i

Ed Rush & Associates

Copyright 2006-2012. Rush Hour Publishing. All rights
reserved. The original purchaser is authorized to make one
printed copy for their personal use. No portion of this book
may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, or by any
other means, including photocopying without written
permission of the publisher.
It is illegal to send this book via e-mail, post it to a website,
or distribute it by any other electronic means without
permission from the publisher. If you want to earn money
for referrals or gain re-sale rights for this book, contact the
publisher at the e-mail address below.

Ed Rush & Associates

P.O. Box 1290
Bonita, CA 91902
619-292-2599

E-mail: ed@becomefighterpilot.com
Photos courtesy of: U.S. Department of Defense
JSF photos courtesy of: JSF Program Office.
Cover design by: Selby Marketing

Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty

The author and publisher shall not be liable for your misuse of this
material. This book is for strictly informational and educational
purposes.

Disclaimer
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the
official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S.
Government.

Copyright Use and Public Information

The author and publisher have taken great pains to ensure all
information has been properly footnoted and citations have been given
their appropriate credit. Unless otherwise noted, images have been
used by public policy permission from .mil sites and are in keeping with
public information laws. Please contact the author for questions in
regard to copyrights or the use of public information.

ii

About This Book

One of the great benefits to Future Ace is that it can act as
your launching pad into the fighter pilot world via web
links.
These web links are, in some cases, written out completely,
and, in other cases, are simply too long to put in the book
itself.
The actual web addresses are preceded by http: and are
underlined.
For example, the Navys website would appear as:
http://www.navy.com.
The longer links are simply underlined with their keywords.
For example: U.S. Navy Home Page
So be sure to be connected to the internet before reading
through this PDF as it will allow you to view the websites
that are referenced throughout.

iii

About the Author

Ed Rush is a speaker, an author, and a fighter pilot in the United

States Marine Corps.
His flying experience spans from small Cessnas to high
performance fighters.
In 1995, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States
Marine Corps, where, after three years of intense flight training,
he earned his wings of gold.
Graduating at the top of his class at every level, Ed was selected
to fly the FA-18 Hornet.
He is a graduate of TopGun, the Navy Fighter Weapons School,
and is one of a small group of Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics
Instructors (WTIs).
The capstone of his career was his assignment to be an instructor
at the Marine Corps' elite fighter weapons school located in
Yuma, AZ. Ed has served as the Marine Corps' leading expert in
fighter maneuvering and FA-18 tactics.

iv

Ed has flown multiple combat missions over Iraq and has fought
Russian-made MiG-29 and MiG-21 aircraft.
Recently, he served as a key player in the development of
airborne tactics for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the next
generation in fighter aircraft.
When he is not flying or speaking, he spends his time in San
Diego, CA with his wife Bonnie, daughter Faith, sons Jack &
Dean and dog Fat Leonard the pug.

Table of Contents

About This Book .............................................. iii

About the Author .............................................. iv
Table of Contents ............................................. vi
Preface to the 3rd Edition....................................1
Preface.................................................................3
Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................8
So, You Want To Be A Fighter Pilot? ..........................9
The Whole Truth....................................................10
For Females ..............................................................11
Acronyms ..................................................................12
Links and Updates ....................................................12

Chapter 2: The Three Services ..........................14

The Air Force ............................................................16
Advantages ..........................................................................17
Disadvantages......................................................................20

The Navy ..................................................................23

Advantages ..........................................................................24
Disadvantages......................................................................26

The Marine Corps .....................................................30

Advantages ..........................................................................31
Disadvantages......................................................................35

Chapter 3: Commissioning Programs ...............40

Service Schools .........................................................41
Advantages ..........................................................................42
Disadvantages......................................................................44

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) ...............50

Advantages ..........................................................................51
Disadvantages......................................................................53

Officer Candidate School (OCS) / Officer Training

School (OTS) ............................................................56
Advantages ..........................................................................57
vi

Disadvantages......................................................................60

Enlisted Commissioning Programs ..........................63

Chapter 4: Service Specific Commissioning

Programs ...........................................................66
Air Force Commissioning Programs ........................66
Air Force Academy .............................................................66
Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC) ....73
Air Force Officer Training School (OTS) ...........................80
Air Force Enlisted Commissioning Programs.....................86

Navy Commissioning Programs ...............................90

The Naval Academy ............................................................90
Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) .............95
Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) .............................103
Navy Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP)
...........................................................................................107
Navy Enlisted Commissioning Programs .........................109

Marine Corps Commissioning Programs................110

The Naval Academy ..........................................................110
Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Marine Option 111
Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) ...........................................112
Officer Candidate Class (OCC).........................................118
Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Programs ............119

Summary of the Service Options ............................122

Chapter 5: Developing a Winning Strategy.....123

Lay The Foundation ................................................124
Set Short and Long-Term Goals ........................................125
Gather Information ............................................................127
Clean Up Your Act or Keep it Clean .................................127
Build Character..................................................................128
Study, Study, Study ...........................................................131
Get In Shape ......................................................................131

How To Talk With A Recruiter ...............................131

Dealing With Waivers........................................................135
Combating the Cold Shoulder ...........................................136
vii

What If Ive Been Turned Down? .....................................137

Some Specific Advice for Your Stage In Life.........138

High School-age or Younger .............................................138
Home-Schooled Students ..................................................139
College-age........................................................................140
Post-College ......................................................................141
A Word For Females..........................................................141

Some Final Thoughts ..............................................142

Chapter 6: Frequently Asked Questions..........144

Appendix A: What They Fly ...........................153
The Air Force ..........................................................154
Air Force Aircraft ..............................................................154
Air Force Fighters .............................................................156

U.S. Navy................................................................164
Navy Aircraft .....................................................................164
Navy Fighters ....................................................................165

U.S. Marine Corps ..................................................170

Marine Corps Aircraft .......................................................170
Marine Corps Fighters.......................................................171

Appendix B: A Few Good Links.....................176

Appendix C: Glossary .....................................179

viii

Preface to the 3rd Edition

A lot has happened since the publishing of the 1st edition of
Future Ace.
To be honest with you, I never anticipated such an
overwhelming response.
What started out as a humble eBook project has now
exploded into a pack of CDs/MP3s, a very active web
forum, and an extremely busy e-mail account.
Ive tried, many times in vain, to keep up with all of the
questions you all have been asking.
All in all, it sure has been fun.
But Future Ace isnt about meits about you!
Welcome to the 3rd edition. In this edition, you will find an
expanded Chapter 4 with some much more detailed
information on each service specific program.
You will find and all new Chapter 6 dealing with many
frequently asked questions and a greatly expanded store of
quality informational links.
In my opinion, the links are one of the great values of
Future Ace.
While the last edition was entitled Future Ace: the
Complete Guide To Becoming a Fighter Pilot, this 3rd
edition title has been modified to Future Ace: the Definitive
Guide To Becoming a Fighter Pilot.
There is a good reason for this change.
1

In my consulting with future fighter pilots like you, I have

found that their own personal guide will only be complete
when they strap themselves into the cockpit of a fighter jet.
Each persons path is excitingly different. As such, this book
will serve as a launching pad. It will likely be a source of
reference for years to come.
Each chapter will open up new portals to the ever-growing
information store on becoming a fighter pilot.
You made a very wise decision when you purchased this
book.
You just shaved weeks, months, or even years off of your
own personal learning curve.
Welcome to the clubyour adventure is about to begin.

Preface
I joined the Marine Corps on a whim. I can admit that now.
Of course, back then I would have said something about
honor, courage, and dedication to duty, but to be honestit
was a whim. Sure, I had designs of becoming a fighter pilot
back when I saw Maverick and Goose splash their MiGs in
TopGun, but who really believes that childhood dreams can
come true?
By the time I had reached my junior year in college, I
decided that I wanted to be a teacher and a baseball coach.
That all changed when I bumped into a Marine recruiter. I
first saw United States Marine Corps Captain Timothy
Florian outside of the cafeteria at the College of William
and Mary. He was fully decked out in his dress blues and
was talking to some students about the Marine Corps. I
stopped by his table, and, on a whim, began looking
through some of his brochures. Even though at the time, I
could barely make out the difference between a Marine
officer and a frog, he did ask me something that I
completely understood.
Do you want to be a pilot?
Uh, yeah, I think so I said.
Well, good, because I have a couple of flight contracts and
if you want one, I can probably get you to OCS this
summer.
The rest, as they say, is history. I spent ten long weeks that
next summer at the Marine Corps Officers Candidate
School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, I
received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine
Corps. Three years later, I was getting paid to fly the FA-18.
The whim worked out quite well.
3

My story illustrates one of the main reasons that I wrote

this book. If I had known back then what a great job being a
fighter pilot was and how easy it was to get a guaranteed
flight slot, I would have been a lot more aggressive and
intelligent in pursuing this job. While I am happy that
things worked out well for me, I can honestly say that it had
little to do with any detailed planning or research on my
part. Back then, I had no idea what any of the other services
had to offer. I did not know how the services differed
what was good about one and bad about another and I
had no idea how to talk with a recruiter. One thing was
sure, if I had not run into Captain Florian, I would not be
flying jets right now.
If I had been armed back then with an understanding of the
big picture, I would have been much better prepared for my
decision. I want you to be much smarter than I was.
Whether you are in grade school or out of college, there is a
world of opportunity out there for you. If you want to be a
fighter pilot, the future is yours.
I plan to help you reach your dreams. To do that, I have
three goals in mind. In this book, I want to:
1) Convince you that your dream of becoming a
fighter pilot is nearer than you think.
2) Equip you with an understanding of the
many roads toward becoming a fighter pilot
so that you can make smart, well-informed
decisions.
3) Give you a step-by-step game plan for
success.
I know from experience that the number one reason why
most people never pursue the goal of becoming a fighter
pilot is a lack of information. For example:
4

 Did you know that you do not have to have perfect

vision to be qualified for a fighter slot in any of the
three services that fly jets?
Did you know that you do not need perfect scores in
math (or any other subject) to be qualified for a jet
job?
Did you know that the military routinely grants
waivers for nearly all of their entrance
requirements? Examples include medical conditions,
physical conditioning, nationality, prior drug use,
prior arreststhe list goes on.
Bottom line, if you are in normal physical health and under
the age of 30, you stand a good chance of getting a job as a
fighter pilot.
So, what are you waiting for?
This book is about you. If being a fighter pilot is something
that you want to do, then you can accomplish that goal. It
matters very little who you are or what you have done.
What matters most is where you are going and who you are
going to be.
Becoming a fighter pilot is a matter of the heart. If you set
your mind toward accomplishing your goal, then there is
very little that can stop youvery little, of course, except
yourself. What normally disqualifies people from becoming
a jet pilot is not eyesight or physical conditioning; what
normally disqualifies them is the fact that they get
discouraged and trade their dream for something else.
Here is a tip that is worth the price of this book and then
some:

The Air Force, the Navy, and the

Marine Corps need you.
5

This is one of the most misunderstood aspects about

becoming a fighter pilot. But look at the issue from the
other perspective. Have you ever wondered why the
services spend so much money on advertising?
The Few and the Proud!
Aim High
Go Navy!
An Army of One!
There is a simple reason why the Army, the Navy, the Air
Force, and the Marines would spend millions of dollars on
advertisements.

They need people!

In other words, the services are falling all over each other to
get you to volunteer to receive for $3 million dollars worth
of flight training.
Most people think that they have to sell a body part to
convince the military to give them a jet job when nothing
could be further from the truth. By and large, every
recruiter has a number of slots to fill. When you provide
yourself as a qualified candidate, you are making his job a
lot easier. Each recruiter is under a lot of pressure to fill his
quota every year. When you contact him and use the
formula that I outline in Chapter 5, he will immediately
know that you are someone that he needs to pay attention
to. Plus, with one more qualified candidate, he gets to
spend less time making calls and visiting campuses. Why
not make it a win-win situation?

Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it may be, but
who am I to complain. Trust me, until I came across good
old Captain Florian I thought that I needed a 4.0 GPA in
aeronautical engineering to be a fighter pilot. Little did I
know that a 2.0 in Physical Education would have been just
fine (at least for the Corps).
So, arm yourself with quality information (buying this book
was a good start), stay motivated, and be persistent. You
can accomplish your dream.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Your road toward becoming a fighter pilot has many
decisions along the way. This book is set in order to take
you step by step through each of these decisions. It was
written to be read, re-read, and read again. While it is
unlikely that you will digest all of this information in one
sitting, after time, you will become very conversant with
what you need to know.
The following is a short outline of your future decisions
and, consequently, is also an outline of this book:
First, you will decide on a service: the Air Force, the Navy,
or the Marine Corps. Chapter 2 will cover these three
services along with their particular strengths and
weaknesses.
Next, you will decide which program you will use to pursue
a commission: a Service School, ROTC, Officer Candidate
School, or Enlisted Commissioning. Chapter 3 will address
these choices in general while Chapter 4 will cover each
services programs in detail.
Finally, you will develop a winning game plan and execute
it. Chapter 5 contains a full discussion of everything that
you need in order to prepare yourself and to present
yourself to a recruiter.
Take this advice:
Read this book in its entirety before contacting a
recruiter.
You will be happy that you did. At the very end, I am going
to give you a solid formula to use in contacting a recruiter
for a jet slot.
8

So, You Want To Be A Fighter Pilot?

We might as well cover this question right up front. Being a
U.S. fighter pilot is one of the best jobs in the worldhands
down.
I recently had a long discussion with the president of a
global, billion dollar computer company. This guy had more
money than any of us could ever dream of having (and
those were his words). While we were talking, I was trying
to ask him questions about his company and how much
money he made, but I couldnt get a word in edge-wise
because all he wanted to talk about was my job.
Can you believe that? This guy had enough money to go out
and buy a squadron of leer jets to take him and his friends
around the world, but he was falling over himself to find
out about being a fighter pilot.
Another examplemy roommate from college makes over a
half million dollars a year by selling commercial real estate.
But when we talk, guess what he wants to talk about? Thats
right, he wants to hear stories about fighters. A few years
ago, I took my jet to Boston to see him for the weekend. He
picked me up in his new BMW, but whose ride do you
think he wanted to talk about?
Some of the advantages to being a fighter pilot include the
prestige, the exhilaration, the millions of dollars of training,
the secure job when you get out, the steady salary, and the
exhilaration (oh, I already said that). Fighter pilots get paid
a lot of money to fly and fight the most advanced aircraft in
the world. They land on carriers and see more countries
than they can count.

Being a fighter pilot is definitely a good job, however, like

any other job, it does have a downside that must be
considered.
First, before becoming a fighter pilot, you must realize that
it is a very dangerous job. Technological advances
notwithstanding, you put your life on the line every time
you strap on an airplane. I do not have enough fingers on
my hands to count the friends that I have lost due to
accidents. Risks come with the job.
Next, as a fighter pilot you will be on the front-line (or way
out in front of it) every time our nation goes to war. More
than anything, this means that you will be a target. There is
nothing that our enemy wants to do more than to take
down one of our airplanes.
Along with the added risk comes a good amount of time
away from home. If you are a fighter pilot in any service,
you can expect to be deployed for at least a few months
every two years and likely much more.
These issues (and more) will be discussed at greater detail
in the body of this book. For now, realize that you are about
to head down a road less traveled.
Being a fighter pilot is a great job, but there are risks to
take. Of course, considering what I know now, I would have
done it all over again. If you bought this book, you are
probably a lot like me. You only live once, right?

The Whole Truth

You did not buy this book for the party line. As such, I
intend to be brutally honest in my approach. This means
that what you get will be raw and unfiltered. I could care

10

less about upsetting some General somewhere. I may say

some things that sound like a jab at a service or a program.
So, if it sounds like a jab, it is! I am not going to sugarcoat
anything. And you will be happy to know that I take just as
many jabs at my service as I do with the rest.
You may be wondering how, as a Marine, I can possibly be
unbiased in my approach. In this book, I intend to give you
the most straightforward information on the three services
that fly jets. I do this because I want the strongest nation in
the world to continue to dominate the skies over every
country that takes us on. When I fly against the enemy in
my FA-18, I typically do it with Navy and Air Force fighters
right near by. The better they are, the better we all are.
I also know that each service suits a slightly different
personality. You may be a perfect fit for one service, but not
for another. Hopefully, by the time you finish reading this
book, you will have an idea of where youd like to go.
My contract with you as a reader is that I will give you the
most unbiased information regarding the means to
becoming a fighter pilot.

For Females
In this book, I use words like guy fella he and his. I
use these words in the gender-neutral sense. This avoids
cumbersome phrases like, If he/she has a car, then he (or
she) should drive it. I wont waste anyones time with that
kind of writing.
If you are a female, rest assured that you have just as much
of an opportunity to become a fighter pilot as the guys do. I
have personally flown with some very talented female
fighter pilots and expect that this trend should continue.
11

So, ladies, read this book as though it were written to you.

It was.
Having said that, you need to know that, as a female, there
are some special considerations to think about when
pursuing a job as a jet pilot in the military. These
considerations will be addressed in Chapter 5.

Acronyms
Military folks have a language all our own. In this book, I
have done my best to define any phrase that is not a part of
every day civilian vernacular. Whenever an acronym is used
for the first time in this book, it is spelled out in full (e.g.
Officer Candidate School (OCS)). Subsequent uses of the
term normally include just the acronym (e.g. OCS). Of
course, if you are going to be in the military, you are going
to have to get used to TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) . So,
now is a great place to start learning how to talk like a
fighter guy. If at any time you need a reminder on the
meaning of any acronym, see the glossary at Appendix C.

Links and Updates

In this book, I cover a lot of tools and programs that will
help you to get you a commission and a fighter pilot slot.
Many times, the guidelines surrounding these programs
change from time to time. In order to provide you with the
most current information, I have included links to a
number of websites that will allow you to stay constantly
updated.
As you become more familiar with the road that you want
to take toward becoming a fighter pilot (and there are
many), be sure to check the specific services web site from
time to time in order to stay updated.
12

These links are my attempt to do a lot of your research for

you. For example, there are a number of book and
resources outside of this guide that may help you down the
road. Instead of you having to endlessly search
Amazon.com, I have located the resources that I
recommend and put their links right in this book.
Hopefully, they will save you some time and money down
the road. The extra added benefit of the links it to multiply
a hundred fold the information store contained in this
book. If you intend to print a copy of this book, you will
obviously have to refer back to the Adobe file to follow them
all.

13

Chapter 2: The Three Services

There are four major services in the U.S. Department of
Defense. Three of the four fly tactical fighter jets: the Air
Force, the Navy, and the Marine Corps. 1 Your first step is to
choose a service. The one that you choose will likely couple
your own personality with that of the particular service.
Look at it this way. When you and your buddies go out for
dinner, someone may order steak, someone may order
salad, and someone may order fish. There is no wrong
choice, just a difference in preferences.
There are no bad choices in military service. You just need
to assess your desires and try to match them up with the
nature of the service that you are looking at. The Air Force,
the Navy, and the Marine Corps all differ in what they fly,
what missions they fly, how they train, where they deploy,
how they deploy, how they treat their people, what their
bases are like, and where their bases are located. Some
things may be more important to you than others.
I am constantly amazed at the difference in personality
amongst the fighter pilots in the three services. I have
trained with more Navy and Air Force guys than I can
count, and without fail, they all seem to fit into the mold of
their particular service. I am not sure how much of this is
genetic and how much is environment, but one thing I do
know: each service caters to a certain type of person.
Without fail, each one of these pilots is an exceptionally,
gifted individual, but each pilot also represents a small slice
of their services personality. This phenomena may be
easier to demonstrate than to explain, so if you need to see

The U.S. Army has a large number of airplanes and helicopters, but has no
fighters. And since this book is about becoming a fighter pilot, the Army will
not get much press here. If you are interested in learning more about the Army,
try their website at http://www.goarmy.com.

14

this in action, stop by your local Officers Club (OClub) this

Friday night and youll see what I mean.
The next few sections discuss the details of each service
along with its personality, mission, and quality of life. For
each service, I have included some good things (The
Advantages) and the not-so-good things (The
Disadvantages). These advantages and disadvantages will
help you get to know the three services a bit better.
You may notice that sometimes the same thing that is an
advantage to a particular service can also be a
disadvantage. Not every service is right for every person.
Something that might initially attract someone to a
particular service may be the very same thing that keeps
someone else away.
So, as you read through the advantages and the
disadvantages, take a good personal inventory. If, when
looking at a particular service, you find that you like both
the advantages and the disadvantages, you may have found
a home. So, lets begin.

15

The Air Force

Think about the Air Force like you
do the Microsoft Corporation. They
are big. They have lots of money.
And they have cool toys. 2
The Air Force employs
approximately 370,000 people and
owns 7,000 airplanes. 3 It is the
largest modern air force in the world. A gigantic entity, the
Air Force packs a punch when it goes to war. There was a
time back before World War II when the Air Force was a
part of the Army. That all changed on September 18th, 1947
when the Army Air Corps became the United States Air
Force. Since 1947, the Air Force has separated itself
distinctly from the Army.
The stated mission of the United States Air Force (USAF) is
"to defend the United States and protect its interests
through air and space power." This mission statement
defines the Air Force in two main regimes: air and space.
Typically, Air Force personnel fall into one of these two
specialties: the strategic defense component (i.e. missiles
and silos) and the air component (i.e. airplanes). For
obvious reasons, we will focus on the latter.
However, if strategic defense interests you, go to a search
engine and type in something like sit-on-my-butt-forhours-on-end.com. That should get you in the ballpark.

The Air National Guard (A.N.G.) is the reserve component for the Air Force.
The majority of the Air Force discussion will apply to them as well. The
A.N.G. will not be discussed here very often, but are a good follow-on option
for anyone with fighter experience (in any service) and also for a handful of
new folks.
3

Source: http://www.defense.gov

16

The largest component of the Air Force is the Air Combat

Command (ACC) whose sole mission is to provide combat
power in the form of airplanes during a time of war. Air
Forces fighters fall under the ACC and serve a vital role in
projecting the power of the United States. Power
projection is a term to describe the means a country uses
to keep from having to go to war in the first place. A bestcase power-projection scenario is that a hostile country
will take one look at the size and the power of the U.S.
armed forces and give up before they begin. Power
projection has undoubtedly saved the United States from
going to war many times. And Air Force fighters have been
a big part of that equation.
When Air Force fighters go to war, they typically execute
missions such as striking targets deep in enemy country,
protecting vital assets from an air attack, and providing
support for ground units.
Air Force bases span the globe from the heart of the United
States, to Korea, to the Middle East.
The following sections highlight some good and bad things
about the Air Force:

Advantages
Here are some of the benefits to joining the Air Force:

They have lots of money.

