Forum: Future F-16 crew

Hey everyone,

I recently stumbled upon this website and i really find it helpful as to what I want to be. I was hoping that someone could help me out. I am 15 and turning 16 in october and I am a sophmore in high school. I live in lansing Illinois and attend a public Highschool. As most people know you need to have some idea as to what you want to do for a career. Well I have decided what i want to do but im not really sure as to how to go about it. I know most of you have heard how people want to be a pilot so bad that they can taste it and im in the same boat as those people. I really want to be a pilot in the Air Force or the ANG or Navy but I don't know how to go about getting there. I know you need to have a four year degree to fly for the AF but there not taking many active duty pilots. Also I was thinking about the ANG but I know that the chances of getting in are slim becasue so many people apply and I also am aware that enlisted people will get an interview and a job over civilans. I really have a passion for planes and always have seeing my dad was an Air Trafic Controler of the navy so he got me hooked to fighters and ive been like this ever since. Hooked.

I have heard so many ways as to how to go about being a pilot but everyone is different. I have been told to check out Embry Riddle and go there and then apply for the ang. but im not sure how to go about doing this as ive said before.

Another problem I face is I have glasses and I know that they have restrictions on pilot flying with glasses becasue they have to have 20/20 or better. So I was wondering if you guys could help me out and point me in the right direction. thanks!

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This is a great site to start at. There are many forum topics to help with you questions. Also, check out www.wantscheck.com (or somthing to that nature, you can google it). As for a college, don't be afraid to check out other flight schools, such as Daniel Webster College in NH (shameless plug for my school). www.dwc.edu Good Luck!

Here is an option, the one I took, and it may help you. I grew up in Chicago IL. I enlisted into the USAF in 1989 right after high school. I spent 4 years as an F-16 Crew Chief. After my four year were up, I came back to the state of Illinois. Illinois takes great care of it's vets. If you enlist in IL, and come back to IL with an honorable discharge, you qualify for the Illinois vetrans grant. That pays for 100% of your tuition if you attend a state college. With your GI bill, which pays your room and board, you just earned a free 4 year scholarship per say. I also collected the Pell Grant, which was money in my pocket, now I was being paid to attend college. I went to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). They have a great avaiation program there. My brother who went Navy did the same thing and now flies commercial jets. Several graduates are now flying for the USAF. Your prior enlsted experience will help you along the way. I ended up working for a large military defense contractor in St. Louis, and my USAF experience has helped me race up the ladder. Just another option, since it get's you back playing with the fighter planes. Hope this helps.

flyboy1017 wrote:

. Another problem i face is i have glases and i kno that they have restrictions on pilot flying with glasses becasue they have to have 20/20 or better.

This isn't exactly true now days. You can have PRK, a vision correction procedure, done. Out here at the AFA a lot of cadets have this done to get their pilot qualification. I plan of having it done in a couple years in hopes of getting my PQ. Thats one thing to keep in mind when you really get into preparing to be a pilot.

I'm in a similar situation(17, senior in high school and dead set on becoming a viper driver)but i have problems with my vision.

Quote:

This isn't exactly true now days. You can have PRK, a vision correction procedure, done. Out here at the AFA a lot of cadets have this done to get their pilot qualification.

What does the PRK operation entail? Is it only available to AFA cadets or can you get it performed if you join the AFROTC? Are there any ways to improve my eye sight without the PRK, or any other invasive procedures?

Also, i've got a lot of stuff from Embry-Riddle and it seems like they're interested in me, but my parents have told me that if i get in to some other place like UT or A&M that my chance of getting a slot are better. Is there truth to this, or should i work on getting into Embry?

There are more than a few ways to become a military aviator, this is how I started the journey. I wound up getting an AFROTC scholarship and going to Embry-Riddle after not getting into the Air Force Academy. I got a pilot slot, got my degree, and now I'm at Moody AFB awaiting pilot training.

I would definitely recommend going for the Academy (if you're a senior it might be too late) and also applying at Embry-Riddle. As far as pilot slots, I competed with about 80 other people and about 40 of us actually got slots. Numerically speaking, that's a lot of pilot slots, just be ready to compete. Go to www.erau.edu and look around, or better yet, go and tour one of the campuses if you're interested. My best friend is still there doing recruiting at the AFROTC detachment and can provide tons of info about the program if you're curious. PM me if you want his number or more info about embry-riddle.

--The Battle Axe

Hey all, just wanted to jump in here since I'm in the same situation with the bad vision. My ROTC recruiter said I could do two things...1. Pay out of my pocket to get PRK done with a civilian surgeon so I'm legible to compete while I'm in ROTC or 2. Wait until I'm commissioned, have Air Force surgeons do the PRK for free, and compete for a slot within the ranks. Anyone have any advice as to what is best to do in this situation?

Again, Im another hopeful like a couple of you guys. Im also in the same situation with the vision. I gotta admit, its somewhat relieving knowing that other guys are trying to do the same thing with out 20/20. I've heard about PRK, but i dunno what i'll do.

Im also a Sr in High School, and plan on going through AFROTC At Arizona State University or University of Arizona.
Flyboy-one thing to think about is going to a state school through AFROTC. Its somewhat competitve to get an AFROTC scholarship. A lot of them go to engineering and meteorology degrees. BUT that doesnt mean to be a pilot that you need a tech degree. I'd suggest going to www.afrotc.com To check out what you can do. There are current viper drivers around on the fourms that have degrees in finance, and bussiness. The AF wants you to get a degree in something that you want a degree in, not what you think the AF will like.

just some things to think about, look around the fourms and you'll find tons of info on this matter, good luck.

thanks for all the help guys

Hey man... No matter where you go, youre gonna have to compete like a man. Dont let that stear you one way or another. Just decide and go!!! If you really want to as bad as you say... it doesnt matter where you go... you will prevail. LATA WILZ

goatmilk wrote:

Hey all, just wanted to jump in here since I'm in the same situation with the bad vision. My ROTC recruiter said I could do two things...1. Pay out of my pocket to get PRK done with a civilian surgeon so I'm legible to compete while I'm in ROTC or 2. Wait until I'm commissioned, have Air Force surgeons do the PRK for free, and compete for a slot within the ranks. Anyone have any advice as to what is best to do in this situation?

Yeah good question. Like i said before, this is kinda relieving I didnt realize this many guys got it done. But i guess thats the feeling u get when you tell people you want to fly in the military while wearing glasses. And they ask the undoubtable question that always fallows, "dont you need 20/20 vision to fly?"....man am i sick of having to explain that you can get the surgery done..haha

Anyway, anybody around here get the surgery done one way or another (as goatmilk pointed out)? If so, any suggestions as which way to go? I wouldnt mind paying just to get 20/20 with out having to deal with glasses or contacts.

just my two cents...

Forum: Future F-16 crew

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