FSUMatt

Quick question for someone who might know. I was wondering what the chances are that if i joined the Air Force, or Army, or Marines, or Navy what the chances were i got into flight school and become a pilot? Thanks.
Also I'm new here so it would be nice if i didn't get bashed for something.

1Seat 1Engine

Absolutely no way to tell from the information in your post but here's some general guidelines:

If you're talking to a military recruiter, don't trust him or take him at his word on anything. Check everything in writing before you sign anything.

If you're still in college, go talk to an officer at an ROTC detachment. That is a pretty low risk way to go. They'll be able to accurately tell you how many training slots of what type they have available and what you will have to do to compete for them.

If you want help with your question you'll have to tell us some info:
What's your age?
Are you in school or have you already graduated?
Major and GPA?
Any involvements in your past with law enforcement beyond normal traffic tickets?

BDGERJMN

1seat hit the nail on the head, a bit more information is needed. There are plenty of other information sources out there for you as well to research.

As for the Navy/Marine Corps, here's a stab at answering your questions. Judging by your screen name I will assume your a student at FSU. If that is the case, go to the ROTC units and sit down and talk to the staff about joining. Depending on what year you are in school you may qualify for a scholarship to finish out your degree. If you're a junior or senior, I would skip ROTC altogether and do OCS. You need to speak with an OFFICER recruiter in any case. Do not enlist under the false pretense that you will be able to become an officer quickly. It doesnt happen like that.

Now, assuming you get commissioned, your chances of getting a flight billet are actually pretty good these days. Alot of pilots are exiting the Navy/Marine Corps and new accessions are a bit lacking. This is good for those that want to get into Naval Aviation. I would imagine that is true in the AF as well, maybe not.

In the Navy you have the opportunity to fly anything from Helo's to P-3s to E2/C2 to F/A-18s. Realize this: Needs of the Navy/Marine Corps determine what you fly before performance. That said, if you do well you generally get to fly what you want, but not always. The committment for jets in the Navy/Marine Corps is 8 years from the time you get your wings(2 years in flight training generally). That is non-negotiable. You are signing up for 10 years when you select jets, minimum.

Getting your foot in the door is your first step like anything else. Do the research, find out which service you prefer, and most of all realize there is a greater good in flying for the military than the civilian side, especially in today's world.

Good luck,

Bdger

FSUMatt

Thank you both for the replies.
I'm 21yr old Junior soon to be Senior majoring in Sociology and minoring in Business. I have a 2.2gpa. I was majoring in Business but didn't do so hot in some classes and my gpa dropped. I graduated H.S. w/ a 3.6. The only thing on my record is speeding tickets.

Yeah, I've heard to not trust what recruiters say and to get things in writing b/c they'll tell what you want to hear.

Dog Breath

Work hard on improving your GPA. A 2.2 may not be good enough to be competitive, no matter what your major is. Like others have said, talk to an Officer in a ROTC unit to get the straight scoop. If they offer you a pilot slot, get it in writing before signing on the dotted line!

Clue32

If you go the army route to fly rotary wing you can apply for what is refered to at the "High School to Flight School" program. Finish your degree first then talk to the recruiters about the Army Warrant Officer program. You do Basic Training then head straight to Warrant Officer Candadite School followed by Flight School. Don't become an army officer to become an aviator if you want to fly. Warrant Officers make less than the Branch Officers, but their primary duty is to fly. If you want to be an instructor, safety officer, or Maintenance Test Pilot you need to be a Warrant. If you decide the pay isn't all that great then once you get some time under your belt you can always switch over to the Branch Officer side. Also, the army could be a back door into the USCG via the Direct Commission Aviator program. Lots of options out there and once you finish your initial commitment you can move around. It just takes research, networking, and doing well in what ever service you choose.

If you take away the personal life created because of the army and had me do it all over again though, I think I would have gone after the Naval Flight Officer program that I learned about via a flyer in my mail box my senior year in college.

PM or hit me up on the open forum if you have Army questions.

zondaracer

I did AFROTC. About 50% or so get a pilot slot out of ROTC, but if you're a senior and 2.2 gpa you probably wont be competitive out of ROTC. I've known guys with low gpa's get a slot in rotc, but they started the program as a freshman or sophomore and held leadership positions. There are about 500 slots each year out of AFROTC, almost 600 out of the Academy, and i think around a 100 in OTS. Active duty slots are around 50, with about 250 applicants this year (changes year to year). It's a 10 year commitment once you finish pilot training. Also, rumor has it that Marine Corps has guaranteed pilot slots if you meet the requirements, and my roommate did Navy ROTC with Marine option and I think he said they make them all do OTS anyway. Also, Air Force has the strictest medical requirements, and if I could do it over again I'd go through the Coast Guard because currently the AF medically DQ'ed me.

HercDriver130

first off I doubt that 2.2gpa is competitive. But it never hurts to inquire. Good Luck.

41DS

If you go Marines they offer an Aviation Contract. The program is called PLC or OCC depending on when you apply (what year in College). You apply as an aviation contract. If they accept you then you owe 4- 6 weeks of OCS depending on whether you are PLC or OCC. If they do not accpet you then you owe nothing! If you quit after OCS you still owe nothing, your free.
If you complete OCS either 2, 6 week summers or one 10 week summer then you have the option of accepting your commission. If you accept your commisioning then you will owe at least 3.5 years until you show up at flight school. Once you begin flight school then you will owe the Marines 6-8 years even if you quit. If you complete flight school then you owe 6-8 yrs from the time you were winged. 6 years for Helo's and Props (C-130's) and 8 yrs for Jets. This equates to 8-10 years of total service from the time you get commissioned. They do offer some money for school, but not much and if you fail out of OCS or quit and do not accept your commission then you have to pay the money back. You want to talk to an OSO, Officer selevtion Officer, He/She will be a Capt or 1stLt.
And while GPA will play a factor, I had a 2.4 and I am flying hornets. The Marines care less about your GPA and more about your physical fitness and motivation. If it is between you and another applicant with a 3.5 and they only need one then the 3.5 GPA will win out. MARINE=Muscles Are Required Intelligence Not Esential. Good luck whatever you do. Let me know if you want more info.

Buzz

Dude,

Officer Training School is they way to go with the AF. You are guaranteed a pilot training slot in writing before you start OTS. That being said your GPA is way low and you will have to study like crazy to score well on the AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualification Test).

Good Luck,

Buzz