IFS is at Pueblo. This came after my time (I did IFT at a local airport where I was casual and earned my PPL). I think you get something like 20 hrs in the DA-20, to make sure you have the aptitude for flying.
Yes, in UPT tell anyone and everyone you want a helo (not heli!) slot. But don't let that keep you from working hard to be at the top of your class. Contrary to popular belief, helos are hard to fly; if you suck at UPT and are at the bottom of your class and get the helo slot dumped on you b/c no one else wanted it, chances are that you'll wash out at Mother Rucker. However, the trend in the last 4-5 years is that the helo slots go to people who actually want them.
When I went through UPT (Pensacola/Whiting), Whiting had a 100% track record of getting helos slots for those who wanted them, and conversely you were also guaranteed NOT to get a helo if you didn't want one. Win-win situation. Not sure if that's still the case, but it was 4 years ago when I was there.
If you track helos, you'll PCS to Ft Rucker (Mother Rucker) to the 23 FTS. Geographically separated unit under the 58 SOW at Kirtland. You'll spend 6 months learning how to fly a Huey (UH-1H) with LSI contract instructors who all have upwards of 10,000 hrs in helos and some of whom flew in Vietnam and USAF IPs. About 3 weeks prior to graduation, you'll get your drop (what airframe and what base*) and then you'll graduate, get wings, and go off to Kirtland TDY enroute to learn your MWS (major weapons system).
*4 months for UH-1Ns (Andrews, Fairchild, Vandenberg, FE Warren, Malmstrom, Minot, Yokota), 6 months for HH-60Gs (Moody, Nellis, DM, Kadena, Lakenheath), and a year or so for CV-22s. The MH-53 pipeline has closed and it was a 10 month course. My understanding is that there ARE CV-22s in the drop at Rucker, but not many, and with this one, you'll actually PCS to Kirtland and find out there what base is next (Hurbie or Cannon, I guess).