They have new airplanes.
They have lots of money.
They have nice, new bases.
They have lots of airplanes.
And, oh yes, they have lots of money.

Are you getting the picture?

17

I dont know how they do it, but the Air Force consistently
comes up with more coin from Congress than any other
service.
That does not mean that the Air Force pays more (salaries
are the same across all of the services by rank). What it
does mean is that Air Force personnel are surrounded by
some pretty nice stuff.
Generally they have the latest and greatest technology (the
$150 million dollar F-22 is a good example).
They have plenty of nice stuff in their squadron. They live
on a nice bases that are stocked with a nice gym, nice clubs,
nice restaurants, and nice housing.
The number of fighters is also a consideration when
thinking about what service to choose.
By sheer volume, the Air Force trounces the Navy and the
Marine Corps in number of airplanes. It makes sense when
you think in terms of their mission. The Navys focus is
ships. The Marine Corpss focus is infantry. And, the Air
Forces focus is strategic dominance of the sky (i.e.
airplanes and missiles).
Should you decide to fly fighters in the Air Force, you will
have a large number of jets to choose from.
The newness of Air Force airplanes is also another benefit.
Technology gets old pretty quickly and the Air Force has
been very good at keeping up with these rapid changes.
With the recent unveiling of the F-22 Raptor and the
advent of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) on the

18

horizon, the Air Force will have some pretty nice toys to
play with for the next couple of decades. 4
It is also wise to consider deployments in deciding on a
service.
When it comes to going away from home (and everyone in
the military does that in their career), the Air Forces
deployments look like a nice field trip when compared to
the deployments in the Navy and the Marine Corps. This
benefit is true both in duration and location.
While a typical Navy deployment is at least six months in
duration, Air Force deployments normally span only about
three months. This time away from home can be a huge
consideration especially for those who have (or are
planning to have) a family.
Dont get me wrong. Going away from the wife and kids for
even three months can be a severe bummer, but double that
time and see how great three months can sound.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. You may meet
an Air Force officer who has been deployed for a year, but
by and large, Air Force deployments are much shorter than
those in the Navy and in the Marine Corps.
Having said a few words about deployment duration, lets
take a minute to consider deployment location.
During a war, Air Force bases are typically a few hundred
miles away from the action.

The Navy and the Marine Corps are both buying F-35 JSF, but in numbers far
less than the Air Force. For example, the planned purchase of Navy and
Marine Corps JSF, when combined, make up less than half of the jets that the
Air Force plans to buy.

19

Sometimes, they are even a few countries away from the

action. This means a couple of things.
First, it takes a very long-range bullet (or missile) to reach
that base.
Second, a good location also means that, during a
deployment, an Air Force pilot can finish his combat flying
for the day, take a shower, and head out for a beer and a
burger in town. That is not a bad dealtrust me.
Compare that scenario to my last deployment where my
base was in the same country as the war. There was no nice
shower, no beer, but just a few incoming rounds and the
satisfaction of being near the fight.
Finally, depending on how you get your commission, you
might have the chance to sign up for what is commonly
referred to as an air contract or an air guarantee.
This guarantee is a promise from the Air Force that you will
get to go to flight school upon completion of basic training.
Air contracts will be discussed at length in the next chapter.
For now, lets just say that air contracts are a very good
thing to have.
All of the above considerations make the Air Force a very
nice option for future fighter pilots.

Disadvantages
As with most things in life, ones greatest strength can
become ones greatest weakness.
The sheer size of the Air Force sometimes makes it an
immovable, impersonal force.
20

While the other services tend to culture more of a family

atmosphere, one can easily get lost in the sheer size of the
Air Force.
Additionally, if a pilot is really good at what he does, he will
want his reputation to precede him. If he is heading to a
new squadron, he will want his acquaintances there to tell
everyone what a great pilot he is.
In the Air Force, due to numbers, reputations have a hard
time preceding you. People do not know each other across
the service as well as they do in the others. In the Air Force,
it is possible to move to a new unit and not know anyone
there. This never happens in the Navy and the Marine
Corps.
Another downside to the Air Force is the large number of
non-fighter airplanes. For every F-16 and F-15, there is a
C-5 and a C-130.
If your goal is to fly fighters (and I assume it is), dont
forget that there is a solid chance that you could do very
well in flight school, graduate near the top of your class and
still get stuck flying rubber something-or-other out of Hong
Kong. Fair warning.
Finally, the last disadvantage to the Air Force is the fact
that it is the least military of the military services. What I
mean by this is that Air Force personnel are typically a bit
more slovenly in their appearance, a little slower at
following orders, and a bit more laid back when it comes to
discipline. (And while this one is a coin-toss as to whether
or not it is an advantage or a disadvantage, I am a Marine,
and I am the author, so Ill put it in the disadvantage
category.)

21

A very good thing comes with the good order and discipline
of the military. As an officer, you have the authority and the
responsibility to lead and to get things done right. Without
exception, when you assign someone to a task, they need to
snap to and get on it (as long as it is a lawful order (i.e. fix
that airplane) and not an unlawful order (i.e. steal that
jeep)).
This discipline may not seem like much when you are
hanging out in the ready room, but it pays big dividends
when the bullets are flying. To quote Colonel Nathan R.
Jessup from A Few Good Men, We follow orders or people
die. Everything has its equal and opposite. The Air Force is
big and rich, but they can be a bit too laid back at times.
You just have to figure out if that is for you.
Of course, dont let that last point sour you too much on the
Air Force. Remember what I said a few pages ago. The Air
Force packs a punch when they go to war. They have a lot of
money and a lot of airplanes and they may be right for you.
Here is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages
when it comes to being an Air Force pilot:
The Advantages:
Lots of money
Large number of jets.
Large number of new jets.
Deployments are generally shorter and in better
locations than those in the other services.
Candidates can sometimes get an air guarantee.
The Disadvantages:
Large service means you could get lost amongst your
peers.
Large number of non-fighter airplanes.
Are the least military of the military services.
22

The Navy
When you think about the Navy, dont
think about Maverick or Goose.
Dont think about TopGun. And dont
think about dogfighting yourself into
a flat spin and heading out to sea.
When you think about the Navy,
think about shipslots and lots of ships. What the Air Force
has in nice bases and airplanes, the Navy has in ships
ships which come in all shapes and sizes.
The Navy has about 280 ships, 4,000 airplanes, and
employs nearly 375,000 people. 5 When the Navy goes to
war, it does so on the sea. If you are the kind of person who
likes boats, then the Navy may be the place for you.
However, if you get seasick (and I know some fighter pilots
who do), you may need to drop your dreams of becoming a
TopGun and look at the Air Force or the Marines.
The Navys history spans all the way back to when a few
daredevils rowed a boat across Boston Harbor to terrorize
some tea traders and start a warmake that a Revolution.
The Navy is divided into four main categories: surface
ships, submarines, air, and special forces (SEALs). We will
focus on Naval air.
The following paragraphs detail some of the pluses and
minuses about being a Navy fighter pilot.

Source: http://www.defense.gov

23

Advantages
One of the distinguishing characteristics between the
United States military and the rest of the world is carrier
aviation.
A big advantage to becoming a Navy fighter pilot is the
carrier.
Including the United States, there are 9 countries that fly
off of aircraft carriers: Great Britain, France, India, Russia,
Spain, Brazil, Thailand, Italy, and China. However, none of
these countries does it with the efficiency or the lethality of
the U.S. Navy. And no other country besides the United
States lands on a carrier at nightno one. This fact alone is
very impressive.
Flying around the carrier is a very dangerous business, but
the Navy does a great job of minimizing that risk. A normal
fighter airport runway spans 8,000 to 12,000 feet long. The
average carrier deck landing area spans about 800 feet.

24

Amazingly, the U.S. Navy has gotten so proficient at carrier

operations that the accident rates at sea are only slightly
higher than those in normal every-day, land-based flying
operations.
This fact alone is a true testament to the skill and discipline
of Navy pilots. Carrier aviators are truly one-of-a-kind.
They are very good at what they do. If not, they wouldnt be
there. 6
Along with being a carrier aviator comes the prestige of
knowing that you can do what only a small handful of
people in the world have ever done.
I can still remember the sense of accomplishment and pride
when I executed my first carrier landing aboard the USS
John F. Kennedy. One step above that feeling was the one
that I had when I landed aboard a carrier for the first time
at night.
It was an experience of a lifetime.
One of the greatest benefits of being a carrier aviator is
always being where the action is. Fighter pilots call this
being at the tip of the spear.
If war is getting ready to break out in the Middle East, a
carrier can be there in a matter of days. If humanitarian aid
is needed in an African country, a carrier is off the coast in
no time. Compared to the cumbersome nature of the Air
Force and the Army, the Navys versatility almost assures
itself that if something is happening, a carrier will be there.

It should be noted that Marine FA-18 squadrons occasionally operate on

Navy carriers. These squadrons are in much smaller percentages than Navy
fighter squadrons who ALL fly off of the boat.

25

As for career progression, a Navy pilot will typically spend

about 3 years in his squadron before heading off to a B
billet (a job not having to do with flying ones assigned
airplane).
For a lot of guys, this secondary job involves flying trainers
in flight school.
This is generally a good thing as it provides a much-needed
break from life around the carrier while still gaining
valuable flight hours.
These hours will be especially helpful in getting hired as a
civilian pilot when your military career is over.
Of course, you can never guarantee that your B billet is
going to be in the cockpit. We will discuss some of the bad
non-flying jobs in the disadvantages section.
Finally, one of the great things about joining the Navy
through an officer recruiter is that you have the chance to
sign up to be a pilot.
In Pensacola, FL sits the Navys Officer Candidate School, a
place specially designed to train college graduates to be
officers and sometimes pilots in the U.S. Navy.
Before signing on the dotted line, a candidate can have an
agreement to go straight to flight school after OCS.

Disadvantages
The Navys biggest selling point is also its biggest detractor.
The carrier environment is exciting and challenging, but it
can also be a major pain in the neck. Heres the rub. When
an Air Force F-16 pilot deploys to parts unknown, he can
rest assured that he will live in a very cozy room by himself.
26

This is not so in the Navy. On the carrier, the best a pilot is

going to do is live two to a room. On a bad cruise, try six to
a room on for size. Instead of that bathroom and sink to
himself, he gets to walk down the hall to wait in line for a
shower where he must hold down a plastic button to get the
water to come out.
A few sections ago, I mentioned that it is not uncommon for
Air Force pilots to be based with nice facilities. This is not
so in the Navy.
When Navy pilots deploy, by and large, they are going to be
on a shipbobbing up and down for six months. And while
their Air Force buddies are drinking beer in the club, they
are jogging laps on the flight deck.
Some people really like the idea of being at sea for long
periods of time. If you are one of those people, then the
Navy may be the place for you. If not, then you need to
decide just how badly you want to land on a carrier.
Another disadvantage to Navy fighter aviation is that pilots
are not necessarily the center of the Navys universe.
Naval officers affectionately come in two types: black
shoes and brown shoes. The black shoes actually wear
black uniform shoes and the brown shoes actually wear
brown uniform shoes. The black shoes are the surface
warfare officers, the ship folks. The brown shoes are the
aviators. Now, there are a lot more black shoes in the Navy
than brown shoes. That puts the pilots in a minority, a
disadvantage if you want to be at the center of the services
universe. Navy pilots are constantly reminded that they
serve a greater cause than their own. They are there to
protect the ship and to project power. Everything else is
secondary.

27

Last section, we discussed some good secondary jobs (i.e.

B-billets) that Navy pilots can fill. Now we will discuss the
bad ones.
Generally, pilots look for flying jobs and avoid non-flying
jobs like the plague. The Navy has its share of bad nonflying jobs, which include going back out on a ship and
doing something not related to flying. For a pilot, this can
be three years of torture.
Finally, the biggest detractor when it comes to being a Navy
fighter pilot has to do with deployment work-ups and boat
schedules. A normal Navy carrier deployment is six to
seven months long.
But waittheres more!
Also factor in the work-up. You see, a squadron just
doesnt jump on a carrier and sail away. A normal carrier
wing spends six months to a year preparing for their
upcoming deployment.
This preparation time is called a work-up. The work-up
involves a number of short trips onto the carrier usually
lasting about three weeks apiece. Therefore, a lot of the
non-deployed time in the Navy is still spent on a ship.
Here is a short story to illuminate my point.
A few years ago, a good friend of mine was sitting off the
coast of South Carolina on a carrier during a work-up.
His wife, however, was only a few miles away on-shore
having his first child. His commanding officer wouldnt let
him go home because the carrier was in the middle of an
exercise.

28

So, through no fault of his own, he missed the birth of his

first child. And while I know plenty of military personnel
who have missed their kids being born, Ive never known
one who was so close. If it werent for the work-up, he
wouldnt have missed a thing.
So, take the good with the bad. Being a Navy fighter pilot
means being part of a small prestigious crowd, but it also
comes with its own set of frustrations.
Think hard about what interests you and you will be better
prepared to make your own decision.
Here is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages
when it comes to being a Navy pilot:
The Advantages:
The thrill and prestige of carrier aviation.
Being on the tip of the spear.
Many good B-billets which keep you flying.
Can sometimes get a contract for a pilots slot.
The Disadvantages:
Living on the carrier is tough.
You are a pilot in a seamans world.
A Navy career may include some bad non-flying jobs.
Carrier work-ups can cut into non-deployed time.

29

The Marine Corps

I would not be surprised if many of
the people reading this book did
not even know that the Marine
Corps has jets.
On at least one occasion, I have
actually had someone accuse me of
lying when I said that I was Marine
fighter pilot.
This is not surprising. The last thing that comes to mind
when someone says USMC is a fighter jet. There is no
denying the fact that when people think about the Marine
Corps, they think about the infantry. And that is where we
will start our discussion.
Marine Corps aviation exists for the infantry. Conversely,
Marine Corps infantry exists because of aviation. This
seemingly paradoxical statement is made clearer when you
understand the unique role of the Corps.
Marines pride themselves on being a true air and ground
team.
The basic component of the Marine Corps is the Marine Air
Ground Task Force (MAGTF).
This task force always consists of a ground element
(infantry, artillery, and tanks, to name a few) and an air
element (fighters, helicopters, and tankers).
If it were not for the guy on the ground, there would be no
guy in the air.

30

The distinguishing feature of the Marine Corps is that it is

the only fully integrated air-ground force in the U.S.
inventory.
For example, when an Army unit needs close air support
(CAS), it usually has to rely on the Air Force. When the Air
Force needs someone to punch the door down and take an
airfield, it usually needs the Army.
But in the case of the Marine Corps, it has everything that it
needs to sustain combat operations once it is dropped off.
This fact alone has kept the Marine Corps in business since
1775.
Since then the Corps has been slowly and steadily evolving
from the small group of naval infantrymen into the current
elite force which is made up of almost 180,000 people. 7
Here are some of the pluses and minuses about being a
fighter pilot in the Marine Corps.

Advantages
Every Marine is a rifleman. This is a motto that every
Marine learns on his first day of boot camp.
Whoever he is and whatever he does, be it infantry, tanks,
artillery, or jets, first and foremost, a Marine is a rifleman.
This does not mean that when a Marine fighter pilot
deploys, he also patrols with an M-16. What it does mean is
that a Marine pilots initial training and his lifelong mindset
are about the fight on the ground. This mindset makes
Marine pilots second to none when it comes to their
primary mission of close air support.
7

Source: http://www.defense.gov

31

Every Marine officer, upon graduation from Officer

Candidate School (OCS), proceeds to six months of ground
training called The Basic School (TBS) (pretty exciting
name, huh?).
From day one, no matter who you are, all officers learn
basic infantry tactics, weapons, and fundamentals.
At first, this training seems like a waste of time. All you
want to do is get to flight school and start flying.
However, in the long run, the first six months pay some big
dividends.
First, it gives a great understanding of the mission of the
infantry and where a pilot fits into the big picture.
Second, a Marine pilot trains with a lot of guys who he will
support for the rest of his life.
I do not have enough fingers on my hands to count the
number of times that I have flown close air support for a
guy who I was on a first name basis with.
On my recent trip to Iraq, I had two how-are-you-doing
conversations over the radio with guys I knew all in the
middle of a mission!
This does not happen in the Air Force or the Navy.
This ground mindset also instills a great deal of esprit de
corps, a sense of pride in the organization. Ask around and
you will find little doubt in any Marines mind that they
belong to the most lethal fighting force on the globe. This
esprit de corps fosters a strong can-do attitude, which is
essential when the bullets are flying. Additionally, it makes
for a great environment when the bullets arent.
32

The relatively small size of the Marine Corps also lends to a

family atmosphere. Marines do a very good job of taking
care of each other in peacetime as well as in wartime.
This atmosphere can make up for a lot of shortcomings in
comfort and technology.
One example is the Marine Corps Birthday. Every
November 10th, current and former Marines around the
globe celebrate the date. No one misses outno one. That is
just one example of many to demonstrate the close-knit
nature of the Marine Corps.
In the Corps, if you are good at flying, you soon build a very
strong reputation that goes with you wherever you go.
This is due, again, to the relatively small size of the service.
No matter what base a pilot goes to or where he is
stationed, he always has people there who know him from
previous jobs.
For example, there are 14 FA-18 squadrons in the Marine
Corps. I am on a first name basis with no less than 5 guys
in each squadronand many more in some squadrons.
This can be very nice since it means that I do not have to
start over every time I move, and neither does my family.
Of course, the small size of the Marine Corps can also be a
disadvantage if you are prone to making stupid mistakes.
Another advantage to the Marine Corps is the availability of
air contracts.
This is especially true for the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC)
program that will be discussed in Chapter 4.
33

An air contract means that you get the job that you want.
I joined the Marine Corps with an air guarantee. My Officer
Selection Officer (OSO) offered me a flight contract and I
was glad to take it.
When I signed on the dotted line to accept my commission,
I knew that I would be going to flight school.
In other words, I did not have to wait around to see how the
career chips would fall. I knew that as long as I remained
physically qualified, I would end up flying airplanes.
Finally, the Marine Corps has the lowest academic entrance
standards of any of the three services.
The Air Force and the Navy put a high value on GPA and
college major. Their grading and acceptance systems reflect
this bias.
And while the Marine Corps does not turn a blind eye to
grades, they dont care what you took as a major.
You could be an electrical engineer major or an underwater
basket-weaving major. It really doesnt matter.
As long as you graduate with at least a 2.0 GPA, you stand a
chance of getting an officer job in the Corps.
For pilots, the only additional requirement is a passing
grade on a standardized test, the Aviation Selection Test
Battery (ASTB).
I will talk more about the ASTB and how to prepare for this
exam in Chapter 4.

34

Disadvantages
One of the disadvantages to pursuing a flying career with
the Marine Corps is the extra time to train.
A few paragraphs ago, I spoke of the advantage of the initial
infantry training. You can think of this as making an
investment in the future.
You receive great training on ground tactics, but in return,
the Marine Corps takes almost a year of your time.
For someone whose sole desire is to get in the cockpit and
stay there, the first year can be long and painful. It can be
even worse if you are not inclined to spending time sleeping
under the stars.
Should you join the Marine Corps, plan on spending a lot of
your first year in a foxhole. For that matter, plan on going
to the field off and on for the rest of your career.
As a Marine, it is nearly impossible to avoid going to the
field in one shape or form. While some guys think that
going to the field is the cats meow and cant wait to get
their sleeping bag out, others cant stand the thought of not
taking a nice warm shower every night.
You have to figure out what kind of person you are. If you
like to camp, you might be what the Marine Corps is
looking for in a future fighter pilot.
If painting your face with camouflage is not your thing,
then you may want to look elsewhere.
Two sections ago, I mentioned the money machine that is
the United States Air Force. If you want the opposite, look
at the Marine Corps who does more with less.
35

For example, most Marine Corps squadrons are constantly

looking for replacement parts and most Marine Corps bases
are below Air Force minimum living standards.
At first, this may seem to be a small issue or even a
bragging point, but in the long run, it starts to annoy you,
especially when you see an Air Force unit that has all the
bells and whistles while you are still trying to find a chair
that wont break when you sit in it (slight exaggeration).
With the small service size also comes a lack of notoriety.
When a normal civilian thinks of fighter pilots, they usually
think of the Air Force or maybe the Navy. Rarely does the
average Joe even acknowledge the existence of Marine
Corps fighter aviation.
That wont bother you much until someone accuses you of
lying because they dont think that the Marine Corps has
jets.
And when you want to dot their eyes, you just have to
remember that what the everyday civilian doesnt know
cant hurt them. At that point, you just go on your way
happy because you dont work for IBM or whoever.
Last section, I mentioned some of the bad non-flying jobs
that the Navy has to offer. Well, the Marine Corps nonflying jobs make the Navys look like a Boy Scout trip.
If you are going to fly for the Marines, chances are good
that you will spend a few years of your career out of the
cockpit.
Whats worse, these tours are usually spent with the
infantry as a Forward Air Controller (FAC).
A FAC is a specially trained aviator who spends his time
controlling air strikes in close proximity to ground forces.
36

Being a FAC can be a great job if you like being close to the
action, but it can be a really bad job if all you want to do is
fly airplanes.
A FAC wont fly anything but a radio and occasionally a
desk for about a year and a half.
By and large, most of the guys I have known who have done
FAC tours have been pleasantly surprised. Of course, they
also joined the Marine Corps knowing what they were
signing up for. Once again, if dodging bullets and camping
out sound good to you, you will love the Marines.
Finally, the greatest disadvantage of the Marine Corps is
deployment duration and location.
Earlier I mentioned that the average Air Force deployment
is about three months long while the Navy usually goes for
six.
In the same vein, the Marine Corps deployments usually
hover around the six to seven month mark, but can stretch
out to as much as a year if in a combat zone.
All of this is well and good until you consider just where
Marine deployments are located. Marines live and operate
in some very austere and un-improved locations.
My last deployment to the center of Iraq illustrates this
point. While Air Force squadrons were located hundreds of
miles away in a nice base in another country; I had to walk
over rocks and dirt just to get to the showers. The
conditions were dusty and hot; and the Marine Corps was
happy to send me there!

