Expert: Howard Lorenz - 1/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hey Howard, I'm currently a high school junior and love the military, but I'm still indecisive in what branch to go into. Its either the Navy or the Air force. I'm also undecided in what career field to go into. I really want to become a fighter pilot in either branch, but if not that and infantry man in the navy following training to become a SEAL, but thats another story. Anyway what I'm trying to go with here is becoming a fighter pilot. I know its extremely competitive and the road is a long one and i get upset sometimes knowing its very competitive and the fact that I might not be a qualifying candidate.

I want you to be real honest with me. I know there are different paths to become a fighter pilot and i know the AFA is not the path for me so i was looking into the AFROTC program. My grade point average ranges from a 3.0 to a 3.5, I havent taken any honors courses, I've been swimming since I was 13 in my city's team and currently in my high schools team. I'm going to try to apply for and AFROTC scholarship to see if i qualify. But lets say i don't get it, will i still have chance to be in the program and actually come out being a pilot? I know after getting commissioned your not guaranteed a pilot yet. But lets say i don't get commissioned what happens then? and lets say i do get commissioned but not eligible for a pilot what now? I really want this, but don't want to continue going for it if i know I'm not going to end up being commissioned or a pilot. I would really appreciate it Howard if you could explain to me in your professional opinion if I'm eligible or how i can be eligible to continue my path as a fighter pilot! Feel free to add more information from what i requested i would really, really appreciate it! thank you for your time Howard!


ANSWER: Michael,

There are several roads that you can take from this point. to be come a pilot you have to have a 4 year degree in Aeronautical Science. You can achieve this by attending traditional college and then applying to flight school, or you can get it thru the aero club on any base and go that route. I always encouraged my future airman to get into the maintenance route, to work on the aircraft first so that you have a working knowledge of the airframes you may one day fly...

You can get AFROTC to fund your school, but you have to have your application in by December your junior year....High school...not college.

I would suggest this...Go in enlisted first...Get a maintenance job...attend the aero club get your pilots lic....Attend Embry-Riddle....its on all Air force installations...get your degree at Air Force expense...apply to flight school....We always hire our own first..

Let me know what you think..

HW

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That fits perfect in what i wanted to hear Howard. Right after i wrote to you my father had spoken to a married couple who are close friends of him and both are in the military and have been for 17 years and i explained to them exactly what i told you and they suggested the exact same thing you said. They told me i should take the path and go enlisted right after high school and serve for about 2 years working on something dealing with the jets and then go to college and OCS.

Embry RIddle is the university i want to attend, your
on the right track with me here. This means the air force would pay for college right? And flight school is after becoming officer am I correct? I'm also not Familiar with the aero club.

Can you please go into dept on the EVERY step you suggested i think its great! thank you Howard I'm anxious to read your response!

ANSWER: This is the best course because you gain knowledge of the aircraft. A plus if you are going to fly them....it kinda relates to taking auto mechanics early in high shcool to gain the working knowledge of a car before you really know how to drive it....

the Aero club is a club funded by the air force . The USAF hires trainers to teach...your cost is fuel....

You can get a pilots license (Private) thru the areoclub....Tuition assistance will cover the cost of ground school.

Embry Riddle is at every base in the USAF. We have an exclusive with that college becasue ER trains our pilots...The training that you would normally pay 80k plus on the outside you get for free in the AF. Cost covered bt the TA program.

It all comes in time, this doesnt work fast. You have about 2 years of training in the career field and then you can start taking your classes towards becoming a pilot...

HW


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes indeed I'm 100 percent aware that its a long road. So to review your suggestions, I Should go enlisted for about two years in a field that has to do with jets such as mechanics and such, and then go to college at embryriddle which would be at an airforce base right? and join the aero club while there, and then get into flight school am i right? Thanks Howard. Im really sorry for these many questions thanks again, I really appreciate it.

Answer
Michael...

You must know Bob? Yea got a nice  response from him.. If not disregard...

The steps are simple. Obviously you have to enlist...go to BMT and then to tech school. Once you are assigned to your first duty station, you will have upgrade training to complete. Once you have completed upgrade training, you are open to take "Continuing Education " classes. This would be your que to enroll into ERAC. (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College) You go to the Base education office and enroll.

Michael.. This is possible, but I will tell you that its ALL on you and your desire to achieve a goal. There are some that start the pursuit of being a pilot taking this route, but do not adjust the lifestyle to meet the goal. Once you start this route... you must stay on course!! Its a difficult route what ever way you choose....

There are those who will tell you that this doesn't work...Mostly prior officers who do not know that airman can become pilots... Your success is on your shoulders!!!

Once you contact ERAC at the installation that you get assigned to, they will tell you the course criteria and the expectations. Stay on that sidewalk... you will become a pilot!!

ERAC