Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!amdcad!military
From: dth@reef.cis.ufl.edu (David Hightower)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Pilot Cutbacks
Message-ID: <1991Jun10.023152.11944@amd.com>
Date: 6 Jun 91 15:46:07 GMT
References: <1991Jun5.064719.25918@amd.com>
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: UF CIS Dept.
Lines: 42
Approved: military@amd.com


From: dth@reef.cis.ufl.edu (David Hightower)


havens@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Jean Elizabeth Havens) writes:
>	I am currently in Air Force ROTC and also a student at the 
>University of Pennsylvania. I had a pilot slot, but it was taken away
>about two months ago in the pilot cutbacks.
[...]
>Also, I am now looking for advice on what area or AFSC to request -
>with hopes of maximizing my chance for eventually getting a pilot slot
>back. 

I know just how you feel; I was commissioned on 3 May 91, and I lost MY
slot TWO WEEKS before commissioning!

I selected the 49XX career field, since I graduated with a CIS degree.

According to the research I've done (believe me--this has been a
subject near and dear to my heart) it would seem that the AF will NOT
be needing pilots anytime in the forseeable future.  They are cutting
back funding and trying to decrease down to a 28-wing size.
Furthermore, forces will be withdrawn from Europe and the Pacific
region, reducing the need even more.

Advice?  DO NOT choose a career field with the hopes of becoming a
pilot later on; the chances of that are very slim.  Choose a career
field that you are interested in; you may be doing that job for quite
some time.

About AWACS--they call it "air weapons controller", and they try to
steer EVERYBODY into that AFSC.  The career field would not help your
pilot upgrade possibilities; the only career field that would is
NAV/EWO/DWO, and of course that's closed as well.

I wish I could tell you more; I know just how your feeling--Believe me
I do!

-- 
Dave Hightower		|    opinion? I'm allowed to have an opinion?
dth@cis.ufl.edu		| well, if I DID have one, it'd be mine, all mine!
2LT, USAF