37

So, to recap the advantages and disadvantages of the Corps:

The Advantages:
Training as infantry for first year means close ties to
the ground.
Esprit de corps, sense of pride in the organization.
Small size means building on your good reputation.
Small size instills family atmosphere.
Best availability of air contracts for any service.
Lower standards for GPA and college major.
The Disadvantages:
Extra time to train and extra time in the field.
Least money of all the services.
Small size means relative lack of public notoriety.
Some bad non-flying jobs.
Deployments to austere locations.

38

Summary of The Three Services

If this chapter has taught you anything, it has taught you
that you must take the good with the bad.
The key to making a wise decision on a service is to
carefully discern what kind of person you are, what you
like, and what you dislike.
It could be that one of the things that will attract you to a
particular service is listed in a disadvantage column. For
example, you may love being on the sea and cant think of
anything better to do with your life than to float on the
great blue.
If so, the non-flying ship jobs that the Navy has to offer may
be an advantage rather than being a disadvantage.
Similarly, if you cherish the idea of being outdoors, then
you will likely do well as a fighter pilot and a Forward Air
Controller in the Corps.
The decision is yours. You owe it to yourself to take some
time to figure out what you like and what you dont like. My
job is easy. I provide you with the information. Your task is
to take a hard look inside.
Having done that, your decision will become a lot easier.

39

Chapter 3: Commissioning
Programs
In order to fly jets in the Air Force, the Navy, or the Marine
Corps, you need to be an officer.
To be an officer, you need to get a commission. When the
military uses the word commission it does not mean that
you get a cut of the profits. It means that you get a signed
order from the President of the United States saying that
you have been appointed as an officer in a particular
service.
Commissioned officers start out as 2nd Lieutenants (Air
Force / Marines) or as Ensigns (Navy) and can eventually
rank as high as General or Admiral.
An officer is paid much more than those who join the
service as enlisted members, but he also has much greater
responsibility. To get a commission, you have to be a
college graduate.
There are four ways to get a commission. They are:
1) Service Schools
2) Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
3) Officer Candidate School (OCS) / Officer
Training School (OTS)
4) Enlisted Commissioning Programs
Each of these programs caters to a slightly different person
and a different stage in life. We will cover all of them in
detail. As in our discussion on the three services, there is
plenty of room for preferences when it comes to deciding
your path. The factors influencing your decision will likely
be: how old you are, how much schooling you have had, and
what you want to do while you are in college.
40

Also, while there are four paths toward a commission, each

of the services has a slightly different approach in how they
administer their programs. So, we will outline the programs
at large with some common advantages and disadvantages,
then we will move on to a discussion of each particular
services approach in Chapter 4.

Service Schools
The three service schools are: West Point (Army) in New
York, The Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD (Navy /
Marines), and The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs,
CO (Air Force). 8
The service schools exist in order to train a well-educated
officer corps. Each school provides a tuition-free four years
of college and even pays a few bucks per month for
spending money.
In return, students sign up for a minimum of four years
obligated service in the armed forces upon graduation (this
obligation is longer for pilots). Also implicit in attendance
to the service school is to be at their disposal during the
time at school. In other words, students are pretty much
already in the military from the time they show up for their
first summer.
The following paragraphs list some pluses and minuses to
attending a service school.

I would be remiss not to mention two other service schools. First, theres the
U.S. Coast Guard Academy. While Coasties fly jets, they do not fly fighters,
so they will not be mentioned much here. There is also the Merchant Marine
Academy which has its own number of service commissions and provides
graduates with an opportunity to pursue a limited number of flight slots upon
graduation (http://www.usmma.edu).

41

Advantages
Show me the money! College is a very expensive
proposition, however your benevolent U.S. government has
found a way for you to afford four years at a prestigious
university. All it takes is to sign on the dotted line for a
small commitment after your schooling is done. What could
be better?
The financial advantages to a service school cannot be
understated. Full ride scholarships include tuition, room,
board, medical care, and some spending money. This extra
cash starts out at around $100 per month for first year
students and peaks at about $400 for seniors.
The service school option is a very nice choice for those who
have thought out their career decision in advance.
And while I admit that the farthest thing from my mind
back in high school was joining the military, some of you
already know what you want to do.
For you, a service school is a great option. The money is
good and so are the benefits. These both can be very
attractive, especially if you would have had to work two jobs
just to pay your way through college.
Additionally, there is a prestige factor that comes with
attending one of the service schools.
Students are part of a small, but influential fraternity.
Unofficially, there is the chance that a future military job or
promotion may be accelerated for a ring knocker (i.e. an
officer who has graduated from the Army, Navy, or Air
Force Academies). And, upon getting out of the military,
graduates find many open employment doors from other
graduates.
42

Another advantage to the service schools is that students

have the chance to see what they like and dislike in the
military before graduation.
Each summer, from freshman through senior years,
students spend time participating in some interesting
aspect of their services life.
For example, Navy midshipmen can spend a summer on a
boat, a summer with a flying squadron, or a summer with
the Marines. This gives them a very well rounded
perspective of the available career options and helps guide
what they might be interested in.
Academy graduates may also enjoy a slight advantage when
it comes to going to flight school.
Of course, this will never be substantiated, but academy
graduates may get an advanced look at getting flight slots.
And, why shouldnt they? They deserve it after spending
four hard years demonstrating their commitment to the
service while the rest of us were drinking beer and sleeping
in.
The belief is this: if you graduate from a service school, you
can get a flight slot if you want.
The common phrase is: 2.0 and go (i.e. graduate and you
are in), however, you will never be guaranteed a flight slot
before your senior year at school.
Far from being official policy, that phrase may be true some
years and not some others. Nonetheless, by and large, the
services do give some advance selection advantages to their
Academy grads.
43

Finally, there is a little known fact that they almost never

tell you about attending a service school.
Upon graduation, students can typically choose to receive a
commission in whichever of the four services that they
desire.
That means that they can attend the Air Force Academy
and then get a commission in the Marine Corps or vice
versa (I personally know three pilots who have done this).
The services handle these transfers and manage the process
by which students change services.
They ensure that there are even numbers coming from each
of the schools. Typically transfer students get paired up
with someone from the other school who wants to switch to
another service.
All of these facts make the service school option a very
attractive onebut, as usual, there are some down sides.

Disadvantages
Here is the biggest disadvantage to attending a service
school: forget about having a normal life during college.
Do you remember all of those stories that your older
brother told you about the fun times he had at State?
Well, you can leave all of those stories behind if you want to
go to an academy. There is very little opportunity to get out
in town for a beer especially in the first year of school.
And if you are caught sneaking out, get ready for a few
months of mopping the floors.

44

Compare that to your normal civilian university. There, you

wont find anyone to catch you sneaking out because there
is nothing to sneak out of. 9
A strong disadvantage to the service schools is that students
are pretty much in the military already.
If you wore a uniform to class at your local college,
someone might confuse you for a misplaced Trick-or-Treater.
In the service schools, not only do students wear uniforms,
but they also better make sure that they are in good shape
or there will be floors to mop, push ups to do, or something
else along those lines.
In addition to a time commitment during the year, service
school students also give up a majority of their summer
vacation.
The average free time per summer at an academy is about a
month. During the other two months, they are out on one of
their military exposure trips.
In addition to one-month per summer, students are
typically granted leave for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
spring breaks. The time off for these is minimal when
compared to a normal school.
Typically, the service schools entrance requirements are
more stringent than those at a normal college.

It should be noted that the overall social life of a student at a service school
does tend to improve as the years go on and the rules relax a bit. It just never
gets close to what life at a normal school is like.

45

In order to be considered as a candidate for admission,

applicants must meet minimum high school GPA and
minimum SAT / ACT scores (these will be addressed more
fully in each schools particular section).
These service school academic entrance requirements are
usually much higher than those to get into the service itself.
Nonetheless, the service schools are still easier to get into
than Harvard or Duke, so if you are a rocket scientist you
should have no problem as long as you are well rounded
which brings me to my next point.
You will not be considered a qualified applicant to a service
school unless you have something else to show for your
high school years other than your grades.
A perfect SAT score and a 4.0 GPA are nice, but the
admissions department at Navy is going to want to see that
you have participated on a sports team or in some other
meaningful extra-curricular activity.
Here is a direct quotation from the Naval Academys
website: Midshipmen are good students, leaders in their
high schools and communities and participants in
competitive sports. 10
Notice that they didnt say, maybe participated in some
sport.
The websites statement is a pretty clear testament to the
fact that the schools are looking for well-rounded
candidates.

10

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions

46

Of course, if you are the grandson of Admiral Halsey, do

what ever you wantyou are probably going to get in. 11
The Air Force Academys website has a similar tone. It says
that, athletic participation is an important part of our
evaluation of your overall potential to succeed at the
Academy. 12
At the Air Force Academy, 95% of accepted candidates have
participated in high school athletics.
While we are on the subject of admissions, an applicant to a
service school is required to do a lot more legwork on an
application than does an applicant to a normal college.
Not only do they have their share of interviews and essays,
but they also require a nomination. These nominations
must come from a U.S. House Representative, a Senator,
the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, the
President, or the Vice President.
Each has his own set of criteria with which he chooses his
candidates.
Some just want your name while others require you to take
a test or do a series of interviews with their aides.
In any case, expect that it will take a lot more time to get an
application ready so start early.
Most congressional offices stop taking applications after
October 31st of an applicants senior year.

11

The Admiral Halsey comment reminds me of one other caveat. If you are the
son of a Medal of Honor award winner, you get a free slot into any Service
School.
12

http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/How_to_Apply

47

Getting a nomination is only one step of many of getting

into a service school. Actual admission is called an
appointment.
Typically, the service schools give appointments to about
one fourth of those who have nominations.
Perhaps the one thing that keeps people from applying to a
service school is the mandatory obligation after graduation.
However, few know that the obligation does not go into
affect until fall of the junior year.
In other words, students can attend the school of their
choice and if it doesnt work out, as long as they leave
before starting their third year, they incur no follow on
commitment.
Of course, depending on the situation, it may be too late to
attend a service school. Maybe youve already graduated
from college. No mater how hard you try, they will not let
you in.
Finally, just realize that while the prospect of attending a
military school seems very promising, you may not be
guaranteed anything upon graduation other than a
commission.
In other words, depending on the needs of the service, there
is a chance that you may not get a flight slot. Last section I
said that there is a very good chance that you will get to go
to flight school when you graduate from a service school.
And while this is true, there is nothing better than a
guarantee. You can get a guarantee through OCS / OTS, but
you wont be getting one through the service school. Your
chances are still pretty good; they are just not 100%.
48

Wrapping up the advantages and disadvantages to the

service schools:
The Advantages:
Free tuition, room, board, books, and spending
money.
Small and influential fraternity of graduates.
Get to see what you like in the service during the
summer.
May have a slight advantage over non-academy grads.
Can go into any service after graduating.
Have a good chance of going to flight school upon
graduation.
The Disadvantages:
Time is not your own.
Wear uniforms to school.
Summer training vice free time.
Entrance requirements are tight.
Required nomination from a Congressman.
The follow-on service obligation.
May not be guaranteed to get air.
May be too late to get in.

49

Reserve Officers Training Corps

(ROTC)
When the average person pictures ROTC, he sees a college
student with a drill instructor yelling in his ear.
The students head is shaved, he wears a camouflage
uniform, and he sticks out like a sore thumb.
All the while, the normal students wear headphones,
Fubu shirts, and call the ROTC kid names like GI Joe and
Sarge.
That doesnt sound like much fun.
The reality about ROTC is much different than the image.
The military goes well out of its way to make sure that
ROTC students can have a very normal college experience.
The impact on a students time is very minimal and the
benefits can be very good.
There are three ROTC programs: Army ROTC, Navy ROTC,
and Air Force ROTC.
The Marine Corps program falls under Navy ROTC, and is
called NROTC-Marine option.
ROTC units cater to a couple of thousand colleges across
the country, so if you want to go down this road, there is a
good chance that you will find a unit near you.
The following are some advantages and disadvantages to
ROTC:

50

Advantages
ROTC can be the best of both worlds.
Typically, ROTC scholarships include tuition, fees, and
books for 2, 3, or 4 years.
Unlike normal scholarships, ROTC scholarships are based
on merit and not on need. So, regardless of your financial
situation, you stand a good chance to get a full scholarship
as long as you are qualified.
In return, students incur a service commitment upon
graduation, and must participate in a number of military
classes and activities during the time at college.
While at school, the ROTC commitment includes one to two
classes per week and some minor physical training. Other
than that, a student may do as he likes. He can play sports,
join a fraternity, or spend all of his time at the library. He
chooses.
There are no drill instructors in ROTC units and very little
yelling or screaming (if any at all). ROTC commanders are
typically mid-level officers who have volunteered for a few
years of duty at a college. These officers dont yellmuch.
You will not have to shave your head either to be eligible for
ROTC.
The official U.S. military position is, when wearing a
uniform, hair must be within the service standards (which
means you can have normally groomed hair). While you
may practice some close order drill (i.e. marching) during
one of your military classes, how you get to class and back
is up to you.

51

An ROTC student can live wherever and however he wants

as long as he doesnt break any laws, doesnt miss any
classes, and doesnt flunk out.
The leaders of ROTC units typically go out of their way to
make sure that a students college experience is very
enjoyable.
All of these benefits make ROTC a very flexible option for
someone who wants to go into the military when they
graduate, but who doesnt want to be in the military until
they graduate.
Additionally, the required military classes contribute
toward overall college requirements and may help pad your
GPA. These classes are typically on military leadership,
customs, law, history, and tactics.
Also, a very little known fact about ROTC is that students
can participate in the program with no follow-on service
obligation as long as they dont take a scholarship.
So, if you think that you are interested in the military, but
are not sure if you want to sign your life away, join the local
ROTC unit and participate in their training.
Assuming you complete the required courses, you should be
able to get a commission when you graduate.
Heres another little known fact about ROTC.
Usually, students can delay entry into the service of their
choice to go on to graduate school.
In some cases, they can even get a scholarship as well.
Also, much like the service schools, students have an
opportunity to select a different service upon graduation.
52

This option can be especially helpful as not all schools have

ROTC for every service.
Most colleges, unless they are very big, have just one ROTC
unit. So, for example, there is usually no problem going
through Army ROTC and then heading into the Marine
Corps.
Much like the service schools, ROTC offers the opportunity
to see what you like in a service before choosing a career
path.
Summer training will be catered to giving the maximum
exposure to all aspects of the particular service. These all
help prepare you to make a wise decision at the end.

Disadvantages
There is no such thing as a free lunch. ROTC is no
exception.
No matter how much free time a student may have while in
college, there is always the looming commitment at the end.
This service obligation goes into effect as long as you have
taken a scholarship and have begun your sophomore year.
If you are prone to making decisions and then changing
your mind later on, you better think twice before signing on
the bottom line for an ROTC scholarship.
If you are not completely sure, you can always join the
ROTC unit without a scholarship and, after a year or two, if
you want to stay in, then you can get them to pay for your
last few years.

53

Despite the reduced requirements during the semester,

students still do more work than their roommates in the
fraternity.
There are some early mornings, some running, some
additional classes, and a few weeks of summer training.
Additionally, even after you complete four years as an
ROTC student, there is still no guarantee that you will get to
go to flight school.
Depending on the service, getting a flight slot can be easier
or harder.
For example, in the Air Force, assignments are based on
grades, the ROTC commanders rating, and a servicespecific standardized test.
Depending on the total score, students may or may not be
eligible for pilot slots. While post-college applicants to OTS
or OCS know before signing on the dotted line whether or
not they are getting a flight guarantee, ROTC students may
not have the luxury of knowing that until about six months
before graduation. By then, it is too late to get out.
Another downside to ROTC is that it may not be offered at
the school of your choice. Perhaps youve always wanted to
go to a particular school and then go into the Navy. You
then come to find out that your school of choice doesnt
have an ROTC unit of any kind. That can put you in a tough
position.
If you find yourself in this situation, ask if there is a school
nearby where you can commute to ROTC training. If not,
you must decide between ROTC and the school of your
choice.

54

To summarize the advantages and disadvantages of Reserve

Officer Training Courses:
The Advantages:
Free tuition, fees, and books.
Can participate in ROTC with no obligation if not on
a scholarship.
Can lead a normal college life.
Very flexible program.
Military classes may interest you and help pad your
GPA.
Can delay active duty.
Get to see what you like in the service.
Can go into any service upon graduation.
The Disadvantages:
Obligation after school if you take the scholarship.
Classes / training will take up some free time.
Summer training instead of summers off.
May not be guaranteed a flight slot.
May not have ROTC at your school of choice.

55

Officer Candidate School (OCS) /

Officer Training School (OTS)
Do you remember the movie Stripes where Bill Murray and
his friends get drunk and enlist in the Army?
This movie depicts the common belief about Officer
Candidate School (OCS) and Officer Training School (OTS).
One day you are going along with your life, and the next day
you are getting your head shaved. Your friends and family
are bewildered, We thought that you were getting a job in
banking? Well, sorry Mom and Dad, Ive changed my
mind.
In reality, applications to OCS and OTS are typically
thought out well in advance and constitute informed
decisions made by future officers regarding their career
path.
Officer Candidate School (Navy and Marine Corps) 13 and
Officer Training School (Air Force) are similar programs
designed for candidates who have either graduated from
college or who are still in college but do not participate in
an ROTC unit.
OCS / OTS can be a very attractive and flexible way to get a
commission while still keeping ones options open. Plus, if
you are already out of college, it may be your only chance to
get a commission and fly jets.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages to OCS and OTS
are listed below.
13

To be exact, the Marine Corps has two OCS programs: Platoon Leaders
Class and Officer Candidate Class. For now, we will call them both OCS and
then cover each of them in detail in Chapter 4.

56

Advantages
By far the biggest advantage to OCS and OTS is that you
can go to the school of your choice and enjoy four to six
years with absolutely no commitment, harassment, or
obligation.
Then, after you have had your fun, you can apply to the
service of your choice and get a contract to do what you
want to do.
It is a great option for those who are not sure about their
desire to be in the military.
Perhaps you are a great baseball player. You may want to be
a pilot, but dont want to sign a binding military contract in
case you get drafted by a major league club.
Or perhaps you like the idea of being a fighter pilot, but you
still want to keep your options open for other careers. Who
knows what might come up?
OCS and OTS are programs specifically designed to attract
candidates who are already out of college or those who will
be out of college soon.
The services understand that not everyone has their life in
order by age 18. They need college graduates, not just for
numbers reasons, but also because they want well-rounded
applicants.
The services know that not everyone will attend a service
school or ROTC, and their venue to recruit those who do
not is OCS / OTS. It is a true is a win-win. The services get
well-rounded candidates without having to pay for college.
The candidates get officer slots without having to sign up
before they are ready.
57

OCS / OTS can last from 10 to 13 weeks depending on the

service. The time at OCS is spent marching, learning basic
military customs, firing a rifle, working out, and taking
exams.
While service school and ROTC students spend up to four
years learning these skills, OCS / OTS candidates learn
them in a few short months.
Plus, once youve been in the service for a few years, it
generally matters little how you were commissioned.
One person graduates from the Academy, another from
ROTC, and the other from OCS. One way or another, they
end up in the same place flight school.
Of course, for those out of college, OCS / OTS may be their
only choice.
A good friend of mine once worked as a plumber in San
Francisco. One day he decided that he wanted to go into the
Marine Corps to fly jets. He contacted a recruiter, got a
flight slot, and three years later, he was flying FA-18s.
Now you may not be a plumber, but if are a college
graduate, you are eligible to apply for OCS / OTS.
There are some age limits for officer jobs (35 years old by
law); and the pilot age limits are normally much lower
(typically 27-29 years old).
However, if you are older than that and are in good health,
there is always the chance of getting a waiver. These
waivers may not be offered up at first and will often depend
on the needs of the service, but ask around and you may
soon find a recruiter ready to offer you an olive branch.
58

One of the best advantages to entering the military through

the OCS / OTS programs is the availability of flight
guarantees.
In a previous section, I mentioned that service school
graduates will likely have their choice of assignment, but
nothing is ever guaranteed to them.
In the case of OCS / OTS candidates, they have the option
of getting flight slots before signing on the dotted line. If
the recruiter says that he does not have any guarantees left,
they can wait until he does.
The flight guarantee is rarely advertised, but when available
it can be a golden egg for anyone who wants to be a fighter
pilot. Imagine heading to boot camp knowing that in a
short 13 weeks, you will be off to flight school. That
certainly makes the push-ups a bit more bearable.
OCS / OTS candidates often compete with ROTC students
on a level playing field when it comes to flight guarantees.
No matter who you are, you have to take the service specific
aviation aptitude test. This test is called the Air Force
Officer Qualification Test (Air Force) or the Aviation
Selection Test Battery (Navy and Marine Corps). Scores on
these tests often determine what job candidates will end up
with. In the OCS / OTS programs, candidates take these
tests before they ever get in. That gives them the advantage
that service school and ROTC grads do not have they can
turn down any bad offers that come their way. No thanks, I
think I will try my hand at banking. 14

14

I will discuss standard tests in chapter 4. Suffice to say, there are a number
of resources out there to help you prepare you for these tests. Some even
provide you with actual test questions. I highly encourage using these
resources to study fromthey are worth the investment. Links to some of
these test prep resources will be provided in follow on chapters.

59

Disadvantages
I went through an OCS program. If I had it to do over again,
it would have been better for me to go through a service
school or ROTC.
The reason is financialon the order of about $60,000 in
cold, hard cash.
Ive been in the military for over 10 years now. That is well
past the 4-year commitment required by either of the
obligatory commissioning programs, service schools or
ROTC.
So, I could have gone to college for free, but instead I
decided to go my own way until I had things figured out.
At least I had a reason for passing up the big bucks. I
thought that I was going to be a professional baseball
player. That did not turn out, so in retrospect, I probably
should have taken the money.
The biggest disadvantage of OCS / OTS is the money or
the lack thereof.
The U.S. government is falling over itself to pay for you to
go to school.
Your taxes pay for everyone elses education. Why not cash
in while you have the chance?
The thing that you have to decide is how willing you are to
make a commitment early on. I was not ready for that
commitment until my senior year in college.
By then I had passed up any opportunity for financial aid.

