jmo901

I am currently a college student slated to graduate this December with all civilian pilot and instructor ratings. I tried to get the ball rolling early but the guard units and recruiters I’ve spoken with require a degree in order to accept my application. Everything is on hold for now. Once I graduate I plan to turn in packets to several units but I’m wondering what the wait time is like from UPT Board to your first day of training. I know there is no definite answer but I appreciate all information and advice you guys have to offer. Thanks!

goinaround

Some units hire for specific training vacancies they have for the coming fiscal year (begins in october) Others will hold boards and keep a "pool" of candidates and get them in the pipeline when slots become available. A year is a pretty good guideline if you're hired as a primary and there's a slot for you. This is Guard....don't know about the Reserve. The forums over on baseops.net have all the info you want.

Sledge Hammer

I was hired about 10 months ago and won't take my FC1 until next month. The guy I was hired with is already at AMS (or whatever it's called now). Talking to guys hired at other units, seems 12-18 months is about the average with some waiting 2 years and others only waiting a few months. My experience is with the Guard as well.

HuggyU2

I have a relative that did the process.
Swore in... 13 months later, started AMS.
FTS 3 months after AMS.
Flight training 1 month later.
From swear in to start of flight training: 20 months. And even this took a lot of effort to get things moving.

I was unimpressed at the "speed and efficiency" of the ANG's process.

jmo901

Thanks you for the responses! By no means a quick process but from what I hear it is 100% worth it, hopefully it all works out for me. On the bright side that would likely give me time to get a seniority number at a regional before starting with the guard

goinaround

I should add: Being your own advocate during the process is very important. It's very easy for your packet to stall out in the process. Nobody cares if you get to UPT but you.

FlyingBulldog

I'll give you my timeline (AFRC, though)

Jan 2014 - Interviewed and hired
Jun 2014 - AFRC Board (selected)
Oct 2014 - OTS (its all called OTS now, I believe - no AMS)
Dec 2014 - Commissioned
Mar 2015 - Started UPT

Hope this helps, good luck!

goinaround

OTS = active duty / reserve commissioning source

AMS = (academy of military science) ANG commissioning source

Timbo

Is OTS still 3 months, at Lackland AFB, San Antonio?

And is AMS 6 weeks at Maxwell AFB in Alabama?

Or are they combined now?

When I went through the process I first started bugging them in fall of 1981, took all the tests, then a physical, then interview board, twice, fall 1982/winter of 1983, started AMS (Knoxville) March 1983, UPT at Del Rio Jun 1, 1983, back home by October 1984.

Once the ball got rolling it went pretty fast, I had to leave my UPT graduation night party at 10pm and start driving to California, because they had me scheduled for Survival School 3 days after graduation!

I drove to Castle AFB in Merced, CA, dumped all my crap there, (windsurfers, bicycles, stereo, car) and flew to Spokane, started tanker school as soon as I got back from survival. I think from the day I started AMS to the day I finished tanker school, 18 months later, I had about a week off!

Sliceback

I probably replaced you in -38's. H flight...

Get a job with a flow through regional carrier and then go to UPT. That's winning the lottery.