BogiDope | Randy_N | Activity

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:24:18 -0500

You wont have access to any personal electronics when you take it, that includes a calculator. When you get to the Pearson Testing site all your belongings will go inside a secured locker before you take the test. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you time yourself taking a practice first, don’t underestimate the time constraints for each section.

In reply to - thomas-dinh posted an update in the group Military Test Prep

I scheduled my AFOQT at a Pearson testing center for Tue Feb 10. I have a voucher code through the AF Officer Aim High Application portal. I’m not […]

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:16:59 -0500

I attached a memo on applicants who were selected in 2024 to fly for the AF Reserves. Not many age waivers were granted. I mean it make sense to chose someone younger, get more years out of them before they start falling apart.

https://www.milrecruiter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AFRC-UFT-SELECTION-BOARD-24-06-RESULTS-MEMO.pdf

In reply to - 5ME posted an update

So we all know that even though the official “ineligibility” age is 33 for UPT, squadrons typically aren’t even giving you a look if you’re anywhere close to that. Some squadrons […]

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 07:46:47 -0500

If you are serious about becoming an aviator. You should try looking into the Navy too. I heard if you score 7/7/7 on the ASTB, you could be automatically selected to become a pilot. It might be something to look into. Im currently 32 I wished I known this before 🤣

In reply to - Prevailing_Westerlie posted an update

Since I was a kid my dream was to serve my country and fly jets in the USAF. Working a cushy engineering job its easy to get distracted by lifes bigger challenges. Now I […]

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 22:14:01 -0500

Unrelated, but an alternative way is to is go to an air show. I was able to talk to some of the pilots from 144th Fighter Wing out of Fresno.

In reply to - 5ME posted an update

It seems that many squadrons say that they don’t do rush these days unless they’re the invite-only events associated with interviews. That said, I have seen some BogiDopers say to just show […]

Randy_N replied to the discussion DQ'D By MEPS for Major Depressive Disorder. Is a Waiver Possible? in the forum Air Force Pilot Training (IFT, UPT, IFF, & FTU)

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:58:59 -0500

Reply to DQ'D By MEPS for Major Depressive Disorder. Is a Waiver Possible?

Hey thanks for sharing your story! I’ll probably go on a rant as well, cause misery loves company too.

I copied and pasted the wavier guide PDF thats online. Im not a doctor or anyone special, just some person on the internet so don’t take my words as medical advice. I wanna help in some kind of way. It sucks you were hired by a unit only to…

Randy_N replied to the discussion Active Duty - Navy OCS vs. Air Force OTS in the forum General Discussion

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 02:48:01 -0400

Reply to Active Duty - Navy OCS vs. Air Force OTS

From my own experience with talking with enlisted service members, most would agree that the Air Force is #1 branch for quality of life. I wouldn’t know myself because I’m a civilian applicant, but I trust the opinions of the enlisted to get an honest overview of what to expect or pursue.

Personally I shoot for the top, and see where the…

Randy_N replied to the discussion Active Duty - Navy OCS vs. Air Force OTS in the forum General Discussion

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:14:56 -0400

Reply to Active Duty - Navy OCS vs. Air Force OTS

I personally would have gone to Navy OCS if I had the chance, I’m 32 so that option is no longer viable for me to take since I’m already at the age limit to be a pilot.

Getting in touch with a recruiter on the Air Force side was difficult and a waste of time. If you are serious and want to fly in the military; go Navy. The Air Force has too…

Randy_N replied to the discussion Crohn's Disease - the dream's dead right? in the forum Air Force Pilot Training (IFT, UPT, IFF, & FTU)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:43:03 -0400

Reply to Crohn's Disease - the dream's dead right?

Hey Kevin, I’m glad you asked! I’ll answer to the best of my knowledge and I’ll be leaning heavily on my experience, I might sound a little bitter in my response. I also had a VERY hard time in contacting a recruiter.

