I'm Home Schooled What Should I Do?

[Guest JustinHR]

I don't know if I'm posting in the right place so please tell me if I'm not and then move or delete if you want.

I want to a be a Full-Time(not in the Guard or Reserves) Pilot. But right now I just graduated 10th grade. So I know I got a little while but I just want to know what I'm getting into. I'm home schooled but I will get a high school diploma just like a high school student. Will this keep me from becoming an officer? How can I become a Officer? I know of the Academy and ROTC and I have been told that I can forget the Academy and forget a 4-year ROTC scholarship because I'm home schooled. Anyway if anyone can help please post, any information will help.

[Guest STLCFII]

Hey Justin,

I'm not sure about the Academy, but whoever told you that you can't get a 4 yr ROTC scholarship is full of it. I know of a few people who have them. It should be no different for you doing anything that any normal HS person does. They just ask what the schools name was and if you graduated or not. Hope this helps!

[DC]

Also not sure about the Academy here, but as far as a 4-year scholarship for ROTC what you heard was wrong. A home schooled student can definately get one. ALSO- keep in mind you do not need a scholarship to do ROTC. Something I wish I would have considered for school. I got a civillian scholarship and didn't need the ROTC one, so I didn't do ROTC. I still could have (w/o the scholarship) and I would be 1/2 way through UPT by now (if not finished) instead of sitting on my butt waiting for and OTS class date.

[Guest sbrewer]

If you are interested in the Academy, the most important thing you need is a Congressonal appointment. They have a fair and competitive process in most districts. If you are a good dude, they will not care if you were home schooled or not. Take the SATs though.

[DC]

Fair and competitive enough that I recieved nominations to both Navy and Air Force from the same congressman. To this day I still think that was stupid-- And I do feel remotely bad about not taking either. I guess.

[Guest deweygcc]

I was homeschooled and am an Officer, however Im not a pilot,but I am NAV. I was in ROTC ( for one year, DONT even suggest you may have asthma) and was commissioned through OTS. You could easily be a pilot, I wanted to be a nav and didnt submit a pilot package.

[Guest JustinHR]

Thanks so much guys, sometimes I feel like I have more of a chance of winning the lottery then being a pilot.

The person who told me I could forget the academy was one of those recruiters on the airforce.com website. But I could not get him to understand that I would have everything a high school student has. He also was the one who told me that I could forget the 4-year scholarship but yet again could not get him to understand. The guy was a real jerk anyway, he didn't want to listen basicly all he would say is that it will be almost impossible but if I REALLY wanted it I could probably make it. Which I do, F-15s fly over my house everyday since as long as I can remember and I have always wanted to be a pilot but just in the past couple years I have really decided that I'm going to go for it. I geuss I will try my hardest to get in the academy and if I don't make it try my hardest to get into ROTC then if I don't make that go for OTS. I don't care what I fly as long as it isn't a U-2. I may try to get into both the Navy and the AF just in case the AF don't take me, good idea or bad?

[Guest newflyer]

I know of two homeschoolers at the academy right now.

AND...How do you know when a recruiter is lying???

Their mouth is moving. Their are some great recruiters out there, but there are a lot of morons as well. If you want it and it it meant to be you can do it.

[Guest deweygcc]

Navy is a bad idea from what I know about the navy. They wil take just about anyone, but it isnt "the life of maverick"

[Guest JustinHR]

yeah I read on the Academy website that there is some home schoolers there. But I keep hearing that you need to do some extracurricular activities but I have no clue what I could do got any ideas? I'm small for my age so I would get killed playing any kind of sport. I just started working out to prepare for training. I would REALLY like to get into the academy but I know there is alot of competition. I keep seeing that the Academy people seem to have a better chance at being a fighter pilot is that true? I was reading a journal of a guy that went threw training and he said something about the "tweet" trainer(can't remember it's number) was hot are AF aircraft hot? Do they have any A/C? :D Just wondering.

Yeah I was think the Navy would not be the better choice.

[ 24. July 2004, 13:32: Message edited by: JustinHR ]

[Guest NittoZ]

Justin,

I went to the Academy for a while. I was not homeschooled, but I knew of several guys there that were. They will take ACT or SAT, just make sure that you talk to more than one recruiter. The Academy is a completely different lifestyle and you need to visit, talk to people that have gone there, and make sure that is what you want to do. It can be difficult to get an appointment, just don't take no for an answer. Also, there are many other ways to become a pilot, I'm sure many other people on this board will agree with me there. Good luck!

[Guest Wxpunk]

Dennis,

Nice website...but wait, it looks so familiar. Ahh, www.af.mil!

Just kiddin' ya! I still think it looks tight and still takes some time to modify. Perhaps you should give up some props to the af.mil Webmaster in some sort of disclaimer or something.

