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Article #72: How To Become A Fighter Pilot

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






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