60

You, however, may be in a position to make a decision

earlier than I was.
If this is you, think long and hard about whether or not you
want the government to pay for school.
Another disadvantage to OCS / OTS is the lack of training
before entering the service.
Service school and ROTC graduates have two to four years
or training on the finer points of being a military officer. By
the time they get commissioned, they are well prepared and
somewhat seasoned.
OCS / OTS candidates have ten to thirteen weeks to catch
up to their peers. Typically this time is not enough time to
bridge the gap.
So, if you enter the service through OCS or OTS, expect to
be catching up on some things during the first couple of
years.
Also, depending on the year and service, OCS / OTS
candidates may find themselves at a disadvantage when
competing for flight slots. This particular problem is
accentuated in the Air Force who typically gives 800 or
more of their annual flight slots to Academy or ROTC
graduates. 15
Finally, much like the ROTC students, OCS / OTS
graduates will never have the prestige of having graduated
from a service school. And when your name is up to be
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, you will probably wish that
you had graduated from the Air Force or Naval Academies.
15 Air

Force Basic Officer Training Application Guide. 1 Mar 06, P. 25

(http://www.rs.af.mil/rsoc/FY06-Annoucements/AD%20BOT%
20Announcement.doc)

61

All in all, OCS / OTS is a very good option.

It is truly the most flexible way to go through college and
then enter the military service.
When you add the appeal of securing an air guarantee, this
could be the way to go. Plus, many of my readers have
passed the age of no return. For them, OCS or OTS may be
their only option.
To summarize the benefits and detractors of Officer
Candidate School (OCS) and Officer Training School (OTS):

The Advantages:
Can go to school, be normal, and then decide your
future.
10-13 weeks instead of 4 years to get you to the same
end.
Only option for those who are out of college.
Best way to secure an air guarantee.
Will compete with ROTC students on a level ground
via testing.
The Disadvantages:
Little or no money for college.
No prior training.
May be at a disadvantage for flight slots when
competing against Academy or ROTC grads.
Latter year career promotion may be hindered
somewhat by not going to service school.

62

Enlisted Commissioning Programs

The final means to secure a commission (and a flight slot) is
by far the most misunderstood. This method involves going
through the ranks to become an officer.
Enlisted members of the military start at the very bottom of
the rank structure and work their way up. There are three
types of enlisted people:
1) Those who enlist, serve their time, and get out of the
military.
2) Those who enlist, serve their time, and then climb
the ranks to become non-commissioned officers.
3) Those who enlist, serve their time, then go to college,
and become officers.
You need to be an officer to be a pilot, so for obvious
reasons, we will focus on the latter.
Becoming an officer by means of the enlisted ranks can be
accomplished in one of two ways.
First, you can join the military as an enlisted person and
start at the bottom (literally).
Upon completion of your first few years, you then apply for
one of many enlisted commissioning programs and go to
college, on the governments tab, with the implicit
obligation to return to the service as an officer upon
graduation.
Or, you can already be a college graduate, enlist for a few
years, then pursue a commission and an officer slot. The
former is the most common and I only mention the latter
because it can be a pitfall if you dont know what you are
doing.
63

The pitfall is that most people do not know whom to call

when trying to get into the military as an officer.
The first thing that they typically do is contact the local
recruiter. If the person who answers the phone on the other
end is your average recruiter, he will have no idea what an
officer program is much less how to get you a flight
guarantee.
What he does know is that he has to fill an enlisted quota.
And before you can blink twice, he has talked you into
enlisting for a few yearsjust to gain some experience.
Back in Chapter 1, I told you not to talk to a recruiter until
you had finished this book. This pitfall is one of the reasons
why I said that.
If you are a college graduate, you do not need to be
talking to an enlisted recruiter.
The guy that you need to talk to is an officer recruiter one
who specializes in getting you a commission (and an air
guarantee). More times than not, these recruiters are
officers themselves.
Having warned you of a common pitfall, it is still worth
noting that enlisted commissioning programs can be a very
valuable means to eventually securing a commission and an
air slot.
For example, lets say that you are in high school and do not
have a great idea of what you want to do with your life.
Your grades are not very good and your prospects of getting
into college (much less a service school) are somewhat
bleak.
64

You are hurting for cash and can little afford to head off to
school for 4 years.
For you, enlisting in the military may be right up your alley.
Not only do you get a paycheck every month, but you also
have the opportunity to earn money for college, while
eventually becoming eligible for a number of
commissioning programs.
Many of these programs still pay your salary while you are
in college. If not, there is always the GI Bill. 16
An enlisted member of the armed forces also has the
opportunity to sign up for a number of different
commissioning options upon completion of school. Look at
it like this; they have already proven their commitment to
the service. The government sees them as a good
investment and is happy to provide them with the means to
get a degree. They get the money and the government gets a
qualified officer after four years.
The enlisted commissioning programs are numerous and
detailed. Some of the more popular ones will be discussed
in the service specific section. If you are already enlisted,
the best source for information on these programs is your
career counselor, your base education office, or your
military personnel flight.
If you are not enlisted, but want to know more, check out
the three services websites located in Appendix B. These
links, along with Chapter 4, will provide you with a good
overview of the available options.

16

The Montgomery GI Bill is a great deal for everyone in the military. Under
the G.I. Bill, you pay a small amount into the fund during your first year of
service. In return, when you get out, the government pays a large percentage of
your college bill.

65

Chapter 4: Service Specific

Commissioning Programs
In Chapter 2, we looked at the Air Force, the Navy, and the
Marine Corps. In Chapter 3, we discussed the several
means to secure a commission. In this chapter, we will tie
together the services to their specific commissioning
programs.
Each service has a slightly different way of administering
their particular programs and each has slightly different
application standards.
By the time you get done reading this chapter, you should
be much closer to making some final steps toward your
exciting decision. We will cover each service in the same
order as in Chapter 2. 17

Air Force
Commissioning
Programs
Air Force Academy
The Air Force Academy is located
in picturesque Colorado Springs,
CO. It offers one of the most
secure routes toward becoming a
fighter pilot.
17

Before embarking into this very detailed chapter, I need to warn you that
there are a few sections that come close to repeating some portions of text
from previous sections. This repetition is made necessary by virtue of the fact
that not every reader will be reading every section in this chapter. These
repetitive sections are limited mostly to discussions of the standardized tests,
the application, and the physical requirements common to certain programs.

66

Air Force cadets study at the mecca of the Air Force and are
nearly guaranteed chance at a flight slot upon graduation.
In order to be eligible to apply to the Air Force Academy
you need to be:
A U.S. citizen. If you werent born in the United
States or werent born a U.S. citizen, your citizenship
must be finalized by the time you send in your
application.
Unmarried with no children. Dont try to lie on
this one. If you have a wife and kids, you do not want
to go to any service school.
Of good moral character. The admissions
department will look hard at your past. Arrests and
drug use can be disqualifiers, but not in every case. If
you have had some problems in your past, but have
been behaving for a while, you may be able to
convince them that your character is reformed
enough for Academy standards.
Minimum age of 17 years old when you will
enter school.
Maximum age of 23 years old when you will
enter school. Some of the other programs age
restrictions can be waived, but in the case of the
Academy, the age limits are public law and are
nearly impassable.
Of high leadership, physical, and medical
standards. The admissions department will take a
good look at your high school activities. They want to
see that you have been in leadership positions, can
handle yourself in competition, and dont have any
debilitating physical problems. However, dont
worry if your eyesight is not 20/20. The medical
requirement is about big-ticket items. 18
18

http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Student_Eligibility

67

The Air Force Academys entrance standards are very tight.

The admissions department ranks applications in three
areas: academics, extra-curricular activities, and
admissions panel scores.
Academics scores are usually weighted around 60% of the
total score with extra-curricular activities and panel
rankings both at 20%. The higher the score, the better the
chances are to get an appointment. 19
As noted, the majority of the overall score is based on
academics.
The admissions department considers three things when
looking at an academic record: class rank, GPA, and
standardized tests. Applicants need to be ranked in the top
40% of their class to even be considered, however, the
average is much higher. GPA value will be balanced on the
competetiveness of a high schools overall program.
Additionally, SAT scores below 580 in verbal and 530 in
math are not competitive. The average entrance scores are
around 630 and 660 respectively.20
It is important to note that there are a number of resources
out there to help you get the SAT / ACT scores that you
need. I recommend the courses located at the following
links.
ACT Test Prep
SAT Test Prep

19

http://www.academyadmissions.com

20

Ibid

68

Extra-curricular activities are considered very important

and make up about 20% of a candidates application score.
A very high value is placed on meaningful athletic
participation and leadership roles.
Having said that, if you cant play football or lead the chess
club because you work a job for four hours every day to
make ends meet, you may still receive ample consideration.
Just make sure that the admissions department
understands your situation. Additionally, if you have any
civic or school awards, make sure the admissions folks
know about them. Everything little thing helps.
The admissions panels assessment will make up the last
20% of the overall score.
For ranking, they use the entire record including interviews
and essays. This is by far the most arbitrary part of the
admissions process, but can help if you dont have the best
grades, but are a rock-star outside of the classroom.
The Academy wants solid, well-rounded candidates, not
just geniuses.
Speaking of rock-stars, I should mention the single best
way to get into the Air Force Academy sports.
In this case, I am not talking about having participated in
high school sports; I am talking about being recruited to
play a sport at Air Force.
The Air Force Academy competes at the Division I level, but
they face a significant challenge when it comes to recruiting
athletes since most Division I level players have dreams of
going pro instead of going into the military.
69

If you can play well enough to compete in college and want

to go to the Academy, your best bet is to contact the coach
at Air Force during your junior year. He will likely be happy
that you called and will probably be very helpful in getting
you an appointment.
If you are interested in attending the Air Force Academy,
you will need to start early. The application process
officially begins in your junior year in high school, but
proactive applicants will always start getting all of their
ducks in a row as soon as possible.
The Academy maintains a detailed timeline for admission
at:
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/
How_to_Apply
Never forget that your Air Force job interview begins with
the first piece of paper, so do your level best to meet or
exceed all of these deadlines.
If you are not accepted to the Air Force Academy, all is not
lost.
There is always the option of receiving an appointment to
the Air Force Academys Prep School. The prep school is a
pre-course designed for those applicants whose packages
are competitive, but who need some more academic work.
Each year, the prep school is home to about 240 students
(cadets). Of that number, 4 out of every 5 end up at the Air
Force Academy the next year. 21 Those odds are pretty good.

21

http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Prep_Sch_Section

70

For more info of the Air Force Academy Prep School, see their
information page at:
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Prep_Sch_Section
Whenever you submit an application to a service school, be
very careful to read the fine print.
Academy students incur an involuntary military obligation
upon graduation.
If you fly, your post-school commitment will run
concurrent with your flight commitment (which is much
longer).
The only way to get out of the mandatory service obligation
is to get out of school early.
If you leave the Academy before your junior year, usually
they let you go without a follow-on commitment. However,
if you resign after you have started your junior year, you
will likely incur a two to three year service commitment as
an enlisted Airman.
Just be sure to consider carefully the decisions that you
make, as you may not be able to change your mind.
Finally, the Air Force has a set of standard physical
requirements for their pilots upon commencement of flight
training. To be eligible for a pilots slot, cadets must meet
the following physical qualifications:
Have normal color vision (i.e. not color blind).
The physical will include a test where the examiner
asks you to read a colored number on a colored
background. If you are color blind, you will not be
able to see some of the numbers.
71

 Have a minimum of 20/70 vision, which can

be corrected to 20/20. In other words, if your
eyesight is lacking, but you can put on glasses or
contacts and get it to 20/20, you will pass. (This
eyesight standard is uniform across the Air Force.
The myth that pilots need 20/20 is just that. Plus,
the rules on vision get looser every year.)22
Have no history of corrective eye surgery.
PRK laser eye surgery can be waived (not Lasik). I
know of a number of aviators who have had laser
surgery (all with good success).
Height of 64 to 77 inches. This ensures that you
will fit into the cockpit if you are big and that you
wont die on ejection if you are small. If you dont
meet these standards, there are a few more
measurements that they can take to see if you may
be able to fit after all.
The good news for aspiring aviators is that approximately
60% of Air Force Academy students graduate to flight jobs
as pilots, navigators, and battle managers. 23
All in all, the Air Force Academy is a great deal for those
who are so inclined.
For more information on the Air Force Academy, check out
their website at:
http://afrotc.com
You may also find answers to admission related questions at:
http://academyadmissions.com
22

There are a number of resources available to help you improve or maintain

your vision. One very good natural program can be found here:
http://www.FighterPilotVision.com
23

http://academyadmissions.com/#Page/AF_Careers

72

Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps

(AFROTC)
Air Force ROTC units meet at
over 1,000 of the nations
colleges and universities. 24
You generally do not have to go
very far to find an ROTC unit
nearby.
The benefits of ROTC programs were discusses in the
previous chapter. In the next few paragraphs, we will
examine some of the specific details associated with Air
Force ROTC.
Application and admission into AFROTC programs come in
two categories: scholarship and non-scholarship.
There are two ways to secure an ROTC scholarship: apply
while in high school to receive a 3 or 4 year scholarship (full
or partial) or apply while in college all the way up to your
junior year in order to receive a 2, 2, 3, or 3 year
scholarship (full or partial).
Applications are typically accepted up to six months before
a scholarship is to be awarded.
To be eligible for Air Force ROTC in-college scholarship
program, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen or expect to be one by the
time you will graduate from college.

24

http://www.afrotc.com

73

 Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test

(AFOQT). I will speak more about this very
important test in a few paragraphs.
Meet physical fitness standards and pass a
physical fitness test.
Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
Pass a physical examination.25
Scholarships are awarded on a case-by-case basis, but are
generally are based on the quality of the candidate and the
number of slots available.
The officer in charge of the schools ROTC unit typically
makes some of the decisions regarding scholarship awards
for his particular school.
Thus, he is the first person to contact if you are planning to
pursue an ROTC slot. This officer has the first choice on a
few of his scholarships each year.
After that, applications go to a central board, which
determines scholarships at large. If you want to get an
ROTC scholarship, the most secure way is to impress the
ROTC commander at the school of your choice. If he likes
you, you stand a good chance of getting a slot.
Available scholarships and majors can be found here:
http://afrotc.com/scholarships/
In addition to tuition, fees, and books, ROTC students are
paid between $250 and $400 dollars a month tax-free. This
extra pay is intended to discourage ROTC cadets from
needing to get a job to pay the bills through college and is a
very nice incentive.

25

http://afrotc.com/admissions/requirements-standards/fitness/

74

While taking normal college classes, ROTC cadets

concurrently attend a number of military preparation
courses that count toward their schools final requirements.
These classes begin during the freshman and sophomore
years with the General Military Course. This first course
focuses on the basics of being an officer. By the junior year,
cadets are enrolled in the Professional Officer Course. This
course includes a leadership lab and a number of aerospace
courses.
All in all, the ROTC academic load is minimal and will likely
pad your GPA.
Of note, the Air Force pushes their students toward
engineering programs. This is true of most Air Force (and
Navy) programs.
So much for AFROTC in general now its time to talk
about how to get a flight slot through AFROTC.
Think of AFROTC in three phases:
1) The General Military Course (GMC)
2) The Professional Officer Course (POC)
3) Pilot Slot Categorization / Selection
The General Military Course (GMC) is open to college
freshman and sophomores. And, assuming they dont take a
scholarship, cadets incur no service obligation.
The Professional Officer Course (POC) is for juniors and
seniors who have committed to at least a 4-year military
career after graduation.
Notice that I said, committed to a 4-year military career
not committed to a pilots career.
75

The first step to getting into the cockpit through AFROTC is

to get admitted to the Professional Officer Course.
Admission to the POC is determined competitively by
weighing 4 factors: Relative Standing Score (50%), GPA
(20%), Physical Fitness Test Scores (15%), and SAT scores
(15%).
The Relative Standing Score (RSS) is by far the most
important. This score is where the ROTC commander ranks
you among your peers. The highest score you can get is 50
points which will go a very long way toward getting you in
the POC.
These four factors contribute toward you overall score or
Order of Merit (OM) which will be used to compete
nationally against other AFROTC candidates. 26
During the junior year, AFROTC cadets begin the
categorization / selection process.
The Air Force has a two-staged process for career selection.
The first stage is the pilot selection, which happens around
February / March of the junior year. The next selection
includes all of the other jobs and occurs during the senior
year. By March of their senior year, cadets know where they
are going for their first assignment.
During selection, ROTC students compete for flight
guarantees. Cadets are given an overall score based on:
Relative Standing Score (theres that ranking from the
ROTC commander again!), GPA, Physical Fitness Test,
Field Training Grades, AFOQT scores, and Pilot Candidate
Selection Method (PCSM) scores, and AFOQT scores.

26

http://www.maxwell.af.mil/msd/pubs/afoatsi/36-2013.pdf

76

The weights are as follows:

RSS 50%
GPA 15%
PFT 10%
FT 10%
PCSM 15%

27

Remember that 50% of the overall grade is the

commanders ranking. So, if you are his number one cadet,
that 50 points will go a long way toward getting to fly.
The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) includes push-ups,
crunches, and a 1.5 mile run. 28
Field Training is either a 4 or 6 week program of fitness,
survival training, and weapons familiarization along with
leadership and team-building exercises. 29
The Pilot Candidate Selection Method (PCSM) is a
standardized score that attempts to quantify your ability to
do well in flight school. It is a value of previous flying
experience, AFOQT pilot score, and the Test of Basic
Aviation Skills (TBAS) scores. 30
The AFOQT can only be taken twice and the scores never
expire, so make sure that you are prepared for this test the
first time you take it.
The AFOQT will examine your knowledge in the following
areas: verbal analogies, arithmetic reasoning, vocabulary,
27

https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/

28

http://afrotc.com/admissions/requirements-standards/fitness/

29

http://afrotc.com/admissions/

30

https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil

77

math, instrument comprehension, block counting, table

reading, basic aviation information, general science, hidden
figures, and then some. 31
If the above list seems confusing or daunting, it is probably
because it was meant to be that way. Take my advice and
prepare for this test as much as you can. With some ample
studying, you should have very little problem scoring well.
And a high score on the AFOQT will go a long way toward
getting you a flight slot.
AFOQT study guides can be found by clicking the
following link:
AFOQT Test Prep
The TBAS test consists of ten subtests that measure
psychomotor skills and cognitive aptitude. The test takes
approximately 1 hour. 32
Once you have been categorized, you will be up for selection
as a pilot. The board of Colonels will determine your fate
along with the hundreds of others who are competing for
flight slots. The physical requirements for pilots are the
same as those for Air Force Academy pilot candidates. To
be a pilot, you must:
Have normal color vision (i.e. not color blind).
Have a minimum of 20/70 vision, which can
be corrected to 20/20.
Have no history corrective eye surgery.
Have a height of 64 to 77 inches.33

31

http://afrotc.com/admissions/qualifying-test/

32

https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/TBASInfo.html

33

For amplification on any of these points, see the expanded list in the Air
Force Academy section.

78

Finally, AFROTC units offer a non-scholarship option for

those students who desire to take the instruction without
guaranteeing a follow-on commitment.
Air Force ROTC can be a best of both worlds for those
who want money for college, but who do not want to attend
the Air Force Academy.
For more information on Air Force ROTC, find the unit
commander at your school by using the following link:
http://www.afrotc.com/colleges/detLocator.php
For general information on Air Force ROTC programs, see these
pages:
http://www.afrotc.com/
http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/index.asp
Or, call the following toll free number:
1-800-522-0033 (AFROTC ext 2091)
To find an Air Force recruiter near you, try:
http://www.airforce.com/info/locator.html
To chat online with an Air Force Advisor try this link:
https://secure.airforce.com/chat/?find=chat+with+an+adviser?
media_cd=VA
Or try the Air Force recruiting home page at:
http://www.airforce.com/

79

Air Force Officer Training School (OTS)

Air Force Officer
Training School
(OTS) is the Officer
Candidate School
program for the U.S.
Air Force.
OTS is located at
Maxwell Air Force
Base in Montgomery,
Alabama and is only
for college graduates who have not earned a commission
through the Air Force Academy or Air Force ROTC.
It is a very competitive program, but can reap great rewards
since applicants are eligible to get an air guarantee before
they commit to any obligation.
In order to be eligible for OTS as a pilot, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen.
Graduate from an accredited college or be
ready to graduate within 1 year. You can apply
during your senior year to start OTS that summer.
Be at least 18 years old.
Be younger than 35 on the date of your
commissioning. For pilots, you need to be able to
enter flight school by age 30 and under 29 by the
date that the selection board convenes. You will be
called age critical if you are older than 28.5. The
age limit can possibly be waived if you have a private
or commercial pilots license.
Pass a flight physical.
Have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Due to timing, there
is usually little that most OTS applicants, can do to
80

affect their GPA. The Air Force knows this and has
some waivers in place for grades assuming you score
high on some of the following.
Score at least 25 on the pilot portion of the
Air Force Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT)
and at least 50 combined on the pilot and
navigator portions.
Score at least 50 points on the Pilot
Candidate Selection Method (PCSM).
The PCSM is a standardized score that attempts to quantify
your ability to do well in flight school. It is a value of
previous flying experience, AFOQT pilot score, and the Test
of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) scores. 34
For OTS applications, you will automatically receive credit
for up to 61 civilian flight hours (even if youve never flown
before).
Above that, your score will improve with more hours. PCSM
computations are difficult to explain and your recruiter will
give you all the necessary details when the time is right.
For now, study for the AFOQT, get flight hours if you can
afford it, and gather more information about the new
TBAS.
You can find out more information about PCSM
computations at this website:
https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/

34

https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/

81

 Complete a personal interview with an Air

Force Officer recruiter.
During selection, OTS candidates compete against Air
Force Academy students and ROTC students for flight
guarantees. Of the 800-1000 pilot slots that the Air Force
awards each year, a very small 100-120 come from OTS.
This makes the program a very competitive one.
A big part of the selection to fly is the score on the
standardized Air Force Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT).
The AFOQT was discussed at length in the section on the
Air Force Academy. For more information, see that section,
or follow the link below (see the eBook for live links).
AFOQT Test Prep
The physical requirements for pilots are the same as those
for ROTC pilot candidates. To be a pilot, you must:
Have normal color vision (i.e. not color blind).
Have a minimum of 20/70 vision, which can
be corrected to 20/20.
Have no history of corrective eye surgery
(PRK is waiverable). 35
Have a height of 64 to 77 inches.36
It is worth repeating that the person to contact for
information on OTS is an officer recruiter.
This officer recruiter is an officer himself, normally a
Captain or a 1st Lieutenant. When making contact, be sure
to ask him about getting a pilots slot through OTS.
35

There are a number of resources available to help you improve or maintain

your vision. One very good natural program can be found here:
http://www.FighterPilotVision.com
36

For amplification on any of these points, see the expanded list in the Air
Force Academy section.

