Pursuing a career as a Military Pilot after College?

Hey guys, hope you're all safe and well. I'm curious if there's anyone out there who went to college before becoming a military pilot. Can you share your journey? It seems like a cool career path, but I don't know where to start.

Absolutely, pursuing a career as a military pilot is definitely an interesting path. Here's a bit of a roadmap to help map out your journey:

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree: Since becoming a military pilot requires a bachelor's degree, your college experience will be the first step. You might want to consider degree programs that align with this career choice, such as aviation, aerospace engineering, or any physical science. However, it's not strictly necessary for your degree to relate to aviation. The most important thing is to maintain a strong GPA throughout college.

2. Join ROTC or a Similar Program: To get a head start on your military career, you might consider joining the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) or a similar military college program. This provides an opportunity to gain some military training and experience while you're still in school.

3. Pass Physical and Academic Qualifiers: To qualify for training as a military pilot, you'll need to pass certain physical exams and academic qualifications. For example, there are vision requirements, and typically, pilot candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 29. On the academic side, you’ll have to take the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) which assesses your knowledge and skills in areas like mechanical comprehension and spatial perception.

4. Officer Candidate School / Training: After earning your degree and applying to the branch of your choice, you typically attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), or similar officer training programs, depending on your branch of the military. This helps reinforce your leadership skills and military knowledge.

5. Flight Training: Provided you meet age and physical requirements, you can then transition to flight training. This includes ground-school training, simulator training, and flight-school training, where you'll spend time actually flying military aircraft.

Always remember that this is a scheduled path and you may experience different situations or steps based on several factors such as the branch you're joining, age, and physical fitness. A military career officer or a counselor could provide more personalized advice to you to help you navigate your unique situation. Good luck with your journey!