Junior in High School, Interested in Career as Fighter Pilot.

[Fly Navy]

You keep saying that you want to be a "fighter pilot" and not a "pilot." Would you be unhappy flying anything other than an F/A-18? If you get picked up for a Navy pilot slot, it's not specifically for a "fighter pilot" slot. You could just as easily end up flying E2-Cs or helos. This is, of course, not a bad thing at all but something you might want to think about if you're dead set on flying a fighter.

Easy on him, he's 16. That's not even important at this stage.

 

[RichardDelk]

Very true, just wanted to make sure he wasn't dead-set on fighter pilot or nothing since that's not very realistic.

 

[purduenavy]

Best way to get a garenteed flight spot now adays...PLC

 

[MattWSU]

As this is said in a lot of other threads, I'm surprised no one has mentioned it in this one.

You keep saying that you want to be a "fighter pilot" and not a "pilot." Would you be unhappy flying anything other than an F/A-18? If you get picked up for a Navy pilot slot, it's not specifically for a "fighter pilot" slot. You could just as easily end up flying E2-Cs or helos. This is, of course, not a bad thing at all but something you might want to think about if you're dead set on flying a fighter. Of course, the only place you can fly a fighter in the first place is in the military, so I guess you'll just have to work really hard for what you want if/when you pick up a pilot slot. Just remember it's all about the "needs of the navy/corps." Good luck though, it certainly sounds like you're much more motivated than most high school students.

I am definitely content with being a pilot of any military (for now) fixed-wing aircraft but less content with being a helo pilot. I have to put one ambition ahead of another and being a fighter pilot is on the top of my list. Followed by President...J/K

Matt

 

[MattWSU]

He's on step 3 out of 3,506. It's cool that he wants to be a fighter pilot and its a solid motivating tool to keep him going even while in high school. Why is it unrealistic? Martin if you want to be gauranteed a flight slot it's BDCP and PLC. You may already know this, but with the Academy and ROTC you don't know what platform you will get until you have already incurred at least a 4 year obligation. However, the scholarships are better from the Acad and ROTC.

Again, not familiar with the acronyms.

Matt

 

[raptor10]

BDCP Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program link HERE

PLC Platoon Leaders Class link HERE

 

[phrogdriver]

I am definitely content with being a pilot of any military (for now) fixed-wing aircraft but less content with being a helo pilot.

Matt

Always the rotor-man gettin' no love!

 

[RichardDelk]

I am definitely content with being a pilot of any military (for now) fixed-wing aircraft but less content with being a helo pilot. I have to put one ambition ahead of another and being a fighter pilot is on the top of my list. Followed by President...J/K

Matt

Everybody wants to be Maverick but I'm glad to hear that you wouldn't mind being Maverick in an E2 or something either.

 

[Thisguy]

Easy on him, he's 16. That's not even important at this stage.

Exactly. When I was 16, I was worried about SATs and if I was gonna get laid after the prom (I didn't), not what I was gonna do for 10 years after college.

 

[MattWSU]

PLC seems promising. Is it just an alternative to OCS that you do before your graduation of college? BDCP also seems promising, if I am indeed guaranteed a flight spot. Do most universities support BDCP? I don't quite understand if it's a program offered by the Navy to anyone or a program offered only at certain colleges.

Matt

 

[snort]

Matt, sit back and take a few days off.

I'm a retired F-14 driver, and I never thought about going Navy until I got out of college. It was a good decision.


(Warning and note to readers: snort has not been able to verify that he is a Naval Aviator)

 

[RichardDelk]

PLC seems promising. Is it just an alternative to OCS that you do before your graduation of college? BDCP also seems promising, if I am indeed guaranteed a flight spot. Do most universities support BDCP? I don't quite understand if it's a program offered by the Navy to anyone or a program offered only at certain colleges.

Matt

BDCP is a program offered by the Navy, and it doesn't matter which college you go to (as long as it's a 4-year university and not a community college). It's a great program that basically pays you while you are in college. Also, if you are accepted to the program, you are accepted for a certain designator that you choose (i.e. Pilot, NFO, SWO, etc).

Check out the BDCP forum on this site for lots of info, or PM me with specific questions if you have them.

 

[Schnugg]

Matt, sit back and take a few days off.

I'm a retired F-14 driver, and I never thought about going Navy until I got out of college. It was a good decision.

What squadrons?

 

[HighDimension]

Exactly. When I was 16, I was worried about SATs and if I was gonna get laid after the prom (I didn't), not what I was gonna do for 10 years after college.

exactly... worry about fun stuff like getting laid and doing well academically! You'll eventually find out that in college academics get harder and getting laid gets easier ( unless you go to a few select schools in the nation that make getting laid even more difficult ) .

Thisguy: I sense that your new unhappiness with your china lake assignment can be traced all the way to not getting any on prom night. =)

 

[Thisguy]

Thisguy: I sense that your new unhappiness with your china lake assignment can be traced all the way to not getting any on prom night. =)

Possibly, but I've upped my chances to getting laid on prom night here...if I don't mind going to jail.