If I join the Air force...?

Question

will I be able to choose what i want to do or do they choose for you?

The only way i would join is if i can fly planes, i don't care what type, i just want to fly.

And don't i need a 4 year degree or something to do that? If so, what kind of degree do I need (what major).

Answer 1

Well take 90% of the answers here with a grain of salt and you'll be dead on-get what one pays for I guess>

For the USAF if one wants to be a pilot one must be an officer.  To be an officer, one must have a Bachelor's Degree.  Major DOES matter in certain instances-getting accepted into a commissioning program for one.  However I had front-seaters with degrees in TV Production, Phys Ed and Art History to name three.  

If you want to fly you must also be accepted into and complete Pilot Training, or to give it its full name "Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training". You must pass the physical, get great scores on the AF Officer Qualifying Test and pass the subjective scrutiny of a board.  

Physical.  NO you DO NOT need 20/20 vision-haven't for years.  Right now it's 20/70 correctable 20/20.  No colorblindness, astigmatism or nightvision problems. No depth perception issues.  No cardio or BP problems. No periods of unconsciousness >5-7min since age 12.  No history of asthma since age 14.  No emotional or mental issues.  

If you're truly serious about this, you can prep now:  start flying lessons-very powerful item to have in your application is civilian flying experience.  Civil Air Patrol membership, JROTC is also good.  

AFA choosing one's airframe, that comes down to the "Needs of the AF" and your preferences/class standing.  You class may or may not the airframe you desire.  IF you aren't at the top of your class, the airframe(s) might come down, but the students ahead of you grabbed 'em all.

That's it in a very small nutshell.  If you have questions don't hesitate to PM me.

Answer 2

Answers in order of questions:

Sort of.  After you finish the 1st stage of Pilot Training (in a T-6 Texan), you put together a dream sheet for the track you want to go - Airlift, Fighters, Helicopters or the C-130.  Then the instructors get together and rate you based on their overall impression of your flying skills, take into account your wishes and the needs of the USAF and you get tracked.  Sometimes a guy really wants fighters, but gets airlift or vice versa.  If you go Airlift, you will fly the T-1 Jayhawk, Fighters the T-38 Talon, Helos - you go to Ft Rucker, C-130's - sometimes from the T-1, but most go fly the T-44 with the Navy first.  

After you finish the 2nd stage, there is a drop night.  That's when the folks at AFPC determine how many of each type of aircraft they need.  You get to choose based on your class rank.  So if there's only 1 F-15 and you're number 2 then you're out of luck.

Second question - You should and always will be an Air Force Officer first.  You're job in the Air Force is pilot, civil engineer, etc.  Most guys/gals I know that only joined to be a pilot aren't very happy when they realize that you will do a whole lot more than fly airplanes.  The days of only being a pilot are over.  You will have any number of additional duties/jobs above and beyond being a pilot.  Also, I've known more than a few that only wanted to fly only to be washed out of UPT or medically disqualified from flying.  Guess what - in most cases, the Air Force keeps you (you signed a contract) and finds another career path for you.  My personal experience was a drastic downsize in the pilot force just as I was graduating from college.  The Air Force decided I was needed as a Missile Launch Officer for 4 years before they sent me to UPT.

Third Question - Absolutely.  You have to be an officer to fly in the Air Force and you have to have a bachelors degree to be an officer.  Statistically, folks who do best in UPT have some sort of technical degree - math, physics, engineering.  However, you can have any bachelors degree and still become a pilot as long as you pass the pilot part of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test.  I have a degree in History.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you are interested in flying for the Air Force, mayflower202 is right.  You need to have 20/20 vision and you can't be color blind.  You also can't have vertigo.  And pretty physically fit and mentally stable.  

A 4 year degree is a must for any commissioned officer in the military.  Engineering classes are a big plus when being considered as a candidate for flight school.  Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (I believe is the correct name) is a good school for obtaining such a degree.  Or if you can get into the Air Force Academy, that's a bigger plus.  But it isn't necessary to go to the Academy to be a pilot.  But it is necessary to try and be at the top of your class.

Once your considered to go to flight school, there aren't any guarantees that you'll become a pilot, if you can't pass the military's program.  But since you have the desire, there's no doubt that you can accomplish your goals.

If you decide to join, talk to a recruiter (usually full of BS when getting you in) or talk to a pilot in the military, personally.  They can give you some insight as to what they had to go through to make it.  If you sign up, make sure you have a contract that says you want a pilot slot.  If they can't ensure you will get an open slot, as a pilot, then you don't have to commit to the military.  Do not leave it as an open contract cuz then they can give you some c**p career field in some c**p duty assignment.  

I have family and friends who are or were pilots in the military and each story is different.  Just make sure you do your research before you make a big decision like this.

Good luck!!!

Jim, you are right!  I asked my buddy who flies F-16's, and he said as long as you have it corrected to 20/20. you are eligible.  Kudos to you.

Answer 4

To answer your question, you can fly with a degree in basket weaving if you get lucky.

But, please don't join my Air Force just because you just want to "fly planes".

Do it so you can be of service to your country.

  

Answer 5

search brotha man. this has been covered a billion times. BUT since I'm a nice guy I'll inform you of what little I know.

You are 100% correct that you need a 4 year degree to fly. That could be in ANY field but you willl probably have a much better chance of flying if you study engineering, aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc. Any type of engineering would help you out.

Then yo have to choose where you want to go to school. If you are really hardcore about joining then go to the USAF school..I think it's in colorado?? forgot honostly. But that's not 100% necessary.

Do you have 20/20? Do you have any flying experience? Do you have any moral objections to dropping bombs on innocent people around the world? It was the last one mainly that prevents me from joining...I'm just going to be a civilian pilot.

If you go to the USAF website there is an online chat you can do and they'll answer a lot of your questions. However, take everything w/ a grain of salt. only 2% of the pople in the USAF are pilots.

peace

Answer 6

Another opportunity you may want to consider is the army.  They actually have more aircraft than the air force and can guarantee you a flight position as a warrant officer.  There are 4 aircraft available after the preliminary phase; ah64d apache, uh60 blackhawk, ch47 chinook, and oh58d kiowa warrior.  Later you can transfer over to the fixed wing course or go 160th SOAR and fly the ah6 or mh6 little bird.  Oh yeah, another thing is that you DONT need a degree to fly as a warrant officer. But good luck making CW4 without one, but at least you will be flying and you wont make CW4 untill your in for at least 10 years. You can also work on you degree while your in.  You also get to fly in alot of crazy situations so if you all about the adventure I would recommend the army. Good luck.

Answer 7

You're a fool. The military talks big but they don't back up their words. If you make it out alive, without going to Iraq, you'll end up changing oil at Jiffy Lube for $9 an hour.