Homeschoolers,

Can you say SAT/ACT? Do well on these tests and you're sure to gain the scholarships you desire.

----------------

Wxpunk

[DC]

wxpunk-

I did! There is a big fat disclaimer on the front page. Every single other page has a link right to an anchor at that disclaimer.

There really isn't anything worth seeing on the website yet. The good stuff hasn't started yet. I'm working on getting some actual usefull information up there today though, it should be uploaded by tonight.

[ 24. July 2004, 14:45: Message edited by: Dennis ]

[Guest Wxpunk]

Ahh, I see it now. Cool. I was just teasing you anyway!

Have fun at UPT, I wish I were going! Hey, wait a minute...do you wanna switch birth certificates? :D

--------------

Wxpunk

[Guest JustinHR]

ArrowPilot- What do you mean by a diffrent lifestyle? Do you mean it is not like college and you can't party and drink? If so that don't bother me I'm not that type of person.

Anyone- I'm really thinking about going for the academy but I keep seeing where almost everyone was on a varsity team in high school, My problem is that I have never played on a sport team in my life so will this keep me from getting in? Also I keep reading about extracurricular activities, since I'm home schooled what could I do for extracurricular activities?

[Guest Aces-High]

JustinHR,

If you want to go to the academy I would highly suggest you play a little of some type of sport. It doesn't have to be football, but I would try something. I am not a big guy either, never have been. I took up tennis and now do alot of cycling. Just find something that will suit your body type. If you're not big then you might find you are fast.

Just as an example the Academy will probably be looking for something like this (this example can be applied to other activities outside of sports):

"I am an avid cyclist and often compete in time trials and road races. This summer I organized several cross country rides for my community and participate regularly with fellow riders in non-competition events."

This is just an example, but from this case they would see that you do participate in sports and that you are also a leader and an active member of your community. Also think of anything else you might be involved with outside of sporting such as Church groups, community service etc. Those will count for alot as well. Especially look for leadership qualities that you may have performed.

Ask around, but I have heard that recently the Academy has been turning out less pilot slots then it has in the past. I've heard that more slots are offered through ROTC and OTS than the Academy.

Also if all else fails the navy is looking and it may be a little easier to get a job with them for now. Personally I think Navy carrier pilots are the best, so if you're intent is to be the best that is not a bad place to start.

Good luck, and don't worry you still have some time to build up your resume if you really want to shoot for the Academy, but I would suggest starting now.

[Guest JustinHR]

I play tennis but just not on a team, would this matter? I forgot I have played on a Softball team when I was like 12 or 13 but that won't count huh :D ? It's just hard to find teams to play on where I live, you should see the teams that are open for the public around here. I don't want to make anyone mad so I will just say I would look out of place. There is no Tennis team around here that I know of. There is a huge bike tour in my area and my mom used to volunteer to be a bike stop for people to stop and get water and snacks. That would sound good "I rode in the 5 mile bike tour and for 4 years voluntered to help make food for a bike stop" Now I just need to ride in it and then it will be true :D . I'm working out so if my recruiter says that may get me in I will do it.

I really don't want to be a Navy pilot because I don't want to be on a boat for that long but if it is my only choice I will do it.

What are my chances to get into OTS? I heard that is really hard. What would have to do to get into that? Other then get a college degree?

Thanks guys again! I feel like now I may have a chance to become a Pilot.

[ 24. July 2004, 22:43: Message edited by: JustinHR ]

[Guest bruno]

Justin

I think the point is that you are going to have a lot of people tell you NO. The question is are you going to listen to them or find the way around it. It is your life and nobody is going to make your dreams come true but you. In the military it seems that NO Way, and Waiver go hand in hand.

Don't feel bad about what has or hasn't happend in the past. Just make thing happen now. If that means networking and meeting with Congressmen-do it! When you are told no- find out why, ask questions and take names. Find out the exeptions and how to get around it. I don't know what others may say to this advise but if you meet your dreams and did it with honor, don't worry about the critics. You don't want to look like a quibbler, you just keep your nose clean, and stick with it.

[DC]

I play tennis but just not on a team, would this matter?

As long as you do it regularly. Do you compete ever? I know I put downhill skiing and paintball on my OTS app, neither of which I've done "organized" (though I was technically on a paintball team, we just weren't all that organized.. only did a few tournies.. mostly just set up fun days for other people through a local company). I did both of them very regularly though. I think they are looking for two things in sports. One being a competitive person and another being an active person.

Because you're still in high school I'm goign to give you very good advice. DO NOT count on OTS if you want to be an Air Force officer. The only benefit it would bring is if you want to be a pilot and do not want to be an officer if you are not a pilot. I would say that if you want to try for the Academy, go for it. It is one of the few colleges out there without an application fee. The only cost is the time to apply (considerable). If that doesn't work, definately do ROTC at any University.

