Husky
Ace
Exam Ready
AFRC Pilot
USAF Pilot
ANG Pilot
Forum Replies Created
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MGB,
Give yourself every chance to win. Seriously.
The needs of the USAF change constantly. Some boards are hyper competitive, and sometimes the USAF planned poorly and everyone on the OTS board gets picked up.
You’ve got 4-5 swings at the bat for a OTS UPT board + lots of opportunities to apply to guard/reserve boards.
Don’t worry about getting bad news from one or multiple boards, because 100 “no” and 1 “Yes”. That’s good enough to become an pilot.
Cheers!
Husky
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That’s a touchdown. Thanks for posting!
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Totally possible! One of our (ANG) pilots is off to TPS next month.
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Woof. Yep, certainly not good news but let me offer some context.
1) It’s not just an ANG problem, expect that USAFA and ROTC will take cuts. Usually in the scenarios, it’s least bad for ANG.
2) It’s not just a Boeing problem. There was an engine contract that didn’t go well but is apparently improving. See below.
3) It is only a fighter problem
4) T-7 flying ops (initial cadre) begin in 25. See attached.
5) Other units have different hiring strategies and may not turn off their pipeline.
Expect the USAF to respond too late and too big. I bet it’s tight for 12 months and then the service realizes it overcorrected as T-38 fixes and T-7s come online.
So. Stay the course but maybe understand that all avenues will be more competitive. This will be most true with OTS (+ROTC and USFA); you’ll need to be ranked hiring that usual to get that T-38 track.
airforcetimes.com
T-38 Talon engine repair woes could slow pilot training for months
The Air Force expects pilot training shortfalls through the end of the fiscal year, and that the J85 enterprise won’t fully recover until April 2024.
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Good luck again to all the folks applying to SD! An interesting fact is that the unit has an alert detachment in CA.. Here’s a great photo of one of their jets raging in the sierras. (credits in the link)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mbt-photography/51947359125/in/photostream/lightbox/
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Good luck everyone on those SD apps. Go Lobos!
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Ya brother! That’s a super competitive background. With good scores and some prep I think you’ve got a great shot.
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Also check out the inter-servce transfer page on the Air Force side.
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It depends! But in general, I fly 6-12 times a month.
The most important factors:
1) Type of aircraft (fighters, heavy, help)
2) Sorites available (# of healthy jets vs # of pilots)
3) You!
As a full time IP in a fighter unit 12 was normal; I had a couple of months with 20.
As a part-timer I averaged 7.
It’s so variable from unit to unit that it’s a great question to ask any place you visit.
Get those counters!
Husky
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Definitely what the situation is with resources: can the keep you on full time orders?
I’d also ask how many enlisted folks they’ve set to UPT in the last 10 years. And if you can meet them.
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Ahem. 62 years ago.
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Certainly! The schoolhouse is OKANG.
It will be interesting to see the ‘ops’ layout. There are a few ARC special ops wings – those wings might get OA-1Ks or the USAF might consolidate them in one or two bases. Elgin? Cannon? Davis Montham?
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Flown for both. Very similar for O-5s and below.
Except you wont do domestic operations in the reserves. Ask me about getting called out on 6 Jan.
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This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by Husky.
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This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by
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Picture clean, lowdown empty!
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MGB, lots of that stuff will carry over to your ANG apps. Keep and eye on that clock you’ll want to move quickly so you stay GTG for age.
Tons of great resources on the website and the forums. You can also schedule a 1 on 1 general strategy session to build a bespoke plan with a coach.
Keep at it!
Cheers!
Husky
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Looks like it can carry the LAU-131 rocket pod so it can probably shoot the AGR-20 laser rocket – which is of my all time favorites.
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I’d add T-38 availability as a factor as well. But the question what do you do?
I’m going to migrate that answer to a new thread. Look for it tonight.
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Ha! Great reference, love that!
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The scramble takeoffs are awesome it feels like stealing.
Lightweight, Max AB. You have to raise the gear right at 190 knots or you’ll blow through 300 in the 15” it takes to retract.
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It’s also a huge resource generator for the unit. An alert mission will usually add 10 pilots and dozens of maintainers.
Why might this matter to you? Well (all else being equal) units with an ACA mission can keep more folks full-time and may feel a bit busier day to day.
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We certainly have always had plenty of volunteers to fly. The (USAF) pilot shortage you hear about sometimes is actually this super wonky programmatic problem.
Just one opinion. I think fighter pilot billets (the number of pilots we need) are stable for the next decade. But production will struggle a bit until the T-7a arrives in force.
What does that mean for you? Fierce competition to get in the door but a great career once you’re in. Buckets and buckets of flying.
Cheers!
Husky
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Howdy back. Bottom Line Up Front: Rushing a fighter ANG and a USAFR fighter is same-same.
There’s some difference when we talk about big wing aircraft and the AFRC UPT program, but that doesn’t apply to fighter strongly.
The big difference is titles, authorities and chains of command. Here’s a diagram. There won’t be a test.
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This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by Husky.
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This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by
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Perhaps the best advice ever!
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As if on cue!
