How hard is it to become a pilot in the Air Force?

If you pass OTS, you may be lucky enough to get one of the 1,400 pilot trainee slots available each year. If you are one of the lucky ones, you will continue on to Introductory Flight Training (IFT) school. Here, you will learn basic flight concepts that are used by all aviators.

After passing IFT school, you will have to attend the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training school for one year. In this school, you will learn military aviation concepts and will be assigned a category of airframe (e.g., fighters, cargo, tanker, UAV, etc.) based on your performance and skills.

This career path is not only time-consuming but very mentally and physically demanding. These flight schools are not only designed to prepare you for being a pilot but also for weeding out the less capable candidates. You will have to spend each and every day pushing yourself to the limits.

It is also important to remember that every single pilot in your class is going after the same thing as you. This means that you need to prove to your instructors that you are just as qualified (if not more) than those around you.

As one pilot said, "becoming a USAF pilot was one of the toughest things I've ever done in my life. It requires 110% dedication and motivation, extreme mental fortitude, resiliency, and a can't quit attitude. Not every person can do it, and once you do, you realize there are very few things you can't accomplish if you apply yourself fully."