AFPJ

WHat are the chances of becoming a c-130 pilot in the Coast Guard, what is the process like/commitment? ect. Are there any chances of going to test pilot school and becoming an astronaut?

Luigi59

Getting into the USCGA would increase your chances greatly.

Graduating near the top of your class would also help on Billet Night.

Passing the flight physical (medical, vision, and dental exams) without any problems will also help.

Most graduates of the USCGA serve a tour at sea before beginning flight training, which is held at the Navy facility in Pensacola.

There is no "test pilot" school in the Coast Guard, but you can become an astronaut. USCGA has produced 2, the latest was Capt Daniel Burbank (now a part of the engineering faculty at the academy).

USNA69

The Coast Guard utilizes the Naval Test Pilot School.

The present situation with the space shuttle to be a pilot, one must be a tactical jet pilot and a TPS grad.

To be a mission specialist, the requirements are varied. Most military with aviation background are aviators,helo or prop pilots or jet nfos, and are also TPS grads. For a Coastie, that would be the 'easiest' route.

Not sure what will happen once they start classes for the moon shots. Probably something similiar. Rumor is that MDs are the preferred background for some of the Mars probe crews.

If you are set on being an astronaut, USNA is statistically the best shot.

AFPJ

What are my options as to going to grad school after the Coast Guard Academy. I originally had my heart set on going to the Air Force Academy, but after going to the NASS, I decided to apply to all three DOD academies. But I wanted look over my goals again, I want to be a pilot of an aircraft and hopefully an astronaut. Any pointers?

Bossf51

Very good if you do well in the fleet, can pass GRE or LSAT's, and are willing to join 80% of your peers in extending their tours by two or three years. Objee is looking at law school or KSG...carry on.

Like L59 said, we produce our share of pilots and astro-nuts.

Luigi59

Four out of five (80%) of all USCGA graduates pursue a graduate degree at such schools as Harvard, Stanford, Purdue, Texas A&M, the War Colleges, and dozens of other elite institutions. US Coast Guard typically pays all costs. There are currently 32 CG-funded graduate degree programs.

USCGA graduates choose to serve beyond their original 5-year commitment at a higher rate (85%) than their peers from the other federal service academies.

As a percent of its officer corps, there are more pilots in the Coast Guard than in any other service, including the Air Force.

USNA69

The CG is also the only service that directly commissions many of it's pilots from other military sources.

Bossf51

I resign from the CC...topped again by two eminent scholars...oh the pain...and I'm not even a NY Mets Fan!

USNA69

Boss, not sure your concerns here. The comparative implications above, I feel, definitely invite discussion. The following numbers are approximations based on my memory and could be off somewhat. The CG commissions approximately 50 or so aviators per year of which about half are trained direct commissions from other services. This means that roughly 10% of each graduating CGA class will eventually be afforded the opportunity to fly. Between Naval Air and Marine Corps air, one third of USNA grads end up flying and I would guess that AFA is up around 50%. So, if someone's goal is solely to fly in the military, I would suggest investigating other services.

The greater CG retention rate means fewer openings each year. Does the CGA not now allow a few graduates go directly to flight school after commissioning? The two year fleet requirement means a more mature and more successful flight student. The Navy tried it several years ago and had problems getting USNA grads to commit to the extended service.

dqm54

Numbers from the last 2 years.

19 graduates from the class of 2008 went to flight school out of a class of 217.
17 graduates from the class of 2007 went to flight school out of a class of 233.

Luigi59

Those numbers are for graduates who went directly to flight school from graduation.

A much higer number will go after first serving 18-22 months at sea.

USNA69

If 20 or so go directly from the Academy and 20 or so are acquisitioned annually from other services and the annual requirement is 50, I don't think so.

USNA69

Actual googled update. In 2005 USCG winged 47 total aviators:

Coast Guard Aviators pdf file

Sixteen came through direct commissioning from other services:

Coast Guard DCA Results (22 May board) - Forums

That would leave a total of 31 from all other sources, USCG direct and delayed plus any other source.

I doubt if anything has really changed recently.