I was a cadet in AFROTC just like you, and I am currently about half way done with UPT. You are contracted when you return from Field Training, which usually happens between your sophomore and junior year. Then, you submit your packet for a pilot slot, and you are notified if you got it towards the end of your junior year. So the point is that you contract before you know whether or not your even going to get to be a pilot. Getting a pilot slot out of UPT is competive, but by all means, very doable. Get good grades, do well at Field Training, score well on the AFOQT, and show that you want it, and you should have no problem. After getting your pilot slot, and commissioning, your next step will be making it throught IFS (Initial Flight Screening). It’s a screening program run by civilian instructor pilots (many of them prior military) in Pueblo, CO. The Air Force figures they can save money by weeding people out early who don’t have a strong apptitude for becoming and AF pilot. Wash out rate is about 10 or 15 percent. You don’t have to get your private pilot’s license (I never got one), but I would recommend at least getting some experience in an airplane before going through that program. IFS is pass/fail and has no bearing whatsoever on the airframe you will end up flying. UPT is where it is all decided. If your goal is to become an airlift or tanker pilot, I would say you have excellent odds of getting what you want. But it all depends on your ranking. The higher you are ranked against your peers, the more likely you will get what you want.

Most AF pilots, from what I understand do have secondary jobs. But since I’m still in UPT, I can’t really speak to that. Anway, I hope I was able to shead some light on your first question at least.

My dream is to be an airlift or tanker pilot. Particularly the C-17 or C-5. I have been in the AFROTC, I have 3 years left if I decide to continue. I have a very good GPA, and I have checked and double checked that I am medically qualified. I think I have a pretty good shot at it. So I have two questions..
1) At what point do you become Contracted, what point do you find out whether you have a pilot slot, and how much choice do you have for competing for specific airframes? And do you have a side AF job when youre not deployed? Or what is it that you do when you arent deployed?
2) I am a newly wed. So I have some concerns about how often I would be gone, and so does she. I think we are both ok with 120 day deployments, BUT I am concerned and wondering how often those deployments occur. I wouldnt like being home for only 2 months every year for example. So the question is.. what is the average or standard, and what is the possible exception?

Well, I think there are more than two questions in there haha.
Thank you so much for your time, your service, inspiration and sacrifice for your country Sir.

I’d like to also add, a big downside I’ve noticed flying in this job is that people tend to get really fat. It’s preventable, but damn I sure see it a lot.

Respect,

Ben Chapman, 8th Airlift Squadron