Nope, haven't actually started UPT yet. Getting sponsored by a fighter squadron actually pushed my dates back to align me with a 38 slot. I just made whatever connections I could, put in an app anywhere that would accept one, cold called and emailed random squadrons, rushed everywhere I could, etc.. lots of time and effort, but the real work hasn't even started. Super stoked for everything to come!
I do know some studs that have been on the unsponsored path and made it into a fighter mid T-6s though. For those dudes, it was mainly performance and persistence based.