F-16 Pilot Talks About Commissioning Through AFROTC | Interview Clips

[@lcskibird]

I sat next to the USAFA Cadet Wing CC in UPT and I said ya I'm going to fly LC130s. He said well how do you know that? I said well I was hired by the ANG. He said well, were did you get commissioned? I said Academy of Military Science in Knoxville TN. He said, how long was that? I said six weeks,....fuming he said.....I spent five years at the Acadamy including prep school. I said......."sorry".

[@lynnecheermom]

I remember this over the bridge video. Movere glad you are bringing back some of the highlights! Hi Deuce!

[@mckissmyass]

I’m in AFROTC rn, aspiring to be a pilot, I can confirm most of this info is still correct, today though Field Training is only 2-3 weeks down in Maxwell AFB

[@thef-35lockheedmartinlight11]

YOU CAN DO IT! Make them tell you no and take that shot! Never give up-fight until the very end!

[@zklpr4661]

I've been looking for what path to take when it comes to becoming a fighter pilot, and this gave me some great insight, thanks.

[@aviationnation5997]

Loving these clips Mover! Take care everyone :-)

[@fraz6077]

Currently in AFROTC hopefully I can get a pilot or CSO slot.

[@AV4Life]

Good luck🤞

[@thebeebeeSea]

hows that been?

[@chazflyz]

Great video. Would be fun to see Mover do a podcast/interview with "Premier 1 Driver". 2 KZbinrs, 2 F-16 drivers.

[@Villanuevac4]

Nice. My brother’s doing AFROTC to be an Intel guy, but I want to go to the service academy to become a pilot.

[@setholson8131]

Mover- What Deuce says about his ROTC buddy going to nav training and then later going to UPT is of course true, but there's a Caution/WARNING with that that's worth noting and I'm speaking from rather painful experience here. That programs was/is referred to by Big Blue as the Special Flying Program Board, and back in the early 2000's it was a much more viable path for 12x and officers from other career fields to chase their jet driving dreams. IIRC In '04 and '05 that board picked up appx. 250 applicants to go to UPT, but for the '06 and '07 boards (the two I was sent forward for) that number magically dwindled to only 50. Also, found out after the fact that prior rated officers were only eligible to compete for 25 of those 50 UPT slots because Big Blue wanted to build "a more diverse rated force" (that's a direct quote) by drawing more officers from non-rated career fields into it's 11x and 12x ranks. That meant that your pool of applicants most likely to get through training themselves and get their classmates through training as well were only eligible for half the seats. That's leaving a ton of eager talent sitting on the bench, not being utilized to their maximum potential, and making it all the more difficult to retain those passed over. That's to say nothing of the negative effect (however small by comparison to others that might be) that it has on the proficiency of the CAF, but then that's not really as high a priority as it ought to be. Admittedly this gouge is rather old, but given current manning and retention problems I can't imagine the situation has changed much for the better. All that to say: For the young men and women watching and thinking "maybe I should take that nav school slot I don't particularly want because I can go to UPT later," DANGER WILL ROBINSON! Yes it's true that it might work out for you and good on ya if it does, but it might also turn out to be a blind alley as it did for me and several other insanely talented bubbas I flew with who didn't get to go either. My advice would be that if you have doubts about whether you could find fulfillment riding along while other people drive the jet and doing so for however long your career turns out to be, then seriously consider whether you're making the right choice. Don't ever let anybody tell you that's being selfish because serving and leading others is hard enough when you love your job, but it can become downright miserable when you don't and what you want to be doing is just out of reach. Just some food for thought from a crusty old former B-52 EWO that made them tell me no...and they did (LOL). Cheers and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[@quintenmoshy7798]

I'm a college freshman currently in AFROTC, but I'm applying to the academy because it just seems like a unique experience and I'm the type of person that would enjoy that type of structure in my life. I recognize I would commission a year later than I could through ROTC, but I'm completely fine with that. I'm kind of getting the energy that some ROTC people don't really like the academy as it's kind of "unnecessary work", and this kind of makes me swing back and forth on the decision of applying. I don't really have a question here, and I don't know what I'm getting at. Just randomly spilling my thoughts... but does anyone have anything to say about this?

[@navyfan87]

I'm a USNA grad with two Army ROTC scholarship sons. I turned down an NROTC scholarship to go to the Academy but my sons on the other hand, both went to off to college and first tried ROTC before contracting second semester of freshman year. I have a lot of respect for ROTC students given the commitment and discipline required, but I also don't have any regrets of going to the Academy. I went there because I wanted to the biggest challenge and while I'm sure ROTC has challenges, I don't think it's quite the same. I would have regretted turning it down. My older son is a 1LT Infantry officer and he's doing great. His brother will commission next year and hopes to go armor. The bottom line is your service and the willingness to step up and answer the call. Not how you get there. Trust your instinct. I don't have any regrets on the route I took but I don't think my sons do either. Good luck. You can't really go wrong either way.

