well a pro helicopter license can be done in 8 months. After that you obviously need more hours of experience.

I am also wondering if they let the cadets choose what field they want to do cause i dont want to be on a boat, i want to be in the air h:

 

A pro license, though, doesn't give you seat time. Most pilots that are making the big bucks have thousands of hours of seat time, and that requires either owning your own helicopter, or somehow having a job that you fly someone else's helicopter. Military is about the only place they will take someone with zero experience and let them fly.

Midshipmen can choose to an extent, but yes, there is a chance you would be assigned to something different. Of course, you would need to be an officer to be a pilot, so that might be a problem as well. As far as getting in shape, well, that's what boot camp is for h:

 

http://www-rucker.army.mil/FTS/Helo%...s/current.html h:

 

Get to da choppah!

 

GO NOW!!!

 

How funny. I keep hearing ads on the radio about a helicopter training company hosting a free seminar in the area. They also state that helicopter pilots are in demand. They also say you can be trained in as little as 18 months and that your payments can be deferred until after you start working since there is such a demand.

One thing to keep in mind, if you're looking into making a career out of it, that could entail "a hell of a change of direction in life" anyway. But I hear you. Age does play into my decisions now as well.

edit:
http://www.verticalreference.com/art...rticle_6.shtml
http://www.helicopter-training.net/