Introduction to JSUPT

Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 54 weeks culminating in pilot wings.

Phase 1: 6 weeks of ground school academics to include aerospace physiology, ejection seat and egress training, systems, basic instruments, navigation, and weather.

Phase 2: This is when we hit the flightline in the T-6, a modern version of the P-51 mustang from WWII. This is about 22 weeks, at the end of which we are ranked against our class (of about 30) and track select. We are then split up into these different tracks to fly either fighter/bomber, airlift, prop airlift, or helicopters.

Phase 3: After track selecting, you move on to either the T-38, T-1, T-44, or helos, depending. At the culmination of the entire process is assignment night, where we find out what our first operational assignment will be and at which base around the world. It’s a big night.

“How easy is it to washout?” You may be asking.

Well, fail three tests and you’re out. Passing is an 85%. This is equivalent to a B minus in college.

If you can’t quite keep up with flying, you can find yourself in trouble fairly quickly. After a few mistakes, or if you fail a checkride, you have one progress checkride. It an extra checkride to get your stuff together. If you fail to pull if off on that ride, or you fail any other checkride after this, you go to an elimination checkride. Fail this one too and you go to the commander for review. It can happen fast.

We’re all extremely lucky to have gotten to this point. Commissioning through various Academies or ROTC, or some having served years in the enlisted corp. The pressure is high, and the A-type tendencies in everyone are at their limits. Along with helping each other make it through as a class, we’re also in competition for specific airframe assignments (and ultimately, lifestyles).

How they haven’t made this a reality show yet is beyond me.