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How to become a Fighter Pilot?
Share your journey & guide aspiring Fighter Pilots on their path!
Note: We've seen a lot of interest in this career, so we're looking for guidance from our community of professionals.
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4 answers
LuLu Stephenson
Insurance Sales Agent
13
Answers
Shreveport, Louisiana
Updated
LuLu’s Answer
The journey to becoming a fighter pilot is a unique and challenging adventure that demands unwavering commitment, exceptional skills, and relentless determination. Let's walk you through the key steps to help you soar as a fighter pilot:
Education: Fighter pilots often hold a college degree, commonly in related disciplines such as aviation, engineering, or physics. A robust educational foundation plays a crucial role in mastering the technical and academic facets of pilot training.
Military Service: Fighter pilots are usually commissioned officers in the military, meaning you'll need to enlist in the armed forces to chase this career dream. Each military branch offers its own distinctive pilot training programs.
Officer Candidate School: If you're not currently an officer, you might need to attend Officer Candidate School to earn your commission in the military.
Pilot Training: Upon becoming an officer, you'll need to complete comprehensive pilot training, encompassing classroom lessons, simulator training, and hands-on flight training.
Specialized Training: Fighter pilots undertake extra training to master the operation of high-speed aircraft and to handle combat situations. This training includes tactics, maneuvers, and simulation drills to ready pilots for real-life scenarios.
Physical Fitness: Fighter pilots are expected to meet stringent physical fitness standards, encompassing vision, hearing, and overall health.
Experience: As you accumulate experience and showcase your skills as a pilot, you may get the chance to specialize in flying fighter aircraft and ultimately become a fighter pilot.
Remember, the path to becoming a fighter pilot is highly competitive, with only a select few making the cut for this specialized role. It demands a profound commitment to training and personal growth, coupled with a deep-seated passion for aviation and military service. If this career path sparks your interest, it's advisable to consult with a military recruiter for more comprehensive information on the specific requirements and opportunities in the military branch you're considering.
Education: Fighter pilots often hold a college degree, commonly in related disciplines such as aviation, engineering, or physics. A robust educational foundation plays a crucial role in mastering the technical and academic facets of pilot training.
Military Service: Fighter pilots are usually commissioned officers in the military, meaning you'll need to enlist in the armed forces to chase this career dream. Each military branch offers its own distinctive pilot training programs.
Officer Candidate School: If you're not currently an officer, you might need to attend Officer Candidate School to earn your commission in the military.
Pilot Training: Upon becoming an officer, you'll need to complete comprehensive pilot training, encompassing classroom lessons, simulator training, and hands-on flight training.
Specialized Training: Fighter pilots undertake extra training to master the operation of high-speed aircraft and to handle combat situations. This training includes tactics, maneuvers, and simulation drills to ready pilots for real-life scenarios.
Physical Fitness: Fighter pilots are expected to meet stringent physical fitness standards, encompassing vision, hearing, and overall health.
Experience: As you accumulate experience and showcase your skills as a pilot, you may get the chance to specialize in flying fighter aircraft and ultimately become a fighter pilot.
Remember, the path to becoming a fighter pilot is highly competitive, with only a select few making the cut for this specialized role. It demands a profound commitment to training and personal growth, coupled with a deep-seated passion for aviation and military service. If this career path sparks your interest, it's advisable to consult with a military recruiter for more comprehensive information on the specific requirements and opportunities in the military branch you're considering.
Wayne Johnson
Maintenance Programs at Alaska Airlines
81
Answers
Auburn, Washington
Updated
Wayne’s Answer
Talk to a military recruiter and they will be able to give you guidance on the requirements.
Minimum requirement for all services is a Bachelor's Degree and pass a background check.
Link for the other services: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_aviator_(United_States)
Here is a link for the Air Force: https://www.airforce.com/careers/aviation-and-flight/pilot
Have not reached your 33rd birthday.
Commit to an additional 10 years after flight training.
Once you have qualified to join the Air Force as an officer. Then your training starts.
ONE THING YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS THE FOLLOWING: Nearing completion of UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training), you will be assigned an aircraft, which is called getting your seat assignment. Seat assignment is determined by class ranking, training performance reports, instructor recommendations, your aircraft preferences and THE AIRFORCE NEEDS.
Minimum requirement for all services is a Bachelor's Degree and pass a background check.
Link for the other services: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_aviator_(United_States)
Here is a link for the Air Force: https://www.airforce.com/careers/aviation-and-flight/pilot
Have not reached your 33rd birthday.
Commit to an additional 10 years after flight training.
Once you have qualified to join the Air Force as an officer. Then your training starts.
ONE THING YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS THE FOLLOWING: Nearing completion of UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training), you will be assigned an aircraft, which is called getting your seat assignment. Seat assignment is determined by class ranking, training performance reports, instructor recommendations, your aircraft preferences and THE AIRFORCE NEEDS.
Sabrina Taylor
Senior Project Manager
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Sabrina’s Answer
Let my preface by saying I am not a pilot, but I am a career military officer with many pilot friends!
The requirements to become a pilot vary by service. However, most services do require you to specifically be a commissioned officer of the rank O-1 and above to be a fighter pilot.
The requirements for making O-1 also vary by service and include factors such as service, education, rank, etc., but the most common path is to gain a Bachelors Degree and apply to Officer Candidate School. Other pathways include ROTC, military academies, and Direct Commissioning programs. From there, you apply to flight school. Your selection to flight school is decidedly performances based, and once you are there, you truly begin your journey.
Fighter pilots are typically the top graduates in their Flight school class, but it is also heavily dependent on the open slots available in these positions. Unfortunately, there is no real linear path to achieve this goal, but it is worth striving for!
Ultimately, pilots in the United States, fighter or not, provide a remarkable service to our nation and have a exciting career ahead.
Best of luck to the prospective pilots of the future!
The requirements to become a pilot vary by service. However, most services do require you to specifically be a commissioned officer of the rank O-1 and above to be a fighter pilot.
The requirements for making O-1 also vary by service and include factors such as service, education, rank, etc., but the most common path is to gain a Bachelors Degree and apply to Officer Candidate School. Other pathways include ROTC, military academies, and Direct Commissioning programs. From there, you apply to flight school. Your selection to flight school is decidedly performances based, and once you are there, you truly begin your journey.
Fighter pilots are typically the top graduates in their Flight school class, but it is also heavily dependent on the open slots available in these positions. Unfortunately, there is no real linear path to achieve this goal, but it is worth striving for!
Ultimately, pilots in the United States, fighter or not, provide a remarkable service to our nation and have a exciting career ahead.
Best of luck to the prospective pilots of the future!
Donald Martin
Information Technology
4
Answers
Belleville, Michigan
Updated
Donald’s Answer
Great Question....
To Become a fighter pilot is quite a goal. To accomplish this you will need to be a 4 year college graduate. I would contact a recruiter for the force you are looking at (Navy or Air Force). They will help you with the requirements that need to be met to accomplish this goal.
Good Luck and I wish you the best,
I am a 20 year Navy Vet
To Become a fighter pilot is quite a goal. To accomplish this you will need to be a 4 year college graduate. I would contact a recruiter for the force you are looking at (Navy or Air Force). They will help you with the requirements that need to be met to accomplish this goal.
Good Luck and I wish you the best,
I am a 20 year Navy Vet