Age Requirement

[AV8TOR]

Does anyone know what the age requirement is to join the Air Force for the pilot program? I have looked but I am getting 2 different ages. One said 27 by the time you reach flight school another I saw said 30.

What about the Marine Corps? What is the age to join their pilot program?

Thanks for the info

[Windchill]

30 for the Air Force.

[GatorFC]

Are you talking age requirement or age limit?

In any case, try here.

[AV8TOR]

ya know what, that is what I meant. So what would be the age limit for joining the military. I'm 27 now, and I have heard the military helps pay school loans, so why not flight loans. That's part of school. I am looking to join the reserves or national guard

Thanks for the webpage it was very helpful...

[GatorFC]

Do you already have a college degree? A military pilot is an officer and to become an officer you need a degree (unless you want to go Army WOFT). If not, you are cutting it close with needing to get a degree and entering flight training before the cutoff.

Windchill is probably more qualified to answer your questions than I am as he is in the Guard and went through the process of getting a pilot slot.

[AV8TOR]

Yeah I have the degree in Criminal Justice, I got that about 4 years ago....I am just looking into it right now, I know that I don't have that much time. So I am looking into the pro's and con's of joining. So far by just looking at the requirements I meet the min qualificaitons. So who knows,

What do you fly and what branch are you in?

[GatorFC]

I fly BE-76's, Duchesses that is.
I was in the Navy, and I am a pilot, but I wasn't a Naval Aviator. I was a Fire Controlman or weapons tech in the Navy specifically the missile in my avatar. Now I'm using the GI Bill to help pay for civilian flight training.

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
ya know what, that is what I meant. So what would be the age limit for joining the military. I'm 27 now, and I have heard the military helps pay school loans, so why not flight loans. That's part of school. I am looking to join the reserves or national guard

Thanks for the webpage it was very helpful...

[/ QUOTE ]

Problem is, for the service committment required upon completion of flight training, you really need to want it more than a method to pay off school loans.

[AV8TOR]

Ow without a doubt, I wouldn't mind flying a jet or even a transport. I'm pretty sure you could bring some of that experience over to the commerical side of the house.

That's where it is difficult to decide wheter it's worth the risk to go military. Who knows once you do start, you might end up in Iraq for a year or 2. And I think that's a bit far from my goal.

I am still weighing the plus vs neg. I bet the experience that you get from the military is very valuable. I would guess to say stuff that you couldn't image on the civilian side of flying

[MDPilot]

MikeD is being too nice. Trust me, forget about the military paying off your loans, forget about the experience that may translate to your future civilian career. Unless your motive to becoming a military pilot is to BECOME a military officer and pilot in and of themselves, you won't like your 11 years in the military (minimum.) Plus, with the motivations you have talked about so far, I would give you about a 5% chance of getting through UPT to start with. Military aviation is a whole 'nother ballgame, and UPT is not at all like FBO or even "academy" flight training.

[AV8TOR]

5% pretty slim odds you are giving me, and yet you don't know me.....

Being already from the Marine Corps 1996-2000 HQ 5th BN/11th Marines. Camp Pendleton Ca (I even got the tattoo to prove it ) I have just run up my GI Bill for my Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and my Associates in Aviation and now what’s left is pretty much depleted not enough to pay for the rest of my flight traning.

So I think I know what the "ball game" is all about. I don't know too much about the Airforce, but I think the OCS process shouldn’t be all that bad, and being that I have a little knowledge in flying and instrument flying. I know it will not make it that much more easier….but….it should be a small stepping stone in the process. You are right I have no idea what UPT is all about. I haven’t got the slightest idea.

All in all I am still weighing it out. I just wanted to see if I was still in the age limit requirements.

Thanks again for everyone’s responses, and the webpage. Very insightful!

[Windchill]

If you've read my responses to previous posts about flying for the Air Force, you'll learn that I'm a big proponent of applying "if and only if" you're doing it because you want to fly for the military. For the most part I'll echo MDPilot.

I had a C-5 slot (she may break a lot, but she's still the most majestic looking a/c in the fleet) with my ANG unit, but lost it to what amounts to simple "lazy eye." I love to fly, and look forward to flying recreationally ... if by some wierd chance I make it to any airline as a pilot, there will always be a void for not having flown with the Air Force.

