Hello everyone, I'm currently on casual at UPT for Active Duty but have been eying the possibility of going guard prior to starting T-6s. Does anyone know if this is even possible? Has anyone ever done this?

Good afternoon everyone. This is my first post here and I'm new to BogiDope so I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask questions about Squadron hiring boards (Things like chances, What could help be competitive, etc). If not then feel free to correct me.

for context, I am 19 and soon starting my second year of community collage (with the intention of getting a 4 year degree in history) and I am trying to enlist in the USAF reserves (I went to MEPS back in February and have had to spend since March to try and get incorrect medical records expunged which I think I finally have, so hopefully i'll get to BMT within a month) with the intent of becoming a technician or some form of aircraft maintenance. I was in Air Force ROTC but had to drop it to focus on grades and other factors. After my first attempt at the AFOQT I didn't pass due to getting a 6 on the Quantitative. (for context, the rest of my scores were, Pilot: 59, CSO: 23, ABM: 29, AA: 11, Verbal: 22, Quant: 6, which I'm pretty sure the rest aren't good) and I am currently studying day in and day out to retake it as well as considering online and in person tutors. I am also continuing to get flight hours and had around 3 years of experience in C.A.P and I'm looking to get back involved as a senior member.

My first question, Does being prior enlisted help you in applications/Squadron rushes, weather that's chances of getting hired, etc.

My second question, are things like participating in any sports or putting down any other forms of leadership also going to help? Mainly been thinking about MMA as I took a break from it but I'm looking into restarting it.

Sorry for the super long post, Just not sure exactly were to ask this sort of question. Thank you all, God Bless!☦️

Hey all, any advice on how to get scheduled for the AFOQT and the TBAS? I’m a civilian non-rotc and am having trouble with unit specific recruiters and local recruiters in that non of them have a lot of info nor can get me scheduled. I’ve been waiting and trying to get a scheduled for a few months and I’ve had little luck. If you guys have any suggestions or know anyone that can help, that would be greatly appreciate!

I am at a whopping 22.2 Flight hours in the deadly C-172. My PCSM is 99 but my AFOQT scores are P:99 CSO:84 ABM:99 AA:39 V:62 Q:22. The time constraint on the math messed me up, should I retake the AFOQT? I have been in the Guard 10 years, I get conflicting feedback. My priority has been hours. Thanks guys!

Hey as a high school rising senior what all options are there to be in the Air National Guard and what are the chances of being a pilot for ANG?

BogiDope,

The Florida Air National Guard (FANG) has opened it's window for a RATED hiring board. Application deadline is August 15, 2026. Contact BGratedhiring@gmail.com if you're interested in applying.

The job has been posted to the Job Board for more details.

Hey all,

Looking at trying to pickup a Reserve IMA job. I’ve got a friend at a unit who has offered to show me around. How does hiring work, should I show ready to interview or is it usually visits that lead to an interview? Thanks!

Wanted to provide some gouge for those interested. Guard/reserve will have class dates pretty much back to back. After OTS, SERE in WA - no woods for AMC guard/reserve. Then will PCS to UPT base. In processing was pretty painless just allow sufficient time for medical and getting name tapes/flight suits/etc. squared away. Great time to meet classmates. CRAFT workouts with strength/cognitive coaches & nutritionists. They’ll give you a workout plan to use while at IPT. Then pre-departure brief for IPT location. CAFB is going to locations in FL&GA. Vance & Laughlin spread between TX&AZ. You’ll go TDY to your IPT location. Civilian apartments and flight school. If you have ratings you’ll go into a proficiency/refresher course then onto your next set of curriculum. Then back to your UPT base for T-6 and your class will stick together unless people with ratings going into it get back sooner & into an earlier class.

Feel free to DM with questions. Good luck!

Does anyone who has recently gone through the process of getting hired know the timeline for approval from the NGB? My recruiter submitted my packet roughly in the middle of May, and I want to understand the realistic timeline from now to FC1 and OTS. Thank you in advance.

BD,

It always excites me to compete and not withhold information so I can be the only one succeeding. One thing I’ve learned through this process is that simply reaching out to units and introducing yourself can go a long way. I recently sent an email to a C-17 unit sharing a little about myself and my credentials — Ethiopian-born adoptee, college athlete, assistant soccer coach, substitute teacher, PPL with 100+ flight hours, and strong Pilot/PCSM scores (both mid 90s). The Chief Pilot personally requested a phone call, and we ended up talking for about 40 minutes about leadership, approaching situations, and squadron culture. Without even submitting a formal application — and before their application window had even opened (still not open) — they invited me out for an official interview!!!!

One thing that stood out to me was that they asked very little about my AFOQT because they saw I had taken it three times. I failed the verbal section twice, scoring an 8 both times. English not being my primary language definitely caught up to me there, but on my third attempt I earned a 41 and finally exceeded the minimum. What surprised me most was that they seemed far more interested in my approach, mindset, and perseverance than the actual scores themselves.

I told them honestly that I would not go back and change the fact that I took it three times because I learned more through those failures than I would have if I had succeeded the first time. I also explained why quantitative section of 14 was low. I simply said, "order to give myself a fighting chance, I was willing to sacrifice a lower quantitative score if it meant passing and exceeding the verbal minimums and If that lower score comes back to bite me later, so be it,” because at the time the mission was finding a way forward rather than making excuses.

Just wanted to encourage everyone here not to underestimate the value of authenticity, ownership, and building genuine connections early. Units are not only evaluating scores — they are evaluating character, humility, resilience, and whether they can trust you to fit into their culture for the next 10–20 years.

As a general rule of life, you will make mistakes and possibly fail and that might happen at UPT, but how do you approach an unforeseen circumstances that may or may not be in your control?

Sorry for the tangent, but my whole point is this: send the darn email. Don’t talk yourself out of opportunities before the unit even has a chance to know who you are. That one email could be the very thing that opens the door to your opportunity.

Good luck!!