College Degrees to prep USAF

[sputnik-monkeyman]

Im looking for a college degree that would prep me for a good career in the USAF but also give me a headstart in the interveiw. It needs to be a four year degree due to requirements and before anyone asks I do not have enough grades to go for a degree in aeronautical engineering (trust me I'd do it if I could). Any ideas, I should also add that I would like to follow in flight testing once in the air force.:}

[brickhistory]

sputnik, in addition to the degree, there is the matter of US citizenship which is not waiverable.

You can serve as an enlisted member without being a US citizen (there are some requirements, but I don't know the specifics), but you cannot commission without US citizenship.

As for an "interview," we do it a little differently than the RAF.

Contact a USAF recruiter - start at the US Embassy for a contact.

brickhistory, ret'd USAF

[sputnik-monkeyman]

thanks for the reply, irrelevant but thanks. citizenship is not an issue for me

[taxydual]

Would it not be better to speak to the Horses Mouth, so to speak.

United States Air Force - AirForce.com (http://www.airforce.com/)

[sputnik-monkeyman]

Yeah but I guess I'm just trying to figure out what the real people have to say. When you talk to the recruiting guys online all their answers are read from a book and the web site is not much use.

[taxydual]

Hmm, point taken. However, bear in mind when it comes to recruitment IT IS THE BOOK that counts.

Well, and all being well, some of our USAF colleagues on PPRune may come up with your answers.

Good luck, whatever comes.

Regards


Oh, and there is this too




Seek and ye shall find

Air Force Academy (http://www.academyadmissions.com/)

[brickhistory]

You might have said you were a US citizen. As your location says Ireland, I made a not illogical assumption.

That said, your choices for commissioning are the USAF Academy, via ROTC at one of a number of US universities/colleges, or going through OTS upon completion of said degree.

The easiest program for the USAF to turn on and off depending on manning needs is OTS. Currently, it's pretty competitive to get a slot into the program, much less a pilot billet.

As much as you apparently don't want to talk to a recruiter, the officer accessions recruiter will be your best bet for 'relevant' information.

[West Coast]

Sputnik

Do you want to join the military or the USAF?




Running, hiding...

[brickhistory]

Running, hiding...


No need to hide.

We all had our choices when we went to the recruiter's office.

I chose the one with the battle cry of "Fore!"

Made for a much nicer life.

I think you went for one of the tent-lovin' outfits.

9 iron or 9-line: tough choice...

[West Coast]

I think you went for one of the tent-lovin' outfits.

Indeed, always looking for a machine gun nest to storm or a grenade to jump on.

[OFBSLF]

Do you want to join the military or the USAF?

A friend of mine who was a Captain in the USAF called it "the alternative to military service."

[Squirrel 41]

Sputnik:

You need to talk to the recruiters, as has been already made clear. Are you planning on going to College in the States or Ireland? Did you fancy Colorado's bracing airs? What do you want to do in the USAF? (Other than wear funky sports kit whilst socialising in the desert?)

S41

[sputnik-monkeyman]

Thanks for all the help guys, as for what I want to do in the air force I am interested in flight testing:} if I can make the cut. The courses I am looking at are all US based as I believe to get into the air force in the first place your degree has to be achieved in US anyway. There are a few courses I scouted out so far, like a bachelors in aeronautical science, but I'm really trying to find out every option before I make a choice.

Keep the ideas flowing in guys, appreciate them all:ok:

[StbdD]

Google is your friend: http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI99-107.pdf ;)

Required for USAF Test Pilot School:
BS in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics (Some physical science degrees will be considered on a case-by-case basis)

Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

There is no requirement for the degree to be from a US institution. Only that it be the equivalent of a US Bachelors Degree.

You will have much more success if you focus on becoming an Air Force officer, then a pilot, then TPS..... in that order.

[Roadster280]

I think embassies are barred from recruiting activity. The only place to gain info is the internet or in person in the US.

[brickhistory]

Other than wear funky sports kit whilst socialising in the desert?



One of the most hated 'espirit de corps' builders ever!

As for the thread opener, what research have you done on the topic?

[Jimmy Macintosh]

Do the BSc in Aeronautical Engineering at Kingston Uni in London. I don't think the entry requirements are that bad, breathing and a pulse, and it is a degree in Engineering of sorts. I did the BEng years ago and most offers were EEE or unconditional.

[West Coast]

the alternative to military service.

IBM flight department with guns, usually said grumbling as I headed for the ditch I called home on deployments as the AF guys headed for the 5 star resorts.

If you must know, yes a bit of jealousy...

[brickhistory]

Roadster, there are recruiters in Europe. I suggested the Embassy for a contact to such a recruiter not to imply there would be one at the facility, sorry if I wasn't clear.