If you're looking to repay loans or fly with the Air Force simply as a resume builder enroute to the airlines, go to an flight training academy or the Part 61 FBO route if you're concerned with finances.

If you're concerned about going to the sandbox ... don't join, because in a 10-year career you WILL go there ... OFTEN. The committment for the Air Force is 10-years following training ... and it'll be a looong 10 years if you're in it for the wrong reasons.

OTS, the Air Force's OCS, is a tougher route to get a pilot slot through ... basically OTS can award pilot slots "if" the AF Academy and ROTC don't fill their quota each year. I've heard recently that OTS is looking for technical degrees and so forth to fill other administrative officer spots.

You may although you're pushing time, try applying with an ANG or AF Reserve unit. Most units have a Candidate Selection Board on a yearly basis ... although the time between getting selected and sent away for training is somewhat lenghty. And again, do it for the right reasons!

[AV8TOR]

As stated earlier. it would onl be a part time job the weekend warrior.

But you can go to a unit and if they fly c-5's you can say I would like to apply for a pilot slot with your unit? That's not too bad of a deal, if you could find a good contact person at the unit.

Believe me I am looking at it at all angles..that's why it's such a hard decision.

thnaks foe the info

[BCTAv8r]

So if I go through ROTC I don't need to do an interview for a pilot slot? If I commit myself to my third year of ROTC and have not been guaranteed to a pilot slot, can I quit because I didn't get a pilot slot?

I wouldn't mind being a defensive or offensive weapons officer in a B-1 (is that what it's called). Too bad the B-1 is only on active.

[MDPilot]

[ QUOTE ]
5% pretty slim odds you are giving me, and yet you don't know me.....


[/ QUOTE ]

You're right, I don't know you. All I know is what you tell us....

"I have heard the military helps pay school loans, so why not flight loans."

and

"I wouldn't mind flying a jet or even a transport. I'm pretty sure you could bring some of that experience over to the commerical side of the house.
That's where it is difficult to decide wheter it's worth the risk to go military. Who knows once you do start, you might end up in Iraq for a year or 2. And I think that's a bit far from my goal."

And what do I know anyway. I just spent the first 4 years of a 20 year career as a UPT T-38 IP and the last 4 as an advisor to an ANG flying unit. Don't listen to me, I don't have the foggiest idea what I'm talking about.

[BCTAv8r]

MDPilot, what would you recommend to a high school sophmore that wants to fly in the military? I'm working on my grades and I'm in Navy JROTC and Concert Band/Marchign Band/Jazz Band in case that helps. Unfortunately, I can't attend the academies as I'm not an US citizen yet and won't be one for another 3-4 years. ROTC sounds like the next choice but I don't want to sign anything on my third year ROTC unless I know I'll be flying. If I could get a full-time mil pilot slot it would be better than ANG to me. I was not born in this country but that doesn't make me any less proud of it, and I wouldn't mind serving in the US military. The commitment long but it might be worth it. The biggest issue I have is my vision which at this point I don't know how bad it is. I am near sighted however and probably will not be able to get a slot unless they change something.

[MDPilot]

The best chances, IMO, to get a AF pilot slot are in order: USAFA, AFROTC, "pledging" a ANG/AFRES unit, and OCS. Only the last two allow you to "know" that you have a UPT slot before you sign on the line. However, 80% of annual pilot slots go to the first two. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

I have no direct knowledge of Navy/Marines/Coast Guard/Army slots. I do know however, that the mix of rotary wing to fixed wing initial training slots are much higher for all these (Navy/Marines probably 60%RW/40%FW, Army is 98%RW, CG is probably 85%RW) than that of the AF (90%FW/10%RW). Might make a difference on how you chose a service, depending on whether you want to fly Helos or airplanes.

But, in all cases, I reiterate the adage that I and MikeD have been saying for a long time. Go into the military to fly because 1) you want to be a military officer, 2) you want to fly military aircraft in a military mission. Wanting to go through the ordeal of UPT and the subsequent years of military commitment because you are looking for a cheap way to get flight training for a civilian career is sure to be a disapointment both personally and professionally.

