For literally all of my life, I've dreamed of joinging the Air Force and, ultimately, becoming a pilot. I've never been so naive as to think that I could just "pick a bird" and fly any aircraft I chose. But I had absolutely no clue as to the requirements of becoming a USAF pilot. So, I figured what better way to find out than to swing by the recuiter's office? I definitely got some interesting info.

For starters, I have to shed 34 pounds minimum before they'll even consider me for basic. I currently weigh 204, and according to my height of "just under" 5'8", that's precisely 34 pounds overweight for what I should be. And I would understand if I was actually fat. But I'm NOT... haha. I have a 33" waist, but a 46" chest and 17" biceps, bla bla bla. Basically, I'm a lifter, and I train in MMA fighting. I have to be built for that stuff.

Either way, it's non-negotiable. I can't be over 170 at weigh-in. Also, I've only got two options for becoming a pilot:

1) Go to college for four years, and try my best to get at least a 3.4 GPA, and HOPE that they accept me. Keep in mind that college will be at my own expense, on my own time. The catch is I can't be over 28 years old. So that means I have precisely four years and a few months to get four years worth of school, and pray that I get a 3.4

2) (effectively my only option) Enlist, and after one year of service, enroll in college with USAF footing the bill, and earn my paper that way. He recommended that I try to target an MOS within the aviation filed... either a flight mechanic, Munitions, etc. He said anything I could do to make me favorable to the borad was a plus. He also went on to say that 70% of pilots are drafted from within the enlisted ranks.

So... Is this information generally accurate? It will be a huge commitment, but it's one I'm willing to make. I'm willing to do anything in my power to become a pilot for the United States Air Force. Bomber, fighter, I'm not picky.

Any members on here with former USAF experience? Or any pointers/recommendations?

 

you sound committed.
my biz partner and old friend is the family that Andrews AFB was named for- they live here in town.
i'll forward your post and see if any advice-

 

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Interesting info about the AFB...

--John

 

My son was in 4 years as a ac300 engineer, he is now going to go to learn to fly commerical jets, and want to go back in

 

He was at fort walton beach, hulbert field

 

That's an excellent Base...

 

Actually, the recruiter was only slightly right. Remember, he is there to get you to enlist. Pilots hold commissions. Here are a few other options closer to the "truth":

1. The most common way for a person to become a pilot is to go to college and join AFROTC http://www.afrotc.com/ . After four years of college you then are accessed into the USAF and go to flight school. You don't have to have a 3.4 GPA but don't expect to get in with an old college 2.0! Sometime late in your second year (I think that's what it was) you are given another flight physical. This is a Class 1 physical and very tough. After this one, all your way-ins are done on body fat. Also you have to take PT tests. If you can't run and do situps, you had better get started. This all is a little better than what the recruiter told you but there aren't any fat guys flying - that's by USAF standards not public perceptions of fat. AFROTC pays you for one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. That mounts up quickly and is a good way to pay for living expenses. If you look through the site you will see they're also offering 100% scholarships. If you look through the basic and POC requirements for that program, they don't even mention GPA! When they do talk about GPA later on, they want a C-. Come on, you can do that!

2. You can also go to college on your own and then go to Officer Canidate School. This is a very tough way to go and you end up paying for everything.

Go back to the recruiters office and **** on his desk - he should be ashamed.

 

update- what crossbowme posted must be pretty dead on. one of the most competitive areas of service up against the brightest and best, no promises, recruiters only care about signing you up but the rewards are great. sorry i dont have a magic bullet for you.

 

If for some reason you enlist, some of the MOS's you might consider are this.

I was in the Marine Corps from '97-'02 and I was a parachute rigger, or as Navy/Marine Corps says Aviation Life Support Systems technician. Everywhere I deployed in the world was on an Air Base with the exception of Japan. I would work with the Air FOrce guys in their work center. Because of the population of the USAF being sso large and the USMC so small, I would hold 3 billets in the USAF for my one in the Corps. A USMC 6048 (ALSS tech) is equivalent to the USAF Survival shop, Egress and, I believe Flotation if I'm not mistaken.
Pretty much you work on all the stuff the aircrew wear before hopping in the jets. You will work for anyone from college student (service academy) all the way up to Generals (Mostly Brigadier and Major Generals). Great to get you wishes across and maybe get some help along the way. You'll need it, no one accomplishes this alone.

Best of luck

 

I'm here to tell you that the Air Force Recruiters are there for one reason and one reason only, to get you to enlist. Heck, the'll promise you the world and give you nothing. They have absolutely no control.
Those people in the Green Monster at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas do.
The Monster is where you go for processing, many times, they ask you all kinds of questions that you think are irrelevant then, when you get your orders, after basic, you learn quickly that you've been screwed.
Not to say that The USAF is a bad thing, nor enlisting is either but...a little ditty we used to sing cadence to was "Rainbow, Rainbow don't be blue, our recruiter screwed us too! When you first get onto base and are still wearing your civies, you are thrown off the bus with a crap load of others just like you and start marching right away, to your barracks. All the while being screamed at like you are a piece of crap. That's where the term rainbow comes from. All the different colors of civilian clothes before you get the OD supplies. Yep, I loved every minute of it.
When I got my orders I was an Air Policeman, cuz I could shoot real well.
Real well. Special Ops followed and the rest is what you make of it.