#4- So you wanna be a pilot...

Let's say you're in ROTC, for example, and you're almost to the point where you need to decide about whether you want to put in for a pilot slot or not. You think being a pilot would be sweet, but you're not really sure you'd like it. You end up giving into the peer pressure and throwing your name into the hat. A few months later, you get a pilot slot! A few years later, you're in UPT... and you hate it. It's definitely NOT for you.

Unfortunately, this is not as rare as you might expect. UPT is tough, and if you're not all in, then you won't like it. And now-a-days, with all the Reduction in Force (RIF) and Force Shaping programs that come and go pretty consistently, if you drop out of pilot training, you could be kicked out of the Air Force! And what's even worse, is that the Air Force has made some former Lieutenants pay back their tuition from the Air Force Academy or their ROTC scholarship money! (My feelings about that are a whole separate issue...) (Reference Air Force Times; also saw this from personal experience.)

How can I avoid this happening to me?

1. Be true to yourself. Don't let peer pressure convince you to try to be a pilot. Being a pilot isn't the only "cool" job in the Air Force; anyone who says that is ignorant. (It DEFINITELY is super cool, but it's not for everyone.)
2. If you can afford to, try to get a few flights at a civilian flight school. Flight can cost anywhere from $80-$120/hr wet (meaning, including fuel) at some flight schools (depending on location, aircraft available, fuel cost, etc). It's expensive, but it's worth it. I'd personally recommend getting about 5-20 hours. If you can, try to solo at least once. It'll be a big confidence booster!
3. Find someone who's a few years ahead of you and pick their brain. Ask them about a normal day at IFS and at UPT, what their biggest struggle was, etc. Another good question is, "If you had to do it all over again, would you?" They don't have to turn into a formal "mentor" or anything, but if they did, it can only help you and your career.
4. Talk to your cadre and/or friends at your detachment that really know you as a person. Heed their advice. If your detachment commander flew F-16s for 20 years says that he doesn't think you'd like it, he probably knows what he's talking about. However, a 4-year Captain that works in personnel (no offense) may not be as good of a sound board to bounce your thoughts off of.

Basically, you're going to have to do some soul searching and praying to determine what you should do. Ask a lot of people for advice and compile it all. Again, If you don't love flying now, you probably won't love it in T-6s...

For tonight, I'll leave you with this picture...
Enjoy! :)

#3- Looking for Help

We're starting to grow and get more hits and followers! Thanks to all who have shared so far! Keep it up!

The main purpose of this post is to ask for your help- I want to add some more information about a few different topics that I, personally, am not an expert on. Here are a few topics that I want to add or topics that I want to have more info on.

• More current update on ROTC
• More current update on IFS (especially more current gouge files)
  
• Information about the T-38 track
• Corpus/T-44s
• Ft Rucker/ helicopters
  
• Advice for Guard/Reserve pilot wanna-be's
  

I'm always looking for general feedback too! I think the site looks great, but I know there is always room for improvement! Send me your ideas!

Tonight, I'll leave you with a great video from Vance that should get you pumped up!

#2- All the Places I've Flown... So Far

This is a little map program I made a few months ago to track the places I've flown to in the past few years.  They're marked with the ICAO identifier, the year I first went there, and "C" for civilian flying and/or "M" for military flying.  It's pretty neat to look back and see the places I get paid to fly to :)

Enjoy!



(If you click on the map, it'll take you to the wayfaring.com site)

#1- Welcome!

Welcome to my first post on The Road to Air Force Wings.  As of the time I write this, I still need to update the Join Spouse and ASBC pages, but everything else is up and running!  Thanks in advance for your patience with going live and the growing pains associated with that.

This page is all about being able to do my part to help out those hoping to attend pilot training for the USAF.  If you have any topics you want to hear about or have any feedback, please let me know!  I'll be posting several small updates over the next few days to get the ball rolling.  If you like what you see, subscribe, follow, and invite friends to do the same!  Also check out our Facebook page too!  (see graphic on the right)  Lastly, the advertisements at the bottom help support the blog; sorry for the inconvenience of them.  However, if you want to click on a few of them, you'd be supporting a good cause! :)

Blue skies and smooth landings!