Want to be an Air Force Pilot? This is How You Do It

Hopefully this video helps everyone out there who is interested in becoming at Air Force pilot! It is definitely a career that requires hard work and dedication, but if you have what it takes, you'll be in for 'quite literally' the ride of a lifetime.

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YouTube Video Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:05 Requirements
3:07 Medical/Physical
4:18 Become an Officer
7:12 AFOQT/TBAS
8:15 Pilot Training
12:23 Guard/Reserves
13:09 Special Guest
14:20 Conclusion

*Adheres to AFI 1-1, USAF Social Media Policy*
Views expressed in this video are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Air Force or Department of Defense.
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[squidward]

When he said you don't have to be good at math, my soul left my body in happiness.

[lukeeckholm]

U forgot to mention the other method of sneaking into the Air Force base in Grand theft auto 5 and stealing the f16

[alexanderswander]

I will come back to this video in 5 years when I become a Pilot. I will be enlisting in the Air force on Thursday after completing my ASVAB and Physical. I cannot thank you enough sir for this extremely valuable video. The recruiter didn't explain the process as simple as in this video on how to become a Pilot. Now, I understand exactly what I must do. I will get a Refueler Maintenance job, while actively pursing a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering fully online at SNHU, and go on to enroll in Officer training school after I complete my 4 years active duty and bachelors. I will be a pilot someday in the near future. Wish me luck.

1/30/2023 Edit: I passed the ASVAB with a 92 and passed Physical
Next week I will sign on for 5th Gen fighter maintenance

11/21/2023 Edit: Have passed BMT, Passed Tech School, Got to First Duty Location for some months. Still pursuing.
Doing Crew Chief things learning more and more about how these jets work. It's all working out so far.

2/25/2024 Edit: Everything is still on track. Going to become an officer in 2.5 - 3 years. Still on the trajectory to commission, going back to college soon and trying to stand out as a crew chief as well as do volunteering and make myself pronounced so when I submit my OTS package I stand out versus the thousands of other applicants who are trying to get pilot spots through OTS. I'm competing with people who have masters and doctorette degrees, far more years of experience, more rank than me, more volunteering hours, more deployments/tdy's, more things they can put on their resume.... so it will be tough, however that won't stop me from trying.

There's something called the CCAF, which takes most people a while to get, however I will get it far earlier than others by using CLEPS and continue my education even after my bachelors. 2. The 5 level thing, I will have gotten far earlier than others, proving I know my job and I know my job well and can do all those tasks. 3. Leadership has noticed my will and determination everyday, how I show up an hour early everyday, leave an hour later, work hard everyday and am willing to do whatever I am tasked with, am willing to work whenever, whatever shift they put me on, and on top of all of that I never complain, I just put in the work and learn everyday so I can become a better leader and also go on to help others. I will also do everything in my power to get BTZ, below the zone, allowing me to rank up 6 months earlier from an A1C to an E-4 aka SrA which also looks very good on the resume and package needed for OTS.

The air force provides something called AF COOL which I'm going to use to get some flying hours in probably a small Cessna that contributes to my private pilot's license. Also going to try and get certs to make my resume look nicer. There's something called an A & P license from the FAA which I will get later on but that's like 2 years from now. So, I'll literally have a license to fix a plane but also another license to fly said plane.

To go back to college you need something called a 5 level and there's a bunch of mechanic tasks you need to complete to start school again. I'm 90% done should be fully complete in march allowing me to go back to school. The cool thing about applying to become a pilot through officer training school is you technically don't even need your degree yet, you can submit your paperwork if you are 1 year away from getting a bachelors degree you just need some special paperwork. This will allow me to try two times to submit an OTS package or more if I intend on extending thus giving me more chances at a spot and bettering my odds despite how slim they are.

Also, the whole process is very political at least if you're like me and become enlisted before becoming an officer. Basically, you need to stand out and create good relationships between the leadership and superiors wherever you work because they will have to sign your papers and guess what, if they don't like you they won't sign your papers to even get a chance at OTS to even get a chance at trying to become a pilot.


That's pretty much it. Trying to eat healthy and go gym everyday so I am more than capable and physical fit later on down the road especially for the required class 3 flight physical. Will start studying for the AFOQT and TBAS tests as well. Will post another update later.