[@AV4Life]

I’m still just trying to figure out if I can get in as long as I pass the physical requirements and am correctable to 20/20-I have -8.00 myopia. But, on the other hand, Maj. Brian Shul was an SR-71 Pilot despite having most of his skin sowed back onto his body and having to relearn how to walk. If somebody who went through 10 surgeries just to use his body again can fly a damned SR-71 Blackbird then for sure they should allow somebody who’s a little myopic into the Air Force... Just sayin’.

[@alexjones9390]

So how do you improve your chances of getting the pilot slot? Is it entirely merit based?

[@suspiciouslywell-behaved8624]

In the video you said the block 30 Viper is "the lord's Viper." Assuming I heard correctly can you tell me why they are called the lord's Viper?

[@billr.1230]

Still the lightweight airframe and the GE110 engine. Block 40 and beyond have a beefed up airframe (more weight), pods, etc., which contribute to more weight, less maneuverability/speed.

[@hmuphilly9129]

What about OTS?

[@robertowembley3454]

Fighter pilot driving car, lol notice his eyes consistantly scanning mirrors. Situational awareness on point.

[@hmuphilly9129]

When i was at tru green we had to scan our mirrors as well. Its a good skill to have for civilians but regarding fighters yep gotta scan your surroundings definitely

[@hmuphilly9129]

@Harvey Weinstein most drivers are friggin scary now

[@handello]

What's up with the road/jumpy ride?

[@barryg41]

Probably Louisiana roads. 🙄

[@rafaels.c.magalhaes2976]

what is the difference between the oxygen masks??

[@lillilylay4797]

What are my chances of getting into UPT if you join afrotc without a scholarship?

[@hyperxdx793]

I'm a 14 year old new to highschool so does anyone know whether I should go into afrotc, the Air national guard, or the academy.

[@DDemar]

Academy is the best, if you can make it

[@hyperxdx793]

@@DDemar mover said he preferd the gaurd

[@DDemar]

@@hyperxdx793 it depends. If you want to have a great career as a military officer, academy is most of the time the way to go, but if you only want to be a pilot, guard is probably the way to go

[@justsomemainer1384]

The main difference really is security of a pilot slot. AFROTC and the Academy are active commissioning sources and would mean not a guaranteed pilot slot or airframe. If you are hired by a specific Guard unit and sent to OTS and then UPT, you know what plane you’ll fly, where you’ll fly it, and the mission you’ll fly. Active duty with ROTC or the Academy is based on the needs of the Air Force.

[@ajaymanhimselfcodner]

MAKE THEM TELL YOU NO - best advice

[@DoradoFever]

ROTC was not the route for me... I found it not prior service friendly at all and our detachment went from 13 prior service in my first semester to 3 in my second semester. I eventually withdrew the following year. Toxic cadet leadership and inaction from the cadre to correct any of it. ROTC as a prior made me want nothing further to do with Air Force seeing the officers they were pushing through and attributing to the frustrations I experienced from leadership while enlisted.

[@hmuphilly9129]

Well you gotta deal with that and push forward show the other cadets what real leadership is like. Am I not right?

[@watterztrail7870]

I guess it really depends on the ROTC detachment. The detachment I’m in is really prior service friendly with one of the new cadets coming from the navy. From the looks of it, everyone here is nice to each other, albeit still keeping that military drill attitude when needed. So, like I said, it depends on the detachment you’re in

[@L0r0x_o]

The moustache of Destiny!

[@AnubisDogman]

I'm 38 and never had the courage to follow my dreams to be a pilot. I fucked my life up so badly by not pursuing my dream. Maybe next time around...

[@justalpha9138]

Hm, this is a good bit of insight. I'm considering joining the Air Force to become a pilot or an Aircraft Maintenance Officer and I'm 20, close to 21. I feel like this could be a great path for me, but I still need to do more researching.

[@AnubisDogman]

@@justalpha9138 if you want to be a pilot don’t settle for some maintenance gig. Pilots have all the fun and all the glory. Do it and keep your nose down don’t worry about girls until you got what you want. Shit I wish somebody said that to me.

[@justalpha9138]

@@AnubisDogman I don't mind the idea of doing maintenance for these awesome machines either, as I've enjoyed fixing and modifying things (especially my paintball rifles) over the years. :)

[@justalpha9138]

@@AnubisDogman That's why the choice is tough for me.

[@apex0780]

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