82

Once applications to OTS are submitted, a board of 6 Air

Force Colonels reviews all of them and selects candidates.
While the Air Force does the best it can to make the process
as objective as possible, results often vary from board to
board and year to year.
Keep in mind that the main objective of the board is to fill
the needs of the Air Force and not necessarily fulfill your
own personal desires.
The competitiveness of this process should be another
reminder to have all of your Is dotted and Ts crossed
before submitting a final application. Your recruiter will be
able to help you with your application, but you should
already be well on your way when you walk into his office.
In my consulting with Air Force OTS applicants, I often
stress one very important thing personality.
Keep in mind that each selection board is working with
some very limited information about each applicant.
What will be the thing that makes your application stand
out over all of the rest?
In many case, things such as letters of recommendation and
your interview will make the needed difference.
Here is a quotation from the Air Force Officer Training
Application Guide from March of 2006:
Some of the most common reasons for non-selection are
weak writing styles and a lack of bullets on the AF IMT 56
interview. Interviewing officers often "cut and paste"
bullets from previous applications and overlook the
change in the name or pronoun.
83

Also, an interviewing officer will sometimes use the same

bullets on several applications. Poorly written OTS
profiles and reference letters, along with unanswered
questions, cause a board member to be concerned, which
often lowers a board score. 37
Notice that the document, which is written to recruiters
mentions nothing at all about AFOQT scores or GPA. It
talks about the picture the board sees of an applicant.
While much of this is out of your control (i.e. interviewers
writing style), the impression that you make can go a long
way toward your recruiter or interviewer writing you a very
solid report.
Additionally, be very selective as to who writes your 3-5
letters of recommendation. The board will know who you
are as a person largely through these letters.
Once accepted as officer candidates, students receive class
dates and proceed to Maxwell AFB for 12 weeks of training.
While there, they participate in physical fitness training,
classroom instruction, and basic officer courses.
Upon graduation, candidates are commissioned as 2nd
Lieutenants in the Air Force with follow on orders to flight
school.

37

http://www.afmentor.com/info/faqbot.htm

84

For more information about Air Force OTS, see OTS home page
at:
http://www.afoats.af.mil
To apply to OTS, see the following link:
http://www.afoats.af.mil/ots/
Or, call the following toll free number:
1-800-423-USAF
To find an Air Force recruiter near you, try:
http://www.airforce.com/info/locator.html
To chat online with an Air Force Advisor try this link:
https://secure.airforce.com/chat/?find=chat+with+an+adviser?
media_cd=VA
Or try the Air Force recruiting home page at:
http://www.airforce.com/

85

Air Force Enlisted Commissioning

Programs
The Air Force is committed to promoting their quality
Airmen to the officer ranks. In case you doubt the Air
Forces commitment to their enlisted airmen, note that over
30% of the officer candidates attending OTS have been
previously enlisted.
Enlisted Airmen who have a good record of service stand a
very good chance of getting a commission.
Air Force enlisted programs generally lead down three
main roads: The Air Force Academy, ROTC, or OTS.
While a full discussion of these is found in the preceding
pages, there are some slightly different eligibility
requirements that may provide a significant financial
advantage to eligible participants.
For all programs, take a good look at the bullets here and
then proceed to the more detailed following link.
When you are ready, your Base Education Office should be
able to help with application and eligibility questions.
The Air Force Academy Prior Enlisted Option
Enlisted applicants to the Air Force Academy must meet
the same requirements as their civilian counterparts.
For those who have been out of school for a while, or whose
grades do not meet minimum standards, there is always the
option of attending the Air Forces prep school.

86

Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program

(ASCP)
The ASCP program is intended for those enlisted personnel
who have not attended college or who only have a few credit
hours.
Applicants who are accepted to the program come off active
duty with the Air Force, attend college, and join the local
ROTC unit at their school of choice. While in college, the
program is identical to ROTC.
Selection for ASCP is based on the entire candidates
record, but is weighted heavily toward commanding
officers recommendations. To be eligible for ASCP, a
candidate must meet all of the ROTC requirements, plus:
Be under age 31 by the time he will graduate.
Have at least one-year time in service with
the Air Force.
Be recommended by his commander. This is
important.
Be admitted to a college with AFROTC.
Score well on the AFOQT. Some results are
waiverable. See the links below for complete
information.
Pass the AFROTC fitness test.38
Applications for ASCP must be submitted no later than
October 15th of the year before entering the program.
For more information on Air Force ASCP, see the following link:
http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedComm/ASCP.asp

38

http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedComm/ASCP.asp

87

Airman Education and Commissioning Program

(AECP)
The AECP program is intended for enlisted personnel who
have completed at least 30 credit hours toward their
bachelors degree.
Applicants who are accepted to the program continue under
active duty status and pay while attending the school of
their choice and while participating in ROTC. In addition to
full pay, they get up to $15,000 for tuition.
Does that sound good? Well, here is a big gotcha: You
cant become a pilot through AECP!
This program is here more as a warning than anything.
Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen (SOAR)
The SOAR program is nearly identical to ASCP except that
it is meritorious in nature. There are only a little over 50
slots per year. Wing commanders decide who gets their
scholarships.
Eligibility requirements are similar to ASCP.
For more information on SOAR, see the following link:
http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedComm/SOAR.asp

88

Professional Officer Course - Early Release

Program (POC-ERP)
The POC-ERP program is offered to those airmen who are
eligible to complete their college program and graduate in
less than two years. It is a may be the best option for older
candidates (i.e. those nearing 30). Otherwise, it is nearly
identical to ASCP.
For more information on POC-ERP, see the following link:
http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedComm/POC_ERP.asp

Finally, the last Air Force enlisted option is to get out of the
Air Force, complete college and apply to OTS.

89

Navy Commissioning Programs

The Naval Academy
Founded in 1845, the
United States Naval
Academy is located in
Annapolis, the capitol of
Maryland.
Affectionately called The
Yard, the Naval Academys
campus sits about 30 miles
away from both Baltimore and Washington and is home to
about 4,000 students (called midshipmen).
The Academy trains students to become officers in both the
Navy and the Marine Corps. 39
Eligibility requirements for the Naval Academy are similar
to those for the Air Force Academy. To enroll, you must be:
At least 17 years old on the year of admission.
No older than 23 years old on the year of
admission.
Unmarried, have no children, and not
pregnant.
A U.S. citizen (unless you are an international
transfer student).
Of good moral character.40
(For amplification on any of the above points, see the
requirements discussion in the U.S. Air Force Academy
section.)
39

http://www.usna.edu/welcome.htm

40

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps2.htm

90

Additionally, applicants must be academically qualified,

pass a physical, pass a physical aptitude examination, and
receive a nomination from their congressman. These
requirements are nearly identical for each of the service
schools.
Academic standards for admission to The Naval Academy
are very stringent.
Each year about 4,000 students receive a congressional
nomination to the Academy while only about 1,500 receive
an appointment. 41
Typically, the admissions department will weigh SAT / ACT
scores, class rank, GPA, and extra-curricular activities in
order to rank prospective students. Normally, applicants
must be in the top 20% of their class to be accepted to the
Academy.
Extra-curricular activities also play a big part in getting
accepted by Navy. Dont expect to get in unless you have
some attractive non-academic bullets on your resume.
Athletics should be one of those bullets. If you play a sport,
that is a plus. If you have lettered or have been the captain
of a team, thats even better. The Academy is interested in
top performers.
Much like the previous section on the Air Force Academy,
applicants stand an appreciably greater chance of getting a
slot at the Naval Academy if they are athletes who can
compete at the Division I level, if they are female, or if they
are both. Next to winning wars, the Academy wants to beat
West Point. If you are a star linebacker and you want to go
Navy, chances are you will get accepted.
41

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/faq.htm

91

For those who need some help in the academic regime,

there is also The Naval Academy Preparatory School
(NAPS) in Newport, RI.
The prep school is a one-year curriculum designed to help
enlisted soldiers, sailors, and Marines prepare for the Naval
Academy.
Additionally, it is a place to go as a civilian if your grades
dont meet Academy standards, but your motivation does.
The application process is the same for the Naval Academy
and NAPS.
So, if you submit a package to Navy and are denied due to
grades or test scores, you may be offered an opportunity to
attend NAPS. Assuming successful completion of the NAPS
curriculum, you should be able to earn an appointment to
The Naval Academy.42
Naval Academy students select their military career path
during their senior year. There are six specialty areas to
choose from:

Navy Surface Ships

Navy Submarines
Navy Air
Navy SEALs
Marine Corps Ground
Marine Corps Air 43

Nothing is ever guaranteed, but unofficially a large majority

of the graduating class ends up with their first choice.

42

http://www.usna.edu/NAPS/

43

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/career.htm

92

By law, up to one sixth of the Naval Academys graduating

class gets officer commissions into the Marine Corps.
Although rare, occasionally there are more Marine wannabes than there are slots available. Midshipmen who go into
the Marine Corps are required to complete a scaled-down
version of Marine boot camp during one of their summers.
Here is a link to the career breakdown of a recent Naval
Academy class:
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/choices.htm
Prospective Navy and Marine Corps pilots must meet the
following minimum physical requirements:
Have normal color vision (i.e. not color blind).
The physical will include a test where the examiner
asks you to read a colored number on a colored
background. If you are color blind, you will not be
able to see some of the numbers.
Have normal depth perception.
Have a minimum of 20/40 vision, which can
be corrected to 20/20. In other words, if your
eyesight is lacking, but you can put on glasses or
contacts and get it to 20/20, you are going to be ok.
Plus, once you have started flight school, you vision
can degrade significantly without being removed
from flight status. The eyesight standard is uniform
across the Navy and Marine Corps.
Have no history of corrective eye surgery.
PRK eye surgery can usually be waived (not Lasik). I
know of a number of aviators who have had laser
surgery (all with good success).
Have a height of 62 to 78 inches (Navy male),
66 to 78 inches (Marine male), 58 to 78
inches (Navy / Marine female). This ensures
that you will fit into the cockpit if you are big and
93

that you wont die on ejection if you are small. If you

dont meet these standards, there are a few more
measurements that they can take to see if you may
be able to fit after all. I have known a number of very
tall aviators (and one small one) who received size
waivers. 44
Much like Air Force Academy grads, successful graduates
from The Naval Academy stand a very good chance of
getting flight slots. Those who are selected for Navy air,
proceed immediately to Pensacola to commence flight
training. Those who select Marine Air head off to Quantico,
VA for 6 months of basic infantry training as 2nd
Lieutenants in the Marine Corps. After these 6 months,
Marine officers meet up with their peers in Pensacola for
flight school. 45
Upon successful completion of flight school, pilots incur an
8-year service commitment to the Navy or the Marine
Corps.
In summary, The Naval Academy provides a second-tonone, cost-free education along with a very good chance of
getting to go to flight school upon graduation. It is not for
everyone, but if you are so inclined, Annapolis may be a
nice home for four years.
For more information, check out The Naval Academys website at:
http://www.usna.edu/
The Naval Academys admissions page can be found at:
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/
44

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Documents/WaiverGuide/
Waiver%20Guide%20-%20Complete%20120215.pdf
45

The advantages and disadvantages of this extra training for Marine officers
were discussed in the section on the Marine Corps in Chapter 2.

94

Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps

(NROTC)
NROTC units serve over
100 schools across the
nation. Each year,
approximately 1300
students receive
commissions via ROTC.
About one sixth of these
students go on to the
Marine Corps. NROTCMarine option is a sub-set of NROTC that is responsible for
Marine Corps officer candidates. Participation in NROTCMarine option is identical to NROTC with the exception of
summer training.
To be eligible for NROTC, you must be:
A U.S. Citizen
Between 17 and 23 years old when beginning
college. Unlike the service schools, you may be able
to get this waived, especially if you have been
previously enlisted.
A high-school graduate before you enter the
program.
Physically qualified.
Academically qualified. Have a minimum
SAT / ACT score of:
o Navy:
SAT 530 Reading / 520 Math
ACT 22 English / 22 Math
o Marine Option:
SAT 1000 composite
ACT 22 composite46
46

https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/requirements.aspx

95

It is important to note that there are a number of resources

out there to help you get the SAT / ACT scores that you
need. I recommend the courses located at the following
links (see the eBook for live links).
ACT Practice Test
Free SAT QuizBank
SAT Practice Test
To apply to NROTC, you must first decide into which
service you want to join when you get out of college.
If you want to go into the Navy, then process your
application through the local Navy recruiter. If you want to
go into the Marine Corps, talk to your local Officer
Selection Officer (OSO).
Next, contact the NROTC commander at the school of your
choice. He should be able to give you a solid idea of what is
available.
NROTC scholarships come in 2 and 4 year increments. To
be eligible for a four-year scholarship, candidates must
apply while in high school.
Four-year scholarship students receive full tuition, fees,
books, uniforms, and a monthly tax-free allowance, which
ranges from $250 to $400 dollars. Two-year scholarships
cover the final two years of college and pay for the same
items as listed above.
They are open to students who have completed their
sophomore year.
Applications must be in no later than 6 months prior to
starting the scholarship period (deadline is normally in
March).
96

Much like AFROTC, it is possible to participate in NROTC

without a scholarship and without a service commitment.
The NROTC College Program is offered to prospective Navy
and Marine officer candidates. This program is open to
applicants who are already attending colleges with NROTC
programs.
Under the college program, students attend naval science
courses and receive uniforms for free. They also may be
eligible for $350-$400 per month if accepted and attend at
least one summer training session. Upon graduation,
college program students receive a commission into the
Navy or the Marine Corps.
Of note, there is an engineering push in the NROTC
program that does not exist in the Marine option program.
In other words, the Navy encourages their NROTC students
to pursue majors in engineering or science. You will be
required to take some mandatory classes to remain in the
program (e.g. calculus and physics). 47 The Navy is far more
concerned about your school curriculum than is the Marine
Corps. 48
While enrolled in NROTC, students attend a naval science
class every semester, a weekly drill session (military
training), and participate in a few summer programs that
span from 4 to 6 weeks.
47

https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/acad_requirements.aspx

48

I happen to agree with the Marine Corps on this one. In my experience, I

have not seen any evidence to indicate that there is a correlation between
college major and performance in the jet. In my years teaching people to fly
the Hornet, I have known a lot of pilots with engineering backgrounds who
could not find their way out of a wet paper bag. And I have known some guys
who graduated with a 2.0 in physical education and were great pilots. All of
this is to say that if you dont have the best grades, dont worry. You may not
be the next Albert Einstein, but you may very well be the next John Glenn.

97

While NROTC does not take up much time while in school,

it does make up for some of that time during the summer.
Summer training is designed to familiarize candidates with
the many career options in the Navy. 49
All NROTC students participate in one summer of Career
Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID).
This is a fast paced, quick-look at surface ships,
submarines, airplanes, and includes a Marine Corps
Orientation.
On the other summers, students might participate in a
month long tour with a surface ship, a submarine, a Navy
squadron, or a Marine fighter squadron. If you are a Marine
option student, you also attend a shortened version of
Marine boot camp known as Bulldog in the summer
before your senior year. Bulldog is located at Marine Corps
Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA.
While most Marine officer candidates go through a 10 to 12
week boot camp, NROTC students participate in a 6-week
version. The going assumption is that you should have had
another 6 weeks or more of training before showing up to
Bulldog. Most NROTC units do some extensive physical
preparation before they send their candidates to Quantico.
And its a good thing that they do because Marine OCS is no
joke.
NROTC career path selection occurs during the senior year.
NROTC students have the option of selecting from one of
the following career fields: pilot, naval flight officer (NFO),
SEALs, submarines, surface ships. Marine option students
choose between Marine air and Marine ground. In either
case, NROTC students compete with Naval Academy
midshipmen and OCS candidates for flight slots.
49

https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/summer_cruise.aspx

98

Pilot selection is based on a number of things: GPA,

commanders ranking, commanders evaluations, college
major (engineering is better in the Navy), and scores on the
Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB).
The first few items have to do with performance in school;
the last item is a test that could make or break you.
The Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) is the primary
selection instrument for Navy and Marine Corps pilots. The
test was designed by a bunch of Navy doctors in Pensacola
and is based on the qualities that they tested and observed
among successful fighter pilots. 50
The test takes about 3 hours to complete and evaluates the
following skills: math, reading, mechanical comprehension,
spatial apperception, aviation and nautical information,
and aviation supplemental information.
Candidates can take the test as many times as they like, but
there are limits to how soon they can re-test. The last test
they take is the one that counts.
The ASTB comes in two forms: a computer based test and a
bubble-form written test. Scores on the computer-based
test are immediately available; scores on the written form
have to wait for the geeks in Pensacola to run the sheet
through their computer. You used to be able to get written
results graded on the spot, but the Navy stopped this
because the test answers were getting out.

50

You did not buy this book to get the party line. So, here is my opinion about
the ASTB. As one of the premier fighter pilots in the Marine Corps, I barely
passed this thing. Conversely, I know guys who aced it and can barely get a jet
into the air. Having said that, today, if you want to get a fighter pilots job in
the Navy or Marine Corps, youd better do well on this test. My advice, which
you will hear more than once, is to study the test prep book. It will help a lot.

99

If you are interested in flying jets in the Navy or the Marine

Corps, you have to pass the ASTB.
However, the more competitive selection is, the better your
score needs to be.
For an NROTC candidate, results on the ASTB can make up
about 35% of the overall selection grade for a flight slot. My
advice is to buy some study guides and go through them,
page by page.
I recommend 3 resources to study for the ASTB. Spend an
hour each day studying these books and you will do very
well.
An ASTB study guide can be found by clicking the
following link:
ASTB Test Prep
The ASTB also has a section on mechanical and spatial
relationships. This link takes you to a book that will help
you with those:
Mechanical and Spatial Relationships Book
This last link takes you to a book specifically designed to
help with the Algebra in the math section:
Math Help
Prospective Navy and Marine Corps pilots must meet the
following physical requirements:
Have normal color vision.
Have normal depth perception.

100

 Have a minimum of 20/40 vision, which can

be corrected to 20/20.51
Have no history of corrective eye surgery.
Have a height of 62 to 78 inches (Navy male),
66 to 78 inches (Marine male), 58 to 78
inches (Navy / Marine female). 52
(For further amplification on any of these points, see the
larger discussion on pilot physical qualifications in the
section on The Naval Academy).
Upon completion of an NROTC tour, candidates will be
commissioned into the Navy or Marine Corps and incur a
minimum of 4 years of obligated service.
NROTC students receive commissions into the Navy as
Ensigns or into the Marine Corps as 2nd Lieutenants.
Those selected for Navy air proceed immediately to
Pensacola to commence flight training.
Those who select Marine Air head off to Quantico, VA for 6
months of basic infantry training as a 2nd Lieutenants in the
Marine Corps. After six months, they meet up with their
peers in Pensacola for flight school.
Upon commencement of flight training, new officers
undergo a very thorough physical examination in
Pensacola.
Occasionally, someone is washed out due to a problem that
was not discovered before joining the service. These cases
are rare, but do happen from time to time.
51

There are a number of resources available to help you improve or maintain

your vision. One very good natural program can be found here:
http://www.FighterPilotVision.com
52

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Pages/default.aspx

101

Upon successful completion of flight school, pilots incur an

8-year service commitment to the Navy or the Marine
If you are interested in NROTC, you can find the college nearest
you at the following link:
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/colleges.cfm
Also, the official NROTC web address is:
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/
To submit an application online, go to:
http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/cx/contactXC.asp?ag
Corps. This commitment is shorter for helicopter pilots.
All in all, Navy ROTC is a great option if you want money
for college and know that you want to be in the service after
graduation.

102

Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS)

Have you ever seen the movie An Officer and a Gentleman
with Lou Gosset Jr. and Richard Gere, where a Marine drill
instructor trained Navy pilots?
If you have, then let that be your introduction to the
wonderful world of Navy Officer Candidate School, where
you too can be trained by a Marine drill instructor.
Navy OCS is a 13-week course designed to turn civilians
into Naval officers. The course includes many hours of
marching, classes, inspections, physical training, and tests.
About 50% of the students at OCS go on to jobs in aviation.
OCS is located in Pensacola, FL, which is nice, but you
wont be seeing much of the town for a while after you
check in.
To be eligible for Navy OCS, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen.
Be of excellent moral character and conduct.
Have graduated from a 4-year college.
Applicants must have a degree from a 4-year school
to be accepted. If they are still juniors or younger,
there are other options available to include NROTC.
If they are already seniors, then they can start
applying to OCS the earlier the better.
Be in good physical fitness. Dont sweat this one
(pun intended). I have seen the Navy and their
fitness requirements first hand. The final test
includes a mile and a half run. If you can complete
this run without needing a cigarette, you will
probably be ok.

