How to Become an Air Force Pilot

The lure of flying fighters brings many people to consider careers in the Air Force. In order to actually become an Air Force pilot, you must meet stringent medical, physical, and academic requirements and become an officer in the United States Air Force. The road is long, but the rewards are great.

Instructions

1. Read about the Air Force. Understand fully that you are signing up to become an officer in the Air Force. You may plan on flying fighters, but the Air Force may have other ideas.

2. Apply to the officer program of your choice. You may apply online through the Air Force Web site. The programs include the United States Air Force Academy, Air Force ROTC and Air Force Basic Officer Training. You may apply for both an AFROTC scholarship and admission to the Academy.

3. Examine the majors offered at the colleges you would like to attend and then apply to college. Your academic major will play a role in receiving AFROTC scholarships and may impact your career choices down the road. All pilots must be college graduates.

4. Complete your officer program and be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Near the end of your commissioning program you will choose your career specialty.

5. Request to become an Air Force pilot. If you do not meet the requirements, there are many other fields involving aviation in the Air Force that you may want to explore, such as a navigator or an air battle manager.

6. Attend undergraduate pilot training, which consists of classroom work and flight training. You will choose your track based on merit and instructor input. The tracks are fighter/bomber, airlift/tanker, multi-engine turboprop and helicopter.

7. Go to and graduate from Advanced Aircraft Training. You will receive track specific training here and get your wings. You will select your specific aircraft based on merit and needs of the Air Force.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your best always. All steps in this process are merit based and defined by the needs of the Air Force.

• Stay in good physical shape.

• Pilots incur a longer service commitment than most officers.

• You may want to fly fighters and end up flying a tanker or not flying at all. Either way you will still be an officer with a commitment to serve your country.

• You must meet the medical requirements at the time flight school starts, not just at the beginning of your commissioning process.