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I have been wanting to fly the a-10 all my life. If there is any pilots out there who reads this I would like some advise. I just graduated from high school and I don't know what to do next. Please help me.

try going to college

“I actual did voted for it, before I voted against it.”-John Kerry
“I actual did put out the fire, before I started it.”-A firefighter now in jail

I'm not a pilot (starting ground school next week, for priv. license)
but I have been around them for 16 years. Goto college (learn not party). get into a ROTC progam. Talk to an Officer Recruiter. A reguler recruiter will tell you to go enlisted first. While this is doable its hard. You can't go to school untill you get your 5 level, and after that you will be working 8 to 14 hours a day(kind of hard to go to classes).
Just my 2 cents

get muddy

Edited by - koobster on Oct 08 2004 6:54 PM

My first question is this: Just how badly do you want this? If you're up to the challenge (and it WILL be a challenge) you need to start now.

First, I'd recommend you join the guard. South Carolina has a pretty hot fighter unit and while it's not hogs, it would still be a good place to start. Most states offer tuition waivers for a state university and you also get the GI bill. Try and get into a maintenance field, it'll give you a good feel for the nuts and bolts of how the Air Force works.

Second, get your degree. A BS is better than a BA but either will work. You don't have to make the Dean's List but "incomplete" and a 2.1 GPA are not what the selection board wants to see. Once you're close to completing your degree requirements, start pinging your MPF or the six guard A-10 units to see what vacancies are coming up. Also, grab a study guide for the AFOQT at your local book store.

Third, get your pilot's license along with every rating you can possibly afford. If you can't afford that multi engine rating, try to at least get an instrument rating. About 3 years ago, the Air Force started a new requirement..you have to be in the top 5% of your class in order to move on to T-38's. If you don't get T-38's, you're going to end up flying a really exciting airframe.. C-130, otherwise known as a trash hauler, comes to mind.

Remember, the board is also selecting a person they feel will be a good officer. As an enlisted type, you'll run across officers you wouldn't follow across the street, never mind following them into combat. The selection boards try very hard not to choose idiots (though they don't always succeed).

I've other thoughts and ideas but this is the bare minimum. Be patient, be persistent and get to work at this. If you've other questions, feel free to email me. Good luck.

OLD Chief said it Best. Make your packet very competitive.

The Air Force likes to do a cost analysis. If you can prove your a solid learner, have work ethic, Competitive and have proven that you have some aviation practicality behind you. It allows you to distance yourself higher up the pyramid.

Remember that even if you are accepted for Aviator training. So is everyone else in your class. Your bar of competition has been raised. Sometimes the case is . Even if your the top Stick in your class. the overal rating for your flight (class) could be lower than what the airforce requires and they could hold back some of the prime airframe opportunities. In this sense it reflects poorly on your Instructors, your Flight and the Selection board. Therefore The board and the instructors are going to insure only the best make it.

OLD Chief defined a good roadmap to accomplishing the dream. It is not hard. It just requires dedicated effort to get there.

YOUR GPA and the type of activities and degree is going to help pass on to the board the level of maturity and accountability you have.


"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader