Originally Posted by
The Walrus
In the past, the sponsor was a pilot who had personally flown with you, that could attest to your abilities and airmanship. He would get the additional letters of rec from other pilots who know you, but may or not have flown with you. There is really nothing for the applicant to do with that process.
I thought it was the other way around. The sponsor may not have flown with you, but could vouch for your character. IE, has known you for a long time, grew up with you, went to school with you, went through OCS/TBS/UPT with you, been in the same church as you, etc. But may not have flown with you. However, the sponsor could ALSO be a recommendation IF they have ALSO flown with you.
Whereas the recommendations had to come from pilots that had flown with you. Either shared a cockpit, or flown with you operationally in the single/2 seat tactical environment.