guarenteed USAF pilot slots

[VxClimb]

sorry if this is a stupid question but im new to the site and fairly new to aviation. just wondering if guarenteed pilots slots in the USAF are possible. in my search some say it is ...some say it isnt....whats the right answer???

 

[JimNtexas]

There's no such thing as a guarenteed slot to anything in the military. Every thing is subject to the needs of the service. Looking back over the last 36 years I can make some generalizations though.

The Air Force is historically given to wild swings in pilot production depending on the panic de jour. One year they'll open the flood gates and let anyone who can fog a mirror in, the next they slam the door to everyone without a senior officer sponser.

Academy graduates who want pilot slots have historically always recieved them eventually. In slow years they may have to spend a year in a non-flying job waiting their turn, but if they stay medically qualified they'll go in the long run.

I'm pretty sure OTS applicants know their end assignment before they start, but in dry years it can be very hard to get an OTS slot that leads into UPT.

AFROTC cadets compete for pilot slots, and the number of slots isn't decided until fairly late in the game.

The Guard is the best deal, especially for someone like you who is appearently working as a professional pilot already. Go to baseops.net for a lot more current information on the UPT selection process.

 

[Mongoose69]

Yes

To answer your question directly, there are 2 ways to get a "guaranteed" pilot slot in the USAF.

1) Apply to OTS (you already have to have a 4 year degree) and on your application put "pilot" as the number one choice. If you get selected for OTS and also selected for a pilot training slot, you can find out both before you sign anything. This is what I did. However, just as Jim said, in the lean times (which it is now), this is very difficult.

2) Find a Guard unit to sponsor you in. This can also be difficult, but as far as I know is also guaranteed (i.e. they can give you a pilot slot before you sign anything). Any guard guys feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Good luck,
-Jason

 

[CFIIer]

The above posters mentioned guard. Don't forget about the reserves as well. I guess most people think they are the same, but in fact they are separate. A reserve/guard unit will sponsor your package for the sole purpose of you getting a pilot slot. Meaning, they have no other use for you other than pilot. So if your package meets the board, and you don't get selected, you walk away with zero commitment. You can be guaranteed a slot through active duty, (ie OTS, ROTC), and you'll get it in writing. There is one thing to remember though, you may have paperwork that says "pilot" on it and has a UPT date after being commissioned, but until you get all of those physicals out of the way, including Brooks, there are no guarantees...

good luck

 

[SIG600]

There's no such thing as a guarenteed slot to anything in the military.

Not entirely true... the Navy and Marine Corps will guarantee your aviation slot prior to signing on the dotted line. WHAT you'll fly is the question.

 

[Jafar]

Not entirely true... the Navy and Marine Corps will guarantee your aviation slot prior to signing on the dotted line. WHAT you'll fly is the question.

I had one of those "guaranteed" slots in the Marines and it turned into an NFO slot as per the needs of the Marine Corps.

As goes the common adage around here, "Go Guard!"