Fighter Pilot Advice

[instructordude]

Hey guys, I am going to apply to AFROTC next Fall and need some advice on how to suceed in ROTC and pilot training. What did you major in?, How much participation?? I am pretty sure that I will get a pilot slot with my hours, grades, and test scores so what next? How did you suceed and achieve a fighter out pilot training?? Considering where you are at, I figure fighter guys would have the best advice on how to suceed in pilot training. How did you do it?? Thanks guys!!

 

[av8trix]

Advice

Hey guys, I am going to apply to AFROTC next Fall and need some advice on how to suceed in ROTC and pilot training. What did you major in?, How much participation?? I am pretty sure that I will get a pilot slot with my hours, grades, and test scores so what next? How did you suceed and achieve a fighter out pilot training?? Considering where you are at, I figure fighter guys would have the best advice on how to suceed in pilot training. How did you do it?? Thanks guys!!

I'm sure you'll get much more intelligent advice from others, as my knowledge of the process is over ten years old. And I'm not a fighter pilot. It just wasn't what I wanted to do, but my husband is. It's true, grades and test scores have a lot to do with the process, but so does your PAS's opinion of you (in case you don't know, or they've changed the term, that's the LTC in charge of your ROTC unit). If he/she thinks you're a tool, you probably won't get far. Participate as much as you can without affecting the other things in your college life (like grades, or sports if you participate). They don't usually expect you to spend every free moment in the unit. I'd pick one thing that they offer and do that. I did Arnold Air, because it took very little time. Once you get your pilot slot, if you can, go to Sheppard. Once you get there, but humble and have a great attitude. Make nice with your flight commander, as they have input to where you end up. From there, if I understand today's process, it has more to do with what your instructors think of your abilities and if they think you are cut out to be a fighter pilot. They have a lot of say. After that, you'll need to stay in the books BIG TIME at RTU (where you learn to fly your fighter of choice). They used to have a pretty descent wash-out rate. Best of luck to you, and I hope you get more responses with more current info. I will say this though; pick the brains of your pilot training instructors that have been there. Not all fighters are the same. Try and figure out what is the best fit for you. Hopefully, if you have a choice at the end, you will be happy with your decision.

 

[galaxy5]

"Considering where you are at, I figure fighter guys would have the best advice on how to suceed in pilot training."

I'll let someone else respond to this comment (cuz I'm sure someone will). I'm not a fighter guy but will attempt to answer your question.

1. Your major is not important for pilot training. If you want to be a test pilot or astronaut someday you need to major in something technical. Your major and GPA will determine whether or not you get to go to pilot training. Not sure what the opportunity for ROTC folks is to go to pilot training but what majors they look for changes all the time, I think the more important thing is your GPA.

2. Desire and motivation will determine your success at UPT. A couple of your comments concern me. "How much participation" leads me to believe you are considering less than 100% participation. This wont serve you well. Also, your profile indicates that your current position is "Building time for the Majors." I hope you're kidding. To plan to do a couple of years of ROTC, a year of pilot training and a 10 year committment afterward to "build time for the Majors" will, again, not serve you well. If you want to be a fighter pilot focus your energy on that goal. I'm sure fighter guys (God Bless 'em) will tell you that if you're looking to fly for the majors there are a lot easier ways to get there. Nothing wrong with having an Airline job as an ultimate goal but you've got a bunch of steps between now and then if you're considering the Fighter Pilot route.

Just some things to think about. You obviously have the self-confidence to make it. Good luck!

 

[SIG600]

If you just wanna "build time for the majors" fighters is not where you want to be. You'll find yourself working 4 times as hard for 1/4 the flight time.

Edit: Anyone with wings is qualified to tell you how to succeed in training IMO. Not everyone wants to fly fighters...

 

[JimNtexas]

Since you have substantial flight experience you will probably do quite well in pilot training on one condition. The first time you drive through the gate at your UPT base, forget everything you know about flying. Forget all your experiences. Forget all the airplanes you have flown in the past.

Take the attitude that you are a total beginner. Internalize the concept that your IPs have the knowlege you want and need, adapt your learning techniques to their teaching techniques. Think of yourself as younger than your instructors, younger than all your classmates, younger than the A1C in the admin office.

Never speak of your prior flying, gpa, college major, or anything like that unless asked directly. Even if asked, give a short honest answer and then shut up and listen.

Forget about fighters until you are asked for a track select peference. Think only about the T-6 or T-37 that you are flying. No other airplanes should exist for you.

By adopting a beginner's mind approach to military training your prior experience will give you a huge advantange. The less you think about your past experience, the more that experience will integrate with and assist you in learning to fly the Air Force way, and learning how you fit into the Air Force culture.

