Commissioned Officer in Pakistan Air Force
Join PAF as commissioned officer by our comprehensive guide. Here we will provide you complete information to select your interested branch.
PAF commissions officers through two main programmes: Permanent Commission (PC) — for F.Sc/A-Level graduates entering long-term careers — and Short Service Commission (SSC) — for graduates and professionals seeking fixed-term service (typically 6–8 years, extendable).
PAF announced Advertisement No. 01/2026 opening officer entries for GDP, CAE, AD, Admin & Special Duties, Logistics, Education, Accounts, and MET branches.
How to Join PAF after Fsc
You can join PAF after F.Sc through permanent commission(PC). Permanent commissioned officers serve for long term and gain high benefits of service. They may get promotion to higher ranks of PAF as per their capabilities. Permanent commission Specific branches are given below in table:
| Branch | Commission Type | Qualification Required | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GD Pilot (GDP) | PC | F.Sc Pre-Engineering or ICS (60%+) | 16–22 years |
| Aeronautical Engineering (CAE) | PC | F.Sc Pre-Engineering (60%+) | 16–22 years |
| Air Defence (AD) | PC | F.Sc Pre-Engineering or Pre-Medical (60%+) | 16–22 years |
| Admin & Special Duties | PC | F.Sc / Graduation (BA/BSc) | 16–22 years |
| Logistics | PC | F.Sc / Graduation | 16–22 years |
How to join paf after graduation
You can join PAF after Graduation through Short service commission(SSC). Short Service commissioned officers serve for short period of time (Generally 13-15 Years) and gain equal Benefits of same ranks of PC officers. They get promotion to Few ranks of PAF as per their capabilities. Short Service commission officers Specific branches are given below in table:
| Branch | Commission Type | Qualification Required | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Defence (AD) | SSC | F.Sc Pre-Engineering or Pre-Medical (60%+) | 16–30 years |
| Admin & Special Duties | SSC | F.Sc / Graduation (BA/BSc) | 16–30 years |
| Logistics | SSC | F.Sc / Graduation | 16–30 years |
| Education Branch | SSC | Bachelor’s / Master’s in relevant subject | 20–30 years |
| Legal (Law) | SSC | LLB / LLM | 22–30 years |
| Medical (GDMO) | SSC | MBBS / BDS | 22–30 years |
| MET Branch (Meteorology) | SSC | BSc Physics / Math / Geography | 20–28 years |
| Accounts Branch | SSC | B.Com / M.Com / CA | 20–30 years |
Common Eligibility Criteria (All Officer Branches)
- Nationality: Pakistani citizen only
- Marital Status: Unmarried (some SSC entries allow married)
- Height (Male): Minimum 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm)
- Height (Female): Minimum 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm)
- Dual Nationality: Not permitted
- Dismissed from Govt. Service: Ineligible
- ISSB Rejection: Candidates rejected twice by ISSB are ineligible (except technical branch waivers)
How to Join PAF After Graduation for Females
Females can join PAF as commissioned officers. Almost all officer branches are open to females. The key requirements remain the same as for males — the main differences are minimum height (5’2″ for females vs 5’4″ for males) and that some field-specific roles may have gender-specific postings.
Female-Eligible Officer Branches
| Branch | Qualification | Notes for Females |
|---|---|---|
| GD Pilot (GDP) | F.Sc Pre-Engineering (60%+) | Open to females since 2023. Same eyesight (6/6), age, and FAT requirements apply. |
| CAE (Aeronautical Engineer) | F.Sc Pre-Engineering (60%+) | Fully open. Glasses allowed (±2.5). No FAT required. |
| Education Branch | Bachelor’s / Master’s | Commonly joined by female graduates. Teaching and academic roles. |
| Medical (GDMO) | MBBS / BDS | Fully open. Short Service Commission. Most female medical officers join this entry. |
| Admin & Logistics | F.Sc / Graduation | Open to females. Administrative and management postings. |
| Law Branch | LLB / LLM | Open to female lawyers and advocates. |
For females with F.Sc Pre-Medical: You can apply for Air Defence (AD), Medical GDMO (after completing MBBS/BDS), and Admin/Logistics branches. GDP and CAE require Pre-Engineering. See the FSc Pre-Medical section below for the complete pathway map.
Join PAF as Medical Cadet (GDMO)
The General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) entry is PAF’s medical officer commission. This is a Short Service Commission (SSC) for MBBS and BDS graduates who want to serve in PAF hospitals and medical centers.