[Guest JustinHR]

ok Thanks alot! It depends on what you mean by compete, I compete with my firends but it's nothing official. Ok I'm going to give the Academy a shot and if that don't work out I will go for ROTC. Can you explain ROTC better? If I don't get a scholarship can I still go to ROTC and do everything someone with a scholarship does I just have to pay for it? Or will I just be going to ROTC so when the end of college comes it will look good when I go for OTS? Also will my summers be spent going to camps and stuff(no big deal)?

What are my chances of being DQ because of some health thing? I know I have atleast under 20/40 vision because I passed the DMV test, but I have never been to the eye doctor. Do you know of other health things that prevent alot of people from being pilots?

One more thing. If I don't make it as a pilot I want to go into Research and Development, anyone know anything about that?

[ 25. July 2004, 21:05: Message edited by: JustinHR ]

[Guest AV8NSP]

ROTC involves going to a class a couple times a week like any other college class. You do mnot have to be on a scholarship to be in ROTC. Here are the big differences between scholarship cadets and non-scholarship cadets:

1. Scolarship cadets (obviously) get their tuition paid for all 4 years (or 2 years if you have a 2 year scholarship. They used to have a 3-year scholarship, too but I don't know if that is still the case)

2. The Air Force will tell a scholarship cadet what their major will be (you will identify your preferences on your app), while a non-scholarship guy can major in anyhting they want, including the notorious "underwater basketweaving"

During ROTC, you will have to spend at least one summer going through Field Training (ROTC version of boot camp), usually the summer before your junior year. Beyond that, there are opportunities to do ROTC things during other summers, but I don't believe they are required (they weren't when I went through, but that was a while ago)

If you go through ROTC, there will be no OTS after graduation. When you graduate, you will also be commissioned a 2Lt.

At this point it would be hard for anyone to say what sort of impact your health may have. As long as you are in good health, you should have no problems. I believe 20/40 is qualifying for pilot, but they look at more than basic vision when it comes to the physical. When the time comes, they will provide the physical for you.

Understand though, that the Air Force tends to be very cyclical, and their physical requirements are loosely based on their need for pilots. When I went through ROTC, they were very short on cockpits, and they were banking pilots after UPT (meaning they were being put into non-rated jobs until a cockpit opened up for them somewhere), and since they didn't need pilots so badly, the vision requirements were 20/20 uncorrected. I was not pilot qualified because my vision was 20/25. After I was commissioned, lots of pilots retired or separated, and they were faced with a real shortage of pilots, and the vision requirements dropped to 20/70 uncorrected. Since I was already in another career field, I had to wait awhile before trying for UPT (another story).

I tell you all that because the Air Force is in another manpower dilemma, and it is possible that by the time you compete for a pilot slot through ROTC, those standards may change again so don't assume that if your vision is or isn't good enough now that it will or won't be later on down the road. Things change, and most things are waiverable.

Just say focused and don't give up and you'll get there. If I can get to UPT at my age, anyone can!

[Guest JustinHR]

So I don't have to get a scholarship to go to ROTC and graduate just like the ones with one? Will I have to pay for ROTC or will that be a free course(if I don't get a scholarship)? How hard is ROTC boot camp compared to Enlisted Boot camp? If you go to some of those camps during the summer will they help you get a slot? Survival Training don't sound hard to me because I like stuff like that. The one where you get to go up in a jet don't sound to bad either ;) .

I have a question that I'm just wondering about. Do Airplanes have A/C :D ? I heard that the airplane called the "Tweet" is hot.

Oh yeah and congrads on getting into pilot training, I seems to be a tough road.

[ 26. July 2004, 21:51: Message edited by: JustinHR ]

[Guest deweygcc]

Justin scholarships are great but you dont need one for ROTC. ROTC camp is.... well camp. Dont worry about the tweet you wont fly it.

Boot camp in general isnt hard, you just need to learn that they are there to help you learn.

[Guest newflyer]

Beylund, sorry for my earlier hasty post. (as toned down as it was from what I wanted to say ) If my flawed typing skills in any way detracted from your enjoyment of this board, my humblest apologies.

Now on to Justin...sorry, I went through OTS and can't shed any light on ROTC. The "tweet", the T-37 is being phased out and replaced by the T-6 Texan II, sweet little turbo-prop! The 37 will be completely gone in a couple of years (not exactly sure when). The T-6 is air conditioned.

[Guest JustinHR]

Thanks Guys! I think I have most of the information I need but I have just a few questions left about diffrent things.

How hard is it to get a ROTC scholarship? What will help me get one? What is the ratio of people in ROTC with scholarship and people without?

When I went to the Academy's website there was a guy in Air Force clothing with a falcon on his shoulder. Is there a job in the Air Force as a Falconer or did they just contracted this guy?

Also one more, What are the bad things about being a pilot? Don't sugar coat it.