One of the major points that I try to stress to new Afterburner Club members early on is the importance of knowing which branch of service they wish to join. This is pretty important, as each branch has a somewhat different appeal to different personality types.
For Example: Someone who does their best work in comfortable surroundings would most likely do well in the Air Force, while a more outdoorsy type who likes camping out would probably be happier in the Marines.
In a lot of ways, it’s similar to what different services are looking for in their fighter aircraft. The Air Force naturally wants a relatively straightforward design that can be produced in larger numbers, while the Navy would need something longer-range and durable enough to land on carriers, and the Marines would be willing to trade off speed for something that could take off and land over a short distance or even vertically to support the ground troops.
That’s why Lockheed Martin developed the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in three different versions, because they knew that each branch of service would have different needs and that the aircraft that they designed would need to be versatile.
Of course, there aren’t three different versions of you. There’s only one of you, so you can’t be everything that all of the services would look for in a fighter pilot. But you can do your best to match yourself up with the right service.
However, like the F-35, you do have the ability to be versatile, and this could be extremely important in your quest to become a fighter pilot as well. Say your first choice of service is the Air Force, but they can’t or won’t take you for whatever reason, then you would need to start looking at a different branch of service and think of ways to try to adapt yourself to that service.
You’re ability to adapt to situations will also be crucial during your career too, as you don’t know what the future holds for our country and you may be called upon to do.
If you haven’t invested in the Fighter Pilot Power Pack, check it out now as it lists all of the potential advantages and disadvantages of each service.
If your first choice of service fell through, which others would you consider joining? Which ones – if any – would you never consider? Why or why not?
Danny says
good point Ed, but here’s my question…what happens if its too late to change branches? say someone (like myself) goes through Air Force ROTC, and signs a 4 year commitment, only to find out in hindsight that they would have had a much better chance of flying if only they had gone as a Marine? You may feel naturally more of an airmen, however Im sure people would be very willing to change some of their attributes to that of a Marine if they had known their chances of flying would have been much better…
Gary Mize says
This is not uncommon. Even though you have a commitment to the Air Force you can still apply for a pilot training slot to the other branches, Marines, Navy, Army and your existing commitment will be abrogated or transfer with you and once accepted to that branche’s version of pilot training you would then have a new (longer) commitment. Not longer because you transferred but because the higher level of training (pilot training) always comes with a longer commitment, 8-10 years in order to justify the expense of training you.
Will says
I am an AFROTC Cadet as well. So far I’m on track to get a pilot slot, but supposing I don’t for some reason, how would one go about applying for a flight slot in another branch after signing on with the Air Force?
ummm says
My first choice of service is the air force
and I am going to join them no matter what
cuz i believe in what i can do 🙂
Sloop Jann Hernandez says
I really love to join the
United States Airforce, but for now the problem i had is how to get green card. if no one can help me to join those wingman above it’s not a problem. one day you found out that i am not staying on the ground anymore. you be surprised that i’m flying above clouds watching those idiots below. one day i’m one of those striker in a war and one day i’ll bring home the bacon like those who does before.
David Taylor says
I really want to become a pilot in the Air Force,but it seems to me that its easier to get a pilot slot in the Marines. I dont want to sign a four year commitment, attend the academy, and not get a pilot slot. What do I do then? And also how Do you get to become a fighter pilot in the Marines or the Navy? Is there an academy for those branches too?