103

 Be younger than 35 years of age. You may have

noticed that the age limit is much higher than that
for the Naval Academy or NROTC. The OCS age limit
is as high as it can legally go. By U.S. law, officers
must join the military in enough time to complete
their 20th year by their 55th birthday. To be a pilot,
the limit is 27 years old at application. This will
ONLY be waived if you are prior-enlisted.
Pass the Aviation Selection Test Battery
(ASTB). This last bullet on the eligibility list is
probably the most important. If you want to fly in
the Navy or the Marine Corps, you are going to have
to do well on the ASTB. For a fuller discussion on
this important test, see the longer discussion in the
NROTC section or follow the links below.
An ASTB study guide can be found by clicking the
following link:
ASTB Test Prep
The ASTB also has a section on mechanical and spatial
relationships. This link takes you to a book that will help
you with those:
Mechanical and Spatial Relationships Book
This last link takes you to a book specifically designed to
help with the Algebra in the math section:
Math Help
To get a slot at OCS, you need to contact your local Navy
officer recruiter.
However, you should avoid the average every-day enlisted
recruiter with a 10-foot pole.
The guy that you want to talk to is an officer (probably a
Lieutenant or a Lieutenant Commander).
104

When you talk to this officer, make sure that he

knows that you want a flight guarantee.
In chapter 5, I will talk about some strategies to use if you
get denied or if he doesnt have any flight slots available.
The bottom line this: when you sign on the dotted line and
take the oath, you want to know that you are going to flight
school after you graduate from OCS.
OCS is a challenging course both mentally and physically.
About a third of those who show up in Pensacola do not
graduate. Some reasons for not completing the course
include physical injuries and dropping out.
But dont worry, here is what you need to know about
completing OCS: if you stay in shape, and you want to
graduate, you will.
The reason people dont make it is that they break
something (literally) or they quit.
Academic training at OCS includes courses in Naval history,
leadership, law, seamanship, and navigation. Physical
training usually occurs once a day (morning) and includes
runs, obstacle courses, push-ups, etc
There are a number of inspections, and, as you might
expect, plenty of marching. To make matters worse,
candidates are literally a stones throw away from new
flight students in training. So, while you are standing in the
hot sun and singing Anchors Aweigh, your buddies are
driving to Pensacola beach in their new Mustang.
The great news, of course, is that after 13 weeks, an OCS
graduate is heading off to flight school. And that is a very
good thing.
105

Prospective Navy and Marine Corps pilots must meet the

following physical requirements:
Have normal color vision.
Have normal depth perception.
Have a minimum of 20/40 vision, which can
be corrected to 20/20.
Have no history of corrective eye surgery.
Have a height of 62 to 78 inches (Navy male),
66 to 78 inches (Marine male), 58 to 78
inches (Navy / Marine female). 53
(For further amplification on any of these points, see the
larger discussion on pilot physical qualifications in the
section on The Naval Academy).
Upon commencement of flight training, new officers
undergo a very thorough physical examination in
Pensacola. Occasionally, someone is washed out due to a
problem that was not discovered before joining the service.
These cases are rare, but do happen from time to time.
Upon successful completion of flight school, pilots incur an
8-year service commitment to the Navy. This commitment
is shorter for helicopter pilots.
All in all, Navy OCS is a very popular and attractive
program for future fighter pilots.
To find a Navy officer recruiter, see the following page:
http://www.navy.com/locator/
The marginally helpful Navy OCS site can be found here:
http://www.ocs.navy.mil

53

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Pages/default.aspx

106

Navy Baccalaureate Degree Completion

Program (BDCP)
This somewhat obscure program should be thought of as a
cross between NROTC and OCS.
Unlike OCS, you can apply and be accepted into BDCP as
early as 3 years before your graduation date. And unlike
NROTC, your training begins after graduation with OCS.
While in college, BDCP candidates receive up to $18,000 as
well as benefits.
Here is a quotation from the Navy describing BDCP:
BDCP a very financially rewarding program for
applicants and a tremendous tool for recruiters to attract
top quality college students to begin a career as a Naval
Officer.
BDCP candidates are selected by an officer community
(Aviation Officer and Surface Warfare Officer BDCP
professional selections are made by [recruiting] staff vice
community representatives) when determined that the
applicant possesses the desired skills, abilities, and
professional growth potential desired by the specific
community.
Once professionally selected, the [recruiting] staff
conducts an evaluation of the applicant's academic record
and selection is based on the assessment of the individual's
potential to meet the academic performance standards
prescribed for the program. 54

54

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/officerjo2/a/bdcp.htm

107

Applications to BDCP are extremely competitive and take

into regard a candidates time to graduation, academic
performance, and extra-curricular activity. All in all, it is a
very attractive option, especially for those who do not have
an NROTC unit near-by.
To be eligible for BDCP, you must be:

A U.S. citizen.
Enrolled in a 4-year school.
Meet Navy physical standards.
Have a minimum 2.7 GPA (4.0 scale)

The Navy prefers that their students major in math,

engineering, or technical field although this is not
required.55
In other words, it is possible to be a Physical Education
major and still get in.
To find out more about BDCP, contact your local officer
recruiter:
http://www.navy.com/locator/
You can also find out some more information here:
http://www.cnrc.navy.mil
Or call 1-800-553-1146 x.135 and ask for info related to
BDCP.

55

http://www.cnrc.navy.mil

108

Navy Enlisted Commissioning Programs

In the past, there were over a dozen commissioning
programs for Navy enlisted sailors to use in order to earn a
college degree and a commission.
In 1994, Admiral Boorda designated the Seaman to Admiral
21 (STA-21) program. A product of an enlisted
commissioning program himself, former Chief of Naval
Operations Admiral Boorda became the first prior enlisted
junior sailor to achieve the Navys highest rank.
All of the Navys enlisted commissioning programs
currently fall under STA-21.
The STA-21 program keeps all participants on active duty at
their current pay grade until college graduation and
commissioning. Students receive full Navy pay and benefits
while also receiving up to $10,000 for college. 56
To be eligible for STA-21, you must be:

A U.S. citizen.
Recommended by your commanding officer.
Serving in the Navy.
A high-school graduate or the equivalent (e.g.
GED).
Able to complete college in 3 years or less.
Able to complete college by age 29.
Academically qualified. Maintain a GPA of
2.5 or higher while in the program.
Physically qualified.57

56

https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/program_overview.asp

57

http://www.ocs.navy.mil/pt.asp

109

To be a pilot in STA-21, you also have to pass the ASTB. Be

sure to read the discussion on the ASTB in the section on
the Naval Academy. If you are enlisted in the Navy, your
best resource for STA-21 is your career counselor.
To visit the STA-21 website, use the link below:
https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

Marine Corps Commissioning

Programs
The Naval Academy
The Naval Academy is the service school for both the Navy
and the Marine Corps.
A full discussion on The Naval Academy is found in the
section on Navy commissioning programs. Approximately
one sixth of the Naval Academys graduating students each
year are commissioned into the Marine Corps.
Unlike NROTC, students do not have to announce their
service intentions before going to the Naval Academy.
Service determinations are made during the senior year.
If you are interested in going to the Academy and want to
go Marine, typically, you should have no problem.
Once again, for more information, see the much longer
discussion on the Naval Academy in the section on Navy
commissioning programs.

110

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps

Marine Option
A discussion of NROTC Marine Option is imbedded into
the section on NROTC (under Navy Commissioning
Programs).
If you are interested in a scholarship or an in-college
program with an ROTC unit, contact your local Marine
officer recruiter.
He will be able to guide you in the right direction. If there is
not an NROTC unit at or near your college, then the Marine
Corps has another very popular commissioning program
for those who are still in school.
It is called the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) and will be
discussed at length in the next section.

111

Platoon Leaders Class (PLC)

Platoon Leaders Class
(PLC) is the most
popular commissioning
program for Marine
Corps officer candidates.
It is something of a mix
between ROTC and OCS.
PLC and Officer
Candidate Class (OCC
see next section) are
nearly identical programs with the exception that PLC
candidates complete the course while they are still enrolled
in college while OCC candidates apply after they graduate.
PLC training takes place at Officer Candidate School (OCS)
in Quantico, VA.
Marine OCS is by far the most difficult of the three services
officer boot camps. While in Quantico, candidates are
trained by the finest of the Marine Corps drill instructors.
While at OCS, expect to be yelled at a lot. Also, plan on a lot
of marching, field exercises, physical training, and
classroom instruction.
Just to give you an idea of how much running and
marching there is, I showed up to OCS in the best shape of
my life and still lost 20 pounds.
To be eligible for PLC, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Be in a college program that will lead to a
bachelors degree.
112

 Maintain a 2.0 GPA in any degree.

Pass an entrance physical.
Be 28 years old by the time you will get
commissioned.
Pass a Marine Corps physical fitness test
(PFT). This test consists of pull-ups, sit-ups, and a
3-mile run.
The grade point average minimum is the lowest of all of the
services and the Marine Corps does not care what you
major.
They are looking for leaders, not rocket scientists. Of
course, as PLC gets more competitive, GPA plays a bigger
role, but not near as much as the ASTB.
(The ASTB was discussed at length in the section on
NROTC. For those who may have skipped that section, here
it is again.)
Aviation candidates will have to pass the Aviation Selection
Test Battery (ASTB), which can be taken at your recruiters
office.
The Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) is the primary
selection instrument for Navy and Marine Corps pilots.
The test was designed by a bunch of Navy doctors in
Pensacola and is based on the qualities that they tested and
observed among successful fighter pilots. The test takes
about 3 hours to complete and evaluates the following
skills: math, reading, mechanical comprehension, spatial
apperception, aviation and nautical information, and
aviation supplemental information.
Candidates can take the test as many times as they like, but
there are limits to how soon they can re-test.
113

The last test they take is the one that counts.

The ASTB comes in two forms: a computer based test and a
bubble-form written test. Scores on the computer-based
test are immediately available; scores on the written form
have to wait for the geeks in Pensacola to run the sheet
through their computer. You used to be able to get written
results graded on the spot, but the Navy stopped this
because the test answers were getting out.
I recommend 3 resources to study for the ASTB. Spend an
hour each day studying these books and you will do very
well.
(See the eBook for the live links.)
An ASTB study guide can be found by clicking the
following link:
ASTB Test Prep
The ASTB also has a section on mechanical and spatial
relationships. This link takes you to a book that will help
you with those:
Mechanical and Spatial Relationships Book
This last link takes you to a book specifically designed to
help with the Algebra in the math section:
Math Help
In the Marine Corps, the person responsible for recruiting
officers is called and Officer Selection Officer (OSO). These
Marines are typically 1st Lieutenants or Captains who
oversee a particular region of the country.
The OSO recruits, manages applications, and prepares
candidates for OCS.

114

If you are interested in PLC or another Marine Corps

commissioning program, do not call a recruiter, call an
OSO.
You can find your local OSO in the yellow pages, or online at:
http://www.marines.com
To have the Marine Corps send you more information on this
program you can go here:
https://officer.marines.com/rmi

Interested personnel can start applying for PLC as soon as

their freshman year in college. Program requirements are
very minimal during the school year.
The major in-school requirement for PLC is to attend the
Marine Corps Officer Candidate School for two six-week
sessions (over two summers) or one 10-week session (one
summer). Upon successful completion of the summer
courses, officer candidates complete their last year at
college and receive a commission upon graduation.
There are many advantages to the Marine Corps PLC
program. With the exception of some challenging weeks at
OCS, there is not much of an obligation while at school.
Some candidates receive financial support for college and
some actually get free civilian flight training. Plus,
candidates can go through the whole course and deny a
commission at the last minute if they get cold feet. 58
58

This was a big selling point for me. At the time I signed up for the program,
I was not sure if I really wanted to go into the Marine Corps. I went off to boot
camp and graduated with the option still open to not take the commission if I
didnt want to.

115

The best benefit of PLC is that qualified applicants stand a

very good chance of getting flight guarantees before
committing to the program (as long as they pass the ASTB).
A lot of the candidates who go through PLC get flight
guarantees. And, trust meinfantry training is a lot easier
when you know that you are off to flight school when it is all
said and done.
The physical requirements to get a flight contract are the
same as the ones listed in the Navy section. You must:
Have normal color vision.
Have normal depth perception.
Have a minimum of 20/40 vision, which can
be corrected to 20/20.
Have no history of corrective eye surgery.
Have a height of 66 to 78 inches (male), 58 to
78 inches (female).
(For greater amplification on any of these requirements, see
the longer discussion in the section on the Naval Academy).
During summer training at OCS, candidates generally wake
up at 0500 (thats in the A.M.) and go to bed at 2200.
A typical day starts with an hour of physical training
(running, pull-ups, obstacle course, etc).
After breakfast, candidates attend a number of classes. The
afternoon routine includes some close order drill
(marching), more classes, tactics training, and some basic
weapons training.
Evenings are spent in the squad bay (a 30-person barracks
room) preparing for inspections and studying. Candidates
normally have 1 day off per week. The main focus of OCS is
to evaluate potential leaders.
116

While in Quantico, candidates have the opportunity to hold

a number of leadership positions under the watchful eye of
the staff.
When OCS is complete, students head back to school. On
the day of college graduation, they are commissioned as 2nd
Lieutenants in the Marine Corps and head back to Quantico
for The Basic School (TBS), six months of infantry and
officer training.
When TBS is complete, an air contract buys a one-way
ticket to Pensacola, FL for flight traininglet the good
times roll.
Upon commencement of flight training, new officers
undergo a very thorough physical examination in
Pensacola.
Occasionally, someone is washed out due to a problem that
was not discovered before joining the service. These cases
are rare, but do happen from time to time.
Upon successful completion of flight school, pilots incur an
8-year service commitment to the Marine Corps. This
commitment is shorter for helicopter pilots.
For more information about Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class,
contact your local OSO or see the Marine Corps recruiting home
page at:
http://www.marines.com/
To have the Marine Corps send you more information on this
program you can go here:
https://officer.marines.com/rmi

117

Officer Candidate Class (OCC)

OCC is identical to PLC
with one exception: it is
for candidates who have
already graduated from
college. Eligibility
requirements, physical
requirements, and
application procedures
are identical to PLC.
OCC is a more competitive course simply due to supply and
demand.
For OCC, there are a lot more applicants than there are
slots available.
So, if you are still in college, consider pursuing a PLC slot
(with an air guarantee). You may give up a summer or two,
but it will probably be worth the investment.
If you are out of college, the OSO will take a much harder
look at your record.
He will also be concerned with what you have done since
you have been out of school.
OCC candidates attend OCS in Quantico, VA. Unlike PLC,
which only meets during the summer, OCC classes meet
throughout the year.
Instead of heading back to college, OCC candidates
graduate from OCS as 2nd Lieutenants in the Marines and
proceed directly to TBS for 6-months. Then those with air
guarantees head off to Pensacola for flight training.

118

If you are interested in Marine Corps Officer Candidate Course

(OCC), contact your local OSO or see the Marine Corps
recruiting home page at:
http://www.marines.com/
To have the Marine Corps send you more information on this
program you can go here:
https://officer.marines.com/rmi

Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning

Programs
There are a number of commissioning programs that
enlisted Marines can take advantage of in order to become
officers.
I am amazed at the great lengths that the Marine Corps will
go to keep their people. There is a lot of money available to
enlisted Marines who want to go to college, get a
commission, and then come back to the Marine Corps as
pilots.
The only programs that I will focus on here offer the
opportunity for flight slots.
The Marine Corps enlisted commissioning programs are:
the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP), the
Meritorious Commissioning Program (MCP), Marine
Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP),
Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training
(BOOST), NROTC, and the Naval Academy.
I will briefly outline each program without going into too
many details.

119

The Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP) is for

enlisted Marines who have already completed their college
education and have earned a bachelors degree.
Successful applicants to ECP proceed to OCS for 10-weeks
of training. Upon graduation from OCS, candidates are
commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the Marine Corps.
During their time as officers, they are eligible for higher
basic pay due to their prior years as enlisted Marines. ECP
has a flight guarantee option. 59
The Meritorious Commissioning Program (MCP) is
for Marines who have successfully completed at least two
years (60 credit hours) toward their bachelors degree.
The candidate, if accepted, is expected to complete his
degree during his time as an officer. MCP Marines are
hand-chosen through a very competitive process. MCP is
similar to the ECP program in all other ways. There is also
an aviation option available under MCP. 60
The Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education
Program (MECEP) is for Marines who have not yet
completed their bachelors degree. It is a very competitive
program. Once accepted, Marines attend a prep school in
San Diego followed by 4 years at a participating institution.
While at school, they will still be paid their normal Marine
Corps paycheck every month. Candidates also attend OCS
during their college years. Upon graduation, they are
commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the Marine Corps. 61

59

http://officer.marines.com/marine/making_marine_officers/
commissioning_programs/enlisted_to_officer
60

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/marinejoin/a/usmcofficer_3.htm

61

Ibid

120

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps for

Enlisted Marines program is also available to
participating Marines through their career counselor.
A fuller discussion of NROTC can be found in the previous
section under Navy Commissioning Programs. 62
The Naval Academy for Enlisted Marines. The
Secretary of the Navy regularly appoints up to 85 Marines
and 85 Navy Sailors per year to The Naval Academy.
Entrance and eligibility requirements are the same as those
in the discussion on the Naval Academy. Depending on
high-school grades and SAT / ACT scores, applicants might
spend a year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in
Newport, RI before heading off to Annapolis. 63
The Marine Corps enlisted commissioning programs offer a
nice range of options for qualified Marines.
If you are an enlisted Marine, your best resource will be
your career counselor.

62

Ibid

63

Ibid

121

Summary of the Service Options

If you have learned nothing else from this chapter, it is that
there is a wide array of programs for you to choose from.
With so many options, it is incumbent to become as
familiar as possible with all of the programs that you are
eligible for.
In the Chapter 5, I outline some strategies for getting the
slot that you want no matter what your stage in life may be.

122

Chapter 5: Developing a Winning

Strategy
Chapter 2 looked at the differences between the Air Force,
the Navy, and the Marine Corps.
Chapter 3 discussed the four main categories of
commissioning programs and chapter 4 combined the two
and detailed each of the services specific commissioning
programs.
In this last chapter, we will gather together all of this
information to develop a clear and executable strategy.
Way back on page 2 of this book, I said that my goal was to:
1) Convince you that your dream of becoming a
fighter pilot is nearer than you think.
2) Equip you with an understanding of the
many roads toward becoming a fighter pilot
so that you can make smart, well-informed
decisions.
3) Give you a step-by-step game plan for
success.
If you have gotten this far, you are now armed with enough
information to get you on your way toward becoming a
military fighter pilot.
All that is left is to develop a strategy to accomplish your
goals.
This last chapter outlines a number of abiding principles
that will nearly guarantee your success. It speaks to your
specific situation in order to help you develop a game plan
for victory.
123

First, remember that there are two main reasons why

qualified applicants fail to gain a commission and earn a
flight school slot: they lack information or they give
up.
If you have gotten this far in the book, you have the
information that you need. So, dont give up! I have not met
one qualified person who failed to achieve their fighter pilot
goals as long as they endured.
The following paragraphs outline some strategies to employ
as you start driving down Fighter Pilot Road.

Lay The Foundation

I understand that I am writing this book to a wide array
people in a wide array of situations.
Some of you are still in junior high. Some of you are in high
school or college. Some of you are rapidly approaching 30
years old, and some of you may be reading this to gain
information for a son or a student.
In any case, the next step after setting goals is to begin to
lay the foundation for your application.
Realize that your recruiter or admissions representative will
soon be judging your application compared to a stack of
other very similar applications.
What will be the things that distinguish yours from the
rest?
Or, to put the question in a negative light, what will be the
thing that disqualifies you?

124

Foundation laying takes on a number of forms, but at

minimum, it includes all of the following:

Setting short and long-term goals.

Gathering information.
Cleaning up your act.
Building character mentally, physically, socially, and
spiritually.
Studying.
Getting in shape.

Each of these will be discussed in detail in the subsequent

paragraphs.

Set Short and Long-Term Goals

In the real world, there are no genies and no bottles. Here,
you earn what you get. Whoever you are, there are
mountains of hills to cross before you can start flying jets.
Briefly, you need to choose your service, choose your
commissioning route, contact a recruiter, submit an
application, take a standardized test, graduate from college,
graduate from boot camp (or some version thereof), and
pass through all of the wickets in flight school. To make
matters worse, you may not even get accepted on your first
try.
Step #1, then, on the road to success is to set short and
long-term goals.
Long-term goals should be only one or two sentences long
and can be as benign as To become a Marine fighter pilot
or as detailed as Graduate first in my class from flight
school and proceed to flying F-16s with the Air Force at
Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, AZ.

125

In either case, be sure to write down your major long-term

goal and put it somewhere visible so that you can remind
yourself of it every once in a while. This long-term goal will
be the end that all of your short-term goals point toward.
Next, develop a series of short-term goals. A few examples
are:

Graduate from high school with a 3.5 GPA or

greater.
Earn an NROTC scholarship Marine option to
Texas A&M University.
Score in the 90th percentile on the Aviation Selection
Test Battery (ASTB).
Earn an air contract into the Marine Corps.
Graduate in the top 10% in my class with a degree in
Mechanical Engineering.
Earn a commission in the Marine Corps.
Successfully complete The Basic School (TBS).
Graduate number one in my primary class in flight
school and select jets.
Graduate number one in my jet class and select
FA-18s.

As you make this list, also include some details on what you
will do to reach each of these short-term goals. For
example, under Score in the 90th percentile on the
Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) you may put:

Purchase a copy of the test prep.

Study the prep package once a day for 30 minutes.
Take each of the practice tests three times before
taking the official test.

Finally, when you complete your list of goals, keep a copy of

it handy. When you accomplish one of your short-term
goals, cross it off.
126

If you miss the mark, ask yourself why? If you could have
worked harder, write that down and apply a fix to follow on
goals.
If your goal was too lofty, then adjust your follow-on goals
to meet realistic expectations. Goal setting can be a very
valuable way to mark the road ahead and to keep you
focused.

Gather Information
Buying this book was a great start. I suggest making up a
binder to organize all of your information and include in it
all the things that you learn. For example, print out this
book and include it in your binder. From time to time, go
back and review some of the finer points contained herein.
Also, stay updated by referencing the service and program
specific web sites that have been provided in this book. If
you find a webpage with some really good information,
print it out and include it in your binder.
Realize that things change very rapidly. While some piece
of information in this book may be outdated, the service
website will probably be up to date.
Soon, you will use your binder to start gathering materials
for your application. This information will include
transcripts, recommendations, application forms, and
contact information.

Clean Up Your Act or Keep it Clean

One of the best ways to become disqualified from a
program is to pile up a criminal record. DUIs, arrests,
felonies, and drug use can all be disqualifiers.

