Plz help me get a UPT slot

[Leo R.]

Greetings all,

Well first of all, I just stumbled upon this board and there is some awesome information and I needed a few questions answered. Here's my story, so please bear with me:
I was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy class of 2007, and just recently dropped out. Sorry guys, but after being there for 3 weeks of beast, I ultimately decided that that's not what I wanted from my college experience. Anyhow, I am not giving up. For all of my life, I have wanted to be a fighter pilot ( F-15C prefferably, but I would be happy with anything fast and pointy, hell, right now I would just be happy with any UPT slot). After being home for about a week and a half, I enrolled in our local universtity (University of Texas at El Paso) and have contacted the AF ROTC detachment head, and will definitely get involved in the ROTC program. I am going to to try to do everything I can to get a UPT slot. As a matter of fact, I just recently joined civil air patrol, seeing how it adds brownie points. In addition, I have about 67 hours of flight time (my PPL), and am going to study my ass off for the AFOQT, and work my butt off to get in shape.
Currently, I am planning to major in mechanical engineering, but I may actually transfer over to UT Austin since it is a very good engineering program. Are there an repurcussions for switching schools and ROTC detatchments? Also, are pilot slots given out by detatchment or is everyone just put into a really big pool? If there is any advice, what kind of advice would you give to someone like me, who really wants to be a fighter pilot. I realize quitting the academy probably may not have been the best move. Also, the "code" they assigned on my for for quitting the academy was "Not enough time to evaluate." Sorry for the lengthy message, but I appreciate any input. Thanks!

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC

 

[mudkow60]

Well, this is not quite the same, but I left the Naval Academy after Plebe summer, and enrolled at the University of Arizona that same semester. After one semester, I applied and got an NROTC scholarship. I worked pretty hard at school, got good grades, and had a fun time doing it. I picked up a pilot slot, and life has been progressing ever since.

A couple points of advice. Choose a major you will be good at and enjoy. As per the Navy, it was not the degree that mattered so much as your grades. The pilot liscence helped for pilot training, but I am not sure that it made it on my application to get into flight school. And remember to enjoy collage, because it rules!

Also, I wanted to fly jets, but after flight school, I was hooked on helos, and would not go back. I have flown in an F-14, and flown against A-10s, and still would not trade my job right now as a helo pilot. Don't get too locked into the 'pointy nose only' mentality. Lots of friends who did either got P-3's, helos, and some got nothing at all.

Good Luck,

Matt

 

[CCDiscoB]

No Problem

Leo R.

Dude, you've got nothing to worry about. Do you know how many guys have dropped out of the Academy and joined ROTC? In fact there was one in my ROTC class.
You made, from what you wrote about yourself, the right call. You're doing the right things, you've got a PPL and you're getting a mechanical engineering degree. You should be fine. Go get that F-15C. You'll love it!

 

[llowwelll]

Given the story you just told, you DEFINITELY made the right decision. You seem to already understand this, but there is more to life than flying and the Air Force. You would not believe the number of people from USAFA I know that wish they had gone somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, there certainly are people from there who really enjoyed it, but there are A LOT who feel like they would have had a better time in college somewhere else.

There are plenty of people out there from ROTC and elsewhere flying airplanes. I don't have any specific examples, but I don't think leaving USAFA will be held against you. I'd imagine your performance in ROTC and in college will be what gets you your pilot slot or not.

If for some reason you end up not getting a pilot slot, DO NOT forget about the ANG and Reserve. I was shocked when I got to pilot training and there were four or five ANG and Res guys in my class. I had no idea you could do that. In my opinion, that's the best way to go about getting a pilot slot.

Finally, once you get the pilot slot, unless you are ANG or Res, it's your performance in pilot training that gets you what you want and has essentially nothing to do with anything you did before you showed up there. ANG and Res guys already have their aircraft assigned when they show up on day one.

 

[JimNtexas]

I think you have the right plan. I would echo the others who have said

1) major in something you enjoy and will be good at.

2) Look carefully at the Guard and Reserve.

"Currently, I am planning to major in mechanical engineering, but I may actually transfer over to UT Austin since it is a very good engineering program. Are there an repurcussions for switching schools and ROTC detatchments? "

I don't think there is any problem moving between schools that have AFROTC dets.

I'm a UT AFROTC grad. I recall we had a couple of guys transfer to private schools once they got their scholarships, since they didn't have to worry about tution at that point.

 

[AlbieF15]

Also...when someone asks "why did you leave the AF academy?" you can answer:

"uh...I like girls. I like going to bed in my own room. I like to drink and eat whenever I d@mn well please".

Anything else beyond that is wasted breath.

I know the academy system works very well for some people, but I "personally" think you made one of the best decisions of your young adult life.

Now...no DUIs, drugs, or anything really stupid for 4 years and we'll see you at Tyndall in 2008-9! I'll be the fat, old bald IP hanging trying to hang around and fly Eagles until he's 55....

 

[Steeler Fan]

Best Option

The best option is whatever gets you to pilot training the fastest...

If you want to be a fighter pilot, then check into (and call/visit) those units that fly the equipment you want to fly

For example, if you get hired by the Illinois Air Ntl Guard near St. Louis, you'll be flying a KC-135 tanker...If you want to fly fighters, try Active Duty,

Example: St. Louis (Missouri ANG)--F-15s (30 miles from the tanker unit, COMPLETELY different unit)

Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have links to what units fly which airplanes.

Good luck.

 

[Leo R.]

Thanks So Much!

Hey guys, I know it's a little "belated" but I would just like to thank all of you for all of your time and advice. It is great to have found such an awesome message board with so many friendly and insightful people that share the same passion I do. Once again, thanks so much!

Very Respectfully,
Leo R.