How To Become an Air Force Pilot
It’s a common misconception that the majority of people in the Air Force fly. In fact, only about 5% of Air Force personnel are aircrew members, with ~2% being actual pilots. Military aviation is a small (but rewarding!) career field that requires a lot of education and training… See below for how to get started!
Become an officer.
For background, there are two separate and distinct categories in the Air Force: officer and enlisted. Enlisted members make up about 80% of the service and join via a recruiter; they are required to have a high school degree or GED.
Officers, in contrast, make up about 20% of the force and join via a commissioning source: the Air Force Academy, Air Force ROTC, or——for those who are already enlisted——Officer Training School. Officers serve as the military’s de facto leaders and are required to have a bachelor’s degree. All Air Force pilots are officers.
While both the Academy and ROTC allow individuals to attend college and train for the Air Force simultaneously, these two commissioning sources are fundamentally different. The Academy is a full-time military school: cadets march to the dining hall in formation, always wear their uniforms, have room inspections, etc. In contrast, ROTC is offered at “regular” schools and cadets have a more typical college experience——Air Force training only occurs part-time. The Academy is free to attend, but ROTC offers substantial scholarships (including full-rides).
Learn more about the Academy here.
Learn more about ROTC here.
Upon meeting their respective commissioning source’s requirements (training courses, physical fitness standards, GPA thresholds, etc.), cadets have a position as an Air Force officer waiting for them upon graduation. Typically, graduations and commissioning ceremonies occur on the same day.
Compete for a pilot slot.
Flying positions in the Air Force are referred to as “rated” career fields; these consist of pilots, combat systems officers (AKA navigators), air battle managers, and remotely-piloted-aircraft pilots. Cadets must specifically apply for a rated “slot” their junior year, and selection is based on a myriad of factors: GPA, commander’s endorsement, Air Force test scores, etc. To be competitive, it is critical that the cadet has good grades and a supportive leadership team.
Learn more about rated selection here.
All duty assignments are made prior to commissioning, so cadets know what job they’ll be doing and what base they’ll be going to once they graduate. Pilot candidates——those who received a pilot slot——report straight to flight school, which lasts about a year. Pilot training students select their operational aircraft at the end of flight school, then go on to attend initial qualification training for that specific platform.
Learn more about the aircraft selection process here.
FAQs
Do you have to do JROTC in high school to do ROTC in college?
No. No previous military experience (of any sort!) is required to join ROTC or attend the Academy.
Do you have to have a private pilot’s license to get an Air Force pilot slot?
No, you don’t have to have any flight time at all to receive a pilot slot.
Do you have to have 20/20 vision to fly?
No, many Air Force pilots wear glasses or contacts. Of note, though, you cannot be colorblind.
Do you have to have a STEM degree to be an Air Force pilot?
No, you can major in whatever you want! My bachelor’s degree is in International Studies, and I have friends who majored in everything from Photography to Early Childhood Education.
What Next?
If you’re currently in high school…
Focus on getting into college (prioritize good grades!), and research both the Academy and ROTC. It’s important that you learn the differences between the two commissioning sources and consider which would be the better option for you——there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
If you’re currently in college…
Talk to your school’s ROTC detachment to understand their training and education requirements. If your school doesn’t have an ROTC program another local school might, and there is typically an option to train as a “cross-town” cadet.
You can find a list of all ROTC detachments here.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree…
Look into Officer Training School and talk to a recruiter about the likelihood of receiving a pilot slot via this commissioning source——the statistics fluctuate often.
If you aren’t interested in becoming an officer but still want to fly…
There are several aircrew positions available to enlisted members: loadmaster, boom operator, flight engineer, etc. Talk to a recruiter about enlisting and how to get selected for one of these specialties.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, it’s essential that you find a mentor to help guide you through the process. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to me directly and I’ll get you linked up with someone!