Hey, I'm just trying to think of all my options and at this point in time the air force idea is almost my number one choice. I wanna be a pilot and was just wondering how it works. Do i go to basic military training before or after college? And is it true they will pay for me to go to college for free. I have a lot of questions, this is easily the biggest decision of my life so i wanna know everything I can.

~Also~ If I want to be a pilot does that mean I'm going to be a pilot? Are they gonna stick me with some other job I don't wanna do?

Back to the point....if i say i wanna be a pilot in the air force then does that mean I am 100 percent positivly going to be one (assuming i pass all the tests). And also do I do basic military training before or after my 4 years of college?

just because you want to get a certain MOS doesn't mean you're going to get it. A pilot slot is the hardest slot to get in the AF, harder than Infantry for us Army guys.

Well you get a "wish list" and you rank what you want to be after ots

so i cant say to them, "either im a pilot or i dont join" ?

Not without a college education, several hours of flight time already under your belt and a few other happy things to offer THEM.

Well, you could tell them that, but then u probably wont join.

i already have SOME flight time but every penny i earn goes toward that, I'm a year through college but its so hard to pay for everything. I heard that they might be able to pay for me to finish college? I'm calling a recruiter tomorrow but everyone says how they lie just to get you to join so I'm gonna try to be as careful as possible.

Originally Posted by Topgunn85

i already have SOME flight time but every penny i earn goes toward that, I'm a year through college but its so hard to pay for everything. I heard that they might be able to pay for me to finish college? I'm calling a recruiter tomorrow but everyone says how they lie just to get you to join so I'm gonna try to be as careful as possible.

If your heart isn't completely set on fixed wing .. look into the Army's WOCS and WO Flight Training program. Even though only a HS diploma is required, they love people with some college and with some flight time under your belt already - you'll be ahead of the pack. But remember, that's helos, not pretty boy fighters.

Im glad you want to be a pilot: please understand that not everyone can be one in the airforce. With a 30-500 million dollar aircraft on the line, they can be picky and very selective in the process.

http://www.airforce.com/index_fr.htm

This site explains the the three processes by which the Air Force gets officers: College ROTC comissioning program, Officer training school, and the Air Academy. health care providers, chaplains, and lawyers are accepted in a special program that makes them Officers, but normally pilots are accepted from only the first three areas.

The people that get top consideration for the pilot program are usally college graduates with degrees in engineering or mechanical sciences, although anything is possible. Prior flight training is a bonus but not required.

Canidates that apply must also be the most physically fit specimans they can find. people with bad moral character or legal adjugements, such as a misdemoner conviction, are not accepted. Personnel with prior drug convictions, or known usage of drugs just arent messed with anymore.

So...its education (military or civil college), acceptance of a comission or acceptance into the OTS, application for pilot training apon completion of the college or OTS, acceptance into the pilot program, and then ground school. Its a long haul, but if you are determined, you should make it.

Good luck.