Chances of being a pilot in the military?

Question

I want to join Marine ROTC (or AFROTC, can't decide yet), so they will pay for my tuition for Embry-Riddle. The thing is, I am scared of the commitment. If I graduate Embry-Riddle and they will not let me be a pilot, I will be committed to doing something i do not want to do, which is anything but fly planes, for four whole years. With that four years, I could have been building up my flight hours instead. What can/should I do? Would the marines do that to me? Pay for my tuition but not let me be a pilot so I'm stuck with no flight hours so even after the four years I won't be able to get a commercial airline pilot job?

Answer 1

just go here
http://www.marineocs.com/portal/index.php

SPC Ahmed
US ARMY

Answer 2

Only commissioned or warrant officers can be pilots, so you cannot be a pilot as an enlisted person. You could enlist and then apply for a commissioning program, but if you want to become a pilot you're better off going to college, getting an ROTC scholarship if you can, and majoring in an aviation-related field like aeronautical engineering. BE WARNED: Pilot slots are fiercely competed for. Less than 3% of the officers who apply for pilot slots get them, so it's going to be tough (not impossible, but tough). In addition to having an educational background in an aviation-related field, you have to be in perfect physical condition. If you want to be a fighter pilot, you must have 20/20 vision uncorrected (READ: No glasses or contacts, and having LASIK done will disqualify you from being a pilot at all). Also, you won't qualify for ROTC or a commission if you have a criminal record. Traffic tickets are OK as long as you don't get busted for an alcohol-related incident, but that's about it -- anything else (including illegal drug use) and you'll be disqualified. Here are the key things you need to do before you go to college: (1) Get good grades in school, (2) Stay out of trouble with the law, (3) Exercise regularly, so you'll be in good shape, and (4) Get involved in school or your local community -- that looks REALLY good when you're applying for ROTC or a commission.

Answer 3

If you are not willing to be an Officer reagrdless of whether or not you can be a pilot.. then do NOT join ROTC or pursue a Commission.

The physical standards for Aviation are much mroe stringent than a regular Commission. Many wish to become Pilots. many are found to be NPQ..Not Physically Qualified. Still others flunk out( or request to leave) pilot training. and the ones that domake it through don;lt alwys get the platform they ask for either.

Bottom line, if your only reason to join the military is to be a pilot, then don't join the military. Too manyfactors beyond your control go into whether or not you make it as a Military Aviator.

Answer 4

Well first, just because you join ROTC, does not mean they will pay for your tuition.

You would have to have a ROTC scholarship for that.

Second, there is no such thing as Marine ROTC, its Naval ROTC.

3. Naval and Marine pilots have a 8 year commitment after they are Designated Aviators.

4. Air Force Pilots have a 10 year commitment.

5. In ROTC, you sign commitment papers before enrolling if you are a scholarship student and before your Junior year if you are not a scholarship student.

6. Selection to pilot traning takes place during your Junior or senior year, so you will already be committed before then.

7. Whether your selected for pilot training, depends on:

a. your GPA
b. previous flight hours
c. AFAST test. (Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test

You will be competing against everyone else who wants to be a pilot.

Answer 5

Lessons of a Viet Nam Veteran....

Whether the military pays for your schooling or you are misguided by a recruiter and enlist for a specific job, they only guarantee you schooling, NOT A SPECIFIC CARRIER. You could attend 4 years at Embry-Riddle and then go on active duty only to be assigned to an infantry soldier's job. Or worse yet, with Aircraft experience, you would probably be a Forward Observer. That's the super human soldier, who carts along with all of his/her equipment a 20-30 pound radio to direct Air Strikes from up front and personal, not to mention that communications and the M-60 machine gunner are the first targets the enemy seeks to render dead.

Answer 6

Stay a civilian and keep flying no matter what! The marines will stuff your sorry butt into the meat grinder and make hamburger out of you kid! And don't ever think they won't do it!

Answer 7

The military is just another welfare program....let the gov't educate you...then, use you for it's political purposes.

get real.