Many people have the dream of soaring the skies, freed from earthly constraints, and living with the birds in the expanse of atmosphere.
That dream comes true for thousands of people each year as they become pilots or crew in the U.S. military. Not only are their dreams of flying realized, but they are also able to provide an important, even vital, service to the country at the same time.
There are dozens of careers associated with flight in the U.S. military, and many of them, including pilot, transfer to civilian life with no additional training.
With the experience a person is able to receive in the military, they can quickly start a second career in the private sector. And with the discipline and good work ethic taught in the military, a person is better able to keep and job and rise the to top of the field.
In aviation, a recruit to the military can definitely aim to serve as a pilot, but there are also careers as a flight engineer on one of the thousands of aircraft flown by the military. Engineers keep the aircraft ready to flight while on the ground, and keep them flying while in the air.
Another job that allows flight without being a pilot is being an air crewmember. They assist in flight by operating equipment on board the aircraft. This might be the radar system, the communication systems or the weapons systems.
Refueling and airlift operations would be impossible without trained air crews.