Pilots Helping Pilots

One thing I think is super important is to start with getting to know your fellow rushees. You can feel a certain pressure to integrate or converse immediately with the pilots in the squadron, but building rapport with your peers is a great way to ease some of the tension. Also, power in numbers! I found it easier to mesh with a group of rushees who already seemed to be hitting it off internally versus an individual trying to strictly talk with the pilots in the squadron. Just my 2 cents... Rushing can be tough/intimidating at first, but try to have fun with it and it will feel more natural the more you do it!

Good stuff! Who else has a pile-on or experience (good or bad)?

Rushing a unit can be intimidating but, like CHAOS said, the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll get with it. It’s like any other social setting or event; find your natural place in the crowd and don’t force yourself to be overly gregarious if that’s not your typical personality. On the flip-side, don’t post up in the corner of the room nursing your Bud Light, waiting for others to come talk to you. Be personable, approachable, and have a sense of humor.

CHAOS mentioned talking to both pilots and peers, but I would take it a step further and say that you should make a point to talk with any member of the squadron/wing that is there. I’ve visited squadrons where people from maintenance, intel, etc. were around and talking with them was a huge help. At the most basic level, they’re likely going to give you an unfiltered account of life at the squadron and the culture of the organization. Plus, while hiring boards don’t typically include non-rated personnel, it would be an oversight to think that a positive or negative impact on one of those team members wouldn’t be weighed by the board members.

My last bit of advice to make yourself stand out is to come prepared with your “elevator pitch” – that 10-20 second version of your answer to “tell me about yourself”. This is your chance to sell yourself when you’re talking with the squadron pilots. My tip: find a way to work in something memorable. They’re going to hear a lot of “graduated from university; work in aerospace at ; always wanted to fly; working on my ____ rating; etc.” but if you can throw in something that will leave a (positive) lasting impression, you’re less likely to get lost in the mix when they start considering who to bring in for interviews later on. Maybe you know multiple languages, or are in a 90’s punk rock cover band, or spent two summers as an intern at Yellowstone NP. Find that token that you can leave them with to stand out from the crowd. From there, you can build your story, credibility and prove that you’re worth bringing back for an interview.

Awesome pile on! Small talk is definitely your friend. If you can connect on a topic like a mutual hobby, local sports teams, etc. It humanizes you and allows you stand out from the majority that usually go for the low-hanging fruit of flying talk (airplane, mission, etc.)

I’ve felt much more comfortable rushing when it was more of an activity social, not just a hang-out-at-the-bar social. Meeting at a pickleball court, or a place with some bags (cornhole), or even an OPS room where we could do some beer pong and karaoke are all options that made me feel more relaxed while rushing.