You can try reaching out to a recruiter specific to a guard unit, over on Mil Recruiter there should be a point of contact for…

Randy_N posted an update: Just saw this on the Youtube. Was wondering what the […]

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 02:55:31 -0400

Just saw this on the Youtube. Was wondering what the future of military aviation is going to look like, if anybody has an opinion on it. Kind of scary we are living in the future now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwDSpFufs6k&list=LL&index=9

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:24:18 -0400

Sir, to be honest those are not good odds at all 😅. Especially, if you look at the total applicants that were selected.

In reply to - Husky posted an update

Some Data on Age Waivers.

Seems like age waivers might be more common than the vibe suggests. Check out this AFRC UFT selection board announcement. This one (and the others I’ve seen), […]

Randy_N replied to the discussion Whats my chance (ANG, Reserve)? in the forum General Discussion

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:32:09 -0400

Reply to Whats my chance (ANG, Reserve)?

If you haven’t watch this podcast yet, its pretty insightful in what a board is looking for especially if you are looking at fighters. From what I gathered from the podcast, if you are not a nepo baby or a USAFA graduate. Getting into a guard unit as a civilian is going to be very hard, almost impossible. They mentioned in the podcast they…

bogidope.com

How to Get Hired to Fly Fighters in the Guard/Reserve [Hiring Board Debrief] | BogiDope

Randy_N replied to the discussion Crohn's Disease - the dream's dead right? in the forum Air Force Pilot Training (IFT, UPT, IFF, & FTU)

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 06:22:41 -0400

Reply to Crohn's Disease - the dream's dead right?

Were you able to get an answer to your question?

If you haven’t already, you could work with a recruiter to have them schedule you to go to MEPS to see if you are medically qualified. I got disqualified for having a sore knee 🤣, working on getting a wavier for it.

Randy_N started the discussion Alternative Options For Flying in the forum Air Force

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 05:57:37 -0400

Alternative Options For Flying

Hello everybody,

I’m trying to explore other opportunities to fly for the military. It has always been my goal to fly for the Air National Guard, but I haven’t been successful. I suspect my age(32) and me working as a security guard isn’t impressing anyone on a hiring board 😂.

I’m currently applying to a rated board for Active Air Force as…

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 07:27:30 -0400

Sir,

It took it me about 5 years on and off, from contacting recruiters throughout different states, contacting ROTC detachments, and reaching out to education centers on different bases. I was able to take the AFOQT after persistently reaching out to a recruiter that was two states away from me. Scheduling the TBAS was much easier, I…

In reply to - SMAX posted an update

As a BogiDope coach, I often get asked, “how do I go about scheduling the AFOQT and TBAS?” That is a critical question, and unfortunately one that really does not have an […]

Randy_N started the discussion Top Secret Clearance Employment History in the forum General Discussion

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:34:43 -0400

Top Secret Clearance Employment History

For those of you who have filled out a sf-86.

My question is how did you fill out the contact information for previous supervisors if you can’t get this information. I have held multiple part time jobs through out a 10-year time span. I tried contacting my previous employers, but they are not willing to disclose any information about my supervisors.

Randy_N replied to the discussion AFOQT Contacts and Scheduling Trouble in San Diego in the forum Military Test Prep

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 01:37:26 -0400

Reply to AFOQT Contacts and Scheduling Trouble in San Diego

Randy here. I recently received a voucher code from the Air Force Reserve Officer recruiter in Temecula. Im now waiting for my test results to get back to me; hopefully soon. If you get a voucher code from a recruiter, you can schedule the AFOQT at your discretion including the testing location. No need to go on base.

It took me about 4-months…

Randy_N replied to the discussion AFOQT Table Reading in the forum Military Test Prep

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 21:22:38 -0400

Reply to AFOQT Table Reading

use this

https://table-reading.com/

Randy_N replied to the discussion Trouble Scheduling the AFOQT in the forum Military Test Prep

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:47:33 -0400

Reply to Trouble Scheduling the AFOQT

If I were in your shoes, I would contact an active duty officer recruiter and a reserve officer recruiter at the same time. Tell them you want to take the AFOQT, but require a voucher code (you need the voucher code to take the AFOQT through Pearson Vue).

