Forum: Future F-16 crew

Hey guys,

I'm wondering what I should do when it comes time for joining the airforce. I'm going to be 17 this year and graduate high school in 2013. My current GPA in school is a 3. something. My wieght and poor eyesight are some of the factors that are in the way of my goals for flying one of the worlds best aircraft to date. And then there's the choice of going to the academy or going to ROTC.

My wieght is 258 lbs and I'm wondering where I could find a workout routine for the airforce that I could use to get in shape.

My eyesight is so poor that my vision is blurry at distance of 1 ft in front of my face and [Link pending approval] nearsighted. Also my retinas are in danger of detaching beacuse of pressure on my eyes and cannot play any contact [Link pending approval] this be a medical disqualifier even if my vision was corrected by PRK or LASIK????

I'm also considering either ROTC or the Academy, is one better than the other?

Is there anything else that I could do to improve my chances of being able to get selected? I do charity around my city, help out at church, was a boyscout for a few years, Was a member of a youthgroup at church, Was a member of my previuos high schools football team(Ball Boy, practiced as a linebacker before my doctor told me my retinas could detach).

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Dude, those are some obstacles but you'll have to get used to overcoming obstacles if you want to be a fighter pilot. The weight problem is simple to fix in theory but difficult to execute for many people. Eat more real fruits and vegetables, less junk food, and keep portion sizes moderate. Combine this with almost any exercise program and stay consistent and you'll see results. It's not rocket surgery.

You will have to do something to fix your eyesight to even be eligible but I'm not knowledgeable on current waiver practices. Can anyone else weigh in? If the issue of retina detaching cannot be overcome with weight loss or surgery, it will probably be a show stopper for pulling G's. Regardless, I encourage you to press forward with your dream.

Academy gives you a better shot at pilot training, but ROTC is a completely valid option. Either way, you'll need to excel within the program to stand out from your peers to compete for a pilot slot. The best way to improve your chances is to be awesome. Good luck.

Thanks Man!

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Career as a Future F-16 Fighter Pilot