The Pilot Candidate Selection Method (PCSM) Score Explained – Part 1
While it’s true that the Air Force, Guard, and Reserve use the “whole person concept” in selecting pilot applicants, there’s no denying that objective indicators…
Understanding the Commuting Lifestyle – Part 2
Part 1 of Understanding the Commuting Lifestyle generated some great questions and commentary for the BogiDope staff. We focused on the how to commute and…
Understanding the Commuting Lifestyle – Part 1
When you get your new airline job there will be many uncertainties. On your first day of class, you’ll show up knowing little more than…
The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Explained – Part 3
BogiDope fans, we are wrapping up this three part series with this final article. In theory, you have learned about, studied and taken the AFOQT. …
The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Explained – Part 2
There are a lot of great study books available for the AFOQT and most of them are relatively inexpensive. Many of these books contain multiple…
The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Explained-Part 1
At BogiDope our goal is to help you make educated and informed decisions about your aviation career. The first step in your aviation journey is…
It’s Who You Know: Asking For—and Getting—A Quality Recommendation
The airline application process can seem endless. The amount of paperwork is immense; there is the application itself, the resume, cover letter, a list of…
UPT Phases: Phase III – Track Select
Phase III has three possible tracks. You could fly the T-38C in the fighter/bomber track, the T-1A in the tanker/heavy track, or the UH-1 in…
UPT Phases: Phase II – Flying the T-6
Phase I is a great education, but you’ll be ready for it to end. You’ll be looking forward to Phase II and flying the Beechcraft…
UPT Phases: Phase I – Academics
If you look at US Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) as a single year-long Hunger Game, it can seem pretty daunting. It doesn’t have…
Getting a Job is a Full-Time Job
If you ask anyone who has read Cockpit to Cockpit (www.cockpit2cockpit.com), they will tell you one of my recurring themes throughout the book is “getting…
An Inside Look Into a Rated Hiring Board
Interviews suck. There’s no other way to describe them. Sitting in front of a panel of judgmental pilots and getting grilled for an hour while…
Air Force vs Air National Guard: UPT Application Process (Part 1: Active Duty)
Although the prerequisites for attending Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) are virtually identical, the process of attaining a pilot training slot is one of…
Should I Give Up Retirement to Join the Airlines Now?
One of the things that made it frustrating trying to figure out whether to stay in the Air Force or get out was the lack…
Air Force vs Air National Guard: UPT Application Process (Part 2: Air National Guard)
There are over 100 flying squadrons within the Air National Guard (ANG). Currently, the hiring process is handled independently by each individual squadron. In…
How Do I Get My Airline Application Noticed?
I recently got hired by a major airline and have been asked several times for advice on applications, interviews, etc. from other hopeful future airline…
Who do I Call?
One of the best things you can do in order to obtain that coveted Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) or Guard/Reserve position off active duty is…
6 Important Questions That Determine Your Chances on a Rated Hiring Board
When you’re applying for a rated hiring board, we’re going to ask for a lot of paperwork: your resume, Officer Performance Reports (OPRs), SURF (personnel…
5 Tips to Help You Succeed in the Rated Pilot Interview
Most active duty pilots have never sat through a formal interview in their life—they went straight from the Academy or ROTC to pilot training. Now,…
3 Tips for Determining When to Make the Jump From Active Duty to the Guard/Reserves
Here at BogiDope we are routinely asked, “When should I make the transition from Active Duty to the Guard or Reserves?” The answer to that…