Officer or Enlist?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! I am 20 years old and am desperatly wanting to go into the Air Force. My whole family was or is enlisted and I have wanted to fly since I was a little girl. I want to be an officer and eventually fly. Right now my plan is to enlist after getting my AA (this winter) and work my way up and go to officer training school. I want to be in intel. My questions are...

What rank will I get coming out of BMT with an AA degree? E3 or E4? How hard is it to work your way up to officer from and E3 or E4? I want to go in now, but would it be better to get my BA rather than enlist now?

Any information regarding BMT, getting rank, OTS, Intel, and/or Flight School would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Lacie

laciebird@aol.com

[Anonymous]

I have been wondering the SAME things! My father (retired AF) told me I would be an E-3 at BT graduation (I have 48 semester hours) and he wants me to go ahead and enlist now. My mother wants me to finish college, then go in as an officer. But, I am afraid I'd be too old by the time I got my degree, and then what if I don't get accepted? (I am 22 now). I am anxious to just go in and get it over with, but I want to do what would be best and not end up being in there forever working my way up to what I could've just gone in as (officer). I suppose my advice would be...do what feels right to YOU.

jenser1981@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

: I have been wondering the SAME things! My father (retired AF) told me I would
: be an E-3 at BT graduation (I have 48 semester hours) and he wants me to
: go ahead and enlist now. My mother wants me to finish college, then go in
: as an officer. But, I am afraid I'd be too old by the time I got my
: degree, and then what if I don't get accepted? (I am 22 now). I am anxious
: to just go in and get it over with, but I want to do what would be best
: and not end up being in there forever working my way up to what I could've
: just gone in as (officer). I suppose my advice would be...do what feels
: right to YOU. Dont enlist go officer im in right NOW. if you enlist it will be too late by the time you find out how different it is being an officer. I know some an F15 female pilot at SJ AFB in NC and she loves it. never enlisted.


taochange@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

Finish your bachelor's degree and become an officer, that's my advice. If you truly want to become a pilot, that is the best way to do it. If college money is a problem, go ROTC or look for other scholarships or grants or consider the Air Force Academy. If you want it bad enough, there's always a way. From what I've seen, even if your intentions are to become an officer after enlisting, odds are that it won't happen. It'll be harder to get your degree once you have a full time enlisted job and once you go through basic training you won't want to do it again as an officer. I'm an F-16 pilot and have been flying since 1998. I absolutely LOVE my job and wouldn't trade it for the world. It's a long, tough road to get here, but it's definitely worth it. Take the most direct route---finish your degree and enter the officer ranks. Also, for the girl who wants to be intel and a pilot..you're either one or the other. I started off as intel for 3 years before going to pilot training. I've never looked back. Good luck!

shockf16@go.com

[Anonymous]

I just retired as an OTS recruiter and I agree with the F-16 pilot. Go through ROTC or the Academy if you can first. WARNING: ROTC cannot guarantee you a pilot slot. They will try, but if you don't get picked up for it, you will still have a chance for Intel.

If all else fails, you can try through Officer Training School, however, it is much more competitive because there are few slots for OTS folks to become pilots, since ROTC and the Academy folks get them. Your vision has to be really good. You need to stay in shape to become a pilot, so stay fit!

Get some flying time. All of my applicants had AT LEAST a PPL. For ROTC and Academy, different story. I speak only on behalf of OTS.

Good Luck! It's so cool to see women in the pilot force!

Finish your bachelor's degree and become an officer, that's my advice. If you


: truly want to become a pilot, that is the best way to do it. If college
: money is a problem, go ROTC or look for other scholarships or grants or
: consider the Air Force Academy. If you want it bad enough, there's always
: a way. From what I've seen, even if your intentions are to become an
: officer after enlisting, odds are that it won't happen. It'll be harder to
: get your degree once you have a full time enlisted job and once you go
: through basic training you won't want to do it again as an officer. I'm an
: F-16 pilot and have been flying since 1998. I absolutely LOVE my job and
: wouldn't trade it for the world. It's a long, tough road to get here, but
: it's definitely worth it. Take the most direct route---finish your degree
: and enter the officer ranks. Also, for the girl who wants to be intel and
: a pilot..you're either one or the other. I started off as intel for 3
: years before going to pilot training. I've never looked back. Good luck!