I'm applying for OTS for the USAF and want to be an F-22 pilot?

Question

I'm 23, I have a GPA of 3.0 and I meet all requirements for applying to OTS. I've spoken with many on the initial procedures of joining but now I'm trying to find out the best way to go about getting my ultimate goal of flying an F-22.

Answer 1

Once you leave for OTS, it's a new, fast-moving ball game for you.  Your grades should be as high as they can be, not only to get selected, but because you are a hard-charging A-gamer who won't accept anything but what you want.  If they are less than that, put it behind you and PRESS anyway -- you'll be doing that with the countless millions of mistakes you will make flying fighters anyway and your survival depends on your ability to move forward.  Your personality is high among the things that lead you to fighters.  You need to attack your flight school studies like your life depended on it, and most folks will tell you they studied harder in flight school than they ever did in college.  Certainly prior flight time will help, and a focus on instrument flying will help that much more.  Be aggressive on the inside, but humble on the outside.

True, the Eagle is the best route to get to the Raptor right now since the other legacy platforms were cut off awhile ago.  There are currently less than a handful of the first B-coursers going through RTU, but that's nothing to bet on at this stage.  You'd be a better Raptor guy having flown the Eagle anyway.  You still might succumb to the needs of the Air Force and fly a C-17, but the only people who get to these goals never gave up and kept the press on.  Flying is very rewarding no matter how you slice it and there will always be a place in your heart for whatever you fly – you'll hear this a lot, but it's true.  When you're old and gray, you will love that C-17 model sitting on your table just as you would love it if it were an F-22.  It will be a life of experiences, places, and people that you will never forget.  There might be some people you meet along the way who have simply stumbled into it, and there will be people just as focused as you.  Just worry about yourself.

Although, Warbird's last comment really hits the mark.  Best of luck...

Answer 2

I have two retired fighter pilots in my family who were Colonels, and they say it is incredibly hard to be selected as a fighter pilot. They look for people who dont know when to give up and such. With only a 3.0 gpa you arent likely to be selected, almost all fighter pilots have a 4.0 gpa.

Chances are that you will not get a fighter slot, and youll be stuck in some other non flying position, so unless you are extremely determined you dont want to risk it.

Answer 3

The F-22 does not currently have a two seater version, that means it is *currently* impossible to go straight from Flight training to F-22 specialty track.

The best and most likely path to take would be the following:

Set in stone: Initial Flight Traning > Undergraduate Pilot Training

At this point you are typed for either fighters, heavies or Rotor. You want to be high in your class so you can get into the fighter track which is normally competitive.

Once in the fighter track, you want to be assigned to F-15s (Again, highly competitive)

The pilots chosen for F-22s are almost all F-15 pilots. Since they don't have a two seat F-22 you can't qualify to direct into it since they can't train you in it. You have to already be an experienced fighter pilot. You can theoretically make it into the F-22 through any type of aircraft, but you have a MUCH better chance going the F-15 route than anything else.

If you get another fighter though, don't be disheartened. The F-16 will be phased out with the Joint Strike Fighter eventually, and that is as maneuverable as the F-22 AND has vertical takeoff and hover capability. It just has a different primary mission (which is actually more needed currently than Air to Air Superiority).

Good luck! There are a lot of very competitive points along the route to the F-22.

Answer 4

Make sure you are accepted for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) as well as OTS.  Assuming you have been selected SUPT works like this:

There are tracks, based on the number of weapons systems that are available for your class.  "Needs of the Airforce" and your class ranking/preferences will determine where you end up.  This means that the AF may determine your class gets zero fighter airframes, 1-3, or "a lot" -which would be 4 or so.  That latter is EXTREMELY rare BTW.  Currently, Raptor slots are being filled by Eagle crews; ergo your best of going to the F22 is getting an Eagle.  To ensure your choice of aircraft you need to absolutely EXCEL at SUPT:  this means getting as many perfect scores on flying and academics as  you can.  Competition is usually stiff for fighters-you'll need to completely dedicate yourself to do well enough to get one.  What the instructors are looking for is that 2Lt who can think at 11-12 miles a minute.  One of the best things you could do is start civilian flying lessons: looks great on your SUPT package, and statistically students with civilian flying experience have a lower washout rate-and consistently rank higher in class standings.

Good luck, thanks for opting to serve your country.  If you have any questions please PM me directly.

ADDED:  Bro(s), the Air Etc stats showed that studs with civilian flying experience -did better at least in the initial airmanship phase(s).   However, yes, I knew quite a few front-seaters who didn't even see a plane before UPT, but to maximize ones chances it's a big part of the package.

Answer 5

Well, as has already been stated (and is pretty obvious) you'll have to be sent to pilot training, not just OTS.  Before you go, get as much flight time as possible.  Some people will tell you to just show up and let the Air Force train you, but most people in the top third of a class have prior flying experience.  Very few in the bottom third do.  That should tell you something.  Once you get there, do your best.  There are a variety of factors in being able to get the slot you want:  needs of the Air Force, how you rank your choices, your class rank, a physical test, and whether you are recommended by your flight commander or not.  To fly fighters/bombers you have to be recommended for it by your flight commander.  That being said, I've never heard of anyone in a position to get a fighter/bomber slot that did not get the recommendation.  The physical test required to fly fighters/bombers must be passed before you finish your training.  Unless you are fat and weak, you'll pass.  Heck, there are still people that are both that pass.  If that's what you really want, you'll put fighter/bomber ahead of C-130, Helo, and Heavy, so that isn't an issue.  You can do nothing about the needs of the Air Force.  Sometimes there are only 1-2 fighter/bomber slots.  I've seen as many as 9 in one class, but the usual is around 3-4.  What you CAN control is how you do in pilot training.  There are some people that just cannot fly.  If that's you, there's not much you can do about it.  If it ISN'T you, then what will really set you up for success is not how good of a stick you are, but that you have the knowledge, and you can correctly and safely perform tasks.

Answer 6

Hey Jim, they were taking Viper guys too because of the similarity with the flight control system and I think they have the first class of LTs now.  Not sure about that last though.

Like's been said before:  OTS AND SUPT.  Depending on the needs of the USAF, even for acceptance -- your GPA means nothing.  Mine was worse than yours and I got a Viper out of UPT.  And when I was an IP, I was teaching guys with Master's in EE and 4.0 (and some of them sucked, they'd never failed at anything and never had to struggle).  f**t (Fighter, Attack, Recon, Trainer) is VERY competitive, even more so with a UAV track now.   Your class's drop will be luck of the draw.

And ALWAY ALWAYS remember:

"Fighter pilot is an attitude, not an AFSC; so not all pilots flying fighters are fighter pilots and not all fighter pilots fly, some of them drive trucks."

Answer 7

Storms -

Jim and Thomas are right on. Dogzilla wants to help, but doesn't know because he hasn't been there. I went from OTS into pilot training and from there to B52s. GPA in college has nothing to do with your assignment out of flight training. That is entirely based on:

1. The needs of the Air Force

2. The needs of the Air Force

3. The needs of the Air Force

4. How well you ranked in your flight training class.

So be diligent in your efforts for the next couple of years. The top couple of guys from each class sometimes get to pick their slot. But even if you don't, I think you will be proud of your accomplishment and pretty special if you can serve as a pilot, regardless of the assignment. Best of Luck.

ADDED: Hey Solarianus - I went through Columbus, too. Please email and let me know when you went through. Regards...