GDMO Eligibility
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualification | MBBS or BDS from an HEC-recognized medical institution |
| Registration | Must be registered with PMDC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) |
| Age | 22 to 30 years |
| Gender | Male and Female |
| Marital Status | Married candidates may be considered under SSC rules |
| Nationality | Pakistani only |
GDMO Selection Process
- Online registration at joinpaf.gov.pk during Medical SSC announcement window
- E-Testing (Intelligence + English + General Medical aptitude)
- Preliminary Medical (standard physical criteria)
- Initial Interview
- ISSB (5-day assessment)
- Final Medical (CMB)
- Commissioning as Pilot Officer and posting to a PAF hospital
GDMO Career and Salary
- Commissioned as Pilot Officer on joining
- Postings at PAF hospitals: Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sargodha
- SSC term: typically 6–8 years, extendable based on PAF requirements
- Starting salary (Pilot Officer): Rs. 60,000–75,000/month + medical allowance
- Free housing in PAF officers’ residential areas
- Free medical for self and family at PAF hospitals
Note: Many search for “PAF Medical Cadet” — this entry is formally called GDMO (General Duty Medical Officer). There is no separate “medical cadet” programme at officer level; GDMO is the correct term.
How to Join PAF After FSc Pre-Medical
F.Sc Pre-Medical (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) does not directly qualify you for all officer branches. Here is the complete pathway map:
| PAF Branch | Can You Apply with FSc Pre-Medical? | Additional Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Air Defence (AD) | ✅ Yes — directly | None. FSc Pre-Medical (60%+) is accepted for AD. |
| Admin & Logistics | ✅ Yes — directly | None. FSc (any group, 60%+) accepted. |
| GD Pilot (GDP) | Yes | You can apply with F.Sc Pre-Medical. |
| CAE (Engineering) | Yes | You can apply with F.Sc Pre-Medical |
| Medical (GDMO) | ✅ After MBBS/BDS | Complete MBBS or BDS first. Then apply for GDMO SSC entry. |
| Education Branch | ✅ After graduation | Complete Bachelor’s/Master’s degree, then apply via SSC Education entry. |
Key takeaway for FSc Pre-Medical students: Your best direct officer entry is Air Defence (AD). For GDP/CAE (flying/engineering), Pre-Engineering is required — a degree-level equivalence is not accepted. If you plan to become a doctor and then join PAF, the GDMO SSC entry is the right path.
Medical Standards
| Standard | GDP (Pilot) | CAE / Engineering | AD / Admin / Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyesight | 6/6 — no glasses ever | Glasses allowed (±2.5 max) | Glasses allowed |
| Color Vision | Normal (no color blindness) | Normal | Normal |
| Flat Feet | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Knock Knees | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Missing Teeth | Causes rejection | Causes rejection | Causes rejection |
Officer Selection Process (Step-by-Step)
- Online Registration — Register at joinpaf.gov.pk during the announced window (Feb or Aug each year).
- E-Testing — Computer-based intelligence (Verbal + Non-Verbal) and academic tests at the nearest Selection Center.
- Preliminary Medical — Basic physical check: height, weight, eyesight.
- Initial Interview — Short panel interview at the Selection Center.
- ISSB — 5-day Inter Services Selection Board assessment at Kohat or Gujranwala (psychological, physical, leadership tests).
- Final Medical (CMB) — Comprehensive Central Medical Board at Lahore or Karachi.
- Flying Aptitude Test (FAT) — GDP candidates only.
- Final Merit List — Issued by Air Headquarters (AHQ). Call letters sent to selected candidates.
PAF Officer Career Progression
| Rank | Approx. Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Pilot Officer | On commissioning |
| Flying Officer | 2 years |
| Flight Lieutenant | 5 years |
| Squadron Leader | 11 years |
| Wing Commander | 17 years |
| Group Captain | 22 years |
| Air Commodore | 26 years |
| Air Vice Marshal | 30+ years |
Benefits of Joining as a PAF Officer
- Competitive salary + allowances (housing, ration, medical)
- Free medical treatment for self and dependents at PAF hospitals
- 50% discount on PIA and Pakistan Railways for self and family
- Free education for children at PAF public schools
- Housing in PAF residential colonies
- Post-retirement benefits and pension
Branch-Specific Guides
- Join PAF as GD Pilot — Fighter Pilot Complete Guide (Vision, FAT, Physics Test)
- Join PAF as CAE Aeronautical Engineer — Complete Guide
