What are some things that can help me achieve a pilot slot for the Army?

2018-07-15T22:17:33-04:00

My lifelong dream is to become a Blackhawk Medevac pilot. A little background knowlege about me: Im currently in the Army National Guard as a 68W medic (E-4). I also have a full ride to the University of North Georgia for their ROTC program. The semester is coming up and i will be signing my commissioning contract within the next semester. Im torn whether I should SMP at my medical unit or an aviation unit thats right next door to where I drill. Also Im considering even utilizing my GI Bill to go to flight school and get ahead of others that are also completing for a pilot slot. I have a 308 APFT (female scale) and have not yet take the sift or the medical exam. Any advice or criticism is welcome.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2018 10:18 PM

2018-07-15T22:18:35-04:00

A pilots license. I’m just kidding lol

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2018 12:13 AM

2018-07-16T00:13:05-04:00

Just do well in ROTC, pass a flight physical and get a letter of acceptance from the unit you want to be in. If you qualify and a unit accepts you, that's it.

If you were going regular army you would have to compete for slots.

I dont think attending flight school on your own will have any impact on the outcome. Being respected in your guard unit will.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 16 at 2018 3:25 AM

2018-07-16T03:25:27-04:00

If there's a mil aero club near you, use it, and get sport and private pilot, imstri!EMT rating, multiengine, maybe also commercial, linking that to your bachelor's, esp if it has aviation there or somewhere you can cross register...net, what major are you going for? Can you go STEM? Elected engrg? Aero engrg? Mech engrg? Being clinical now, would certainly help you in medevac, that'd be obvious to any board, certainly, I should think...if you could do a double Bach, if possible, or double major, doing more bio/pre!ed, just in case you'd ever want to go for flight surgeon, I'm sure you know of the USUHS, look at tier PhD programs, esp in physiology, also pilot workload and human factors. Join AMSUS, AIAA, IEEE (esp their aerospace electronics society), AFCEA, the Assoc of Old Crows (AOC, end electronics group with aero interest, similar to AFCEA), if I think of others, I'll try suggesting them as well...I'd also seriously consider USCG, since their helicopter pilots do medevac as well, certainly, as well as medevac in the other svcs, you might Aldo consider USAF Air Mobility Command ( AMC), for their fixed wing C-9 Nightingale medevac aircraft, or whatever else is presently used, just some thoughts, I'd be most eager to hear more if you'd care to chat, very interesting scenario, many thanks, hope that info was of use and/or interest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 16 at 2018 3:29 AM

2018-07-16T03:29:01-04:00

And I'm quite certain there must he profsnl assocsns of medevac pilots, both fixed and rotary wing, I'd certainly look into trying to join rose, as well as trying to be able to volunteer assign!EMTs with them, maybe during summers, while you're in ROTC...if you're simultaneous membership program (SMP) as well, maybe you could be involved with medevac while you're in ROTC through ARNG or USAR as well, just another thought that occurred to me, to try to get some recommendations and/or exposure, as well....

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2018 12:42 PM

2018-07-16T12:42:02-04:00

Depends if you are wanting to stay in the guard or active duty, warrant or commissioned. Either way if you have an aviation unit close by find their training officer or a senior warrant and talk with them.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Jul 16 at 2018 6:09 PM

2018-07-16T18:09:19-04:00

There is a serious shortage of qualified pilots in the military. I would seriously suggest that you talk to another pilot and see what they would do. A female pilot may even be a better source considering she has followed a similar path herself. The very best of luck to you and keep us posted and let us know how you are doing.

Response by MAJ Robert Neave made Jul 18 at 2018 12:19 PM

2018-07-18T12:19:58-04:00

I wasn't in Aviation but here's how it works in all career fields. You are already one step ahead by asking questions. Smart move. Do SMP with the Aviation unit. Consider it an internship, which is technically what SMP actually is. Gain the respect of the tenured folks who will eventually be signing letters of recommendation for you to branch AV - that's the Commander at every level in your chain, XO's, S3's, and the senior warrant officer aviators in the unit. Impress them with your genuine motivation, energy, zeal, intelligence, maturity, and eagerness to learn. As a cadet you are an "officer" now. Leave your lower-enlisted fear of officers at the door. You are one of them now - own it. They WILL accept you. Feel welcome and confident in the presence of officers. If you are timid they will know it and they may not consider you to have what it takes to be among them in the Avn community in your future career. At drills hang out with officers and emulate them. No more enlisted battle buddies. In that, develop a growing mindset.....no more executing mindless skill level 1 tasks as your sole purpose, but now learn how to manage and lead the organization. You will be a PL or a shadow PL. Learn what the XO does. Learn the BN S4, S1, S2, S3, etc. Make a name for yourself in the unit and at higher HQ. Continue to ask questions of the officers -- this is an internship. Think and behave like a manager not an employee. This however does not mean to forget what it was like at the bottom. Continue to love the Soldiers and NCOs who make it happen. Treat them with the utmost respect and they will ensure that you succeed. From all of this take your smoking hot letters of recommendation to your PMS at school for him/her to recommend AV on your final eval for accessions (branch selection). Also do extremely well in your ROTC classes, PT, land nav, etc, and your overall GPA. You will also need a 4 or 5 at advanced camp. AV is competitive. Everyone thinks they want to be a chopper jockey. The confidence and leadership you gain at SMP will help you achieve that at camp. Get a slot and go to Airborne School! This has nothing to do with branching AV but it is the absolute best thing you can do in ROTC to motivate every area of your life and your future.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made May 29 at 2019 8:54 PM

2019-05-29T20:54:56-04:00

Any news on your journey to become a Blackhawk Helo pilot?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2019 9:18 PM

2019-05-29T21:18:49-04:00

I read my post again, please excuse the excessive amount of typos.