If your prior experience is in your conscious mind it will interfere with learning to become an Air Force officer/pilot. You don't want voices from the past competing with the voices of your IPs and your peers. In some case a student's past voices drown out what the Air Force wants to teach, leading to humiliation, defeat, and disaster.

 

[frog_flyer]

make sure you can pass the astronaut physical before you get all excited about upt?

 

[AdlerDriver]

Listen to JimNtexas' advice on UPT. He's so right about the prior flight time. I had 20 hours when I went to UPT and many, many of my F-15 peers were very low time prior to UPT as well. We obviously did very well. I know some Eagle drivers that had a lot of time prior to UPT, so it’s not always a problem. (Maybe they’re friends with Jim). I saw quite a few high time guys wash out or struggle to the point that a fighter was out of the question. If you want to succeed, use Jim’s advice – It really hit the nail on the head.

One other bit of advice: If you treat every ride in UPT as an opportunity to fail, you’ll be miserable for the year+ you are there. It can be a fun time if you relax and have some fun flying. The syllabus is designed to let you learn and the pace is not excessive. Some of the guys in my class that had some flying talent screwed up their chances of success and even washed out because they were more worried about passing each ride than learning. There will be few times in your AF career that all that’s really expected of you is to fly, when you’re not flying – think/study about it, have fun and booze on the weekends. This is one of them. Enjoy it.

Something else to think about – NOT ONE fighter pilot I know became a fighter pilot with the stated goal of “building time for the majors”. If you eventually want to be an airline pilot and you know that now, don’t bother trying to become an active duty fighter pilot. The only caveat would be if you’re affiliated with a Guard unit and you know you can get hired flying fighters there. I doubt that’s the case. It’s not so much about the lack of time you get flying fighters – airlines know about that and know the value of 10+ years of flying fighters, even if it only got you 2000 hours. It’s a little of that and a lot about attitude and commitment. Excelling as a fighter pilot just takes too much work to be a lead-in activity for pursuing a job as an airline pilot. You probably won’t attain either goal – IMO.

Finally, it might help if you got a pilot slot first. I did the ROTC route and got a pilot slot my senior year. Prior to that, I would have had to give up my scholarship to get one (couldn’t – I was poor). All of the sudden, they needed more pilots and didn’t make me give up the $$ to do it. So, there can be some luck, timing and a few other factors that affect your chances of getting a slot. Regardless of your test scores and prior time (see Jim’s advice again) – you need to kick ass in everything you do while you’re at school/ROTC. Get involved, get noticed, excel and don’t pi$$ off the folks who will help you get the UPT slot.
So, get your cart back behind your horse again. Get your degree, your commission and a UPT slot – none of which are small tasks – THEN, start asking for advice on success in UPT. Good Luck.

 

[Gorilla]

I'm hoping you're not actually the troll/tool you're seen to be in the Delta TA thread. Otherwise you've wasted a lot of time and some excellent, heart-felt advice from these experienced aviators, just to prop up your persona as a young time-building pilot.

With that said, there's not too much more to add except if your goal is the airlines, don't bother with fighters.

Adlerdriver nailed it - NOT ONE fighter pilot I know became a fighter pilot with the stated goal of “building time for the majors”. I have to concur. I thought I'd be a lifer. Priorities change, as do goals. The very few guys who let it be known they were after the airlines, IF they survived UPT, all sought and recieved the heavies they wanted desperately. C-17, KC-10, KC-135, AWACS, should be your goal.

 

[MarineGrunt]

If you want to build time for an airline job, the military isn't for you.
If the #1 reason why you are there isn't to serve your country, you belong somewhere else. "Service before self." Also, with UPT, you are there with some very VERY sharp folks, and the playing field levels quick, even if you have a lot of flight time. Be humble.

If you do get to UPT, as someone mentioned, stop thinking about fighters. The only airplane in the world is the T-6. Be ready to accept flying an AWACs some day (which I don't know why people say is such a bad gig) instead of that Strike Eagle.

Follow the advice you have on this thread and you will do great. Bookmark this page and read it at least weekly at UPT to serve as a reminder. Good luck.

 

[Deuce130]

Here's a post from another thead by Instructordude. Sounds like he can't wait to become a viper driver! I'm sure he'll make a good asset to the community. At least until he gets his hours.


Sorry for making everybody mad. I meant that 159,000 is a nice salary and that I would be happy making half that, not as a Delta guy though. I make around 16,000 now and live with my folks, half that salary sounds pretty nice. I am going to go into ROTC and try and get my hours in the military, preferably in a F-16 Fighting Falcon. Hopefully by the time I get out, the industry will have changed and I'll slide into the majors.