Air Force

[BMD]

patmack

Yahtzee, a lack of knowledge on some subject has never stopped patmack from throwing in his two cents.

 

[Yahtzee]

No harm...no foul

Yahtzee, a lack of knowledge on some subject has never stopped patmack from throwing in his two cents.

Patmack's ok...he's trying to help so that's good. Seems he has made a lot of progress since he first starting posting on this board. A guess that Navy training is doing wonders.

On a side note: From 1993 to maybe 1997 the USAFA did not tell folks if they had a pilot slot to the end of their junior year. This was the continuing result of the pilot cutbacks after the Wall came down in 1989. By the time these cadets learned words whether they had a pilot slot or not, they would have incurred some service commitment had they choose to quit the USAF.

My apology for forgetting this. Patmack maybe have been referring to this isolated time period at the USAFA. If so, I'll let him slide.

Again I ask the question "Why the heck would you choose to go to the USAFA when you could go to ROTC?"

Patmack...no harm no foul....Just trying to set the record straight .

Yahtz

 

[mugsy]

Veloity,


I went to college and applied to OTS back in 93'. I got in and yes I had the pilot slot before I went. The trick you don't want to fall into is some recruiter asking if you would like to be a nav first if you can't get a pilot slot. They asked me this after I got turned down the first time. Stick to your guns and Don't fall for this pitch. If you want to be a pilot, than that is what you want to do, nothing else will you settle for. OTS is pain, but you learn a lot of good stuff. Play the game and keep a good attitude. There job is to make you a good officer first. That is your first goal. No butter bar, no wings. One step at a time. You will be worked hard and asked a lot of. Don't ever get a chip on your shoulder because you are pilot selectee. That goes for even when you get your wings. The AF is a team and without everyone else we are just a photo shoot in the airplane. I have met plenty of aviators who think they are god's gift to the air force. Just some advice for when you get your wings. I am now flying the B-2 coming from b-1s. No it is not yanking and banking like the fighters, but is a great bomber. Good family life if you are thinking about that. If you want know anything about it just ask. God speed and keep the faith brother. We need guys who care about our country and want to keep our way of life.

mugsy

 

[korn]

ANG is Another Option

The Guard is another option that can get you into a jet. There is no equivalent opportunity in the Navy system, though (I don't think the Navy Reserve sends people to primary). In many states, there are ways to get financial help for college with the Guard, as well.

I've heard so many people say that they never knew about the Guard until they had already comitted to active duty. It's not for everyone, but it can be a great way to serve.

Korn

 

[Yahtzee]

ROTC Pilot Slots

Ya I forgot to mention I was reffering to the ROTC programs. At my school, all the ROTC (Air Force) students signed up and went through the program, then after they had gone through I think 2 years they basically signed on the dotted line to serve their commision and then wait for what they got. Not sure if thats exactly how it worked, but I do know that they did NOT know what they would be doing. I had several flight students that were going through the ROTC program that were heart set on pilot positions and didn't get them.

Patmack,

The USAF understands many, if not most, young men and women are interested in flying....hence the name "Air Force". With this understanding in mind, the AF does a good job of letting folks know if they will be going to UPT as soon as possible.

The reason "they did NOT know what they would be doing" was because "they" didn't have pilot slots. Your friend who went to the back of a Strike Eagle, knew she had a Nav slot and not a pilot slot...unless she went to UPT, was eliminated, then found her way to Nav school then to the back of an F-15E.

I'll repost my previous comments in reference to ROTC.

Originally posted by Yahtzee

Once you start your Junior year, you'll be presented with paperwork stating what type of slot you have earned. If your "contract" states "Pilot" and you sign, you join the PMC (Professional Military Core). Once you get commissioned, you will go to pilot training.

Slots come down with about five different options:

Pilot, Nav, Technical, Non-Technical, Missile (maybe Space & Missile today) and maybe one more. Unless you have a pilot or nav slot, you will not know what you are doing until sometime your senior year. Pilots and navs will know their junior year.

A current junior in ROTC would be able to provide the most current info, but you make it sound like a cadet wouldn't know if they would be going to UPT up to the day before they got commissioned. That's simply inaccurate.

Velocity,

I'll ask a couple of ROTC commissioned 2Lts tomorrow specificallly when they signed their contracts and when they were officially informed of their pilot slots.

If you would like, I'll get you a phone number to several ROTC detachments so you can call and ask any questions you might have.

Send me a PM if you want the phone numbers.

Best Wishes,

Yahtz

 

[Velocity]

What exactly is the guard and where can I find more information on it?