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Introduce Yourself
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19 Replies
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Hi – My name is Wyatt – I’m a senior in AFROTC and I’m scheduled to commission in June. I recently found out I’ve received a pilot slot and will be attending ENJJPT. Over the last four years I’ve been involved in many aspects of the AFROTC program and have been completing my undergraduate degree studying logistics and supply chain management. I’ll be starting graduate school studying Global Security Studies in January.
In my personal time, I enjoy flying (PPL, 100+ hrs) and exploring the Pacific Northwest where I currently live with my wife and dogs. I’m also currently a full time employee at Amazon Web Services specializing in startups and helping founders build technology products in the cloud.
My goal is to fly the F-35. I’m currently on track to go the active duty route after commissioning but have submitted some applications to guard units of interest to keep all avenues open. Looking forward to connecting with others and answering any questions anyone has.
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That’s amazing, WAS! Congratulations; it seems that you are a dedicated and hard worker and earned everything you’ve achieved. I sure wish I had everything together when I was college age. Best of luck to you moving forward!
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Hello everyone, my name is Eric. I’ve been a career college dabbler, which unfortunately made my GPA suffer, and have been a project manager for my entire professional career. I moved to Denver about 2 years ago and got fascinated by the constant air traffic overhead, including the Buckley F-16s. In the course of looking into how to become a pilot, I found Bogidope and have been singularly focused on getting my life together in order to hopefully secure an ANG spot at one of the units along the Front Range (the MAFFS mission with the Wyoming ANG looks amazing, but I’d also love to be in one of the F-16s screaming over Denver one day), and hopefully dedicate my life to flying important and fulfilling missions.
So, I have built a home gym to get into shape, and reenrolled in college in order to finally finish in order to make this dream a reality. I have age against me, as I just turned 31 last week, but I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t at least give it my all and let the chips fall where they may.
I see so many driven and dedicated people on this forum, and truly wish everyone the best! And thank you to all of the mentors that consistently dedicate time to providing guidance and insight to us all!
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Hey, I’m JC. Until May of this year I had zero thoughts about serving in the military. I woke up early 3 days in a row (like 430 instead of 7) with the idea that I needed to try and join the Air Force. After much prayer and counsel to make sure it wasn’t just a bad burrito or roast beef, I really started to look into it. I took my afoqt (99, 92, 99, 91, 85, 88). I reached out to the AD officer recruiter near me and didn’t quite get a hard no. Reached out to a few reserve and guard units and had one reply they’d consider age waivers. Oh, did I forget to mention I’m 43? 🤣
Tbas schedule for December
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@WAS – Congrats on ENJJPT and good luck with graduate school. Get as much of your graduate school knocked out before ENJJPT (if that’s important to you…not really required for an AF or airline career if you intend to go down that path). I would not recommend trying to do graduate school during UPT, so you may decide just to enjoy those last 6 months of “freedom” with your wife and dogs before the demands of Uncle Sam take over. Just my $.02.
Keep us posted with your AFROTC –> Guard/Reserve pursuits. That seems like a great deal if you can make it work.
Good luck and we may be reaching out for you advice with optimizing AWS!
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@SLAP Thank you for the advice and kind words. I plan on doing grad school while on casual status and definitely agree doing school + UPT concurrently is not the best idea. I’m hoping to get as much done as I can before dropping into a class at Sheppard and then picking up after UPT if required.
I’ll continue to provide updates on the ROTC -> Guard path, although with commissioning only about 6 months out it’s looking like the AD route will be the direction I head. I’ll keep monitoring the job boards and applying where possible. I last applied for the 159th FS as it lined up most effectively for my career and family goals but things didn’t work out for the most recent hiring board.
Regarding AWS, it’s super cool to here BogiDope is an AWS shop. I’m more than happy to dig into optimization opportunities with you and/or your IT team. I work with startups all the time looking to cost optimize and improve architecture so happy to connect! Feel free to send me a direct message or let me know if you’d like me to share my contact info with you.
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@EricD – great to hear you’re not giving up! It only takes one squadron to say ‘yes’ to change everything and age waivers (if not hired before 33) are historically easy to get approved.
How much college do you have left? As you already know, time is not on your side, so do everything you can to expedite knocking out your credits.
Good luck and welcome to BogiDope!
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@SLAP Unfortunately, I have about 1.5 years left, so hoping to start be able to start rushing this summer (thanks to the advice of @CHAOS ) and then start legitimately sending packets next year. That unfortunately only gives me one year of being qualified and sending packets before I’m 33, so working on a very compressed timeline, but the positive of that is that it’s keeping me laser focused. Just hoping that drive and intensity is enough for a unit to pick me up!
And @SLAP thanks for founding BogiDope and bringing awareness to such an amazing and unique life path and providing the tools to achieve it.
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@JCO – Everyone here got the military bug at different points in their lives. Some as kids, for me it was in college after 9/11, and for you, 43. It still makes you one of less than the 1% of Americans willing to serve, so I think it’s great that you’re trying to make it happen.
