Forum: Future F-16 crew

If you want a pilot slot USAFA is the best way to go. There were like 530 given out to my class in April but there were quite a few who didn't get slots and are still waiting on people giving their slots up, not getting a waiver, etc. Normally though, if you want one, you'll get one. I think that didn't happen with my class because we are one of the largest classes ever.

F-16.net Sponsor

Salute!

Great to hear from Delta, long time.

Yeah, the grads bitched and moaned about the "equal opportunity" allocation of UPT slots, as most of us remember when you got a personal counseling session with the Comm if you passed the physical and turned down a pilot slot.

As during the Viet Nam era, many folks are tired of going back, going back, then going back another time. My neighbor went three times and finally volunteered for a "tour", so they can't send him back to the sandbox without a major development.

The result is plenty of slots. During the late 60's and early 70's we were losing 15-20% of our pilots each year to the airlines and corporate positions. I was a glutton for punishment, so went there three times.

The USAF and Navy ROTC scholarships are great, but you have to do really well to get a pilot slot compared to USAFA. Campus life is a lot different at Auburn, Florida, LSU, Georgia Tech, etc. compared to the Rocky Mountain Monastary. So if you go to the Zoo, better be able to take a joke.

Gums sends ...

SnakeHandler wrote:

I'm not saying DONT go to the zoo. Just make sure you go there because you want to go there, not because you think it'll get you a pilot slot easier. That's all.

I'm not so sure about this one. My Academy class gave back 35 pilot slots because we had more slots than people that wanted to go, and I'm a recent grad ('05). If you want the best guarantee of a pilot slot, the Academy certainly offers it.

And I wouldn't let them get you down about the "college experience" vs the Academy. They are right when they say that you need to go for the right reasons, but you are going to find that if you go there are still plenty of opportunities to have a great time. The brotherhood you develop with your classmates I will almost guarantee is something you will not find at the average university. Plus, you have the advantage of knowing half the people in your squadrons for the rest of your life. You certainly won't be having frat parties...but that never kept us from crashing 'em (and that way we didn't have to pay for the beer). Anyway, I'm with those who say they wouldn't do it any different.

Also, as far as the number of hours and ratings you have going into UPT, I honestly don't know how much of a difference it makes. I think a little here or there is a good thing, as well as a PPL, but beyond that I'm not so sure. Those in my class with a bunch of hours seemed to have problems adapting to military flying. Plus, there was even a guard guy in my T-38 class who had >1,000 hours and washed out. I'm not saying this is how it always goes, just that more hrs does not equal a better UPT pilot in all cases.

Fly all you want- Code 3 and some of the fellas here have witnessed a problem with high-civilian time fellas, but are miss IDing the actual problem a bit. This usually has more to do with becoming a student again rather than being unable to learn a new "style" of flying/learning. Most of those folks that show up with CFI etc etc will do fine *IF* they can fit BACK into the student role. We had a fair amount of problems with some FAIPS (First Assignment IPs) coming from T-38's and T-37's/T-6's. SOME (don't send me angry emails) that had difficulty due to a very common and distinguishable issue: They still thought they were an instructor. No matter how much time you get in an airframe, when you show up to school you need to get two things straight: 1) Your opinion (as relevent as YOU think it is) in THIS airframe has no credibility. 2) In the Sq CC's (and DO's) eyes - his instructors are an extension of him. You disagree with them - you disagree with him. (seen that battle fought). The experience you had as a former high-time pilot WILL help you and will be recognized AFTER you become credible in an airframe.

Cylon

OH - USAFA/ROTC/OTS: YES.

Thanks for your answers! One more thing,

How do I contact my ALO (admissions liaison officer)? I've searched all over but I haven't found anything for my state. PM me for my address/school info. If I don't get any replies, I'll just call the AFA. Thanks!

A little things popped up recently. NJROTC (Navy) has just been offered at my school. I've already turned in my schedule request for next year, so i'll have to change it if i decide to take it. Would taking the NJROTC course make my Academy application look better? Will it interfere the Air Force oriented track i'm hoping to take? I'll probably end up taking it either way, but I just wanted an opinion from the Viper Elders before taking action.

-T3

Forum: Future F-16 crew

USAFA Graduates and Viper Pilots