Said FDNY old dude with no prior service reporting in. Age is now 33 (it was upped around Feb this year) without a waiver. You’re probably not getting one for active duty service, but Reserves and Guard have way more flexibility. They’ll be the ones pushing your waiver up the chain and backing you as their candidate.

And it’s not just the Reserves or C5s that are doing waivers; I’d gotten an offer for a Guard C17 unit, as well. Apply any and everywhere you’d be willing to fly, because you never know. It’s all in having pretty solid AFOQT/TBAS scores, putting together a solid application packet, and selling yourself to the unit.

Having a PPL helps, too; shows that you’re capable of flying and passing checkrides, but it’s not an absolute.

I know a prior service guy that’s going to a Reserve unit that’s closer to 40, so I’m certainly not the oldest. Again, it’s selling yourself as worth the risk and headaches for pushing a waiver. OTS/SERE/UPT are not easy, let alone at an advanced age, so it’s certainly something to consider.

FlyingSquadrons Forum is a great spot to go for a lot of good info, or feel free to fire me off any questions and I’ll help how I can. I’m in the middle of UPT, so time is not always on my side and I don’t check here often, but I’ll do what I can.

Good luck! Nothing is impossible until you’ve exhausted all options, so keep trying!

 

Good for you! That’s awesome. I was 23 at army ierw and 31 at upt.

 

To think back when Carter was President, “Sweet Home Alabama” a hit. Alabama sent a RF-4 nav to UPT, he was over the 27½ age limit, someone mysteriously put his wrong birth year in his forms and off to UPT at Columbus AFB. Nearing graduation, takes a physical as per schedule. Correctly writes down birthday including correct year. Some fancy comparisons of the paperwork are done, questions asked, stern finger salute given the young captain along with a threat of removal PRIOR to graduation.

Next morning, an RF-4 whistles down initial containing one each AG of the two-button rank who politely but firmly states to the wing commander our Captain will be in the graduation ceremony a week hence. Done.

Days the AF was run by officers, not sergeants in the MPF.

GF

 

Age 39 and 11 months for starting UPT as a Reservist. I know the person.

 

At that rate, they will have to refit the cockpits with grab bars and skid mats, not to mention a "Tallboy" biffy.

 

And that has to be the limit, they’d reach 20 years at age 60. Yikes, good luck with all that.

GF