| A lot of people have had that dream of becoming a | | | | So where do you start this long haul into the skies? |
| fighter pilot. The dashing officer; flying at super sonic | | | | Well, it starts even as early as junior year in high |
| speeds, defending the nation etc. But life is never that | | | | school. It is also not as easy as just filling in some |
| simple. Indeed, for those who aim to start the long haul | | | | forms and being chosen either. Three letters of |
| into the service life, there are some points which need | | | | recommendation are required, along with a |
| to be observed. | | | | commendation from your Congressman plus a whole |
| First and foremost, you have to train to be an officer. | | | | pile of appropriate paperwork to just stand a chance |
| No matter which branch of the service you want to | | | | of getting into one of the academies. |
| join - Air Force, Navy & Marines or Army - all | | | | Even if you happen to make it into the academy of |
| demand that basic officer training is first carried out. | | | | your choice, life doesn't become any simpler. These |
| Probably the easiest route into training, in High School, is | | | | positions for pilots are highly sought after so there is no |
| to apply to join a service academy. These are the | | | | guarantee that you will be chosen for this type of |
| famous West Point, Annapolis or the U.S. Coastguard | | | | training. However, there is a glimmer of light here. Since |
| Academies. The training is rugged, tough and difficult, | | | | the US has several wars going on right now, the need |
| but you end up with a Bachelor of Science degree at | | | | for more trained pilots is higher than usual, so you |
| the end of it. This is absolutely necessary and if you | | | | stand a much better chance of being accepted at the |
| can handle advanced math and science, then you | | | | moment. |
| stand a great chance of proceeding to your dream. | | | | One other route into this elite club is to join the |
| The math and science skills are a must. There is no | | | | Reserve Officers Training Corps. You carry on at |
| way around that. You need a four year college | | | | your college as usual but you also attend the officer |
| degree. It really does not matter what it is in, however | | | | training classes. Weekly meetings, at least one |
| mechanical engineering is the "pedigree" degree for a | | | | summer spent at camp and military training courses |
| pilot for numerous reasons. Join an Air National Guard | | | | make up this segment but once you have completed |
| Unit and let them pay for college while you are going. | | | | this, applications` to specific training courses, pilot |
| From here you can get a job working around pilots | | | | training included, is a little easier. |
| and aircraft while going to college. | | | | However, medical and testing requirements, plus the |
| Now this may sound like a simple step, but the | | | | academic testing are very thorough. Perhaps the most |
| competition is very fierce. Protocol demands that the | | | | surprising fact is that you must be in training before |
| cadets must have a SAT score of 1300 with a grade | | | | your 27th birthday. This truly is a young man's game |
| point average of 3.8. Also, on top of this is the | | | | so for those who are determined - get started right |
| requirement to have a minimum score of 1050 for | | | | now! |
| verbal communication and math. | | | | |