What is it like to be in the Air Force?

Question

What qualifications do you have to have?

Where do you train?

How long do you train?

What is the training like?

Do you get to choose what you want to fly? Or what kind of pilot you want to be (combat, transport, etc.)

Do you get to travel a lot?

Where do you travel?

And last but not least- is it fun?

Is it worth it?

Any information would be great! Thanks to any answers :)

Answer 1

It has been an extended time since I was in, but from my experience:

I understand from your question that you want to be a pilot. There are many career paths in the Air Force, all with different requirements. To be a pilot, you must:

1. Obtain a bachelor's degree. This can be from the Air Force Academy or from another university.

2. Obtain a commission as an officer in the Air Force. This can also be accomplished at the academy, or through ROTC at your college, or though Officer's Training School (OTS) at Lackland AFB. This is like a combined Basic Training / ROTC / academic immersion for about 4 months.

3. Attend and pass flight training at one of several southern bases that are set up to do this. When I did this, it took a year and about a third of the incoming class did not make it. At the end of the class, the top 10% basically got their choice of the aircraft assignments that were available, and the rest were assigned sort of arbitrarily based on the judgement of the instructors. As a woman, you may not get the choice of a full combat role, although I am not sure of this.

4. Attend and pass specialized training in the type of aircraft that you will be flying. This generally takes another 4 - 6 months and is conducted at yet another location.

5. Attend and pass land survival school and water survival school - about 2 weeks each at other locations.

6. Maintain flight status by maintaining your health and staying completely drug-free unless prescribed by a flight surgeon.

7. Conduct yourself at all times as an officer.

You will get your wings after step 3, but all of the steps are vital and necessary. The training is always intensive and always interesting. I would not call it fun, but I would call it inspiring, educational, enlightening, and life-changing. I already discussed aircraft selection. Travel, - I would say you get to travel more than you really want to. That life is not especially conducive to raising a family, although many pilots are happily married (I got married during flight training and we are still together 35 years later) and many also have kids and move them from base to base as they switch assignments. It's a little tough on the kids, but it usually makes them stronger.

Was it worth it? Oh yes.