It took me about 4-months to get the voucher code. I had to call, text, and email…

Randy_N and kylemartinich are now connected

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:06:04 -0400

Randy_N replied to the discussion Scheduling the AFOQT in the forum General Discussion

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:19:44 -0400

Reply to Scheduling the AFOQT

Hey Kyle if you are like me (A Civilian), You have two options to take the AFOQT:

1. You get sponsored by a unit/recruiter/ROTC Detachment to go on base to take the AFOQT at an education center on a military installation.

2. You take the AFOQT at a third-party testing site of your choosing, but you will need to make a Pearson-Vue account and…

Randy_N replied to the discussion Scheduling the AFOQT in the forum General Discussion

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:41:47 -0400

Reply to Scheduling the AFOQT

Thanks for the response guys! I think I’m going to wait a lil bit longer for the recruiter from Temecula to get back to me. Hopefully, then I can get a voucher code.

Randy_N replied to the discussion Scheduling the AFOQT in the forum General Discussion

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:21:12 -0400

Reply to Scheduling the AFOQT

The education center at Vandenberg Space Force Base got back to me as well, they are not able to help.

Randy_N replied to the discussion Scheduling the AFOQT in the forum General Discussion

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:01:11 -0400

Reply to Scheduling the AFOQT

I was able to get in contact with the education center at Nellis Air Force Base. Since I am a civilian, they said they could not help and that I should talk to a recruiter.

Im kinda at a lost now, because Im going in circles at this point 🙃

Randy_N started the discussion Scheduling the AFOQT in the forum General Discussion

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:56:00 -0400

Scheduling the AFOQT

Anybody in the SoCal area (Or anywhere). Im trying to schedule the AFOQT, but the local Air Force Reserve Officer recruiter is not responding to my messages. Any help would be nice!

Randy_N posted an update: Anybody in the SoCal area (Or anywhere). Im trying […]

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:42:09 -0400

Anybody in the SoCal area (Or anywhere). Im trying to schedule the AFOQT, but the local Air Force Reserve Officer recruiter is not responding to my messages. Any help would be nice!

Randy_N replied to the discussion Age Limit in the forum General Discussion

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:47:41 -0400

Reply to Age Limit

Thank you CAGE for the response, but I think I might have to just bite the bullet and accept the fact I might not make it as a military aviator.

Randy_N and Kristin are now connected

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:11:54 -0400

Randy_N replied to the discussion Age Limit in the forum General Discussion

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:38:23 -0400

Reply to Age Limit

I am in the same boat for being an older applicant (I’m 31). Speaking for myself and only myself, what are the alternatives if I can’t get hired on by a unit to fly due to age? Is it even possible to get an age wavier to fly for the Army if you are not prior-service with low flight time?

I know applying for a RPA is an option, but feel it’s…

Randy_N replied to the discussion Age Limit in the forum General Discussion

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:30:16 -0400

Reply to Age Limit

Randy_N posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:08:52 -0400

Hello, so how would I go about scheduling the AQOFT without a recruiter?

As far as I know, the AFOQT is administered by Pearson Vue. The only way you can take the AFOQT, is if a recruiter requests a code on your behalf to take the test. I’m also a civilian, so getting on base to take the AFOQT would be pretty difficult for me as well.

Also,…

In reply to - BogiDope posted an update

BEWARE OF BAD RECRUITERS!

If you ever deal with a recruiter who tells you that you MUST enlist in order to apply for a pilot slot, you may want to find a different recruiter.

Being […]

Randy_N replied to the discussion Introduce Yourself in the forum General Discussion

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 03:16:21 -0400

Reply to Introduce Yourself

Hello everybody,

My name is Randy I am 30 and currently working as a security guard in the Seattle Area. I graduated from University of Washington with a Physics degree, class of 2020. I am working on completing my Private Pilot’s License and have about 15 hours of flight time. Hopefully, sometime in the nearby future I want to apply for a pilot…