Without knowing you at all, there's no crystal ball that exists that shows what the "best" option for you is to become a fighter pilot. Good on you for trying to plan out your future. 1500 hrs is typical, less if you have a bachelors in aviation. The requirements for an ATP vary depending on your background. Without a lot of extra flying, you won’t have an airline job right away, for that you need an ATP. Still, with fighters, you generally won’t get time as quickly as the heavy guys do.Ī lot of the guys do have airline jobs in the ANG, but there are also engineers, lawyers, salesmen, etc. So after flight school, you’d be active at the unit for that time. Thanks for the help.Īs for additional things to stand out, I’m in the process myself, so others that have already been success or someone that has sat a board would be able to give a better response.Īs for flight time, from what I’ve seen it seems like most fighter units have a couple of years of “seasoning” orders.
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Thanks for the response! So your advice would be to go ANG/AFR? Let's say I get my PPL and get the grades in college, is there any other way to beef my application to get hired by a fighter unit? I'm friends with a Lieutenant Colonel in the AF who could give me a letter of recommendation: would that make me stand out from others and greatly increase my chances you think? I don't know much about the ANG/AFR.heard they get minimal flight time, but I'd get to also start an airline job too right? If I joined a guard unit, how do I fly for an airline because the only rating I'd have is a PPL and no multi-engine or commercial rating so I don't understand that. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app
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That’s all a long way away, but from the sounds of it, you have your head on straight and can do well if you stay the path! Take the practice tests timed so you know what to expect. If you have a passion for aviation and want to fly regardless, consider majoring in it! I didn’t realize that was an option until it was too late.Įither way, get your PPL, study your ass off for whichever aptitude test you take (AFOQT or ASTB), or both, and knock it out of the park. Get a good degree that interest you and do your best to have a 4.0. Kick Ass in college, do the opposite of what I did. I say that all for to get to the point that the only way to GUARANTEE fighters is through the ANG and AF Reserves. Your class may be majority T-38s and almost all fighters, or it could be the opposite. I have a friend that went to the ENJJPT, which is normally expected to have a lot of fighter drops, and there were only 2 guys in his class that got fighters. There is risk there too, this is really where the needs of the Air Force and Navy come in. With both OTS and OCS, you’ll be battling it out in flight school and active duty. But from what I understand they also have a lot of helicopters, so if that’s not something you’re interested in, it is a risk. What the Navy guy said is true, most of their fixed wing aircraft are fighters. With all of these options, you’ll know you’re going to be a pilot for sure. A PPL will make you more competitive for all of these options. That leaves OTS(Air Force), OCS(Navy), AFR, or ANG. ROTC or an academy does not even guarantee a flight slot, so if being a fighter pilot is the only career you can imagine and you don’t want to risk being in the military and any other job, avoid those option. I’m in the middle of applying for flight slots with the guard now, so I’m by no means the be all end all of advice, but I’ll give the 2¢ I wish I’d gotten when I was in high school. Is that true? Should I go OCS, ROTC, or try to go to an Academy? If I got a ROTC scholarship should I take that route? Would having a PPL be something I should do or should I wait because the military has their way of training pilots? If I went ANG I know I'd be guaranteed fighters and a base, but I'd imagine the competition for a spot at a base would be hard coming from civilian life, no? Would it be better to go ANG or active? I know there is a difference between the lifestyle of an air force pilot and navy pilot but I would do either. My question is what is the best way for me to become a fighter pilot? I know currently there is a shortage of fighter pilots in the air force, but a navy pilot has told me that if I took the navy route I'd have a higher chance at fighters because that's mainly what the navy flies. A little bit about me: weighted 4.5 GPA, soccer for all 3 years so far including have been captain of my team, involved in student body leadership, top 10% of my class, and plenty of community service. I'm currently a junior and high school and I've had the eagerness to become a fighter pilot since I can remember.