Posted on May 2, 2020
Would a civilian aircraft license make me a better candidate for AF/Navy aviator selection?
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Aviation
F-35
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About 1 in 10 Marine flight students will get a jet assignment, and of them, there are still a lot of Hornet and Harrier slots. I suppose with those odds, being able to pilot a piston-engined Cessna might give you an edge in the T-6 for the first 3-5 lessons. Then it’s time for instruments, spin training, aerobatics, and formation flight. Then you do all that in a T-45, plus four-plane formation, low-level high-speed navigation with only a map and stopwatch, bombing, strafing, tactical formations, aerial gunnery, dogfighting, and aircraft qualification. THEN your grades will decide if you’ll get F-35s. Still...if getting that 40 hours of piston time while doing mostly private pilot maneuvers might give you an “edge,” I suppose it’s worth it.
If you’re just looking for the easier route, go Air Force. Their pipeline is about 50 hours less to get your wings, AND you don’t have to fly off a boat in order to get your wings.
If you’re just looking for the easier route, go Air Force. Their pipeline is about 50 hours less to get your wings, AND you don’t have to fly off a boat in order to get your wings.
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This question has been asked numerous times here because it is a popular topic and there is a lot of good info from all types of pilots in those responses. Recommend you search the forum and find those questions. Not busting on you, just want to make sure you get the info you want/need and offering an alternative! Have a great day.
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LTC Jason Mackay
They have another post where they asked about this, but lthey are not a US Citizen, so they were told they are ineligible for a commissioning program. So not sure what else the community can do t help them. It's an entry show stopper.
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Jamie Tran
Thank you for the information, Sir.I'm working on my citizenship right now and I'm looking to enlist in a reserve component ( I have a 9-5 job ) to boost up the naturalization process. Then I'm looking to go to OTS/OCS as a pilot candidate. My goal is to become an Active duty pilot. Once again, best of luck and have a great day, Sir !
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Having demonstrated the tenacity to stick with the course of instruction and pass the written and practical tests may indicate to a selection board that you have potential. Bear in mind though, rarely is anyone turned away from civilian flight training so long as they can get a medical certificate and pay for the lessons, tests and checkride(s).
I know that as a military flight instructor I groaned a little on the inside when I learned one of my incoming students had their Private ticket punched. Often these students were of the opinion that they “already knew how to fly” and just needed to learn the tactical stuff.
It’s actually much easier to train somebody from scratch than it is to fix/modify/replace whatever training they already have.
I know that as a military flight instructor I groaned a little on the inside when I learned one of my incoming students had their Private ticket punched. Often these students were of the opinion that they “already knew how to fly” and just needed to learn the tactical stuff.
It’s actually much easier to train somebody from scratch than it is to fix/modify/replace whatever training they already have.
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