CHAOS
Ace
Exam Ready
ANG Pilot
Forum Replies Created
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And most importantly, stay the course! You can only control what you can control. Keep rushing, applying, studying, grinding! The jobs will still be out there. Be ready when they drop and be the best version of yourself when they do.
-CHAOS
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Awesome thread here guys! @blueingreen you nailed it when it comes to trying to predict these things. There’s no true formula… Keep grinding and reaching out to units regularly. There are definitely units (to include Hawaii) that often keep there hiring boards close to the vest.
The thought process from the unit perspective is that if you want the job bad enough you will put in the effort to find out about the board. Don’t miss opportunities by leaving stones unturned!
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Has anyone who rushed recently received any feedback from the units?
It’s super important to try to solicit feedback after the fact. If it didn’t work out at one unit try to gain some insight and improve for the next one!
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There are a couple of factors that contribute to the UPT board slowdown. For one, there were a handful of boards over the last few months. Another factor (and the elephant in the room) is some delays in the UPT training pipeline, specifically some T-38 maintenance issues that are causing some units to delay hiring.
All said, these things historically happen… They come and go, and units will be hiring again soon. Keep an eye out, and stay the course! Greener pastures and more opportunities will inevitability be here soon.
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Foot stomping what some of the other coaches have said here… Don’t let this deter you from pursuing your dream! I think we have all seen ebbs and flows of pilot production, airframe cuts/delays, and general defense slowdowns… They come and go! Stay the course; greener pastures are ahead.
-CHAOS
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Devin,
I think in today’s game, the competition level is stronger than ever. If you’ve ID’d something that may be dragging your overall application down, I recommend hitting it head-on. The opportunity for a re-take is out there, so I’d say take it! Give yourself some time to prep, but raising that score could help your chances.
While the AFOQT Pilot score is looked at the most, a really low score in another category could definitely affect your competitiveness,
Good luck, and keep grinding!
-CHAOS
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Nice! Thanks for all the feedback and to those of you who provided additional training tools. If anyone else has some good gouge on any training aids that they’ve found helpful, please continue to share them with the community.
Collaborate to graduate!
-CHAOS
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Thanks for the follow-up @Chainsaw! Glad you had a good time. From what I’ve been told, they had close to 600 applicants. They used the invite-only rush as their first way to trim candidates based off of AFOQT (All categories) / PCSM / Age / Resume. For those that made it to the rush, you should feel confident that your application is very competitive for Fighter slots. For those that didn’t, think about reaching out to those that did and compare your applications to see how you can improve.
Cheers!
-CHAOS
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I hope everyone had a righteous time down in Nola this weekend! Feel free to share your experiences down there and any lessons learned. Good luck to those who visited; hopefully some interview notifications in the near future!
-CHAOS
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Husky,
Great post and points! For those worried about the Guard transitioning from aging 4th Gen assets… Realize that most of the time, when a unit goes through an airframe change, they quite often lose a decent amount of aircrew. With a new jet, the flyers are more than likely required to go through a lengthy transition course and spinup training. Some of the folks won’t be particularly interested in that commitment depending on a plethora of factors (Traditional Guardsmen/Airline Pilot?, Family factors?, Age/Remaining Service commitment, etc.)
If you are an active flyer in the unit, they will often work with you on alternative options if you don’t want to transition. However, if you are applying for UPT, you should assume that leadership expects you to transition with the unit if a follow-on aircraft has already been announced.
-CHAOS
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Eric,
Wanted to reinvigorate this thread. We just completed a rushing the squadron webinar this evening, and I think all interested parties in this thread would benefit greatly from giving it a watch.
The bottom line is that I think creative ways to network or build a connection are fair game. You obviously have to weigh that by reading the room and making sure it doesn’t seem like you are annoying them or being overbearing. That said, outside-the-box thinking like this may get you an in at a squadron.
Good luck!
-CHAOS
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All,
To clear up some confusion regarding the last couple of comments… The Air Force doesn’t recognize Army Helo Training as an equivalent to UPT. While I’m sure most of you bring an awesome skillset to the fight, unfortunately, the Air Force (including ANG/ Reserve) does not consider you “rated” by their definition. Hence why you would need to take the AFOQT/TBAS as each is pre-req. to attend UPT.
Maybe not the best news, but I hope this helps.
Cheers!