Have you looked into RPAs or CSO slots? The max age is 40, so although you would still need an age waiver, it’s likely an easier sell – and let’s face it, RPAs are the future, so it opens up a lot of interesting civilian opportunities too.
Thanks again for your desire to serve and welcome to BogiDope!
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Only rpa right now on bogi is the one in AZ. I mentioned it in my emails to the active duty guys, but no response from them
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There is one RPA for Texas Air National Guard
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Thanks! Is this still active even though it says through Sept, ‘23?
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Hey y’all my name is Jon, I’m a Weapons troop trying to get a Guard pilot slot. It’s been a looong road but I recently put in my very first application to the unit I work at and was selected as alternate. Heading to my IFC1 next month. I love AZ so I plan on trying once or twice more with my unit before opening up to other states. Turned 24 a couple days ago so I’ve got a bit of time on my side. Love this community and all the help I’ve had!
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Jon,
Welcome and good luck chasing your dream! BogiDope is here to help you throughout your journey. Look forward to seeing you achieve your goals and welcoming you into the military aviation “brotherhood “!
Cheers,
Snip
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My name is Cameron, grew up north of Baton Rouge, LA. I got my degree in History years back and love to talk about the topic, especially the military category, could probably enjoy discussions about it for hours. My mission is to be a fighter, so I’ve been swinging between Air Force but more Navy recently, I wouldn’t be too picky. Most of my stuff is done, big thanks to BD for laying it all out for me over the past years. Right now I’m part of a ground crew at an airport, got my PPL there too.
I don’t really talk about myself much, don’t like to either, so sorry if this is a bit awkward. Grinding to get competitive has turned me into a workhorse so I don’t really have many hobbies, too busy for them I guess, most of what I do I consider work. I do enjoy reading and writing a lot when I get the time. Also picked up language learning as something to do over the summer; not particularly good yet, just something I found interesting.
Sorry I don’t have much more to add, never did talk much, but here’s an inspiring picture of a Dutch Viper with their lion coat-of-arms
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What’s good y’all,
Since 2018, I’ve been a Recon JTAC in a Marine Corps dive team. I left active duty this October to pursue military aviation, a dream which was previously unavailable to someone as blind as I was in high school. I was ecstatic when the DoD adjusted its standards, now allowing those (like myself) who’ve undergone PRK to become pilots. Thanks to the support of my wife who took the majority of baby-duty while I studied, I was able to score a 99 pilot and 90+ across the board. I aim to bump up my 83 PCSM with some flight hours now that I have my freedom and time hahah. I’m set to finish up my degree with Norwich this coming July with a 3.8.
It’s my goal to take my “ground-guy” tactical CAS and Recce experience to the Air Force to support the guys and gals I’ve grown to admire. No better deal than to interview for a platform of choice, guarantee that platform if hired, and get to homestead my young family in one place for 10+ years.
Feel free to hit me up if you wanna talk shop or learn more about the homies down below and how we function. I think it’s important that pilots try to learn as much as they can about ground tactics, especially fighter/non-standard/drone guys who may have to directly support friendly maneuver in the future. The most important part of the 12-step is line 7.
-Alex
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This reply was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by 0D1N.
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This reply was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by
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What is up everyone! My name is David and I have had a massive change in direction this past month. I served 5 years AD and as of the beginning of this year, Palace Chased back home to go to flight school. I have been dreaming of becoming a pilot since I was 5. I hold my PPL and Instrument rating and currently just building hours toward my Commercial cert. My logbook sits at about 210 flight hours. Yet this is where things change! Flight School got extremely expensive for my liking, so I took a full time technician job back in my AFSC with the ANG and realized maybe the path forward to flying was not what I thought it was, (I was pursuing the Airlines.) This Spring I am finishing my BA and am looking to commission in a few years. My goal is to fly for the Air Force and further the career I have already started. Just here to gain as much insight and wisdom I can while I’m on the first step in this path: commissioning.
Any and all advice is appreciated and welcomed. Of course I have my preferred airframe I want to attempt and a Squadron I am interested in, but am always open to any and all new opportunities.
r,
Dave
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Welcome Dave!
Congrats on having the courage to not just dream about career change but start down a path of actually accomplishing said dreams. I’m not sure there’s a better place out there for you to build awareness, network with peers and prepare to apply and interview for the military flying job of your choosing. BogiDope offers all kinds of value to help you succeed. We look forward to working with you soon!
Cheers,
Snip
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Hello, my name is Samuel currently 33 years old. I will be completing my bachelors degree in nursing on Feb/24. I am a paramedic/registered nurse with some few months of flight nursing experience. I have myopia -5.25 in one eye. I saw a YouTube video that gave me motivation to download this app. I plan to talk to a recruiter this Monday and check out my possible opportunities. Willing to accept any advice.
Thank you!
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