Ex-USAFA Cadet, Now UC Berkeley Junior

Joshrk22
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:40:11 +0000

Good luck with everything man! Just be persistent and you’ll make it to the cockpit. I have a similar story actually.

I’ve wanted to fly my whole life; I’ve wanted to attend the Academy since about 6th grade. I was offered to go run track out there, and even went to the Summer Seminar and everything. I got accepted and attended the orientation in April. A week before I had to sign I decided it wasn’t for me. I wanted that normal college experience and to be able to do things for myself.

I had a Type I scholarship to go do AFROTC so I took that route. Midway through my first semester, and even during high school I started checking out the Guard route. I decided with all the cutbacks on the AD side and fighters being cut left and right that I would have a better shot picking up a fighter slot with a Guard unit.

I dropped my scholarship and am now looking to get picked up by a Guard unit flying fighters where I know when I graduate from UPT I will have a fighter waiting for me (granted I get a slot and pass UPT to begin with). And even if I don’t get picked up for a fighter unit I still have a chance to apply with other units for those slots.

There is more than one way to skin this cat. If you aren’t accepted to the Zoo or don’t feel it’s for you there is always ROTC, or the Guard or even the Reserve route. Ask any pilot on AD and they will tell you that the Guard is the best kept secret in the military. Who wouldn’t love to go to UPT knowing they have a fighter waiting for them. Then be able to fly twice as much as the AD guys and still be able to work a normal job and never have to move.