| Becoming a fighter pilot isn't something that | | | | to be nominated by your Congressman. To |
| happens overnight. It requires lots of time, | | | | improve your chances of success, start |
| dedication and perseverance if you want to be | | | | preparing your application early, and |
| successful. A special type of person is | | | | certainly don't start any later than your |
| required to join such an elite group. | | | | junior year. |
| Funnily enough, most people think that | | | | |
| becoming a fighter pilot is mostly about | | | | The bad news is that just because you made it |
| flying, when in fact that isn't the case. | | | | into the service academy, pilot training |
| You also need to successfully train as an | | | | slots are still extremely limited. Being |
| officer. So you're primarily an officer, | | | | accepted by the academy is a piece of cake by |
| even if you continue on to be a fighter | | | | comparison. However pilots are in demand |
| pilot. Your primary job is to defend the USA | | | | right now, as all the military streams are |
| against its enemies, and any career | | | | struggling to retain the pilots they have. |
| aspirations are secondary to that. | | | | So if you're keen to be a fighter pilot, it's |
| | | | a little easier than usual to obtain a slot. |
| There are three possible ways to train as an | | | | How long that lasts, nobody knows. |
| officer - service academy, Officer Candidate | | | | |
| School (OCS) or Reserve Officers Training | | | | You might also find that The Reserve Officers |
| Corps (ROTC). As a high school student, you | | | | Training Corps is the best option for you. |
| should apply to a service academy if you want | | | | With this, you study at a college or |
| to become an officer. You can choose between | | | | university as normal, but add in the officer |
| the Air Force Academy, Annapolis (Navy & | | | | training requirements. On top of your |
| Marines), West Point (Army) or the U.S. Coast | | | | regular studies you will have to attend |
| Guard Academy. All of them put you through | | | | military training and courses, spend at least |
| rigorous military training, and you also | | | | one summer on a training camp and attend |
| obtain a Bachelor of Science degree. If you | | | | weekly meetings. Most of the time you live |
| have a strong aptitude to advanced math and | | | | as a civilian, only donning your military |
| science then you'll have a much better chance | | | | garb when you're actually attending military |
| of succeeding. | | | | classes. When your officer training is |
| | | | complete, you can then apply for specific |
| If you're planning to enter one of the | | | | programs such as pilot training. Competition |
| academies, then be aware that the competition | | | | is tough, and you'll need to pass some |
| to get in is fierce. You'll need a high | | | | rigorous academic, medical and testing |
| school grade point average of 3.8 as a cadet, | | | | requirements to be successful. |
| as well as a SAT score of 1300. This has to | | | | |
| include a minimum of 1050 for verbal and | | | | For those who decide a little later in life |
| math. It's a good idea to have a strong | | | | to become a fighter pilot, The Officer |
| extra-curricular activity record as well, | | | | Candidate School (OCS), sometimes called The |
| even more so if those activities demonstrate | | | | Officer Training School (OTS), is the best |
| leadership or athletic skills. | | | | route. Within 4 months OCS will take a |
| | | | college graduate with no background in the |
| So if you want to enter a service academy, | | | | military and turn him into an officer. |
| earn a commission and receive a college | | | | Again, you have the opportunity to apply for |
| education, the path is simple. It's not easy | | | | pilot training school when you qualify as an |
| though - you'll need to perform very well in | | | | officer, but the competition is just as |
| high school, and not just inside the | | | | fierce. It's also necessary for you to begin |
| classroom. It takes a long time to work your | | | | training as a fighter pilot before you turn |
| way through the application process. You | | | | 27, so this third option is only available |
| certainly don't just hand over a simple form | | | | for a limited time. |
| and expect to be accepted into a service | | | | |
| academy. You need three letters of | | | | Steve Dolan always wanted to be top gun but |
| recommendation, extensive paperwork, and even | | | | didn't quite make it. |