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First thing's first. If you want to be a pilot, you need to get yourself into the military!
ARMY-
If you're looking to be a chopper pilot in the Army, you'll have to enlist into the Army and then apply to Warrent Officer School. Most pilots in the Army are warrent officers, but there are also commissioned officers. To earn a commission you will need to attend the US Military Academy (USMA/West Point), ARMY ROTC, or Officer Candidate School. The Army offers flight training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. Here you'll get your primary flight training in the UH-1 Huey. After your primary, you'll track to one of the Army's helicopters. Choppers flown by the Army include the:
NAVY-
Commissioned officers fly the planes of the Navy. The Navy offers several ways to earn a commisssion. The US Naval Academy (USNA) is a four year school located in Annapolis, MD. You may also select to attend Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at a traditional four year university or attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) located at NAS Pensacola, FL. After earning a commission, you'll attend Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination (API). API is a six week ground school also conducted at NAS Pensacola.
Once API is complete, your primary flight training will begin in the T-34 Turbo-Mentor at NAS Whiting Field, NAS Corpus Christi in Texas, or with the Air Force at Vance AFB, OK. At Vance you will fly the T-37B Tweet. Both the Navy and Air Force will soon be upgrading to the JPPTS T-6A Texan II.
After primary, you will select to one of several tracks. your track will determine where you do your intermediate and advanced training. Following advanced, you will earn your "Wings of Gold". Follow-on tracks for the Navy are:
MARINE CORPS -
Prospective Marine Corps officers have several choices for commissioning sources. Students of the US Naval Academy and NROTC can select to enter the Marine Corps for their commission. There are also three marine-only commissioning programs which are the Platoon Leader's Class, Officer Candidate School, and Officer Candidate Class. After commissioning you will attend The Basic School (TBS). TBS is a six-month school of ground and infantry tactics. After TBS you will ship out to primary flight training.
The USMC does almost all of their training with the Navy. Marine students will attend API and Primary at the same locations. Marines continue to their track and earn their "Wings of Gold". Marine tracks are:
(These might not be complete. Remember, I'm not a Marine!)
-If I am missing something, email me and let me know!-
COAST GUARD -
If you are interested in being a "Coastie", you can attend the US Coast Guard Academy. The USCG Academy does not require a congressional nomination unlike to USMA, USNA, ans USAFA. The USCG also offers Officer Candidate School and Direct Commission Programs for civilians with prior flight experience. Coasties also attend API and Navy primary. After primary you will track to one of the following planes and follow the appropriate Navy pipeline.
SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST!!
AIR FORCE -
To earn your commission in the USAF, you have three choices. You can attend the US Air Force Academy (USAFA). If going to the "Zoo" isn't your style you can also attend tradiational Air Force ROTC or apply for Officer Training School after you have completed your degree. After you have earned your commission, you will head to Brooks AFB in San Antonio, TX for Medical Flight Screening. This is a series of physicals that lasts only one day. After that you will report to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT).
If you do not yet have your Private Pilot's License, you will complete Introductory Flight Training (IFT) before you start UPT. IFT is a program conducted by a civilian flight school near you. You will fly 50 hours in a Cessna 152 or similar aircraft and earn your PPL. When IFT complete you'll start your REAL training. UPT is conducted in the
T-37B Tweet at Vance AFB in Oklahoma, Laughlin AFB in Texas, Columbus AFB in Mississippi, or at Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB Texas. You may also go to Moody AFB in Georgia and fly the new JPPTS T-6A Texan II. The T-37 is being phased-out right now and in the near future, all UPT bases will fly the T-6.
Your primary training will be rigorous. The first six weeks will be comprised of aerospace physiology training and ground school. After that you will report to the flightline. Once at the flightline you will endure long 12-hour days, endless Stand-ups and countless Stan tests. You'll start out in the Contact phase learning basic airmanship and how to fly the "Mighty Tweet". After you finish Contact you will being you instrument training. Following instruments you will complete you Navigation, Low-level, and Formation phases. It will be extremely hard, but if you apply yourself you will do fine and it will be the most rewarding experience of your entire life. Toward the end of primary you will select your track. Air Force tracks are:
After you complete your advanced track, you will earn the coveted "Silver Wings" and progress to your Formal Training Unit (FTU). At the completion of FTU, Survival School and Mission Qualification at your new unit, you will be an operational Air Force Pilot.
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