Success Happy

What is the success rate on becoming a military pilot?

The title pretty much sums it up. I'm going into the Marines with a long term goal to become a pilot and I would assume for them the success rate would be much higher than for one going into the Airforce simply because not everyone in the Marines wants to go into aviation.

Public Comments

1. Aviation is highly competitive in all branches.
2. You'll still need to be an officer.
3. You can figure on there being at least 10 applicants for every 1 vacancy that opens up. Of the selectees, you can probably figure on approximately 50% of the selectees washing out. I'm no mathematician, but I figure the success rate is pretty low, as it is with all military jobs, both Officer and Enlisted, that require people of much higher than average abilities.
4. Not everyone in the AF wants to be a pilot or part of aviation for starters. Most career fields don't have a lot to do with flying. If you want to be a pilot, the AF or Navy Academy is your best bet. But, for any military branch, you have to be remarkably intelligent, and a very quick thinker. All branches have a very, very low success rate--you have to be the elite. Also, check the age requirements: if you're enlisting now, you may be too old to become a pilot by the time you get around to it. You really can't make it a "someday" goal; you have to start out your military career doing it...