Mustang87

Hey all,

I'm 22, 5th year senior in college, no flight experience save for a couple of hours, and I'm going to become an airline pilot. The original goal was to complete college with a degree in History, get a job, and pay for flight training as I go. So far I'm still on step one; college.

However, I have been thinking about the military, but there are a few questions that I'd like someone who is currently flying in the military to answer if they could.

-My eyesight is terrible; I wear correctable contact lenses.

-I have seasonal asthma; only lasts for a week or two in the spring because of allergies

-My GPA is ****.. no excuses for that one. I'm not stupid, I just haven't applied myself. Now I'm kicking myself for it since I'm thinking about the military route.

Given all of these problems that are holding me back, I'm pretty sure it's impossible for me to get a slot even flying a heavy in the military...LASIK is allowed, but I'll bet my bottom dollar asthma and my 2.5 GPA would wash me out.

I figured I'd ask anyway. There's always the civ route, and probably best I stick to it

Dicecal

Try your local guard/reserve unit, see if they are hiring for UPT slots. If your asthma is only seasonal, I would not admit to it..it will require a waiver..and you may not get it. Lastly- I strongly urge you to reconsider your career choice of becomming an airline pilot. The pay and lifestyle are terrible, and they are not going to improve anytime soon. You'd be better off going to work for your local police deptartment!

elfouquer

Don't join the military to become an airline pilot, join the military because you want to fly for the military. As an airline pilot who is transitioning to the Guard, nothing disgusts me more than someone who wants to fly in the military just to build time for a civilian career. To become a pilot for the Guard is something that took me 8 years to achieve (long story that I won't go into now), but I persisted because it was my dream. Guard units don't want people coming to them to build time, they want guys that are gonna be with them for 20 years or more. Rant aside, you can fly for the military (even fighters) with corrected vision. I just got my flight physical a couple weeks ago, and there were many people with corrected vision, either with contacts or surgery who were passing just fine. As far as the asthma goes, you don't have it unless a military flight surgeon diagnoses you with it. My GPA wasn't so great either, but if you can sell yourself on other aspects, then go for it. Also, if you do well on the AFOQT, GPA becomes not as important.

Flyinhawaiian

Check out the Marines, ask for an aviation contract.

rickair7777

ANG is the way to go.

Normally we don't lie about things in the military...but entrance medical exams is the exception. If you can get the job done, they don't really care what issues you may or may not have, they just want their paperwork to look clean.

I was told to not admit anything when I did my entry medical decades ago...by my grandfather, a retired career naval officer who was one of the first naval aviators and about as straight-laced as they come.

Be careful with LASIK, it may not yet be approved for all pilot applicants in all services. PRK was more commonly accepted, and they were experimenting with LASIK. You may have meet certain prerequisites with the military before you get the surgery done, research it carefully (don't go off internet forums, the rules change sometimes).

Your GPA will hurt, hopefully you are otherwise well-rounded and have interests and activities other than video games.

While some folks have issues with folks who want to use the military as a stepping stone, I don't have a problem with it. They are going to work you like a dog and get their money's worth one way or another anyway. However...you must be 100% committed to doing your duty to the absolute best of your ability, otherwise you will be leaving your brothers hanging out to dry in the middle of a war. Think about it carefully.

You do not have to be so motivated that you will climb on the backs of your fellow service members and do anything else to acquire a general's rank...we could probably use a few less of those.

c17heavy

You're right, you have no chance of flying fighter aircraft, however you do have a realistic shot at heavies.

Flying heavies in the military is a walk in the park, and your 2.5 gpa almost over qualifies you.

limelight

Seriously, the C-17 must be the easiest to fly aircraft ever, number 3, second element, in personnel echelon at night with real humans jumping, then doing formation AR to a tactical arrival to a 3501'x90' runway. Hell, I could probably train my Dog to do that ****, it's so freakin easy.

41DS

If your asthma is not disqualifying and if your eyesight is correctable then there is a chance. I had a 2.4 GPA in Business as I to did not apply myself either. Joined the Marine PLC program, got a flight contract, kicked ass in flight school, selected jets and flew F/A-18s on the west coast. So if you have the desire and are willing to put forth the effort it can be done. I think your biggest issue will be the medical stuff. Good luck.

LivingInMEM

I'd go ahead and add lack of SA to his list of qualities based on his throwing that first sentence in there when asking those heavy drivers about the military. However, the last sentence may raise the "no SA" to "slight SA".

Purpleanga

I'm kind of in your shoes, I'm around your age with a college degree and had half a foot in the airlines before being furloughed. Let me tell you, it sucks. If there could be a way of avoiding the entry level airline flying, it's worth pursuing. I'm taking the advice of someone and am trying to apply for the guard. Helicopters, heavies, fighters, doesn't matter, uncle Sam will never go bankrupt. Plus you can't beat the benefits, of which are becoming non existent at the airlines day by day. If you want to fly and do not want to leave things to chance, I may be wrong but there are programs out there that at least guarantee flight school but I think it's only for the Army and Marines. Best of luck.