Forum: Future F-16 crew

Hey guys I'm doing a presentation for AFJROTC. I have some cool videos to show from all the links I found on this site. Now I just need something to talk about. I need your help on this one! What are the requirements for being a fighter pilot? Everything from getting a pilot slot in ROTC to height requirements to anything. Razz

Also what else would be cool to tell my flight about fighter pilots or how to become one? I really appreciate your help. All I have so far is this:

"If you were planning on completely bailing from the military if you don't get a pilot slot, don't even bother joining ROTC. We want people who want to be officers first, getting a desired career field is secondary."

Brian Cool

F-16.net Sponsor

The requirements you are looking for are in threads on the site, do a search. I would hate to see this redone all over again.

Roger that IDCrewDawg, looks like I have everything important now. One question though, what is the AFSC for a fighter pilot? Is it 11F3? Also, should I change or add something to my presentation?

Fighter Pilot - AFSC 11F3
Fighter Pilots fly fighter-type aircraft and are responsible for commanding crews to accomplish combat, training and other missions.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Fighter Pilot must possess extensive knowledge of flight theory, air navigation, meteorology, flying directives, aircraft operating procedures and mission tactics. As pilot and crew commander, duties include operating aircraft controls and equipment, in-flight refueling, cargo and passenger delivery, and training crewmembers.

The Fighter Pilot develops plans and policies and monitors operations, and also must plan and prepare for missions by reviewing intelligence and weather information, filing flight plans and briefing the crew, and ensuring that the aircraft is inspected, loaded, equipped and manned for mission.

"If you were planning on completely bailing from the military if you don't get a pilot slot, don't even bother joining ROTC. We want people who want to be officers first, getting a desired career field is secondary."

Pilot Slot:
The process starts before you even get to ROTC actually. The PCSM (pilot candidate selection method) is a composite of different things that are standardized throughout the Air Force. The AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test) is a test that you have to take and the pilot section (which you will do good at if you have a background in aviation) counts 15% towards your PCSM score. Physical Fitness Test Scores, GPA, and BAT (Basic Attributes Test) count another combined 35% and are pretty self explanatory. The remaining 50% is made up of your commander's ranking. Your CO will look at everything about you and rank you among all your classmates and your classmates that are competing for pilot slots. The higher rank you have obviously, the more chance you have of getting a pilot slot. Since this is 50%, this is the most important thing to focus on, but your CO will look at the other things (GPA, PFT scores etc) to help determine his ranking so you have to do well on those. Pretty much, the Commander's ranking is a measure of how much energy and dedication and all that jazz you have compared to your classmates.

As far as vision goes, you can get PRK surgery but become good friends with the NCOs at your detachment and get their help as much as possible with the paperwork and all cause there are a lot of pitfalls. Get the surgery your Freshman or early in your Sophomore year. That gives you plenty of time to get all the paperwork done and apply for a waiver. If you do it before then, you won't have adequate paperwork and it could be disqualifying.

Requirements:
The vision part is 20/70 correctable to 20/20 but they are quietly raising that to 20/100 in some cases. You can get a waiver for PRK surgery (not LASIK) but it is very tricky to obtain. There are many pitfalls that will DQ you.

Once in Air Force ROTC, cadets must obtain a Class 1 Flight Physical

>Pilot:
Vision:
Normal color vision
Distant vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/70
Near vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches

>Navigator:
Vision
Normal color vision
Distant vision – 20/200 but corrected to 20/20
Near vision – 20/40 but corrected to 20/20
Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 33 to 40 inches

Just a few corrections to your first paragraph. "Fighter Pilot" and "Crew"/"Passengers"/"Cargo" don't belong in the same sentence. I submit that a true fighter has only one seat (and one engine), thus the F-15E does not qualify. Therefore, a fighter pilot does not brief the "crew", rather, he briefs the other members of his "flight". And no fighter pilot has ever delivered cargo and passengers. Unless the cargo was a pair of 2000lb bombs delivered on the bad guy's skull. Which brings up an addition to the pilots duties: weapons delivery. /end rant

-Burn

Brian,

Don't forget to mention the requirements of pilots going through the various stages of the flying process itself.

For example: A potential combat pilot who shows an inability to think deptually in a dogfight situation will probably be cut from selection.
(probably first identified in the Advanced Flying Training phase of the course.)

Good Luck, David

Are you looking for a pilots view of what it takes to become a pilot or a ground crew's view?

They may differ significantly Laughing

Forum: Future F-16 crew

I'm doing a Fighter Pilot Presentation (I need your help!)