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