Armed forces question.

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Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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I've graduated from college and am thinking about joining the Navy or Air Force with the goal of becoming a pilot. I just talked to a Navy recruiter today, and he said my college GPA is not high enough to be competitive for OCS and suggested I join as enlisted instead. I'm not sure about the details, but it seems like if I go that route, I would be too old to get to flight school in time.

Can anyone give me some insight into applying for OCS after college and what the requirements are. I can't find any specific details on this route with a quick google search. Is there an application processes like with colleges? What sort of undergrad GPA are they looking for. Basically any information would be helpful and appreciated.
 
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WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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Realize that pilot wannabes are a dime a dozen in all of the services. Are you prepared to accept an MOS other than being a pilot?
 
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Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,233
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Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Realize that pilot wannabes are a dime a dozen in all of the services. Are you prepared to accept an MOS other than being a pilot?
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I understand that. I'm looking at my options right now. I just want to get some insight on the entire process.
 
forrestroche

forrestroche

Senior member
Apr 25, 2005
529
7
81
Originally posted by: Savij
Can anyone give me some insight into applying for OCS after college and what the requirements are. I can't find any specific details on this route with a quick google search. Is there an application processes like with colleges? What sort of undergrad GPA are they looking for. Basically any information would be helpful and appreciated.
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Talk to the Marines - they used to have policy that anyone who met basic physical and educational requirements (college grad) could get to flight school. Whether you got through was another question.

 
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vegetation

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
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I imagine you were dealing with an enlisted recruiter, so they wouldn't get any kickback for refering you to OCS and hence ignored anything and everything you told about yourself.
 
Babbles

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
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I looked into OTS for the Air Force, and unless you have an engineering degree with a great GPA plus a private pilot's license with many hours of flight time, you have about zero chance of getting a spot as a pilot. I bet the Navy is about as strict as well, if I remember correctly they have been letting a lot of people out earlier, even officers.
 
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TheBDB

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2002
3,176
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Yes, you could enlist and then after a couple years try to put in an officer package, but I sure wouldn't recommend it. There are no guarantees, and you would be doing a crappy job (for a college grad).
 
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cjgallen

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2003
6,419
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What WAS your GPA? Any specific reasons why it's as low as it is? What is your degree in, and why are you turning towards the military rather than getting a civilian job?

I see tons of people putting in officer packages, I don't see many actually get picked up, other than the E-6s and E-7s who make LDO (on their 2nd or 3rd enlistment). I have a friend from my bootcamp division who will probably get picked up later this year for the STA-21 Officer program, but he's #1 hot sh!t squared away sailor, and did awesome in college as well. They tried like heck to get me into an officer program at MEPS, I had three years of college and an awesome GPA, but I turned it down because I wanted to get my hands dirty on the enlisted side.

With a mediocre GPA, you're gonna have to bust a$$ to get in as an officer. You will NOT be a pilot.
 
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Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,233
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71
Originally posted by: cjgallen
What WAS your GPA? Any specific reasons why it's as low as it is? What is your degree in, and why are you turning towards the military rather than getting a civilian job?

I see tons of people putting in officer packages, I don't see many actually get picked up, other than the E-6s and E-7s who make LDO (on their 2nd or 3rd enlistment). I have a friend from my bootcamp division who will probably get picked up later this year for the STA-21 Officer program, but he's #1 hot sh!t squared away sailor, and did awesome in college as well. They tried like heck to get me into an officer program at MEPS, I had three years of college and an awesome GPA, but I turned it down because I wanted to get my hands dirty on the enlisted side.

With a mediocre GPA, you're gonna have to bust a$$ to get in as an officer. You will NOT be a pilot.
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I'm not going to put my GPA down here (too many people I know that have been trying to find out my GPA on this board), but it was mediocre. It's that low because I fvcked around too much. I've got a degree in computer engineering. I can't tell you why I want to do this rather than engineering...why do nerds love computers...It's what I have wanted to do for a while and I'm looking to see if it's still possible.

I just looked at 20 sample ASTB sample questions I found, and that looks like a cakewalk. I did 20 questions in about 2 minutes and the only question I missed was because I don't know port from starboard.

But looking at that Navy OCS board, it looks like I won't have a very good chance because all the people that posted their specs/gpas are MUCH higher than mine.
 
jupiter57

jupiter57

Diamond Member
Nov 18, 2001
4,600
3
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DO NOT, Under any circumstances, enlist!!!
You WILL spend many, many, miserable years trying to get a commission.
Recruiters will tell you ANYTHING to get you to sign on the dotted line, believe me. They will lie to you!
Being as I've been out of the military for 32 years now, I'm sure some things have changed, BUT, once you enlist, you will most likely be stuck in whatever mundane, miserable job you are handed. You will be much better off as a commissioned officer, even if you don't get into a Flight program, an Officer in charge of Latrines is better off than ANY enlisted man!