127

The military wants officers of high moral character. Having

said that, if you have a past blemish on your record, all is
not lost. The military occasionally accepts waivers for prior
problems assuming youve fixed the problem.
Whatever you do, dont risk losing it all by lying on your
application.
I have known more people than I can count who have
admitted to prior drug use. They all received waivers and
are flying jets today (drug free I might add).
The questions that are asked on military applications dont
go away with time. You will have to answer those same
questions every few years in order to keep your security
clearance up to date. Dont put yourself in the situation
where you have to lie for the rest of your career because you
lied at the beginning of it. Be up front and honest in the
beginning and you should be ok.
Of course, all of this assumes that the problems in your past
are still in the past. If you use drugs or are currently
participating in some other illegal activity, dont expect to
go anywhere fast. The military has a way of finding things
out, and when they do, you could face perjury charges in
addition to whatever else you get caught for.

Build Character
In addition to not getting into any trouble, do your level
best to become a well-rounded person. This will go a very
long way to help you during the application process (and in
life). A well-rounded person is one who has high quality
character in four areas: mental, social, physical, and
spiritual. I will speak to each one of these in turn.

128

Mental
As you reviewed the eligibility requirements for each of the
service programs, I am sure that you noted that the
minimum academic qualifications were very high.
Strong candidates rank well above the minimums, so do the
best that you can to be in the top of your class with the best
test scores that you can get.
This takes hard work. Every hour that you are in classroom
and every minute spent studying could make the difference.
So, make the most of every opportunity. And, get help if you
need it.
Social
The services are looking for leaders. They want to see that
you have distinguished yourself both academically and
civically.
Student council members, sports captains, and charity
volunteers all do well on officer applications.
Recommendations also come into play here. If you have
been noted for distinguished service, get the leader of the
organization to write you a glowing report for your
application.
Physical
You dont have to be a star athlete to be a fighter pilot, but
it doesnt hurt. Do your best to compete at all athletic levels
that you are capable of. It maters little what sport you
choose, but attempt to find something that you are good at
and put some time into it. Once again, this will help you a
lot in your application process.
129

Spiritual
Most folks do not put any priority on the spiritual aspect of
character, but, in my opinion, it is the most important.
What is interesting is that while none of the services are
allowed to ask about spirituality except for classification
purposes, it goes more into a persons makeup than
anything else that I know. My contract with you at the
beginning was that I was not going to give you the party
line. That promise does not stop at the politically correct
issues. I am not concerned here with peoples feelings; I am
concerned with getting you ready to fly jets.
So, here is the true scoop.
Hands down, the top performers in my business are deeply
convicted spiritual people. In my office at the Marine Corps
weapons school, half of the FA-18 instructors are devout
practicing Christians. Each one of these guys is a dedicated
family man with true moral values. They are a pleasure to
work with and, whats more, they are each worth about 10
men.
I use this example to illustrate how important spirituality is
to your path as a fighter pilot. Rogue warriors like Maverick
from Top Gun end up in one place an early grave. And
that is not an exaggeration. The people who are at the top of
my profession are steady, unemotional, and well-rounded
people. So, it behooves you to figure out what you believe
and where you stand. Also know that there is such a thing
as truth and error in the spiritual world. Truth is not
relative.
All this is to say that becoming a fighter pilot involves the
whole you. Character does count; so as you lay the
foundation, dont forget the mental, social, physical, and
spiritual sides of the equation.
130

Study, Study, Study

If this point has become a broken record, I have done my
job. In order be guaranteed a flight slot, you need to do well
on the standardized tests: the SAT/ ACT, the AFOQT (Air
Force), or the ASTB (Navy / Marines).
Of course, by now this is a review, but you need to study for
these tests. Find a study guide link in the body of the book
or go to the links page at Appendix B and get some help.
You will be glad that you did.

Get In Shape
The final step in this section on foundation laying has to do
with your personal appearance.
It does not take a genius to realize that the military is
looking for people who are in shape and who will stay in
shape. In your road toward commissioning, it behooves you
to develop a good consistent workout program that includes
running a few times a week.

How To Talk With A Recruiter

There is a reason that this is one of the final sections in this
book. Early on, I suggested to avoid contacting a recruiter
without adequate preparation. If you have gotten this far,
you are almost ready. The information in this book has
given you just about everything that you need in order to
make that calljust about. There are a few more things that
we need to discuss.
Your mindset with the recruiter should be one of cautious
optimism. There are some strategies that you can use to
seal the deal and there are some things that you can do to
chase him off. So, be careful how you trod.
131

First, remember that if you present yourself as a motivated,

qualified candidate, you are making his job very easy.
Throughout the year, a recruiter spends a lot of his time
trying to talk people into the commissioning programs.
When you call and use my formula for success, you will
have done his job for him.
Maybe hell even leave work a little early that day just
because he has spoken with you. Always remember that you
are talking from a position of strength. You hold the cards
and can always say no. He is recruiting you, not the other
way around.
Also, be cognizant of the fact that the recruiter is a military
officer. You should treat him like you would if you were a
brand new 2nd Lieutenant.
From the moment that you first get in touch with him, he
will be evaluating you as a future officer in his service. As
such, you should call him sir or her maam.
In officer recruiting offices, there will normally be at least
one officer and a number of enlisted personnel. If you are
not familiar with the rank structure, do yourself a favor and
research the ranks before you call.
If the person you talk to is an officer, call him sir, if not,
call him by his rank (i.e. Corporal Jones, Gunnery
Sergeant Smith, etc). Whoever he is, he will usually
answer the phone with his rank so be listening for
something like, Navy Recruiting Station Jacksonville, this
is Lieutenant Jones, how may I help you?
If you need to bone up on the rank structure, see this link:
http://www.defense.gov/about/insignias/
132

I know that this sir business seems to controvert what I

said before about your being in a position of strength, but
also remember that I said your mindset should be one of
cautious optimism.
You are handing the recruiter a golden egg, but you dont
want to screw it up by talking like a three year old. Always
remember that you are on a job interview from start to
finish. If the recruiter does not think that you will make it,
he probably wont want to ruin his good record by sending
your application in with his endorsement.
When you make the call (or visit) to the recruiter, have a
rough idea of what you are going to say before you pick up
the phone. You should introduce yourself clearly, say where
you live and what school you go to (or went to). Then tell
him that you are interested in finding out more information
on whatever program it is that you are interested in.
This next step is very powerful.

Take out the eligibility list in this

book (or off of the service
website) and go through it pointby-point.
If you do this, you will immediately convince the recruiter
that you are serious and your stock will immediate rise.
Here is an example.
Lets say that you are trying to get into Air Force OTS.
You do your research and find the number to your local
recruiter.
133

You call and Captain Thomas answers the phone. After

exchanging pleasantries, you say:
Sir, I am a 2012 graduate of State and I am interested in
learning more about becoming an Air Force pilot through
the OTS program. I have done some research and I feel
that I am just the kind of person that you are looking for. I
am a U.S. citizen, I graduated with a 3.2 in Electrical
Engineering, I am 23 years old, unmarried, in good
physical health, I dont use drugs, have no convictions, and
have already begun studying for the AFOQT. I would love
to arrange for a time to talk to you more about the
program.
With that one call, you might just seal the deal. In less than
a minute you could have earned yourself a flight slot.
This recruiter will be forever on your side and will likely do
anything and everything that he can do to get you in the
program. All you did was eloquently present yourself as a
qualified candidate.
Finally, make sure that you are available and responsive
when the recruiter tries to contact you at a later date. There
is nothing worse than to leave a message unanswered on
your machine. That is a sure way to get cut quickly. Also, do
everything that you can to make it to any events that he
invites you to, even if it means rearranging your schedule.
Always remember that you are still on a job interview.
To review, when you contact a recruiter:
Deal from a position of strength.
Call him sir (or her maam).
List your qualifications in order based on the
programs eligibility list.
Be available and responsive.
134

Dealing With Waivers

The subject of waivers is one of the most misunderstood in
the world of officer recruiting. But, I can tell you from
personal experience that if you are a proactive candidate,
you stand a good chance of getting a waiver if you require
one.
Waivers can be grated for physical issues (height, weight, or
eyesight), academic issues, prior convictions, prior drug
use, and age. If you dont meet on of the eligibility
requirements listed for a particular program, you need a
waiver. Every day, another candidate goes to OCS, ROTC,
or to a service school on a waiver. The services have their
rules, but they are willing to stretch them to accommodate
a quality candidate. That is just the way the game is played.
Waivers typically need to be submitted in your package by
your recruiter. The selection board will decide on your
package as a whole. Acceptance to the program comes with
the appropriate waiver. It is as easy as that. Just make sure
that you are honest and you should be all right. Bad news
does not get better with time. If you need something to be
waived, let your recruiter know early on in the process. The
following link will take you to an Air Force document that
discusses waiver in general. It will give you a good idea
where to start regardless of your desired service:

Medical Waivers:
http://aviationmedicine.com/resources/files/PDF/
VFS_attachments_07/USAF%20Wavier%20Guide
%20PDF.pdf
Criminal Waivers:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/
criminal.htm
135

Combating the Cold Shoulder

It is possible to be a qualified candidate and to get a very
discouraging response from a recruiter (or no response at
all). There are three possible reasons for the cold
shoulder:
Cold Shoulder Reason #1: He may be testing you to
see if you really want a slot.
This is more common that you might imagine.
Recruiters get a lot of calls from people who seem very
interested and qualified, but soon fall away and are never
heard from again. This can be particularly frustrating when
he has spent some time with the person in question.
To combat this version of the cold shoulder, just stay on
him, and he will soon see that you are for real.
Cold Shoulder Reason #2: He may not have any
slots.
This can be true for the big recruiting stations as well as the
small ones. It could be that the recruiter has just filled up
his last slot for the year and is getting ready to turn over his
job to someone new.
In that case, your interest in the program will not be very
important to him.
There are two ways to combat this particular version of the
cold shoulder.
If you have the time to wait, be patient yet persistent.
Eventually, he will come around. If you do not want to wait,
go to another recruiter.
136

A common belief is that you have to live in a recruiters

district to get a slot from him. This is not always the case.
For example, if the recruiter near your school gives you the
cold shoulder, you can always try the one near your
hometown. He may be happy to hear from you.
Cold Shoulder Reason #3: He may be a jerk.
I dont like to admit it, but the military has its share of
personality failures.
Perhaps, you have Captain Cranky working as the recruiter
in your area. If you do, either keep at it or try another area.
Dont forget that, despite his personality flaws, he still has a
quota to fill.
Maybe he will see you as less work than some others
applicants and you will be in. If not, move on and try
someone else.

What If Ive Been Turned Down?

If you have been turned down once for an officers slot, it
does not mean that you are done playing the game. Maybe
it just wasnt your time, or maybe someone made a mistake
on your package.
In any case, the tactic to deal with being turned down is
nearly the same as the tactic for dealing with the cold
shoulder with one exception: you need to find out why you
got denied.
If the reason is something that you can fix, like AFOQT
scores, study harder and try again.

137

If it is something you cant fix, like a DUI, then keep up

your enthusiasm and hope that the next attempt will work
out better. In any case, your persistence will be a big check
in the plus column.
Next, you can try your hand with another recruiter.
Perhaps, the officer in your hometown will take a personal
interest in you. Remember what I said earlier, the main
reason that people fail is because they give up. If you keep
up your enthusiasm, you will likely see good results with
time.

Some Specific Advice for Your Stage

In Life
High School-age or Younger
If you are in junior high or high school, the world is your
oyster. This entire book applies to you.
Your options include going to a service school, pursuing an
ROTC scholarship, or waiting to go to OCS. If your grades
are a factor, you can enlist for a few years, earn some
money, and then try your hand at one of the enlisted
commissioning programs.
Whatever you do, be sure to take my keep your act clean
advice to heart. High school is generally the time that guys
start to get into trouble. Steer well clear of people who have
no goals. If you are watching, you can see these folks a mile
away.
Also, now is a great time to gather information. If you are
able, get to know a couple military pilots and pick their
brain from time to time. Start to get an idea of what service
you prefer and what kind of commissioning program suits
you best. Also, try to do some flying at your local airport.
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There are two ways to do this. First, if you know someone

with an airplane, ask him to take you flying.
Second, you could get a job pumping airplane gas or
working at a small airports restaurant in order to make
connections. Then, use your connections to get you in the
air. Not only will this help to get used to flying, but you will
also have some fun.
Be sure to involve your parents in your career decisions.
Even if you think that they are opposed to your going into
the military, start talking to them about your career goals.
You may be surprised at their support.
Finally, dedicate yourself to becoming a well-rounded
individual (mentally, socially, physically, and spiritually).
By the time you are ready to submit your application, you
will have established a proven track record.

Home-Schooled Students
Home-schoolers are just as competitive (if not more) than
the people that they will be up against for slots. Normally
home-schooled students grades and standardized test
scores are above the national average.
The only weakness in home-school applications tends to be
in the extra-curricular arena.
If you are home-schooled and have access to competitive
sports teams via your local high school, take advantage of
them. If you dont, be creative and find a way to distinguish
yourself in activities that require hard-work, leadership,
and a little sweat. You can do this through civic or church
organizations, local sports leagues, and home-school co-op
teams.

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The service schools each have specific guidance for homeschooled students on their websites. Take their advice to
heart no matter what your commissioning source and you
will make yourself as competitive as possible.

College-age
Although you have passed the opportunity to attend a
service school, all is not lost.
Most military officers made their career decisions while
they were in college. Depending on your year in school, you
may still be eligible for ROTC. If that interests you, contact
the local ROTC commander using the same guidance that I
put in the how to talk with a recruiter section. Remember
that you dont necessarily need to commit to a post-college
obligation unless you take a scholarship.
Next, if you are interested in the Marines, contact your local
Officer Selection Officer (OSO) about the Platoon Leaders
Class program.
PLC is a great option for those who want a commission
when they graduate, but do not want to do much military
stuff during the school year.
Finally, you can begin applying for Air Force OTS, Navy
OCS, or Marine Corps OCC (OCS) during your senior year.
Assuming you took my advice in the last few pages, you
should have no problem getting a slot and an air contract.

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Post-College
If you are out of school, the only real option that you have
left is to apply to Air Force OTS, Navy OCS, or Marine
Corps OCC (OCS).
You wont be able to change your grades or your record, but
you may be able to impress the recruiter with your attitude.
These programs are competitive, so if you dont see success
on the first try, keep at it. The worst they can say is no, and
eventually, they will probably say yes.
Your biggest challenge will be to endure. In the meantime,
continue to gather information, study, get in shape, and
make yourself as well-rounded a candidate as possible.

A Word For Females

I mentioned in the Introduction that I would have a few
specific thoughts for female candidates.
First, if you are female, understand that you have a distinct
advantage over the guys in getting into any program that
you want. This is simply due to supply and demand.
So, think carefully about where you want to go and what
you want to do. Also, think about what service would suit
you best.
No offense, but most ladies are not as excited about
spending the night in a foxhole as are the guys. In order of
personal comfort, the best is the Air Force, then the Navy,
and last, the Marines.
Once youve decided on a service, expect that your recruiter
will almost guarantee you the world.
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Having said all that, there is a big question that you are
going to have to ask and answer.
Ask yourself whether being a fighter pilot is something that
you really want to do.
The reason that I mention this is simple.
I have known some very talented female pilots, but for the
most part, when all was said and done, most of them really
did not enjoy the job very much.
Most joined the service to be distinct or to do something
that most females dont.
While most guys really get a kick out of making things
explode; most gals do not. That fact of life is easier proven
on a 3rd grade recess yard than with pen and ink. In any
case, think hard before you sign 8 to 10 years of your life
away.
Of course, if you really do want to fly and fight jets, you
should have no problem getting in.

Some Final Thoughts

Having read this book, you are now armed with the keys to
success. You now know:

How to choose a service.

How to choose a commissioning program.
How to choose a specific commissioning program.
Who to contact to get a flight slot.
How to talk to a recruiter.
About a world a resources to help you meet your
goals.
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Now it is time to execute your plan.

I will leave you with a few last thoughts...
Remember that whoever you are, there is someone in the
next town or state that you are competing with. Is he
working harder than you?
Stay motivated. Dont give up. You can accomplish your
dreams.
I am looking forward to meeting you in the air sometime
soon.

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Chapter 6: Frequently Asked

Questions
Here are just a few of the most commonly asked questions
that I have received on the subject of becoming a fighter
pilot. For more information on any of these questions or to
see many other very good questions, see the ever growing
Fighter Pilot Forum:
http://www.afterburnerclub.com/forum.html
Q. Even after I get accepted to a flight program and
go to flight school, is there still a chance that I
wont get jets. How does the service decide who
goes where?
A. This seems to a burning questionand I can certainly
understand why. To be honest, I think that this is one of the
main reasons that people do not put in an application
they just dont want to be disappointed.
So, to put this question in some more positive light, let me
say this. Trust me that whatever you end up doing in the
military, you will probably think that it is the best thing
going things tend to turn out that way. Whether you end
up flying, jets, helicopters, heaviesyou are going to love it.
Having said that, I know you want jets, so
The military makes their decisions on who goes where
based on three criteria: the needs of the service, the grades
of the individual, and the desires of the individual.
I have seen classes where there was only one jet slot and
one guy out of ten got it. Alternatively, I have seen classes
where there were eight jet slots available.
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It seems arbitrary and unfair, but the services do their best

to fill slots as they need them.
Once they have determined how many jet slots will be
awarded that week, they will then look at your desires and
how you did compared to your competition. If you finish
first, you will have the first pick.
So, the best advice I can give on the subject is to excel in
flight school (maybe thats why I made a CD/MP3 on that
very subject).
Q. Will prior flight time help on my application?
Will it help in flight school?
A. According to official documentation, the Air Force is the
only service that will give you credit for prior flight time
how much credit depends on your commissioning program.
In flight school, some prior flight time will likely help. That
is, unless you are a person who is used to doing it your
way.
The military has a very strict regimen for teaching the
fundamentals of flying an airplane. If you would rather just
do things your way, you will likely soon find that your peers
will be racing past you to higher grades.
Just remember, your instructors have been around longer
than you listen to them and youll do just fine.
Q. You dont mention much about the National
Guard. How can I get a pilots slot through them?
A. You are right; I dont talk much about the Guard. There
is a reason for that. As the reserve arm of the Air Force, the
Guard falls in line with most of the Air Force discussion
and the application process is very similar.
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Having said that, Guard slots are very competitive and, in

most cases, come down to the particular state and unit.
It is not uncommon for Guard units to give prior Guard
enlistees higher priority for their pilot slots. Check out the
following sites to get started with the Guard:
http://www.goang.com/
http://www.ang.af.mil
Q. Which service has the most flight slots available
this month / year?
A. Answering that question would require ESP, smoke,
mirrors, and a crystal ball.
All kidding aside, things change very quickly when it comes
to flight slots in the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.
My best advice goes way back to Chapter 1 choose a
service based on your own personality and desires. Then
submit a competitive application.
You will likely have a much more fulfilling and productive
career doing it that way than looking for the service with
the most slots open right now. Things change pretty
quickly.
Q. What college major will give me the best chance
of getting a flight slot? Do I need to take math or
engineering?
A. With very few exceptions, my advice with regard to
college major is take the subject that interests you most.
You will find that, in the long run, you will enjoy college
much more and have significantly better grades to show for
it in the end.
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There is little need to take aeronautical engineering just in

the off chance that it looks better on an OTS application,
only to find that you struggle over basic algebra and end up
getting straight Ds.
If you dont like math or science, you can still be an
excellent fighter pilot, so why sit through 4 years of sheer
boredom? Take what you like youll be happy that you
did.
Q. Ive (choose one) done drugs, been arrested,
been expelled, put in jail, etc Should I admit to it
on an application or just hope that they wont find
out?
A. Never lie on an application. Besides being a bad idea, its
against the law and could result in an other than
honorable discharge if the service finds out later that you
lied on an application.
Here is a quote from Air Force document AETCPAM
36-2003:
You will be held responsible for the accuracy of all entries
on your enlistment forms. Disqualifying information
discovered after enlistment can result in discharge under
less than honorable conditions."
That says enough. Bear in mind that even once you get in,
your past is far from behind you. A pilot career carries with
it the requirement for a security clearance and many
further background investigations. I have known plenty of
guys who had skeletons in their closet, were honest, and
still got in. Remember when your Mom told you that
honesty was the best policy? Listen to your Mothershe
was right.

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Q. I am worried that my eyesight does not meet

minimum standards or that it will deteriorate
before taking my flight physical? What are the
standards for eyesight and is there anything I can
do to improve it?
A. There is probably no subject that concerns you as much
as this one. And no matter who you are, it probably affects
your thinking in some way or another. Perhaps your
eyesight is perfectyou are still probably worried about
what looking at a computer screen will do to your vision in
the long run. Perhaps your eyesight may be so bad that
youve given up hope of ever becoming a fighter pilot.
Maybe you are somewhere in between.
Eyesight and vision are the single most frequently asked
question that I get. The questions typically range from
requirements, to tests, from computers, to PRK. I figured it
was high time to cover some of these questions all at once.
So here goes
Fighter Pilot Vision requirements generally fall into 1 of 4
categories:
1. Distant Vision
2. Near Vision
3. Color Vision
4. Depth Perception
For each of the services, you will have to pass all 4 to be
eligible for a fighter pilots slot. For the first two, the
standards are as follows:
Air Force Vision Requirements
Distant Vision: 20/70, correctable to 20/20.
Near Vision: 20/20
Navy / Marine Corps Vision Requirements:
Distant Vision: 20/40, correctable to 20/20.
Near Vision: 20/20
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First, most people think they have to have 20/20 to get a

flight slot. This is just a mytha hold-over from a long time
ago.
Next, when the regulations say, correctable to 20/20 they
mean is that if you have 20/40 vision, but can wear
contacts or glasses and see 20/20, you will pass. But, be
careful, hard contacts are usually disqualifying.
Lastly, you will have to pass minimums on a color vision
test and a depth perception tests. These tests usually
involve you reading a colored number on a colored
background (color vision) and looking at a series of circles
and lines to see which one is closer and which one if farther
(depth). There is some leeway in the each test. In other
words, you can sometimes miss a few of the plates per test,
but not too many.
All of the vision requirements are written in stone, but
heres some good newsthe rules have only relaxed as time
has passed. It used to be that you needed 20/20period.
Soon the rules began to loosen to where they are today.
And, they may get even more relaxed as the years go on.
Who knows?
Here is the real good news: if your eyesight is marginal or
worse, you still stand a very good chance of getting into a
flight program.
Overall key point on eye exams: Your main goal for
your vision should be to pass your first and second flight
physicals.
The first physical must happen before you get accepted into
the flight program. The second physical comes right before
flight school. These two are the big ones. Once you pass
these two (and the military starts spending money on you),
the standards tend to relax a bit.
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Everyone falls into one of these two categories: your

eyesight is within standards or close (i.e. 20/20 to 20/70)
or you do not meet vision requirements for any service (i.e.
distant vision worse than 20/70).
In either case, have no fearyour chances are still pretty
good assuming you play your cards right.
Category #1: If your eyesight is within standards or
close, you need to make sure to maintain or improve your
vision all the way until you get into the cockpit. There are
two ways to do this:
Vision Improvement Tip #1. Avoid or minimize
exposure to the most common ways that
deteriorate your vision. They are:
1. Wearing glasses or contacts.
2. Reading.
3. Aging (ok, you cant avoid it, but try).
4. Computer use (but dont stop just yet!)
5. Lack of proper nutrients.
6. Squinting or straining to see.
7. Not exercising your eyes.
8. (For more detail on these, see the vision article on
my site: http://www.afterburnerclub.com/gettingin-shape/fitness-for-your-eyes-improving-yourvision)
Vision Improvement Tip #2. Invest in an eye
exercise program to improve or maintain your
vision.
One of my biggest concerns when I was applying for an air
contract back in college was how my eyes would hold up,
especially with the battery of tests that the military puts you
through...even after you've been accepted.