[halfaperson]

I’m actually here because I’m writing a book and a minor character is a retired Air Force pilot. So I needed to dig into the basics of the requirements for the Air Force and this video was so damn helpful! Thank you so much!

[snuff]

I've been in the USAF 19 years total with 16 of them as a flyer. I'm somewhere north of 2000 hours now and it's been an absolute blast. *Edit* To clarify, I have been an aviator all 19 years. 16 years are operational and 3 were spent in training. It’s a long road, but worth it.

[baboon_]

Me sitting on the couch: "Yeah, I could do this"

[elmocotton]

I was in the Air Force Reserve with great job reviews. I had a BS degree in Aeronautics 121 ASVAB a pilots license AND an Airframe Power Plant license and was a liaison engineer on the C-17 as a civilian. I tried to apply but I soon found out that those pilot slots are reserved for friends of the commander, government officials kids and other "insiders" .

[aceloveskrabbypatties]

Thank you a lot. You don’t realize how much this helped. I have to wright notes for a sequence of events essay. Usually I have to watch multiple videos, but I think I got all the info I need here.

[OLKIEMTB]

Imagine going through all that just to be told you are going to be a drone pilot. I would be pissed.

[alimaisan]

I was so happy when he said "you dont have to know math"!

[Audisebas]

this video is made to perfection. Not only is the cinematography really well placed but it is also very well in tune with the information provided. Thank you very much Sam for this video I'm alot more confident and understanding with the steps, process and requirements to become a U.S Air Force Pilot.

[zoldonn]

Dude thanks so much for making this video, I'm enlisting into the Air National Guard in a few weeks and plan on going the College ROTC route after basic training. After watching this video I'm fairly confident in my abilities and now determined more than ever to get those wings. I really appreciate this a lot man, especially since I just graduated from High School yesterday and needed a set goal to work towards.

[pointingsoyjak]

This scared me, but then I remembered the Air Force is in dire need of more pilots

[michaelbosisto]

I dreamed about being an Air Force pilot in the early 80’s. All I ever thought about was fighter jets, and how I would get there. I didn’t have any real resources back then other than a school councilor who basically told me to get really good grades, play in sports, be well rounded and then get an engineering degree. I started to see my dream slip away because I wasn’t that good at school, nor as an athlete in my small hick town. A recruiter would come out our way once or twice a year, and didn’t have time to tell me all that I needed to know. By the time I barely passed high school all the damage has been done. I ended up being a grunt in the USMC, became pretty physically fit, but hatted everyday as I seen harriers and F-18 hornets fly by. Not saying the Marines in general is bad, it wasn’t what I wanted at all.

I wish I had the resources that you all have now...you have a clear path how to get there.. take advantage of it, otherwise you’ll be like me ... watching people do what I would of died for on YouTube.

I did get my private pilot license, turn out I’m a good pilot, not Air Force good though.

[katherinee.]

This is by far the most helpful, in-depth, and clearly explained resource I’ve ever found on how to become an Air Force pilot! Thank you!! :) and I’m so glad it doesn’t matter what subject your degree is in, that way I can study my other passion, animal behavior, and become a zookeeper while being a pilot in the Air National Guard

[mrclarinetnerd]

Many of my family members have served in the military, with my great grandpa serving in the army during WWII, and my grandpa serving in the air force working on the radios of the aircraft during I believe vietnam, and my uncle tried, but didn't go through after being told he could only work on piloting helicopters, and my dad tried to go into the military, but got rejected due to him having a wall in his heart. For the past few years I have been wanting to go into the air force and fly, but haven't known where to start. Thankfully this video helped me, and I may follow the advice and go to college to go into the airforce. Originally I wanted to fly the F-35, but the past couple of years I've been thinking about the F-16, F-15, or F-22. In all, thank you for the video, and I will follow the advice

[wilhelm]

Finally a good video that actually tells you how to be a fighter pilot unlike some other people just talk about their lives story

[VersaceKid]

My mti once said, “ we’ll damn, you can major in underwater basket weaving and still become a pilot!”

[hakkimchheng]

Thanks YouTube that recommended me your channel. Right now I’m subscribing your channel. Thank you so much Sam! 🙏🏻

[kxcanttouchthis]

Thank you for telling me what I needed. I will use what you have told me to follow in your footsteps 😄