Expert: David A. NewMyer - 4/28/2009

Question
I am a student at a community college and will soon have my associate of science degree. I plan on tyring to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force but i want to go through college first, before going to the service(if thats even possible). I need some advise on where i should go from here. Due to money and relocation problems, I have only been able to come up with 2 easy options. I can either go to a college that offers a profesional pilot track and its flight program is respected(doesnt offer afrotc). Or, I can go a college that does offer afrotc but the only degree offered that would perain to a fighter pilot is Mechanical Engineer Degree. Which path would give me the advantage needed to become a fighter pilot? I am open for other path suggestions but would like help if its possible for me to choose one of my two options and still achieve my goal.  Thanks for your time

Answer
Hi, Justin:

Thanks for your question, I will try to assist!

First of all, the AFROTC option will most likely be your best option IF the ROTC unit that you might attend OFFERS PILOT SLOTS IN THE AIR FORCE to its graduates.  So, you need to ask the ROTC unit at the college or university that you are considering to provide you with data about how many pilot slots that they have filled from their ROTC unit over the last five years....and, ask them if they are expecting to be able to offer pilot slots to their graduates in the future.

Second, I am not sure if the Air Force favors one degree title over another.  However, I understand that there are a lot of graduates from both engineering programs and from aviation programs in the Air Force.  So, I am sure that, regarding the degree programs that you have to choose from at the two schools, either will work with the Air Force.

So, the key to you decision will be how effective the AFROTC unit in question has been at getting pilots into the USAF.

Best wishes to you on gaining your goal in the Air Force,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

PS  SIUC has AFROTC Detachment #205.....