Is an international student available to join Navy or US Airforce to become a pilot?
Submitted by admin on January 25, 2010 – 7:28 am4 Comments
Chit Hon K asked:
I am an international student in a college and I want to wonder if I can join the military as I recieved a letter from Selective Service system which indicates that I have a selective service number. In fact, I want to be a pilot. So Is it possible to become a pilot with 400 degrees short sight on both eyes? And also do they accept any operations to correct the eyes? And I want to know more about how I can enter to become a pilot in Navy and US Airforce?
I hear you have to have excellent vision, and you cannot wear glasses while flying, not sure about contacts
YOu could have laser eye surgery I suppose
To be a pilot you have to be an officer. To be an officer you have to be a U.S. citizen. Non-citizens can only enlist.
Apparently there is a new Program offering a fast-track to U.S. Citizenship for people who are in the US legally (student visa, temporary visa) if they have skills that the military needs – translators for a variety of languages (not Spanish) and technical skills, medical training, etc. This is a relatively new program in 2009. If you have your degree or are close to graduation, you might want to contact the Navy and ask.
Eyesight could be an issue and only the Navy could explain their rules to you.
A friend of mine who has a temporary visa (she is from Peru) is trying to do this right now – she has finished her Master’s degree.
No! First you have to be a citizen or have a green card. Second you have to be an officer to be able to fly. That requires a four year college degree.