In the US it's a pretty simple setup and has been for a long time. You do well in school, apply for a flight slot, get accepted, receive your commission, and after going through primary you're sent to your advanced trainer based on the needs of the service.
But how was it in the Soviet Union? How would a young man go about flying fighter jets in the Soviet Union? What would their early life look like and what was taken into account?
I can answer the question to a fair degree on the basis of a US Army report on from 1946. Keep in mind, the Soviet Union existed for nearly 70 years, a time during which air forces went from (practical) infancy to very advanced fighter aircraft. There is also the caveat that the US Army understanding of the Soviet Air Forces might not be 100% accurate.
The document opens on page XI-55 with:
Training in the air forces of the U. S. S. R. is basically similar to the programs of the Western air forces. Students pass from one level of training to another through well-organized, and often highly specialized, schools. During World War II, the Soviet policy of "flexibility" permitted many emergency changes within this basic structure.
It continues to note that premilitary training in the Red Army Air Force was "extensive". Indeed, the Soviets had the OSOAVIAKhIM, later DOSAAF. Think of these organisations as militarised Boy Scouts. Now, the Boy Scouts in and of themselves are somewhat aimed at teaching military skills, but this organisation took it a step further. To illustrate this point, the DOSAAF printed manuals for anti-tank weapons, something I have yet to see the Boy Scouts do.
With the help of these organisations, the youth of the country would acquire valuable skills that would help them in the armed forces, including the air forces.
First, the pilot trainee receives formal training in a flying school. Once in school, the pilot is not graded based on flying hours, but based on proficiency (Unlike the West).
Having completed this first school, a service school for specialization is entered into. There are three types: fighter, ground attack, and bomber.
The document notes:
Flying training in service schools includes approximately 70 hours, half of which are spent in operational aircraft. Approximately 10 hours are devoted to instrument flying. There is a limited amount of formation flying and aerial gunnery. Upon graduation, the student is a rated pilot eligible for a commission. Although he has considerable experience in first-line aircraft, he has had no real combat training.
Next, there is advanced training. You can enter into this phase of training by either performing very well in service school, or by having acquired some experience in an operational unit. Upon graduation, one is usually assigned a flight or squadron leader, and promoted.
Finally, the report comments on replacement training:
The highest level of training for the great majority of Soviet pilots is carried on in the operational units. As in the USAAF, new replacements are taken on practice missions and formation and gunnery training continues. During World War II, replacements flew wing positions on short, easy missions, until they were trained thoroughly.
I hope that gives you a good understanding of the Soviet Air Force training process circa 1946.
Source:
Handbook on USSR Military Forces: Chapter XI -- Air Forces, 1946, USA War Department