Perhaps you could gain your commision now and once you're "in the loop", you can learn how to increase your chances for Flight School, possibly through continuing education, (but most likely through Military politics).
You most definately will not be afforded any opportunities to do so as an enlisted.

Just my $.02
 
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Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,233
0
71
Originally posted by: jupiter57
DO NOT, Under any circumstances, enlist!!!
You WILL spend many, many, miserable years trying to get a commission.
Recruiters will tell you ANYTHING to get you to sign on the dotted line, believe me. They will lie to you!
Being as I've been out of the military for 32 years now, I'm sure some things have changed, BUT, once you enlist, you will most likely be stuck in whatever mundane, miserable job you are handed. You will be much better off as a commissioned officer, even if you don't get into a Flight program, an Officer in charge of Latrines is better off than ANY enlisted man!

Perhaps you could gain your commision now and once you're "in the loop", you can learn how to increase your chances for Flight School, possibly through continuing education, (but most likely through Military politics).
You most definately will not be afforded any opportunities to do so as an enlisted.

Just my $.02
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Yeah, talked to friend in the Navy for a few minutes, and he said pretty much the exact same thing. From what I'm seeing I would be happy with with commission and need to stay the heck out of enlisting. That brings me back to where I started...Can I actually get into OCS...what do they look at.
 
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dannybek

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2002
1,096
0
0
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: cjgallen
What WAS your GPA? Any specific reasons why it's as low as it is? What is your degree in, and why are you turning towards the military rather than getting a civilian job?

I see tons of people putting in officer packages, I don't see many actually get picked up, other than the E-6s and E-7s who make LDO (on their 2nd or 3rd enlistment). I have a friend from my bootcamp division who will probably get picked up later this year for the STA-21 Officer program, but he's #1 hot sh!t squared away sailor, and did awesome in college as well. They tried like heck to get me into an officer program at MEPS, I had three years of college and an awesome GPA, but I turned it down because I wanted to get my hands dirty on the enlisted side.

With a mediocre GPA, you're gonna have to bust a$$ to get in as an officer. You will NOT be a pilot.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to put my GPA down here (too many people I know that have been trying to find out my GPA on this board), but it was mediocre. It's that low because I fvcked around too much. I've got a degree in computer engineering. I can't tell you why I want to do this rather than engineering...why do nerds love computers...It's what I have wanted to do for a while and I'm looking to see if it's still possible.

I just looked at 20 sample ASTB sample questions I found, and that looks like a cakewalk. I did 20 questions in about 2 minutes and the only question I missed was because I don't know port from starboard.

But looking at that Navy OCS board, it looks like I won't have a very good chance because all the people that posted their specs/gpas are MUCH higher than mine.
Click to expand...


With that attitude yes you will be trampled on. I am in currently the Marines OCS program. You might want to ask your question over at www.airwarriors.com instead of a technology computer hardware forum.
 
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ValkyrieofHouston

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2005
1,736
0
0
Originally posted by: Savij
I've graduated from college and am thinking about joining the Navy or Air Force with the goal of becoming a pilot. I just talked to a Navy recruiter today, and he said my college GPA is not high enough to be competitive for OCS and suggested I join as enlisted instead. I'm not sure about the details, but it seems like if I go that route, I would be too old to get to flight school in time.

Can anyone give me some insight into applying for OCS after college and what the requirements are. I can't find any specific details on this route with a quick google search. Is there an application processes like with colleges? What sort of undergrad GPA are they looking for. Basically any information would be helpful and appreciated.
Click to expand...


You might want to consider looking into the Navy...
 
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Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,233
0
71
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
You wanted to be in the Navy but don't know port from starboard?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I mixed them up. Now I know. If G.I. Joe has taught me anything, that's half the battle.

GO JOE!
 
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JDMnAR1

Lifer
May 12, 2003
11,984
1
0
You have been given some good info so far - definitely heed the warnings about signing up as enlisted with the hopes of getting a commission later on. The chances of that happening are pretty remote. Only go in as enlisted if you are going to be happy with it if you don't get a commission.

Specifically for the Air Force, you would need to take the AFOQT. From my experience, although it is somewhat dated, you will not get a rated slot (i.e. pilot/navigator) no matter how well you do on the test. There are simply too many people who have already shown some level of committment to the military via several years participation in ROTC programs, or attendance at the service academies, for them to begin handing out the choicest assignments to anyone walking in off the street.

 
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KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
3,691
68
91
My local air force recruiters said that the acceptance rate for OTS is around 10%. Sometimes they don't even bother looking at someone if they're not even an engineer with a high GPA. When they have so many people applying and so few spots, they only have to pick the best of the best.

This is just OTS in general... I imagine pilot slots are even worse.
 
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