Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: clallen@rodan.acs.syr.edu (CHAz)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: wanted: information regarding becoming a fighter pilot
Keywords: navy, air force, pilot, fighter, jet
Message-ID: <1990Nov16.053621.23176@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 16 Nov 90 05:36:21 GMT
References: <1990Nov15.013340.1614@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Lines: 72
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: clallen@rodan.acs.syr.edu (CHAz)
In article <1990Nov15.013340.1614@cbnews.att.com> contex!jeff@uunet.UU.NET (Jeff Carey) writes:
>I am looking for information regarding joining the military
>with aspirations of flying a fighter aircraft (or any highly
>technologically advanced aircraft, for that matter).  I do not
>know if this is the correct newsgroup for these questions, but
>it is the only one I could find that seemed appropriate.

	I am a grad student in my 4th year of AFROTC.  I am also have a
pilot slot, and will go to UPT following commissioning in May.  The only way 
that I know of achieving what you want to do would be either thruough
ROTC OR OTS/OCS.

>1. is it 'easier' to become a fighter pilot for the navy or for the
>   air force?

	I'd say neither at the moment.  You have picked a bad time to do
this as both branches are getting hit with cutbacks and pilot allocations
a hard to come by, even if you are already in the system.

>3. what is entailed (number of years, etc) in becoming a pilot; how
>   long does basic training, pilot training, and required active duty
>   last?

	The Air Force requires that each pilot pass through a 4 week 
Light Aircraft Training/Flight Screening Program(LATR/FSP)(Which I have done),
and then 1 year of Undergraduate Pilot Training(UPT).  Commitment AFTER
UPT is now up to 10 years.  That is what I am locked into.

>4. what percentage of persons who join these services with these
>   same aspirations actually make it to pilot?

	Slim.  Medical and physiological test and examinations have large
attrition rates.  You gotta have what they want.  I ran into trouble
with some medical stuff, but got it straightened out.

>5. does having a college degree and/or high-tech work experience change
>   the amount of training one will go through or the status at which
>   the service will regard a prospective pilot?

	None whatsoever.  Everyone goes through the same training despite
any previous experience.  In fact they really don't care about degrees.
AFROTC does not have any specifications as far as what your degree is in 
considering you for a pilot slot.  You GPA is a factor though.

>6. what are the pros and cons (besides the obvious) that are involved?

	It isnt TOP GUN glamor at all.  It is A LOT of hard work.  If you think
you studied hard in college, double it.  14 hr days on the flight line alone,
and then going home to study.  And after all that you could be flying 
a aircraft that you weren't really hoping for when you got into the program.
Actualy now the AF is going to a 2-Track program(Fighter/Bomber, Transport/
Tanker)  where you will know what type of aircraft you will fly before you
go to UPT.
	Right now the Air Force hands out only 20-25% of its pilot
assignments to the fighter classification anyhow.  <40% of the assignments
goto transports.

>------------------------
>Jeff Carey
>contex!jeff@uunet.uu.net

	I'll be happy to entertain anymore questions

CHAz
-- 
Charles L. Allen		    |	     Between Tyranny and Freedom,
Academic Computing Services	    |		Evil and Rightousness,
Syracuse University		    |	      Despair and Hope....BLOOD.
clallen@rodan.acs.syr.edu	    |    *Support US Troops in Saudi Arabia*