How does the whole military/college thing work?

Mike the Medic

You will be able to enroll in college courses while you are at your duty station either online or in a physical class room. The Army allots $4,500 per year tuition assistance for soldiers to take college courses. Depending on your units training schedule, you may even be able to take two or three classes full time. Even if you can only take one or two classes online at a time, you'll be able to get your degree within 4 years.

Ross

Only commissioned officers are eligible to attend flight school in the Air Force, Marines and Navy. To be an officer, a four year degree and a commissioning program are required. Some helicopter pilots in the Army are Warrant Officers and do not need a four year degree according to regulations but for all practical purposes without at least a two year degree applicants are not selected for Warrant Officer Flight Training.
Less than 10% of military officers have first served in the enlisted ranks. Over 2/3 of officers complete a commissioning program during college; either by graduating from USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USNA or by completing the afrotc, nrotc, nrotc mo(marine option), rotc course or the Marines PLC(platoon leader's class.) The rest commission after graduation though USAF OTS, Navy or Army OCS or the Marines OCC. Service Academies are free of charge. All nrotc , nrotc mo, rotc and scholarships pay full tuition regardless of amount. Only 5% of afrotc scholarships pay full tuition without limit. The rest are capped at 15,000 per year or less. The Marines PLC pays candidates to attend summer training and offers financial benefits for education.
The Marines will guarantee Flight School to 2nd Lieutenants who commission through NROTC MO and the PLC as early as Freshman year of College:
http://dcmarineofficer.com/aviationcontract.html
http://dcmarineofficer.com/programs.html
Navy Ensigns have about equal chances of earning a flight school slot whether commissioning through NROTC MO or the Naval Academy. Navy OTS is a residual and the chances depend on the current needs of the Navy for Pilots.
http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/sanfrancisco/opo/general-information.htm#3
http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/sanfrancisco/opo/general-information.htm#26
http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/sanfrancisco/opo/general-information.htm
There are three commissioning sources for air force 2nd Lieutenants: Air Force Academy(usafa), Afrotc and usaf ots.
The best chance to be a pilot in the Air force is to commission as a 2nd Lieutenant at the Air Force Academy. The Air Force Academy graduates about 900 students a year and over 60% attend flight school. Afrotc commissions about 2500 2nd Lieutenants a year and about 20% attend Flight School. Both the academy and afrotc are allotted about the same number of flight school slots each year. USAF OTS commissions around 1000 2nd Lieutenants a year but is only allotted around 50 flight school slots.
The service academies have almost identical admissions processes.
The usafa website provides insight into how the "whole person" score is determined. It isn't only academics. The Air force Academy values leadership in athletic and non athletic extracurricular activities. For instance Captain of a hs lacrosse team or Class Officer. Also non school activities. Billy Mitchell award for CAP or Eagle Scout.
http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/selection/scoring.php
This answer provides insight into the admissions process. If you are interested in a service academy be sure to read this answer:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AodQMYg9PwsBLze6O_LBAL3ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090321112755AAca1Ts&show=7#profile-info-pPzS2GTDaa
Requirements for being a Pilot in the USAF:
http://www.afrotc.com/collegelife/flying/prereq.php
[Note: The academy pays for eye surgery for academy cadets. The air force would rather have the surgery done in their clinic by their surgeons. Having any eye surgery done prior to the academy can be disqualifying.]
About Flying Training(Scroll down the page)....
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=138
Selection Process:
http://www.afrotc.com/collegelife/flying/selectionProcess.php
Selection of AFROTC Flight School Candidates(Scroll to bottom of page) a similar selection process is utilized for usafa cadets:
http://www.marionmilitary.edu/programs/afrotcfaq.da
Calculate regular military compensation at the link. Location makes a significant difference due to the housing allowance(BAH.) Single Enlisted Sailors and Coasties ranking below E-5, Enlisted Marines and Soldiers ranking below E-7, Enlisted Airmen below E-4 live in the barracks if available and do not collect BAH:
http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/mpcalcs/Calculators/RMC.aspx
2nd Lt( Army, Air Force, Marines) = Ensign(Navy, C.G.) = O-1.
1st Lt( Army, Air Force, Marines) = Lt JG(Navy, C.G.) = O-2.
Captain( Army, Air Force, Marines)= Lt(Navy, C.G.) = O-3.
Advancement to O-2 around the 18th month.
Advancement to O-3 by about 42nd month
Good Luck!

jeeper_peeper321

1. You take college class's in your off duty time. Either online or in person at a local university or on Base.

2. You use your GI Bill to pay for your college education after your enlistment is overwith.

3. Or a little of both, you will not earn a 4 year college degree while serving during a 4 year enlistment. You just cannot take that many class's part time.

Ray

You will have to enlist. How you get the college is on you. It will be very difficult to get through college while you are an active duty. You could enlist in the Guard or Reserves and go to school full time and go through ROTC or graduate and apply for OCS, etc. Lots of options. Talk to some recruiters.

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