Forum: Future F-16 crew

Well like many of you, I share the dream, thats all I'll say because I'm sure you all pretty much know what I'm talking about and I'm not here to waste your time ;]

I'm 16, and will be 17 in 5 months, what would be a better path for me?:

A). Joining the Air Force as an Enlisted at 17 (I'm in home school), Go to college (while active duty), get my 4 year degree, go through the process of becoming and officer and try to get to flight school. (I'm not sure what the exact order of events are, so feel free to correct me)

B). Get back into high school, possibly repeat a grade, possibly play some sports along with other extra curricular activites, Then from there apply to a Civilian college like Embry Riddle and try for an officer commision after my 4 years.

I don't want to sound lazy, but I've screwed around long enough so I'm looking for the quickest and easiest way to reach the dream. If anyone else had any 'plans' that I may wish to follow I'd greatly appreciate you sharing them, and finally, is the dream even reachable at my point? I have some pretty poor history throughout high school due to my mother's passing, I'm sort of unsure how understanding the military will be about that.
Thanks.

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One thing you can do is join the Civil Air Patrol. That helps when they see it "on the resume".

I'll start with the good news: You have four more years of college ahead of you, and they won't care what your high school scores are like. Kick butt in college, and you'll be fine.

The quickest way into a pilot slot for you may or may not be a viable option. Without a doubt, the fastest way for you would be to finish high school, get into a college with an AFROTC program, work your a$$ off your freshman year, then join ROTC for the rest. The AF Academy is another way to go, but from what you're saying it sounds like that may not be an option for you.

The only way I'd suggest the enlisted option is if you enlist in an Air National Guard unit and use it to help pay for college. As an active duty enlistee, I just don't see you getting your degree in a reasonable amount of time just because of how busy you'd be. Now, if you feel you need a therapeutic swift kick in the rear that would come with basic training and being in the military, then by all means go for it. I know that enlisting helped me get my life back on track and led me to where I am today (flying F-16s).

The Air Guard is also attractive because you may be able to get a pilot slot through them, and fast-track your way into a fighter job. The downside is that everything is uncertain these days, so who knows if the unit you join will be flying fighters by the time you're ready to apply. Second, the Air Guard tends to be extremely competitive, so it's something you'd have a hard time working towards.

It's a long challenging road regardless . . . if I were you, and I was trying to set my life in a new direction to become a fighter pilot, then I'd get into a decent college with an AF ROTC program. I'd go be part of it, even without a scholarship - although I'd try to earn one by the time I was a junior. You need to do really well in your college and your ROTC unit to even stand a chance of a pilot training slot. It's not unusual for only one person in a ROTC unit to earn a flying slot, although it's dependent on the needs of the AF and on how large your ROTC detachment is.

Your chances are much more challenging if you enlist and try to work it the other way. It's not impossible, but it's rarely done. You have to excel at everything you do as an airman - possibly doing school simultaneously. You can get to the Academy from the enlisted corps or you can get your degree and try to get to Officer Training School. Typically there are few pilot slots out of OTS. The way the allotment works is that the Academy gets a set #, then ROTC gets them, if there are some left then they flow to OTS. It becomes dependent on how many pilot slots are available during your timeframe.

Bottom line: Work hard, really, really hard and you might be able to get there form here.

Best of luck and don't give up the dream!

Chuckie just beat me to the punch - he's right on as well!

Good to hear my high school won't matter that much. That was pretty much the one reason I nearly gave up trying.

Any suggestions on a career I should try for as soon as I join? I'm assuming their not going to just hand me a slot the day of xD

Salute!

Previous folks pretty much nailed it.

USAFA grads have a better chance of flying, but ROTC folks do really well.

Going from enlisted to an officer is risky. but joining the local Guard while in college can help. You get some educational $$$$ and also mature.

Actual pilot slots are decreasing by the day, but for another ten or so years we'll still see real human beings going in harm's way and risking their skinny butts for "the cause".

I see a home-schooled guy named Tebow that has done really well pursuing his dream. So "there is a way".

Gums sends...

kori wrote:

Good to hear my high school won't matter that much. That was pretty much the one reason I nearly gave up trying.

Any suggestions on a career I should try for as soon as I join? I'm assuming their not going to just hand me a slot the day of xD

Sending the statement High School doesnt matter much is dead wrong .. if you didnt do good in High School math or established good study skills what makes you think your going to excel in college algebra if you got a D or C in High School?

Of course it will matter, I understand that, but I felt like it painted a target on the back of my head (not sure if thats the right analogy).
I was pleased to hear that a bad high school track record wouldn't completely throw me out of the game. Sorry for the confusion.

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Am I screwed?