So you want to fly for the U.S. Air Force? Air Force ROTC is a great entry to military aviation. Det 875 commissions Pilot, Combat Systems Officer (CSO, formerly called navigator), & Air Battle Manager trainees every year and offers several benefits to help you get these coveted positions.
Want to Fly?
Categorization, the process of applying for rated officer positions (pilot, CSO, & ABM), takes place one year before graduation - typically your junior year, or senior year if you're a 5-year cadet. The process is competitive, but you'll have several years to establish a strong reputation as a cadet beforehand. In addition, Det 875 offers the following benefits to all cadets:
Civil Air Patrol Incentive Flights
Preflighting before takeoff
- Get experience flying a Cessna airplane around scenic southwest Virginia for FREE!
- All AFROTC cadets are eligible to participate in up to 4 front-seat and 4 back-seat sorties, each 1 hour long.
- Weather permitting, VTAF cadets can fly on most open weekends.
- When logged by a Certified Flight Instructor, flight hours can increase cadets' chances of getting a pilot slot.
SOAR Glider Flights
- Det 875 cadets also have the opportunity to fly gliders at the New Castle International Gliderport.
- Experience the thrill of unpowered flight as you take the controls of modern gliders under the watchful eye of an experienced Blue Ridge Soaring Society pilot.
Relaxing between flights
Air Force Flyers
- Organization unique to Det 875 for cadets interested in becoming Pilots, Combat Systems Officers, and Air Battle Managers
- Get help preparing for categorization
- In charge of providing Det 875 with flight opportunities
What Determines Whether I Get a Rated Slot?
An F-22 Raptor refuels
There are specific formulas to determine who receives rated slots. They incorporate your grades, PFA score, AFOQT scores, Field Training results, and how you rank among your peers. For pilots, it also includes your TBAS score and number of logged flight hours. Bottom line: excel in academics, stay fit, and be a team player! There are also obviously many medical requirements, but waivers to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis are not uncommon.
Det 875 Rated Officer Statistics
- Between December 2004 and May 2008, Det 875 has commissioned 120
officers
- Of the 103 classified officers, 52 earned a rated training slot - that's 50%!
- 36 Pilots
- 13 Combat Systems Officers (navigators)
- 3 Air Battle Managers
- Of the 103 classified officers, 52 earned a rated training slot - that's 50%!
| Majors of the 36 Pilot Slot Winners |
|
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering (2X) | Industrial & Systems Engineering (3X) |
| Building Construction | Information Systems Management |
| Business (5X) | Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Civil Engineering | International Studies, French minor |
| Computer Engineering (2X) | Mathematics |
| Economics (2X) | Mechanical Engineering (2X) |
| Electrical Engineering (2X) | Physics |
| Fine Arts / Graphic Design | Political Science (4X) |
| Geography | Psychology |
| History (3X) | Sociology |
If you end up not receiving a rated slot, remember that there are many other amazing opportunities in the world's greatest Air Force, including intelligence, special operations, maintenance, space & missiles, communications, logistics, security forces, and engineering.