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Is the Maximum Age You Have to Be Hired by 33 or Start UPT By 33?
There seems to be a ton of confusion on this. I could have sworn the regulation was you had to be hired by 33 but I’m being told by Guard Units, Reserve Units and Officer Recruiters that you have to start UPT by your 33rd Birthday. Does anyone have a copy of the regulation? Preferably a PDF. I’ve been Googling but can’t seem to find it.
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7 Replies
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Source: Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2100
3.3.1.1.1. RegAF and AFR applicants must not be beyond their 33rd birthday nor have
more than 8 years of by the date as specified in the Undergraduate Flying Training
Selection Board announcement message (generally two months after board convenes).
3.3.1.1.2. ANG applicants must not be beyond their 33rd birthday nor have more than
8 years of TFCS by the date as specified in the individual unit’s Undergraduate Flying
Training Selection Board announcement message.
It used to be by the 1st day of UPT, but now it’s by the date on the official announcement message.
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I was previously trying to resolve whether my age (32) makes the guard a possibility anymore. Searched 36-2100 document on the Department of Air Force E-publishing to find more answers. This entire chapter (3) is “DELETED”. Published Apr 2021. Is your reference more recent?
Furthermore, as far as the guard goes, many units still have the more antiquated “to UPT by age 33” message. Hopefully these statements are not binding as they have been picking up people that are in no way going to make it by UPT by the cutoff date, but are hired before age 33.
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This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by Colin.
e-publishing.af.mil
Department of the Air Force E-Publishing > Publications + Forms
Department of the Air Force E-Publishing > Publications + Forms
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It looks like the AF decided to make a new regulation about UFT requirements in July (DAFI 36-2137). At first glance, it looks like it was cut and pasted from the original, but I haven’t read through it all yet. Let me know if you find anything unusual.
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Thank you, sir! I’ll chalk this up to my lack of understanding of how these documents iterate. The language appears unchanged.
3.1.1.1. RegAF and AFR applicants must not be beyond their 33rd birthday nor have more
than 8 years of TFCS by the date as specified in the Undergraduate Flying Training
Selection Board announcement message (generally two months after board convenes).
(T-1)3.1.1.2. ANG applicants must not be beyond their 33rd birthday nor have more than 8
years of TFCS by the date as specified in the individual unit’s Undergraduate Flying
Training Selection Board announcement message. (T-2)As per 3.1.1.2, if I get hired by certain units, I may have to work with them to update their documentation as many are allowing me to apply but have not yet updated their announcement messages with a date aside from “by UPT” which, in the current climate, is no less than 18 months off in the future.
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This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by
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So what does that mean exactly? If I am reading it correctly that means I just have to be hired by the board before 33 but can start UPT later.
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That’s basically correct, but the official date of the announcement message may not be the same as the date of the application deadline or interview. For example, the official announcement for an active duty board will be a couple of months BEFORE the board convenes, while an AFR squadron board may technically be the unofficial board date to sponsor someone who will then go to the official board (on paper) at the headquarters level (so AFTER the interview). A good rule of thumb to cover all bases of regAF, AFR, and ANG will be +/- 3ish months of the application deadline.
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Also worth remembering… There are age waivers.
Caveat… They are not easy to obtain and are rarely something ANG/Reserve units pursue, but there are cases out there.
Never say never!
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