Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/30/2009

Question
As of now I'm 18 and am 2 months away from starting classes at Community College, where after I will transfer to a 4 year college to get a degree. I then will look to join OTC because my interest is to fly. I am stuck between navy and air force, and am soon planning on talking to recruiters for both. I was hoping you could give your opinion on both and tell me what a pilot is open to long term such as remaining in the service or as a civilian. I was also hoping you could give advice on how to prepare and have the best chance to becoming a pilot.Thank You.

Answer
Zach,
The NAVY flys nine different types of fixed-wing aircraft of which there are approximately 1,700.  Exact numbers are classified.

The Air Force flys 38 different types of fixed-wing aircraft of which there are approximately over 3,300.  Exact numbers are classified.

So as you can see, the greatest opportunity to be a military pilot is in the Air Force.  Your odds are better there.

I think a lot of people think we just hop in the jet and go flying around all day, joyriding, not realizing how scripted each mission is and how much planning is involved.  Not to say that it isn’t fun, but there is always a mission whether it’s operational or simply training.

Pilots in either Service don't actually spend a lot of time in the air, fighter pilots especially.  Cargo transport pilots think nothing of an 8-12 hour flight to the orient.  Fighter pilots routinely fly 1 1/2 hours each time they go up.  Sometimes this is only 3 times per week.
During his time on the ground a pilot spends most of his time flight planning for training missions; flying training missions; operational training and briefing in preparation for whatever the operational mission might be; secondary duties including squadron maintenance activities, command post duty; standing alert duty - prepared to launch as necessary; advanced officer's training, work on advanced college degrees, and training on aircraft systems; occasional participation in full-base operational readiness inspections, including no-notice check flights and briefings to visitors; preparing for inspections from the office of the inspector general; working in base exercises at least quarterly.  Think of it as a NASCAR racer.  How much time does he actually spend in his car, practicing or actually racing.  It can seem more glamourus than it is.

AF pilots spend a lot of time on the ground doing other things.  When a Navy pilot deploys aboard a carrier he does one thing only, no additional duties.  When he's not flying he's sitting around, because there's not that much to do on a carrier.  When he's back on shore he does the same things I described above for an AF pilot.  I'm not downplaying the job, I'm just ensuring you know the "rest of the story."

As to how to prepare for becoming a military pilot there are several books and websites that will help.  A good one can be found at:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/ss/afpilot.htm

I wish you well in your flying career.
Colonel H