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I’ve been Trying for 4 Years and Have Not had an Interview (31 and poor scores).
Hey everyone. I’ve been apart of the BogiDope community for awhile now. I’ve spent the last several years rushing units and trying to just get an interview. It’s been about 4 years since I’ve been trying and I haven’t even had one interview. Most of my rejections have been due to age.
I’ve been trying all heavy units. Mostly Tanker units but even after rushing them multiple times, I still don’t get an interview and get the TBNT. Only a few units have given feedback and that has been “We don’t want to interview anyone over 30 or close to age wavier territory.”
One other unit told me, they liked me but they got more applications than they expected and I didn’t make the cut. Just to try again next year. Which I will, but sadly they said they are likely doing away with rushing.
On that note, I have shotgunned out a few apps to other units that I haven’t rushed but get the TBNT and not surprising no feedback from those.
For more info on that after taking the AFOQT twice I did improve my scores but they aren’t great. My line is
Pilot: 81 CSO: 51 ABM: 63 ACAD: 47 Verbal: 62 Quant: 35 PCSM: 71 Flight Hours: 35 (hoping to resume soon). GPA: 3.85 with Master’s in Science (Cybersecurity).
The other thing, I have had two units after I got the TBNT letter, someone has tried reached out and asked if I wanted to join as a Cyber Warfare officer due to my degree. I turned them down as I want to fly!
I can’t help but start to feel like my window is closing fast and that I have no chance of ever achieving my dream. Is it over for me? Any older applicants or applicants with poor test scores been able to get an interview? Anything else I should do?
I’ve done many Bogidope consulting sessions but just haven’t been able to get that interview. I know everyone and their brother says this but if I can just get an interview, I know I could get hired.
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6 Replies
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Hey man. I’m pushing 29 now and having to
face some similar decisions as yourself soon. And to be honest I’ve been blessed with good scores 99/99/99/92/88/89 and 99 PCSM.
BUT I have not landed an interview either…
I began applying to OTS Rated Boards through a recruiter, and learned some interesting statistics. In 2022, they selected ~330 people for Rated positions (Pilot, CSO, ABM, etc). The average selectee had a PCSM of 53 and AFOQT Pilot scores of 60’s.
This means that your scores sit pretty well above average and you might stand a good chance of selection if you were willing to apply to OTS for a Rated position. But, obviously this is a 10-year Active Duty service commitment so it’s definitely worth your time to think on it. You can choose to just apply for a Pilot position, see if they bring you in to interview with the Board, and maybe have a pretty good shot, if they don’t select you, no harm no foul. At least you tried.
The reality is that the USAF looks at your application very “objectively” (are you qualified?). While Guard and Reserve units definitely care if you are qualified, they get the special privilege of looking at all applicants more “subjectively” (are you qualified, and who would we want to be on our team and hang out with most?). It makes sense, we would hire people the same way if we were charged with the task.
It never hurts to just contact a recruiter and ask some questions. I’d refer you to check out “Elias Barry” on YouTube. He landed a Pilot slot through OTS with 0 flying hours🤷🏻♂️ and gives a detailed explanation of how to apply to OTS.
Obviously landing any Pilot position in the AD USAF or Guard/Reserve is a very rare opportunity for anyone, so if you are wanting to give this dream the greatest chance of coming true, OTS might be the best way to make it happen! I hope this is helpful, and you may have already known some of these things, but wanted to give you my thoughts👍🏻.
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What’s up TMCG. In regards to your post, your scores aren’t too bad. ive seen people with lower get picked up, but like you said your age is the biggest detriment.
Have you maximized your attempts on taking the AFOQT and TBAS?
Are you applying to every unit possible or just the locations that interest you?
I definitely wouldn’t give up the dream. there are units out there that push the age limit back pretty far, you just gotta find the right one.
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I’ve been applying everywhere. I’m shotgunned a lot of resumes but no luck. I have maxed out AFOQT takes but still have I believe 2 TBAS retakes. It just seems impossible to find anyone to let me retake it. Every liaison says “You have a passing score, what do you need to retake it for?” and just hangs up or ghosts me.
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I can understand that struggle man. I don’t have a lot of advice on this particular issue but know you’re not alone in dealing with this. I’ve been fighting over something similar and have gotten the exact same response as what you posted at one point.
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TMCG, with the predicament you’re in, I think Darrells idea of applying to the OTS rated board is great advice and something you should look into.
Although, I encourage you to not give up the possibility of being hired by a guard unit. with your scores and age, the best bet you got is to rush units and try to really connect with them. if a unit likes you, they’ll move mountains for you.
At the end of the day, you are in control of your own destiny. Best of luck!
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I have tried active OTS in the past with no luck. I’ll try again.
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