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Aspiring Pilot Seeking Advice on Guard/Reserves Application and AFOQT/TB
Hey everyone,
Here is a little bit about me: I am a biology major at a university planning on graduating in fall of 2026. I currently have a 4.0 GPA as of right now. I have not taken my AFOQT or TBAS. I have no flight experience, but I have finally saved up enough to get 50 flight hours, I will aim for more. I played varsity football and track and field in high school, and I am on the leaderboard for high school lifting. I am in a powerlifting club, volunteer club, and pre-med club, and I compete in bodybuilding. I passed my flight 1 physical. I also took the ASVAB before with the Navy and got a 93, but I know this won’t matter. I dream of being a fighter pilot and aiming toward the Guard/Reserves for a pilot spot. I plan on also putting together a package for OTS and UPT for active duty. I have a couple of questions:
1. I will have 90 credits in the spring of 2026, and I know some Guards take applications from people who haven’t completed college but are at 90 credits. When should I reach out to an Air National Guard recruiter to start the process of applying to different guards? Also, when should I reach out to an officer Air Force recruiter to put together my OTS/UPT package? I would prefer to apply to Active OTS and Guards during college, any recommendations?
2. Given my timeline, when is the optimal time to take AFOQT and TBAS? Also, how long do most people study before taking the test?
3. Any hints or recommendations to improve my chances of fulfilling my dream as a pilot?
Sorry, for how long this is, and any help/ guidance would be greatly appreciated!
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3 Replies
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@gage-stoen Thanks for sharing your story and welcome to the community!
It looks like you’re off to a solid start in the process! One of the first things I’d recommend is getting a plan to take the tests. It will be a required item for any unit you’re looking to apply to.
From there… I’ll tackle the Guard and Reserve question for you.
It’s never too early to start reaching out to Squadrons you’re looking to apply to. However, I would steer away from a recruiter when reaching out to units. Instead, do what you can to get ahold of one of the pilots or their “hiring POC”. The best place to look for this information is on MilRecruiter via the Squadron Map.
https://app.milrecruiter.com/Squadrons
Start there and grab some contact info on some of the units you’re interested.
Reach out to start a dialogue and eventually look to set up a visit or a “rush”.
There’s plenty more to unbox when it comes to this, but that should be a solid start.
Good Luck!
-CHAOS
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Thanks for the warm welcome and advice!
Looking forward to exploring this further. Thanks again for the helpful direction!
Best,
Gage
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@gage-stoen Anytime! Keep us updated on your progress and reach out if you hit any road blocks.
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