Question about the military

[BGBD]

8. a few options

It's probably kind of late in the game to get into a military academy if he hasn't already started that process. It really should have began during his Junior year.

However, that's ok. Look into ROTC programs. You can fly in every branch. Air Force, and Navy/Marines all have every type of aircraft in service and the Army still has turboprops and helicopters if that's his interest. If it's jets then Army isn't the way to go, which also means he NEEDS to go officer to have a shot at being a pilot.

So look at colleges that have either Air Force or Navy ROTC programs at them. Apply for ROTC scholarships with both branches and then contact the ROTC folks at the schools where he is interested in attending. You'll probably find out quickly how many scholarships they have available. You might also find out how likely it would be that he could join the programs where with the hope of getting a scholarship later.

Recruiters do lie, they have quotas to fill. However, the officers at the ROTC programs have less reason to considering that they usually don't have to worry about low numbers in their programs.

Even getting into ROTC with a scholarship won't guarantee him a pilots spot, but it will guarantee him an officer commission if he completes the program successfully. Pilot spots are highly competitive and a number will surely end up with the Academy guys. To make himself more competitive he needs to excel at ROTC and kill it in a STEM major. We are talking something like Aeronautical engineering or physics as the best bets but there are other related degrees that would work to. He needs to kill it though. They say 3.4+ to be competitive so you're really hoping for more like a 3.7+

There is also the option of going to college on your own and applying to Officer Candidate School after, but that's not the most direct approach he has.

Just remember that pilot spots are highly competitive and nothing guarantees that anybody will get one. Even the top candidates can get knocked out for a vision issue, even if it's minor. Check the regulations for all of that information. Also, make sure he can swim well.