Many of the Aircraft that is flown in the military in the United States Armed Forces are flown by commissioned pilots, and flying is one of the most sought after careers in the armed services. The process that is in place to become a pilot normally requires that you have to have a four-year college degree, and be a commissioned officer, and this makes the process a lot more difficult for most people. The competition to become a pilot is intense and the requirement that you have a college degree eliminates many good people who otherwise would make fine pilots.
The lone exception is in the United States Army. The Aviation part of the Army is nearly 100 percent helicopters, rather than fixed wing type of aircraft that are found in the other four branches of the Armed Services. Army helicopter pilots are not required to have a higher college education in order to become a helicopter pilot. There is a program that is featured in the Army called High School to Flight School. The competition is intense, but it is a route that allows people to become Army Warrant Officers and to become pilots in the Army Aviation program.
This is a fast track program that is designed to help both the individual wishing to become a pilot and the Army too. To qualify for the program you have to write an essay for admission, gather letters of recommendation and meet all of the standards and requirements that other students at Army Flight School meet. You have to be at least 18 years of age, but no older than 34 years old at the time of application. If you are 33 or 34 you have to be approved for an age waiver before you can continue the application process. You have to have a high enough score on the ASVAB, you must qualify with a 90 or above on the Flight Aptitude Selection Test, You also must have a ASVAB general technical score of at least 110 or better to proceed with your Army Flight School application.
You have to be a United States Citizen at the time of your application. As well, you have to meet height and weight requirements that the Army has, and you have to take and pass a flight physical from Army flight Surgeons. You must have at least 20/50 vision in both of your eyes, and you have to have normal color vision. After qualifying, you can literally become a helicopter pilot in as short as ten months, including time in basic training.