How to Train to Become an Air Force Pilot

Becoming an Air Force Pilot is an accomplishment in itself and can lead to further career possibilities. The job is not only filled with honor and patriotism but is also fun! The elite officers who make it into the program challenge themselves every day and work extremely hard to have what they will call the most exciting job in the world.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Join the Air Force. You must be an officer to be a pilot, which you can do through your college's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), the Air Force Academy or Officer Training School (OTS).
2. Take and pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) and Basic Aptitude Test (BAT).
3. Apply for a pilot slot. Your scores on the tests, any previous flight experience, college transcripts and any previous military experience all factor into your Pilot Candidate Selection Method (PCSM) score.
4. Accept an offer for a pilot slot and pass the Flying Class One physical.
5. Wait until your training class begins. During this time you may work a "casual status" job at a military base or college. This is a great time to start studying and focusing on the upcoming training.
6. Start and finish Phase I of Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. This phase teaches basic aviation principles and is better known as "Academics."
7. Start and finish Phase II of JSUPT. This phase includes flight training in the T-6A "Texan II" military aircraft and focuses more on basic aviation principles.
8. Start and finish Phase III of JSUPT. This is a specialized follow-on training. You will "track" to one of four aircraft: the T-1 "Jayhawk," the T-38 "Talon," the T-44 with the Navy or the UH-1 "Huey" with the Army. In this phase you will learn specific aviation principles and learn to fly the specific aircraft.
9. Graduate! You will earn your wings and start your career as an Air Force Pilot.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy a study guide for the AFOQT. It will help you study for and pass the test.
• If you can afford it, get civilian flight instruction. Up to 200 hours will give you points towards your PCSM score.
• If you already have your private pilot certificate, get instrument training. Instrument training is one of the most difficult parts of military training so experience will help.
• If you already have your private pilot certificate and instrument rating, consider aerobatic training, which could give you an advantage in military training.
• Do activities such as playing racquet sports and video games to increase hand-eye coordination.
• Talk to someone in pilot training. First-hand experience is extremely valuable.
• Limit life changes. If possible, plan to have a wedding or a baby before or after training is over to limit stress and overload.
• Start studying early. You will have a lot of information thrown at you during training. If you have time while waiting for training to start, use it wisely.