I have chosen to become a pilot in the United States Air Force. One reason I chose to follow this career path is because I am currently contracted with the Air Force and I am a cadet in the UNCC Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) detachment 592. Choosing a career field within the Air Force is challenging since there are many different opportunities available, granted you work hard and earn them. Many of the available officer careers in the Air Force appeal to me, but I have chosen to become a pilot because I have had a passion for planes and have wanted to fly since I was little. I am a little worried about if I would be able to because of several factors, one being my eyesight. One of the main factors that influenced my choice to become a pilot is that it is difficult to become one, and I want to challenge myself and earn it with hard work and dedication.
I was able to explore the requirements of a US Air Force pilot by researching it online. I already knew that pilots are required to go through Officer Training School (OTS), the Air Force Academy(AFA), or AFROTC because you must go through one of the three to become a commissioned Air Force Officer, and pilots must be commissioned officers. To become a pilot, you must start pilot training between the ages 18 and 29(Airforce.com). Your degree is not as important when being reviewed for a pilot slot. You must have normal color vision, your uncorrected distance vision cannot exceed 20/200, and your uncorrected near vision cannot exceed 20/40. Your distance and near vision must both be corrected to 20/20 or better. You must have a standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches (afrotc.com).
I collected the information I needed to make my career decision by researching different career fields online. One great source that Lieutenant Colonel Peters from Detachment 592 informed me of is the Officer Classification Directory (OCD), a tool that describes each Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). In my AFROTC class, my instructors teach and give valuable information about different AFSCs, which helped me figure out which career I want. The instructors go in-depth and give a great deal of information on different AFSCs, such as what their day-to-day operations are, who they are in charge of, and things of that nature. Each cadre member can give me a different viewpoint of the Air Force as a whole, as well as particular AFSCs.
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My detachment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Land, is a valuable resource because he was involved in cyber operations within the Air Force, which would be my next choice as a career if I do not become something aviation-related. Lieutenant Colonel Peters is a valuable resource because he was a navigator for C-130s, a large airplane vital to the Air Force’s mission that is used for multiple purposes. Captain Hukka is a valuable resource because he was a maintenance officer. There are a few more cadre members, and all of the cadre in Detachment 592 are valuable sources because they all have different experiences and exposure to different careers within the Air Force. Each one can give you an idea of what a certain career field is like, since they have either worked in that field or worked with that field.
I have learned that it is not easy to become an Air Force pilot, since it is a highly competitive career field and there are many requirements, but that I am up for the challenge. I have learned that a lot of pilot applicants have numerous flight hours and a private pilot license under their belt, which makes them more competitive. I have also learned that even though it is competitive, I have a chance because the Air Force needs more pilots. According to foreignpolicy.com, the Air Force has a severe shortage of pilots. Airlines are hiring pilots aggressively, making it difficult for the Air Force to keep pilots(foreignpolicy.com). The Air Force cannot match civilian pay and benefits for pilots, which is a reason many pilots leave the Air Force.
Since I have learned all this, I can work hard to keep my GPA high so I am competitive grade-wise. I can improve my physical fitness so that I am competitive in that aspect as well. I can look into getting flight hours and experience flying so that I am more competitive for a pilot slot. A question that I have had while writing this assignment is what else can I do to better my chances of becoming an Air Force pilot?