[JimmyK]

Just a little add on to what MDpilot and a few others are saying. If you plan on joing the military remember NEEDS OF THE MILITARY. When you sign your life on that dotted line you are essentially government property for the next 4+ years. So it dosent matter what you want or anyone else wants if Uncle Sam says you do something you do it. If you wanna fly fighters but track select into heavies or vice versa, tough luck. Even if you get somethin 'guaranteed' in your contract and they find out someone screwed up somewhere along the line and that 'guarantee' isn't available anymore, guess what, you go where Uncle Sam needs you. Just a few things for everyone to consider.

[Windchill]

[ QUOTE ]
As stated earlier. it would onl be a part time job the weekend warrior

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't happen like that in the ANG, especially for pilots. Pilots in the ANG still need to pull days throughout the week many months for currency, etc so it's not just a weekend warrior part-time job. Also, the mission of the ANG has changed dramatically (evolved) over the past few years in that the ANG is as active as the active duty anymore.

[ QUOTE ]
Go into the military to fly because 1) you want to be a military officer, 2) you want to fly military aircraft in a military mission. Wanting to go through the ordeal of UPT and the subsequent years of military commitment because you are looking for a cheap way to get flight training for a civilian career is sure to be a disapointment both personally and professionally.

[/ QUOTE ]

[bullmastiff]

Remember, is is the age whenyou start UPT that matters.

[AV8TOR]

Just a little update:

After taking everyone's advise on here, I was able to make it up to the recruiters office. Nice enough they were all right next to each other. Navy Marines, Air Force, and Army..go figure....

After talking with each Recruiter...I heard the good and bad about each service. And at my age, I will have to get a wavier but they said it's not too hard to get. I met the basic qualifications. Eye sight, height and Weight, GT score..etc.

They said I need to make a decision soon, real SOON, after talking with the different services. I am leaning toward the Warrant Officer Program. The good thing about that, is they said that you will be able to fly for your entire career. Unlike the Airforce and Marines. After a certain amount of time and when you make more rank...you have to move on to a Command, which would be good if you like that. I think I would be happy flying for a while.

Next week I take the AFOQT, I have been studing like a MAD MAN! But the practice test looks pretty easy, hand and eye coordination, what happens when I push the stick this way....etc....

The person I talked to said that with already having a background in Aviation, I should be fine with the test. Also there are a NEED of pilots right now, Nationwide....

So I am studing and we will see where this takes me.,,,more to come

[GatorFC]

I'm guessing you are talking about the Army WOFT. I know you said that you were Marine prior service before, did they say if you were going to have to go through bootcamp again? Also, does your prior active duty service count against the age limit?

[AV8TOR]

That's exactly it...the ARMY WOFT, actually the prior service doesn't hurt me, it helps me, for the Marine Corps, I don't have to meet the age requirements. And as far as boot camp I don't have to do that either. I have to wait for a slot to open up at a unit that I am requesting. So I have to find a unit, make myself known, let them know who I am and what I can bring to the unit. Once I make a good impression, and they like me, I can apply with that unit.

I met the standards just on paper.. I have to do an actual flight phyiscal , so who knows what will happen then.In the Marines, I don't think that I want to deploy again on those 6 month 'floats' I'm married now and have a daughter, I did that in the past, I got my "been there, down that" t-shirt. Like I said before, the more rank you get the less you are flying and the more you are pushing papers.

The WOFT program, I think is a great way to go, I wish I knew about this program when I was younger, oh well live and learn. But as I said we will see what happens in the coming weeks...

[GatorFC]

Yeah, I had heard that active duty service helps you as far as age waivers - that's what I meant. I guess I worded it wrong. I keep on thinking I should have looked into it more while I was still active duty Navy since the whole "blue to green" interservice transfer program was in full swing.

Anyway, Good Luck!

[AV8TOR]

After talking with the recruiter, he said now is as good of time as any, right now they are IN NEED of Warrant Officers in general, and 153A Helo Pilot is in need also…They have also changed the eye requirements to 20/60 use to be 20/50. So anyone that is interested now is the BEST TIME…