[wclark1238]

When I enlisted I made initial contact with the USAF recruiter at RAF Mildenhall. Not sure if there is still a dedicated recruiting office there or, and more likely I'd guess, if there is now a USAFE recruiting office probably based in Germany which covers the whole of Europe.

Good luck.

[sputnik-monkeyman]

Jimmy Mac, if I ever meet you in life I am gona give you a hug. The course is perfect.:ok::D

[Pontius Navigator]

Bet you can't wait Jimmy.

[Jimmy Macintosh]

Glad I emmigrated :}

Hope the course meets your needs. Kingston was a good uni I enjoyed my time there.

If you need any help with the course or places to live/go to PM me. I'm not doing the course though.

[brickhistory]

With that absolute "me first" attitude, I predict at least a general officer's flag, if not Chief of Staff, in his future.

[Herc-u-lease]

The willingness of US institutions to accept or recognize UK qualifications is an important point. We all recognize that a Bachelor degree is roughly equivalent the world over (quality of the providing institution excepted), but the US can see things slightly differently. One of my UK friends in the US has been rejected for a certain academic course because the institution can't believe his degree is any good as it was only 3 years long - he has a BEng Hons from Sheffield.

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but I would check and double check with the USAF on the eligibility of the qualification you are wanting to undertake. This may include submitting a course syllabus in advance.

My key point is that academic qualifications are not quite as globally transferable as one would think. Personally, if you can, study in the UK not the US - I'm not a huge fan of US Education (or its hideous cost).:)

[Melchett01]

One of my UK friends in the US has been rejected for a certain academic course because the institution can't believe his degree is any good as it was only 3 years long - he has a BEng Hons from Sheffield.


Of course, the counter argument to such thinking is to compare the syllabi, and providing they are similar in content suggest to the US institution that the UK course is in actual fact more demanding owing to its requirement to cover the same amount of study in a much shorter period of time.

[Herc-u-lease]

Melchett, I like your point, but you are assuming that logic & reason applies. The ability to be able to look at something, use judgment and come to a sensible conclusion based on the evidence in front of you. I would describe most of the bureaucratic organizations in the US as pragmatically challenged at best.:) If their process does not say yes then the answer is no, irrespective of the mountain of compelling evidence sat in front of them!

Without boring us to death on this topic, the 4 year degree is due to the US carrying their general studies education through into the first year of Uni/ college. The UK system completes that at sixth form level and concentrates on specialization from day 1 at Uni.

[StbdD]

Hate to step in just as this is devolving into the usual cross-pond pissing contest but a review of this document might be informative to those who think they know how international recognition of academic qualifications works. ;)

http://www.cepes.ro/hed/recogn/groups/Recognition_usa.pdf

It is also a handy reference for direct comparison of EU/US national academic systems.

Meanwhile, back at the topic, a simple solution to the question of having a degree recognized and accepted by a US institution is to take a GRE or Graduate Record Examination. However, this isn't a requirement solely for foriegn students as most US postgraduate institutions require a GRE as part of their application process no matter where your undergrad degree came from (unless it is from the same institution).

[sputnik-monkeyman]

lovin this, its hard to start a thread about anything these days without some form of "whos c*** is bigger" contest between EU and US.
Yeah I did notice that the BEng are 3 years while the USAF asks for a 4 Year degree, this troubles me it does. Time to contact a recruiter again, those guys must know me well by now.:hmm:

[Herc-u-lease]

To set the record straight, I was not trying to turn this into a contest of any sort.

My advice, which sputnik monkey seems to clocked, is that he needs to check the acceptability of prospective qualifications.

The US and UK academic institutions do differ slightly in degree content, delivery methods and how they accept/view international qualifications. I have personal experience in this area.

I was having a gentle jab at US processes - being a foreigner on the receiving end, it was meant to be a comical dig. No offence, no pi55ing contest, just hoping to offer some advice to someone choosing a degree to start a rewarding career in the USAF.:)

H-u-L

[sputnik-monkeyman]

Yeah no problem we all know you were not trying to start a fight or anything. Thanks again for all the help it astounds me time after time how much better the information collected from talking to the real people via threads than it is googling everything. I think I have learned more about getting a degree off this thread than about 30 hours of googling.:ok:

[StbdD]

Sputnick-monkeyman

I refer you again to the GRE program which will likely fit your requirements should you chose to go to school in the UK. It did for me in similar circumstances. A grade of 80% or higher is generally accepted as proof of competency in a subject field.

Also, the phrase “four year degree” in the stated requirements is generally used to differentiate from the two year Associates degree.

Finally, make certain that you are talking to the Officer recruiters vice those recruiting for the Enlisted ranks. This website has direct links to them via chat:

Officer Opportunities in the United States Air Force - AirForce.com (http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/officer/)