branch consideration is what mission attracts you and what you want out of your service. If you want to travel the world, then the Navy is for you. If you want to fly all over the world in big planes then the USAF is for you. If you want to fly fighters part time at home while pursuing a civilian career, then the ANG is for you. If you want to do SAR has your primary mission set, then the Coast Guard is for you (for the record the Coast Guard deploys as well).

Flying will only take up part of your time in the military so it is important to identify one with a culture and mission that you are jazzed about. Getting a pilot slot is only a small battle in your career. You're going to have to deal with your chosen service (each has goods and bads) for ~10 years after you get that spot.

My calculus when deciding branches was figuring out what branches had jobs that I'd be happy with doing if I couldn't fly. For me, the sea services (USN, USMC, and USCG) checked that box and the USN ended up working out.

But if he goes Navy, he gets to train in Pensacola, and the beaches alone are worth that.

It's good to see a young officer posting up - better perspective than a retiree or parent IMHO.

I don't know if it's still around, but the Army used to have a Warrant Officer Flight Program, in which a high school graduate could contract and become a helicopter pilot.

Pilot slots in the USAF, in my day, were really competitive. USAFA grads as one might expect had the best shot at them. IIRC, all USAFA cadets learning to fly as part of the journey.

You make a good point that many younger people might not understand - you're an officer first, pilot second.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

But if he goes Navy, he gets to train in Pensacola, and the beaches alone are worth that.

It's good to see a young officer posting up - better perspective than a retiree or parent IMHO.

I don't know if it's still around, but the Army used to have a Warrant Officer Flight Program, in which a high school graduate could contract and become a helicopter pilot.

Pilot slots in the USAF, in my day, were really competitive. USAFA grads as one might expect had the best shot at them. IIRC, all USAFA cadets learning to fly as part of the journey.

You make a good point that many younger people might not understand - you're an officer first, pilot second.

Yes, the Army still uses WOs. A high school degree is required, though most probably have either some college or ratings. I did go to flight school with a WO who turned 19 during the UH-60 course.

 

[OldAFRet]

Yes, the Army still uses WOs. A high school degree is required, though most probably have either some college or ratings. I did go to flight school with a WO who turned 19 during the UH-60 course.

I wonder how competition is for those slots in this era? I was trying to get into it post Vietnam, and it was pretty open.