Should I join the Air Force?

Question

I am 15, and I'm going to be 16 soon. I am taking lessons soon, because flying is what I want to do. I heard it is first of all hard to get in the air force, and hard to fly there. I also heard you have to do service time (that part doesn't really bother me). I also heard you have to be really smart to become a pilot, and have amazing grades. I have decent grades, but I don't have like straight A+'s in honors. Finally, I heard it is easier to become a pilot in the army instead of the air force. Is it really that hard just to be a pilot as a career? Are all those things are heard true? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Remember it may take a College Degree to be a pilot but only a high school diploma to build or repair the plane.

Answer 2

You should join the Air Force for only 1 reason and that is because you love it. Just being in the Air Force doesn't guarantee that you will fly. You might eventually do fly, but it is going to take some time. To get into the Air Force, your academic and physical skills should be above requirement. Anyways, good luck to your future.

Answer 3

Yes, you do have to be smart to fly a plane. It's called your GT score when you take the ASVAB. I suggest taking a sample one (or real one, you can take it unlimited times) and see what you get. I'd say 110+ is good.

Your high school grades don't matter for joining the military, no matter what you're trying to do.

If you want to be a pilot, you have to be an officer. That means you have to start going to college and have to have a Bachelor's degree by the time you join or by the time you make Captain. OR you can come in as a warrant officer and fly a helicopter. Just gotta get approved, talk to a recruiter about that.

I think it would be easier to get into the Army and since we have a lot more units. A lot of reserve/national guard units have helicopters.

Helicopters rock....... got my first ride a couple of weeks ago.

If you do get officer/warrant officer, get your job signed into your contract!!!!! DO NOT FORGET THAT PART lol

Answer 4

I highly recommend that you go talk to a recruiter for all the branches.  Each branch of the military has pilots, it's just a matter of what you are more interested in flying.  

I was in the Air Force, and will agree that they do have higher standards than other branches for certain jobs, but don't let that intimidate you.  

As for doing "service time," well, that's the whole point of joining the military.  You'd have to sign a contract promising to give a certain number of years to the military in exchange for the training and opportunities that the military gives you.

When I was "shopping around" the different branches, it seemed like the Air Force was the only branch that WANTED their recruits to be able to think on their own, to solve problems in unique ways.  The other branches seemed to be looking for people willing to take orders without question . . . which would save your life in a combat situation, undoubtedly.

Anyway, keep an open mind, and talk to not only recruiters, but veterans as well.  Stop by a VA hospital and see what the vets are saying.  Go visit a local Reserve unit and see what life is like on the base.  

Also, check out doing ROTC in college . . . a great way to earn money for college!

Good luck!

Answer 5

sure if you want to be a pawn for the global elite

quote from Henry Kissinger taken from "The Final Days", a book detailing the final days of Nixon in the White House

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy"  Kissinger

Answer 6

Jon -

If you want to serve as a pilot, you have to:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree at a recognized university or at the Air Force Academy. Excellent grades are not essential, graduation is.

2. Earn a commission as an officer either via the Academy, ROTC or OTS.

3. Have the physical capability to pass all requirements, including 20/20 vision.

4. Be able to complete all required training courses, including land survival, water survival, and pilot training.

5. Be willing to serve your country in a position that may involve combat.

This is not for everyone. It takes several years. Those who consider people in the military to be pawns have probably never served and do not understand it. It is an honorable profession, but it will not make you wealthy. It provides significant responsibility to young people, but it can kill you with no warning. It is difficult physically and mentally, but you do not have to be extremely athletic or intelligent to succeed. It will teach you self-control and discipline, and if you succeed in becoming a pilot, you will not regret the time spent. Many do not succeed - they don't have the eyesight, they get sick in the air and never get over it, they can't land the aircraft, they can't swim well enough, they can't run far enough - there are a hundred reasons that will wash you out. But the ones that make it keep their wings well past their flying days. I do not know the requirements in the Army, but I have experienced the Air Force program first hand. If you want it badly enough, then you might make it. If you are not sure, then you should probably do something else. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Ok first off im in the United States Airforce!!!! You do have to be a lil smart not amazin. N t0 be a pilot it take years alot All Pilots Have to be officers!!!! so about 15 years or more!!!! But its not that easy when you graduate boot you already have ajob u picked when you sigined in! I got a job i totally hated ok it you have ny more questions about the Air force just ask K!!!!!

Answer 8

You have to have a four year college degree to become a pilot on the USAF.  Aviation or engineering are the best bets.

The other recourse is to really excel and get into the USAF Academy.

Answer 9

yeah you should join the airforce, but keep in mind that you may not be able to pass the physical test, and it wont be your fault if your body cant handle it.

i think you have to learn how to get out of unconscienceness or something too, not to mention it is highly likely you will die in training if you do pass the physical test. (you have to successfully get out of a stall [in a real plane] before it hits the ground and blows up.) :)

Answer 10

Larry 454 is right on the money!

Answer 11

i completely messed up high school as far as grades go I barely made it. However college is differnt and you will probably enjoy it. You will need a college degree to be a pilot in the airforce or to be competitive with the other pilots in the hiring pool. All the c**p you learn as a pilot is not that hard to learn but there is alot of new concepts. Good luck.

Answer 12

my mom flys but is not in the air force. it is challenging but if you love do what you want to do. you do not have to be smart to be a pilot.

Answer 13

You don't have to be a genius to be a pilot. To pass the aptitude tests you should practise things like computer games that use hand eye coordination, e.g. spacecraft related games; basic multiplication/division and speed-time-distance calculations, spatial orientation (you can buy books full of this kind of test, practise makes perfect). If you are good at the right things, which you CAN improve A LOT with practise, you'll pass the tests (if people say you can't, that is usually because they have not actually tried this method, or not tried it in the extreme (practising for hours on end before taking the tests -- you shouldn't need to, but even if you do, it can be done and works)).

The medicals can be picky, it is not just about your eyesight!! but there's not a lot you can do about some things (like height) so just make sure you are generally fit before a medical.

You do have to be an officer though, so make sure you take a degree. It is not that hard to be a pilot as a career if you are focussed - most of the tests are designed to see if you will be quick on the uptake in a pilot training programme, because it is cheaper for them to train recruits who are fast learners, so that's the only type they will train :)

But bear in mind, you can be a pilot in the army and the navy too. In fact the majority of NASA astronauts who become space pilots have come from being pilots in the US NAVY.