Expert: Rod Powers - 7/1/2006

Question
I am currently in my third year of college with a respectable GPA, 3.4. I also meet the vision requirement for aviation in both the army and the navy and currently hold my private pilot’s license. I have been wondering if I would have better chances of becoming a helicopter pilot in the navy or the army. If you could please give me a general estimate on the percentages of becoming a pilot in the different branches.  

Answer
Hi Mike,

With your current GPA, and a private pilot's license, your chances of becoming a pilot in either branch is excellent.

However, one factor is unknown.  For The Army, you will have to take a test, known as the "Army Alternate Flight Aptitude Screening Test."  For the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, you would have to take a test called the "US Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery."  For the Air Force, you would have to take a test called the "Air Force Officer Qualifying Test."

However, the aviation portions of these tests are pretty simple, for one with education/knowledge of flying.  If you have a private pilot's license, there shouldn't be a problem with scoring well on any of these tests.

If I was put "on the spot," the Army is probably easier to become a helicopter pilot than any of the other branches.  The Army has more helicopter pilots than any of the other branches, and -- therefore -- has more slots.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my military information website at:  http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com