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Back then, to help maintain and improve my eyesight, I

went to a local ophthalmologist and enrolled in a course
consisting of a set of exercises intended to strengthen eye
muscles and vision. The course and the visit to the eye
doc were a bit expensive back then, but, after time, my
eyesight went from roughly 20/20 to 20/15...a nice
improvement. It was enough to get me past my entrance
physicals.
From talking to a lot of you, I know that you share the same
concern about your eyes as I did thenand understandably
so.
I have recently found a very similar program to the one I
took in college...but it is a lot cheaper. The link below takes
you to a website that will help teach you how to improve
your vision naturally -- without glasses, contacts, or laser
surgery. They even offer a few free exercises to get you
started.
I will tell you from experience that I think this program is a
worthy investment as long as you are willing to put the
time in. I will also tell you that when you order it; dont
expect a big package to arrive at your door. What you will
get is a workbook, some eye charts, and some exercise tools.
The kits value does not consist in the parts; it consists in
what it will do for you if you do it right.
Note: my own Vision for Life package arrived just the other
day...so Ill be joining you in taking further steps to keep my
20/20 vision intact.
Follow the link below if you are interested in maintaining
or improving your vision:
http://www.FighterPilotVision.com

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Category #2: if your eyesight is well outside of

requirements, there is one more option for vision
improvement.
You may be able to get your vision fixed with the PRK
procedure.
According to the FDA, PRK is photorefractive keratectomy
which is a procedure involving the removal of the surface
layer of the cornea (epithelium) by gentle scraping and use
of a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the
stroma.
In laymans terms, it is a very quick procedure where a laser
reshapes your cornea so you will see better than ever
before. The good news is that PRK (not Lasik), is currently
waived by all three services. In other words, if youve had
successful PRK, you can get into a flight program. I know
some guys who have done just that and are flying fighters
today.
And, for some of you, that is very good news
For more information on medical requirements, reference
the Fighter Pilot Medical Requirements CD or MP3.

152

Appendix A: What They Fly

The next few pages are a reference for you aspiring young
fighter pilots.
Each service flies a number of fighter aircraft. And each
fighter aircraft has different characteristics and missions.
I will include some basic information on each airplane,
which can be found just about anywhere.
Then I will give you some information that you cant find
anywhere but here.
Hopefully these will prove interesting and valuable.
I will start each services section with a list of all of its
airplanes; then I will narrow it down to one page on each
fighter.
This chapter is an added bonus. I hope you enjoy it!

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The Air Force

Air Force Aircraft
The following is a list of all of the airplanes that the Air
Force flies or will fly:
A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II
AC-130H/U Gunship
B-1B Lancer
B-2 Spirit
B-52 Stratofortress
C-130 Hercules
C-141 Starlifter
C-17 Globemaster III
C-20
C-21
C-32
C-37A
C-40B/C
C-5 Galaxy (This plane is absolutely enormous)
E-3 Sentry (AWACS)
E-8C Joint Stars
EC-130E/J Commando Solo / C-130 Hercules
EC-130H Compass Call
F-117A Nighthawk
F-15 Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-22A Raptor
Global Hawk
HC-130P/N
HH-60G Pave Hawk
KC-10 Extender
KC-135 Stratotanker / WC-135 Constant
Phoenix
MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II

154

MC-130P Combat Shadow

MH-53J/M Pave Low
MQ-1 Predator (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)
OC-135B Open Skies
RC-135U Combat Sent
RC-135V/W Rivet Joint
T-1A Jayhawk
T-37 Tweet (This is a primary trainer for the Air
Force)
T-38 Talon (This is a primary jet trainer for the Air
Force and for NASA)
T-43A
T-6A Texan II (This is a primary trainer for the Air
Force, Navy, and Marines)
U-2S/TU-2S
UH-1N Huey
F-35A Joint Strike Fighter

For more detailed information on any of the Air Force

airplanes, go to: http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/
index.asp

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Air Force Fighters

F-16 Fighting Falcon (Aka. Viper)

Mission: Air-to-air and air-to-ground interdiction.

Top Speed: Mach 2.0
Max G: 9
Crew: 1 pilot (2 in F-16 trainers)
Maker: Lockheed Martin
Status: Still in production at Fort Worth as of 2006,
soon to give way to the JSF aircraft line.

Eds Take: Air Force pilots call the F-16 the Viper. If you
call it the Fighting Falcon, Air Force guys will know that you
dont belong. Of course, I do it every once in a while just to get
them upset, but Ive got some credibility by now.
The Viper is a very versatile airplane. It can drop and shoot just
about every piece of ordnance that can be put on a fighter. The
Air Force will be flying F-16s well into the next 20 years, so,
no mater what your age is, there is a good chance that you can
start and end your career as a Viper driver.

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F-15C Eagle

Mission: Air superiority

Top Speed: Mach 2.5
Crew: 1 pilot (2 in trainers)
Maker: McDonnell Douglas
Status: Aging fleet to be replaced by the F-22. There
are around 400 total F-15s in the Air Force.

Eds Take: The Eagle is the dominant air-to-air fighter in the

world today. There is a reason why the enemy has not fought us
head-to-head in the air for over 10 years the Eagle is a big
part of the reason. Eagle pilots train solely to air-to-air. They
are the best at what they do flying high and shooting at long
range. The F-15 is getting old, so expect to see it slowly
replaced by the F-22 over the next 10 years.

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F-15E Strike Eagle

Mission: All weather multi-role air-to-air / air-toground
Top Speed: Mach 2.5
Crew: 2 (1 pilot / 1 weapons systems officer (WSO))
Maker: McDonnell Douglas
Status: 217 delivered since 1988.

Eds Take: The Strike Eagle (affectionately called the Mud

Hen) is the air-to-ground variant of the F-15. It can fly high,
fast, far, and drop a lot of ordnance. The two-place cockpit
gives it great versatility under high threat or bad weather
conditions. While the pilot navigates and avoids threats, the
WSO finds, designates, and destroys targets.

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F-117 Nighthawk

Mission: Low observable (stealth) precision strike

Top Speed: Mach .9 (subsonic)
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: Lockheed Martin
Status: 55 total airplanes in use. Will be around for
some time.

Eds Take: The Stealth Fighter was delivered to the Air Force
back in 1982, but really came into the public eye in 1991 during
Desert Storm. It is the first true stealth fighter airplane, which is
designed to evade enemy radar with its low observable
technology and strike a target with precision munitions using
laser or Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance.

159

A-10 Thunderbolt II
Mission: Close air support for ground forces
Top Speed: Mach .56 (420 mph very slow for a
fighter)
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: Fairchild Republic Co
Status: Over 200 total airplanes in use.

Eds Take: Despite the official nomenclature, the A-10 is called

the Warthog. (If you call it the Thunderbolt, you might get
some strange looks.) The plane and its pilots are a bit out of
place in an Air Force that is interested in air-to-air and deep
strikes. A-10 pilots pride themselves on their skill at close air
support. They are very good and very specialized at what they
do. The A-10s 30mm gun is the central feature of the airplanes
armament system. The guns sound gives the A-10 its name the
Warthog.
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F-22A Raptor

Mission: Air-to-Air and air-to-ground

Top Speed: Mach 2.0
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: Lockheed Martin / Boeing
Status: In production, small numbers fielded,
operational in 2005.

Eds Take: The F-22 is a good example of what the Air Force
does best lobby Congress. This airplane is a ridiculously
expensive replacement for the F-15. Originally designed as an
air-to-air fighter, the F-22 took on an air-to-ground mission
when it looked like Congress might axe the program (hence the
small print on the mission line above). Nonetheless, the F-22 is
a big step forward in technology. Its radar is unmatched (so far)
and so are its capabilities. It should be a formidable force on the
battlefield for some time to comeI just wish it didnt cost so
much.

161

F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

Mission: Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground

Top Speed: Mach 1.8
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: Lockheed Martin
Status: Set to come out in 2012.

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Eds Take: The F-35 is the nations next generation

fighter. The F-35A is the Air Forces JSF variant, also
known as the Conventional Takeoff and Landing
(CTOL) variant.
The Air Force plans to buy over 1600 F-35As over the
next 20 years.
The Joint Strike Fighter program was designed to
provide a common airplane to all three services.
While each service will takeoff and land a little
differently, the basics of JSF will be the same. It will
have a very robust sensor suite (radar, forward looking
infra-red, etc) and will have great self-defense
capabilities.
In my opinion, the Joint Strike Fighter will be the last
U.S. manned fighter aircraft. From here on out, all we
are going to see produced will be Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs).
As a future ace, this could very well be your next
airplane.
To see more on JSF, see the official website at:
http://www.jsf.mil/

163

U.S. Navy
Navy Aircraft
The following is a list of all of the airplanes that the Navy
flies or will fly:

FA-18C/D Hornet
FA-18E/F Super Hornet
EA-18G Growler
F-14 Tomcat (Phased out in 2006)
S-3 Viking (Being phased out)
EA-6B, Prowler
E-2C Hawkeye
E-6 Mercury
P-3 Orion
EP-3A Aries
C-2 Greyhound
C-130 Hercules
C-9 Skytrain
C-20
SH-60 Seahawk
MH-53D Sea Dragon
H-3
T-6A Texan II (This is a primary trainer for the Air
Force, Navy, and Marines)
UH-1N Huey
T-45 Goshawk (Primary jet trainer)
TA-4J (Trainer phased out)
F-5 (Adversary aircraft)
F-35C Joint Strike Fighter

For more detailed information on any of the Navy or

Marine Corps airplanes, go to: http://www.navy.mil/
navydata/policy/vision/vis98/vis-p08.html

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Navy Fighters
FA-18C/D Hornet
FA-18E/F Super Hornet
EA-18G Growler
Mission: Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground
Top Speed: Mach 1.8 (I have seen an FA-18 get up
to Mach 2.0once.)
Crew: 1 pilot in the C/E models, 1 pilot / 1 Weapons
and Sensors Officer in the D/F/G models.
Maker: Boeing
Status: Over 1000 made or planned.

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Eds Take: The FA-18 is the staple fighter for the

Navy.
The Hornet is capable of just about every mission a
fighter can execute.
It has been a jack-of-all-trades and will continue to
be so for some time.
The C/D variants are no longer in production and are
being replaced by the E/F.
The Super Hornet (E/F) is an upgrade that includes a
new avionic suite and some better radar capabilities.
All in all, it is not a significant upgrade over the C/D
variants.
The G model (the Growler) is an electronic attack
airplane that is set to replace the EA-6B in the near
future.
The Hornet will likely be around well into the middle
of this century.
If you are going to be a Navy fighter pilot, there is a
good chance that you will be flying the FA-18.

166

F-14 Tomcat

Mission: Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground

Top Speed: Mach 2.34
Crew: 1 pilot / 1 Radar Intercept Officer (RIO)
Maker: Northrop Grumman
Status: Phased out in 2008.

Eds Take: The Tomcat is almost a memory. I include it simply

out of deep respect. The Tom is the reason that many of my
friends joined the service in the first place (thanks to TopGun).
The F-14 has gone from being a top of the line fighter to an old
air-to-ground airplane with engine problems. Age
notwithstanding, the F-14 has been a staple of Navy aviation
for years. After it flies its last flight in the next year, the
memories will undoubtedly continue for a long time.

167

EA-6B Prowler
Mission: Electronic Attack
Top Speed: Mach .95 (subsonic)
Crew: 1 pilot / 3 Electronic Counter Measures
Officers (ECMO)
Maker: Northrop Grumman
Status: About 125.

Eds Take: The Prowler is an amazing jet for its role

electronic warfare. The sole job of the Prowler is to take down
a threat countrys radars through jamming. Unlike some of the
larger jammer aircraft, the Prowler goes right into enemy
country with the rest of the fighters. While other airplanes are
shooting missiles and dropping bombs, the Prowler is crushing
radars. The pilots and ECMOs who fly the electronic station
wagon of Armageddon are well trained and highly skilled. As
a fighter pilot, I want a Prowler with me whenever I go into
enemy territory.

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F-35C Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

Mission: Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground

Top Speed: Mach 1.8
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: Lockheed Martin
Status: Set to come out in 2012

Eds Take: The F-35 is the nations next generation fighter. The
F-35C is the Navys JSF variant, also known as the Carrier
Variant (CV). The Navy plans to buy around 400 F-35Cs over
the next 20 years. The Joint Strike Fighter program was
designed to provide a common airplane to all three services.
While each service will takeoff and land a little differently, the
basics of JSF will be the same. It will have a very robust sensor
suite (radar, forward looking infra-red, etc) and will have
great self-defense capabilities. In my opinion, the Joint Strike
Fighter will be the last U.S. manned fighter aircraft. From here
on out, all we are going to see produced will be Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). As a future ace, this could very well be
your next airplane.
To read more on JSF, see the official website at:
http://www.jsf.mil/
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U.S. Marine Corps

Marine Corps Aircraft
The following is a list of all of the airplanes that the Marine
Corps flies or will fly:
FA-18C/D Hornet
AV-8B Harrier
EA-6B Prowler
KC-130 Hercules
UH-1N Huey
AH-1W Cobra
CH-46 Sea Knight
CH-53D Sea Stallion
CH-53E Super Stallion
MV-22 Osprey
T-6A Texan II (This is a primary trainer for the Air
Force, Navy, and Marines)
T-45 Goshawk (Primary jet trainer)
TA-4J (Trainer phased out)
F-5 Tiger II (Adversary aircraft)
F-35B Joint Strike Fighter

For more detailed information on any of the Navy or

Marine Corps airplanes, go to:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/policy/vision/vis98/visp08.html

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Marine Corps Fighters

FA-18 A+/C/D Hornet
Mission: Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground
Top Speed: Mach 1.8 (I have seen an FA-18 get up
to Mach 2.0once.)
Crew: 1 pilot in the C/E models, 1 pilot / 1 Weapons
and Sensors Officer in the D/F/G models.
Maker: Boeing
Status: Over 1000 made or planned.

Eds Take: Marine Hornet pilots are the best in the world (I am
biased). The FA-18 is the staple fighter for the Marine Corps.
The Hornet is capable of just about every mission a fighter can
execute. It is a jack-of-all-trades and will continue to be for
some time. The C/D variants are no longer in production,
having been replaced by the E/F. However, the Marine Corps is
not planning to buy the Super Hornet, choosing instead to wait
for the Joint Strike Fighter. If you are going to be a future
Marine Corps fighter pilot, you will either fly the Hornet or
Harrier until about 2020, then everything will be JSF.

171

AV-8B Harrier

Mission: Air-to-Ground (Close Air Support)

Top Speed: Mach .9 (subsonic)
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: McDonnell Douglas
Status: Approx 150

Eds Take: Harrier pilots not only master the art of close air
support (their primary mission), but they can land vertically.
The AV-8 was the worlds first true vertical landing jet aircraft.
While the Marine Corps Harrier program has had some
growing pains, the AV-8B has become a formidable force in the
air-to-ground world and will be for the time to come. Expect
the Harrier to be replaced by the F-35B starting in 2012.

172

EA-6B Prowler
Mission: Electronic Attack
Top Speed: Mach .95 (subsonic)
Crew: 1 pilot / 3 Electronic Counter Measures
Officers (ECMO)
Maker: Northrop Grumman
Status: About 125.

Eds Take: The Prowler is an amazing jet for its role

electronic warfare. The sole job of the Prowler is to take down
a threat countrys radars through jamming. Unlike some of the
larger jammer aircraft, the Prowler goes right into enemy
country with the rest of the fighters. While other airplanes are
shooting missiles and dropping bombs, the Prowler is crushing
radars. The pilots and ECMOs who fly the electronic station
wagon of Armageddon are well trained and highly skilled. As
a fighter pilot, I want a Prowler with me whenever I go into
enemy territory.

173

F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

Mission: Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground

Top Speed: Mach 1.8
Crew: 1 pilot
Maker: Lockheed Martin
Status: Set to come out in 2012.

174

Eds Take: The F-35 is the nations next generation fighter.

The F-35B is the Marine Corps JSF variant, also known as the
Short Takeoff / Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.
The Marine Corps plans to buy around 350 F-35Bs over the
next 20 years. By 2020, this will be the Marines only fighter.
The Joint Strike Fighter program was designed to provide a
common airplane to all three services. While each service will
takeoff and land a little differently, the basics of JSF will be the
same.
It will have a very robust sensor suite (radar, forward looking
infra-red, etc) and will have great self-defense capabilities. In
my opinion, the Joint Strike Fighter will be the last U.S.
manned fighter aircraft.
From here on out, all we are going to see produced will be
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). If you are a future Marine
ace, this could very well be your next airplane.
To read more on JSF, see the official website at:
http://www.jsf.mil/

175

Appendix B: A Few Good Links

U.S. Army
http://www.goarmy.com
U.S. Air Force
http://www.airforce.com
Air Force Airplanes Facts
http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/index.asp
Air Force Academy
http://www.usafa.af.mil
http://academyadmissions.com/
Air Force ROTC
http://www.afrotc.com/
http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/index.asp
http://www.afrotc.com/colleges/detLocator.php
http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/enlistedscholarships/
Air Force OTS
http://www.afoats.af.mil/ots/
http://www.airforce.com/info/locator.html
http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/BOT/
botapply.asp
Air Force Advisor online chat
https://secure.airforce.com/chat/?find=chat+with+an
+adviser?media_cd=VA
Air Force Enlisted Commissioning
http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedComm/
EnlistedCommissioning.asp
PCSM Info
https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/
176

U.S. Navy
http://www.navy.com
http://www.navy.mil
U.S. Naval Academy
http://www.usna.edu/
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/choices.htm
Naval ROTC
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/colleges_nrotc_unitsXP3.aspx
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/apply.aspx
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/entrance_requirements.aspx
Navy OCS
http://www.ocs.navy.mil
http://www.navy.com
http://www.navy.mil
Navy Enlisted Commissioning Seaman to
Admiral 21
https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/
Navy / Marine Corps Medical
http://www.med.navy.mil
U.S. Marine Corps
http://www.marines.mil
http://www.marines.com
U.S. Coast Guard

http://www.uscg.mil/top/careers.asp

177

Coast Guard Reserve:

http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/
reserve-opportunities
U.S National Guard Reserve
http://www.ang.af.mil
http://www.goang.com
Joint Strike Fighter
http://www.jsf.mil/
Military Rank Structure
http://www.defense.gov/about/insignias/
Fighter Pilot Vision
http://www.FighterPilotVision.com

Academic / Study Helps

SAT / ACT Prep

ACT Test Prep
SAT Test Prep

ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude

Battery
ASVAB Test Prep
Officer Candidate Tests:
Officer Candidate Test Help
ASTB / AFOQT Test Prep
ASTB / AFOQT Test Prep
Mechanical and Spatial Relationships Book
Math Help
Ed Rush Speaking Site: www.EdRush.com

178

Appendix C: Glossary
ACC Air Combat Command
ACT American College Test
AECP Airman Education and Commissioning Program
AFB Air Force Base
AFOQT Air Force Officer Qualification Test
AFOTS Air Force Officer Training School
AFROTC Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps
AOCS Aviation Officer Candidate School
ASCP Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program
ASTB Aviation Selection Test Battery
CAS Close Air Support
CORTRAMID Career Orientation and Training for
Midshipmen
ECMO Electronic Counter Measures Officer
ECP Enlisted Commissioning Program
FAC Forward Air Controller
GMC The General Military Course
GPA Grade Point Average
GPS Global Positioning System
JSF Joint Strike Fighter
MAGTF Marine Air Ground Task Force
MCP Meritorious Commissioning Program
MECEP Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Program
NAPS Naval Academy Preparatory School
NFO Naval Flight Officer
NROTC Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps
OCC Officer Candidate Class
OCS Officers Candidate School
OSO Officer Selection Officer
OTS Officer Training School
PCSM Pilot Candidate Selection Method
PLC Platoon Leader Class
POC Professional Officer Course
POC-ERP Professional Officer Course - Early Release
Program
179

RIO Radar Intercept Officer

ROTC Reserve Officers Training Corps
RSS Relative Standing Score
SAT Scholastic Achievement Test
SOAR Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen
STA-21 Seaman to Admiral 21
TBAS Test of Basic Aviation Skills
TBS The Basic School
UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
USAF United States Air Force
USAFA United States Air Force Academy
USGC United States Coast Guard
USMC United States Marine Corps
USN United States Navy
USNA United States Naval Academy
WSO Weapons and Sensors Officer or Weapons Systems
Officer

180

The End

181