Q&A for How to Become an Air Force Pilot

Focus on calculus, science, and engineering throughout high school and college.

You must be at least 18 years old to become an Air Force pilot.

If you have it beyond the age of 12, you can't. However, it's best to check with your local recruiter, which you can find through the website of the US Air Force.

Yes, I am pretty sure President Trump does not care if you become a Air Force pilot.

You are not required to major in any specific fields to be a pilot, but it is recommended that you take courses that are related to flying like physics, aerospace engineering, or advanced mathematics. Also, having prior flight experience increases your chances of being selected for pilot training.

Check the air force's website for specific curriculum questions.

If you are aiming to become a USAF pilot you should first focus on your academics so that you may give yourself the opportunity to become an officer. It is required that you have a college degree for you attend OCS. If you are thinking about ROTC you also must be able to meet program requirements. Stay in good physical and mental shape. Prior flying experience may also boost your chance toward becoming a pilot.

To enlist in the US military, you must be a US citizen of at least 18 years.

You might be physically disqualified from flying an actual bomber jet (B-29s), but you may or may not be disqualified from flying bomber drones.

The minimum age to enlist in the USAF is 17 with parental consent. The minimum age to be commissioned as an officer is 20.

Yes, all that matters in high school is your GPA and diploma. The air force will train you in everything else that you need to know.

After getting your college degree, the officer training program often lasts close to three months. The SUPT, which comes after, lasts about a year.

The order goes: Pilot officer, flying officer, flight lieutenant, squadron leader, wing commander, air commodore, air marshal, air vice marshal and Chief of the air staff.

You could, but it would probably be pretty difficult. Try reaching out to someone like a counselor or therapist to help get rid of your acrophobia.

Yes, you could still fly and you would be able to fly anything if you can still pass the eye examination test. If you fail that, then there is a process that you can take to get 20/20 vision. But it will be painful. They will have to shine a certain type of medical laser at both your eyes. If this doesn’t work, which it should, then you are out of luck unless it becomes 20/20 vision naturally.

It is possible that you cannot become a fighter pilot, but you should speak to both your doctor and the recruitment personnel. First, you may not have had hay fever, so get more opinions, and the fact you no longer have it, is also important. Second, there is a difference between chronic rhinosinusitis and seasonal hay fever, the latter may be considered insufficiently problematic and you may still be able to get in as a fighter pilot if you have this low level issue. If they still say no, you may be able to become a pilot in other sectors of the Air Force.

On average, the United States Air Force takes six to eight years to train a pilot. This may seem like a lot, but they will only accept the best pilots for America.

The maximum age to join the Air Force is 28. If someone older than 28 wants to join, they will have to get a waiver.

Yes, all pilots need great communication skills in order to succeed at their job.