-CHAOS
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Hey Colton, awesome to see you’re grinding away at the AFOQT. 90’s is definitely what you should be if striving for fighter units. While the pilot score is traditionally the most important, I’ve heard that some squadrons also heavily weigh all of the categories when selecting interviewees. Make sure you put your best foot forward and study, study, study!
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Ryan,
Great thread! I think it’s important not to forget to be yourself when you start to rush units. While it’s natural to ask questions about mission, aircraft, etc. Don’t downplay the power of small talk. A simple convo about the local pro sports team, hobbies, family, etc., can go a long way in humanizing you and making you likable, which is ultimately what you are trying to do while visiting.
Cheers!
-CHAOS
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Nice! Always a good feeling to improve your scores. Good luck going forward.
-CHAOS
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No problem, happy to help!
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Thomas,
While I’m far from an expert on the medical side of the house… Generally, there’s a waiver for everything. I would definitely not let this deter you from your goals. In fact, I would consider this as a strength of your ability to persevere! I’d recommend looking to the Medical pros who contribute here at BogiDope for more specific guidance. The bottom line is that I’d say press forward, and I’d be shocked that if a unit wants to hire you, they can’t obtain a waiver for you to start this adventure.
Good luck, and thanks for sharing your story!
-CHAOS
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IHC_Nole,
This may not specifically be what you’re looking for, but you may be interested in this:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fite-history/id1718391746
Fite History is a podcast that documents the life of famous fighter pilots, narrated by two Barnestormin Eagle Drivers with the Massachusetts ANG.
-CHAOS
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Thanks for the intoduction @smiley ! Sounds like you have a good plan. Stay the course and keep the community updated on your progress.
Reach out if you run into any issues/ have any questions.
-CHAOS
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Jason,
Piling on here, if you have any questions regarding legal history and its effect on the medical side, I recommend jumping on a chat with any of our resident Flight Doc coaches. They should provide good insight into what to expect.
Good luck, and keep grinding!
-CHAOS
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Happy to help! Let me know how it works out for you.
I’m always interested to see how different tools help and at what levels.
-CHAOS
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Welcome Beav!
Thanks for sharing your story on age waivers. Age is definitely a hot topic in the community, and your first-hand experience will bring a ton to the fight as a BD coach!
Cheers!
-CHAOS
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John,
Thanks for your service and welcome to the community! As tedious as the tests may be, do your best to really knock those out of the park. Being competitive for a Guard/Reserve fighter slot in today’s environment usually comes with having scores in the 90s.
Good luck going forward!
-CHAOS
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Rachel,
Thanks for sharing your story! I’ve worked with a few Army Helo Drivers looking to transition to fixed wing in the Guard/ Reserves. I recommend starting to rush squadrons ASAP. Using the time you have available while still under contract with the Army to build a relationship with some guard units will be crucial when the time comes for applying to UPT boards.
I hope this helps!
Cheers.
-CHAOS
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Chainsaw,
Great thread! It’s super beneficial to make connections during rush events. While you all are competing for the same job, collaboration is still the key to success. I still talk to some of the bros I met at rush events back when I was on the circuit. Learn from each other, share ideas, costs, etc! Say hi to the bros in Nola for me.
Cheers!
-CHAOS
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Awesome advice Gunboss! A plug to all: Don’t leave any stone unturned when studying for these tests. There is a plethora of study tools and you don’t want a low score to hold you back from your dream job.
Cheers!
-CHAOS
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Elodie,
Thanks for sharing your story! That’s quite the resume. If you haven’t already, I recommend starting to study for the AFOQT/ TBAS ASAP. Getting 90s on those tests is hugely beneficial to your chances of landing a UPT slot. Looking forward to tracking your progress!
Cheers.
-CHAOS
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Chainsaw,
Thanks for sharing your story! Getting a UPT slot is definitely a process. It’s rare to strike gold on your first swing at the bat. You’re headed in the right direction by improving your application and taking feedback to heart. Unit’s are often impressed by applicants returning a second time with an improved package and showing their ability to improve and take a debrief.
Keep grinding; hopefully, your hard work will pay off soon enough!
Cheers.
-CHAOS
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Sweet, happy to help!
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Goonie,
Doubling down on cgiff’s reply. You are absolutely not tied to the Guard. In fact, most units would encourage you to go to UPT, no matter the avenue you choose. I personally went from enlisted AF Reserve to an ANG Pilot slot. It happens all the time.
Good luck, and be sure to look through all of the website’s material if you have any questions.
Cheers!
-CHAOS