FlyingBulldog

I'm a private pilot wanting to start commercial training when I graduate college in May, but my first choice would be to go into the ANG (TN 164th in Memphis).

I emailed a recruiter a few weeks ago, and of course he just gave me everything he could to get me to enlist - no thanks. From what I understand, you get picked for a pilot slot and are commissioned as an officer after OCS.

I'm unsure of whether I need to go ahead and take the AFOQT before submitting any sort of applications, and where to do that. Does anyone know where someone can sign up for the test, and maybe the best preparation material out there? I was able to find some prep online, but couldn't seem to find anywhere mentioning how or where to sign up or find a test.

If anyone has any info specific to obtaining a pilot slot in Memphis' ANG, that would be great, too.


Thanks

FlyingBulldog

To clarify, if I am unable to secure an ANG pilot slot, then I'll be pursuing civilian instrument and commercial training after graduation.

Tweetdrvr

George Dubya's internets and googles is your friends. Univ of Memphis AFROTC detachment can set you up, they have ROTC cadets take tests all the time. FYI it is AMS for the ANG to get a commission. OTS for the active duty and reserve folks. OCS for USN.

FlyingBulldog

Great, thanks for your help. I will contact UofM ROTC.

And I knew I was bound to get OTS/OCS backwards, but I didn't know about AMS.

Timbo

The Air Gurad has it's own Officer School, they call it AMS, which if I can remember that long ago (30 years) stands for Academy of Military Science...?

When I went through it was located at the Knoxville airport, TYS, where the TN KC135 unit was just across the field.

If you do get selected for a pilot slot, try to get as much instrument time as possible before you go to UPT, that was the part that slowed up most of the guys in my class, who didn't have any prior IFR time.

blastoff

Everything is self-contained at the OTS campus on Maxwell now. AMS is co-located with OTS at Maxwell.

FlyingBulldog

From what I understand from reading on wikipedia, AMS is at Maxwell like blastoff said. But is it the OTS program watered down from 12 weeks to six weeks? Seems like they just want to send you through something really fast so they can call you an officer and get you to UPT. I'm not complaining, just wondering if that's what the program is like.

lowtimepilot

Baseops.net Flight Planning and Aviation Weather
WantsCheck.Com Military Flight Planning and Cadet Resources

Both have a ton of good info. You will need to go through a recruiter to take your AFOQT. I just went through the whole process about 2 months ago. I got picked up by a unit and then got DQ'd because of a medical issue I a trying to fight right now. I would recommend trying to get your MEPS physical done before you invest all your time and find out you get DQ'd.

If you want a spot with that unit I recommend you stop by there and talk to them. Guard and reserve units will want to check you out to make sure you will fit in with them.

Good luck! It is by far the best way to become a pilot.

Tweetdrvr

As we have drawn down, the need for two separate but equal commissioning programs has made it reasonable for them to shut down TYS and move AMS to Maxwell. The ANG conspiracy theorists out there will say this is a move to take away some measure of independence from the ANG as we move into the TFI future force. A couple of recent grads have told me they are talking about eventually consolidating AMS and OTS into one course. If the ANG has been able to do it in half the time (due to most folks having prior service and to make the civilian employers happy), then somewhere in there are some efficiencies of time the big blue institution can use to spend less money commissioning folks. 9 weeks seems to be the number for the new course. Not so long as to make civillian employers too unhappy, and probably a little less flicker ball and more focus on pushups for the active duty.

Sliceback

I'd second that.

I'd recommend getting as much flying experience as possible. Instrument training is key. You'll be doing ground based SID's from day one. If it's cloudy you'll be doing SID's almost immediately. What's a SID? Navigation based departure path. It comes fast and furious. Family member just got their wings. ROTC cadet of the year twice. Athlete. Engineer. Blah, blah, blah. Lost a bunch of weight due to the strees - "hardest thing I've ever done." Computer simulation is great but it can't replicate an airplane. Completely different stress level for learning.

If you're trying to get into the ANG there's two typical tracks - already enlisted in the unit(less pilot experience required and maybe none required). If you're not in the unit don't be surprised if the serious contenders have 500 hrs to well over 1,000, with Comm/Inst/CFI/MEL and sometimes ATP.


AMS - Academy of Military Science. OTS with less B.S. Most candidates are prior enlisted and the pilots are typically non-prior service. Guys with 5, 10 , or 15 yrs enlisted service don't need 13 weeks of OTS. They help the non prior folks get up to speed.