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What's competitive for UPT selection?

Old 02-13-2018, 07:51 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by warthog View Post
Hey all,
Was wondering if anyone on here has good gouge on what makes for a competitive AFOQT/TBAS score for USAF pilot selection. My son is 24, a college grad, but with no flying experience. Has decided that the business world is full of turds, and wants to take the tests for USAF. My experience with it is over 37 years old, so I have no good info for him on what he needs to score to compete. Any help appreciated. Thanks!
As others have typed, have your son search the interwebs and order a book or two on AFOQT study. A Private Pilot License is a good idea. We have a lot of students in SUPT right now that are off the street Guard / Reserve hires (in the good ol days you had to enlist in Guard / Reserve unit X and eventually get a SUPT slot, not true anymore). I recommend you have your son contact every Guard unit in the country that flies aircraft he may be interested in. I think the Guard does a much better job of taking care of their people than the Reserve. Above all else, avoid active-duty at all costs.

Cheers!

Merle
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Old 02-14-2018, 03:35 AM
  #12  
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AFTrainerGuy is correct on the slots being turned in...take the TBAS and go forth with AFRC. Also, the AF doesn't give much credit for a lot of civilian flying. I think 200 hours is about the max for PCSM credit. AFPC has a public site outside of the .mil firewall at: http://access.afpc.af.mil/pcsmdmz/index.html that explains a lot of this for those looking to go the flying route. Both AD and ARC have "UFT boards" each year (several times a year for ARC, I think) for those officers currently serving in other AFSCs. Good luck to your son!
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Old 02-14-2018, 06:26 AM
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Originally Posted by AFTrainerGuy View Post
Currently, AFRC turned in 22 unsponsored UPT pilot slots last year. If your son is serious, in today’s age, all he would need to do is contact a recruiter and take the AFOQT, the BAT test (not called this now but I can’t remember new name), and pass the Class 1 medical. Then, he can apply to the AFRC unsponsored UPT pipeline. If all three above are good, he’s pretty much done. They can’t even get close to hitting their yearly quota.
You don't have to have your FC1 completed any more in order to summit the package. It just need to be scheduled.
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Old 02-14-2018, 04:29 PM
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I just read an article, that I now can’t find, that showed how many USAFR and ANG SUPT training slots went unfilled last year. About 30-40 combined.

That’s why units are advertising.
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Old 02-16-2018, 04:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Sliceback View Post
I just read an article, that I now can’t find, that showed how many USAFR and ANG SUPT training slots went unfilled last year. About 30-40 combined.

That’s why units are advertising.
Part of the reason is the recruitment process. I tried to help a regional captain with 4000+ hrs and no skeletons. It took us almost a year just to get the testing complete due to recruiters just blowing him off, not returning calls, moving positions, etc....

He just got fed up and said if this is a indication of his next ten years, he wasn’t interested anymore. I honestly couldn’t disagree with him. USAF loss.
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Old 02-16-2018, 05:56 AM
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AFTrainerguy,

If you’re talking about ANG/AFRC; it’s all about squadron mgt involvement in my experience. My unit worked hard for those who wanted to go to UPT and had the quals and motivation. I had a good relationship with the recruiters; made time early in the effort to meet candidates; then followed up to make sure tests, physicals were done and results relayed to the individuals. Westover, at several points had “unit babies” in every position below Wing/CC. The last 3 commanders were unit babies, too. That helps.

Went to a graduation at Laughlin just before I retired. I, as SQ/DO, had five UPT students from my unit there at once. Might be some kind of record.

GF
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Old 02-16-2018, 11:16 AM
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Thanks for all the replies. He just heard from his "recruiter" (I use the term loosely) that they weren't taking any more applications for the April Selection Board. This was after he told him he had to get all the testing done ASAP to meet it. Guess supply is higher than demand...or the recruiter can't be bothered. Coulda swore there was a pilot shortage...
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Old 02-16-2018, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by galaxy flyer View Post
AFTrainerguy,

If you’re talking about ANG/AFRC; it’s all about squadron mgt involvement in my experience. My unit worked hard for those who wanted to go to UPT and had the quals and motivation. I had a good relationship with the recruiters; made time early in the effort to meet candidates; then followed up to make sure tests, physicals were done and results relayed to the individuals. Westover, at several points had “unit babies” in every position below Wing/CC. The last 3 commanders were unit babies, too. That helps.

Went to a graduation at Laughlin just before I retired. I, as SQ/DO, had five UPT students from my unit there at once. Might be some kind of record.

GF
Yep... AFRC. Off the street guy, trying to apply to unsponsored AFRC pipeline (while he tried to build a package and interview with specific units too).

I am a “reserve baby” and get the process. when your affiliated with a unit it’s a lot easier, but it’s harder to get a interview cold off the steet without tests complete and a PCSM score. Hence, getting basic tests scheduled. And there’s the rub. He literally just got “put on hold”, delayed, told the recruiter was retiring, new one in 3-6 months, and other crap continually (like taking off work and traveling to another base to take test, only to be turned away because it wasn’t scheduled on that day).

Anyway... I helped all I could, but in the end it just put a bad taste in his mouth. Combine that with a captain upgrade at his regional while this was going on and he was over the military flying dream.

You sound like ya’ll take good care of your candidates, but working at UPT and talking to all sorts of students, you will be surprised how many people don’t and the continual problems they have working in this bureaucracy.
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Old 02-16-2018, 07:34 PM
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Is it feasible to land a ANG UPT slot with no military or flight experience? From the limited research I have done, it sounds like they pick 1-2 guys out of 100+ for a UPT slot.
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Old 02-17-2018, 04:55 AM
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Yes. But the best way to do that is by enlisting in the unit first. Some units require enlisting first to get a SUPT slot. Other units don’t require that but in my experience the typical guy has several hundred hours in they walk in off the street and get hired.

And it’s not 1-2 per 100. I’d guess it’s a lower number. But even with a lower number you’ll be in the top 2-3%, perhaps 5%, of candidates applying. Many of the candidates will have prior military time or decent, if not significant, flight time. It’s a competitive process and character, and personality, is part of the mix.
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