What advice would you have for someone looking to transition from the Army Reserves to become an Air Force Pilot?

2019-09-11T04:05:56-04:00

Hello everyone,
I am currently enlisted with the army reserve and am planning on transferring to the Air Force to become a pilot. My plan is to commission through ROTC. Are there any advice on my career path? Thank you for your time!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 11 at 2019 10:33 AM

2019-09-11T10:33:48-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member, your RP profile is a short on information so I can't provide detailed advice. Here's some general information. I'm assuming you don't have a bachelors degree. Research the Air Force web page and review the requirements to be an AF Officer and Pilot (https://www.af.mil)There are both physical and testing requirements. If you're reasonably confident you can meet both requirements, then start the process to find an AFROTC program at a college or university you want to attend. Check the College Locator at AFROTC.com. Also, some universities have cooperative arrangements with other nearby schools to provide AFROTC for their students because they don't have ROTC on campus.

Now comes the hard part, acceptance and money. Apply to the schools you would like to attend, but don't overlook smaller or less-well-known schools that may be closer or less expensive. The school from which you get your degree or commission makes no difference in getting into pilot training. You may have several means to pay for college. You may be eligible for the GI Bill. There are programs for prior-service people to get ROTC scholarships. There may be other opportunities for scholarships not associated with ROTC. Finally, there are student loans. The financial office at the university you want to attend and the ROTC office can advise you on these options. Apply for any and all. Take what you can get.

Once in AFROTC, you will have an opportunity to apply for pilot training. You'll undergo testing and a flight physical. If you pass both, then you will be designated a pilot candidate and can expect to go to AF Pilot Training after commissioning.

AF pilot training is conducted in phases. Pilot training currently consists of three phases starting with the academic and simulator phase. After the academic phase, student pilots are sent to train in the T-6A Texan II, the primary training aircraft. Once the students complete the second phase, they are selected for either the airlift/tanker track in the T-1A Jayhawk, or the fighter/bomber track in the T-38C Talon. Either way, after advanced training you will be awarded the pilot aeronautical rating. Next it's off the advanced training in the aircraft you will be flying for the next few years.

Best of luck! Let the RP community know how you're getting along.

(time is up for me. will edit and complete later.)

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2019 1:27 PM

2019-09-11T13:27:52-04:00

Hey there! Are you looking to fly fixed-wing or helicopters? If you're looking for helicopters, I would definitely look into the Army Warrant Officer Flight Training or WOFT program. You can become a warrant officer pilot without a college degree. But Capt Halvorson is right on the money as far as the AFROTC route goes.