What Do I Have To Do To Become?

Question

ok i am in the 8th grade and what my final goal in life is to become a commercial airline pilot but before that in high school i want to join the JR OTC but i don't know if you can be in the National Honor Society at the same time but after i get out of high school i want to go into the air force so it will be easier for me to get my true goal of a commercial aline pilot.

Answer 1

its easy to get into rotc just put it as what you want on your schedule (you get at the end of 8th grade)

Answer 2

Hi,

It's great that you are thinking about your future after school.  If you want to be a pilot in the USAF there are three major hurdles you've got to cross:

1- Get a 4yr degree from an accredited institution

2- Be accepted into and complete an officer training program AKA a "commissioning program".

3- Be accepted into and complete Pilot Training.

There are three ways to handle #2, two of which will also complete #1:

The USAF Academy.  VERY competitive to get into. You'll need great -not necessarily perfect grades; a lot of participation in school activities (this is to show your leadership and organizational abilities), and a recommendation from your Congressional Rep.  Right now your plan of JROTC and NHS are excellent steps toward an Academy application package.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).  This is offered at many universities around the country.  For the first two years you basically sign up like any other college class.  They offer full-ride academic scholarships as well.  This is most common source for USAF officers BTW.

Officer Training School (OTS).  This is primarily for enlisted troops aspiring to become officers, but there's slots available for non-prior applicants.  You apply within one year of college graduation.

If you're serious about a flying career in the USAF, you should start looking at Civil Air Patrol, and flying lessons.  The biggest weapon you can have in your application package is a pilot's license.  Failing that, a student license, glider license or showing how much time you've accumulated will help your case.  Civil Air Patrol is very positive (on an Academy application too) and a great way to get some free flying.

Stuff you can do now:

1- Continue your excellent performance in school.  This will set up for the Academy or an ROTC scholarship.  

2- When you're a little older, look into flying lessons-yes it's very expensive; but any civilian flying time helps your case.

3- Read up on the USAF, aviation, especially military aviation.

4- Stay out of trouble.  Don't let felons or drug users fly multi-million dollar aircraft

5- Get or stay in shape.  Military flying is both mentally and physically demanding.

6- Stay positive.  A lot of well-meaning people will tell you, "you gotta have perfect vision (not true)", or "you can't do it".  You can if you stay focused.

That's about it, if you have other questions please PM me

Answer 3

Knowing how to spell airline (in your last line) would be a pretty good start.  

Answer 4

well im in the airforce and you need to graduate high school then when you do that you go to your local afb and apply you do a physical take a drug test and do all that fun stuff... after all that they ship you to texas and you do your 8 week basic training then after you complete that you go to what they call tech school and you do what you want for your job (pilot)... then when your done with tech school your an airforce pilot!!! good luck!!!    air force rocks!!!

Answer 5

You have to be an officer to be a pilot so you have to go to college. You can take JROTC and be in National Honor Society.