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[tarheelaviator 46]

13 hours ago, Seadogs said:

Hate to admit it but you are right. We always hear the advice "just keep going and you'll get picked up! It took me 50 fighter interviews with 30 alternates before I got picked up, you can do it too!" That's not realistic for everyone and people need to realize that.

Perhaps but if you have that attitude you are going to hurt your chances of getting what you want.  

Having a "Plan B" Can Hurt Your Chances of Success

It's a similar philosophy that SOF hopefuls have that go through BUDS, Q-Course, RASP, etc.  The one's that make it have an attitude of, "I'd rather die, drown, freeze to death, or break my leg than fail this evolution."  Burn the boats.  If you want a combat aviation mission what about the AF active duty route?  Navy/USMC aviation?  There is more than one way to get what you want.  

Edited February 20 by tarheelaviator

[hindsight2020 575]

14 hours ago, Seadogs said:

Hate to admit it but you are right. We always hear the advice "just keep going and you'll get picked up! It took me 50 fighter interviews with 30 alternates before I got picked up, you can do it too!" That's not realistic for everyone and people need to realize that.

Indeed. After dozens of interviews and 3 years of struggling financially and even hiding in grad school for a while, I was supposedly "getting close" (drug of choice if there ever was one), but finally gave up on the fighter thing when the little money I had ran out. I needed to eat, and was already 3-4 years behind my phantom AD YG peers in getting the TAFSD clock going. Didn't seem like a big deal then, but now I'm kicking myself being 7 years to the finish line when I could be 3.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: can't love what you say you do when you're hungry and broke first. And that was relatively easier to negotiate in that I had no dependents back then. Nowadays, forget it. So I took the first unit that would send me to UPT pronto and never looked back.  To be clear, I don't regret not having gone AD, but I gave up a not insignificant amount of time in the holding pattern, which has affected me financially. Granted, the Lost Decade was in full swing, so I was going nowhere fast in the Bush II economy anyways, but the point remains.

In the end, I low-crawled my way into a flying job I felt more suited and content with than the one that got me into the military, so it all worked out. Took about 8 years but that's life. Consolation prizes don't have to always be a pejorative. I certainly don't think so. I sleep well at night. Good luck!

[admdelta 45]

15 hours ago, ihtbasitc said:

thanks for the heads up.

anybody have more info on this? obviously there's no info on bogidope about it. i'm prior service and i'd love to apply. will call the poc for the previous year's upt tomorrow, but it sounds like i'm too late. thanks in advance.

I just emailed the POC, apparently he's still doing it this year too. I'll update you if I hear anything (they said he's on leave for the next couple days). 

[ihtbasitc 16]

19 minutes ago, admdelta said:

I just emailed the POC, apparently he's still doing it this year too. I'll update you if I hear anything (they said he's on leave for the next couple days). 

big thanks. if i don't get the chance to at least meet them this year i'll be disappointed. i've got calls and emails in to the personnel office too.

[Seadogs 17]

6 hours ago, tarheelaviator said:

Perhaps but if you have that attitude you are going to hurt your chances of getting what you want.  

Having a "Plan B" Can Hurt Your Chances of Success

It's a similar philosophy that SOF hopefuls have that go through BUDS, Q-Course, RASP, etc.  The one's that make it have an attitude of, "I'd rather die, drown, freeze to death, or break my leg than fail this evolution."  Burn the boats.  If you want a combat aviation mission what about the AF active duty route?  Navy/USMC aviation?  There is more than one way to get what you want.  

Sure? But if only the top .5% can become fighter pilots, then statistically speaking, we all can't be fighter pilots. 

[Lisenbyjacob 11]

On 2/20/2020 at 3:46 AM, ryleypav said:

Most likely, once you send the resume they will send you the package requirements. 

So would it be inappropriate to attach a LOR with my resume or advisable to just stick to what they're asking?

[John Doe 3]

On 2/20/2020 at 10:42 AM, tarheelaviator said:

Perhaps but if you have that attitude you are going to hurt your chances of getting what you want.  

Having a "Plan B" Can Hurt Your Chances of Success

It's a similar philosophy that SOF hopefuls have that go through BUDS, Q-Course, RASP, etc.  The one's that make it have an attitude of, "I'd rather die, drown, freeze to death, or break my leg than fail this evolution."  Burn the boats.  If you want a combat aviation mission what about the AF active duty route?  Navy/USMC aviation?  There is more than one way to get what you want.  

I would 100% have a plan B.

 

The circuit is crazy this year, with fighter units getting 200+ applicants for 1-2 spots. You literally have a 1-2/200 or 00.5% - 01% chance of getting a guard fighter slot.

Than even if you do get a interview, you will have to spend around $800 on flights, hotel, food, car rental, etc out of your own pocket. And even then they interview 15 guys and pick 1 or 2.
 

If it takes you 12 interviews to get a spot, then 12x$800 and you are talking big $$$$. And that’s not counting all of the flight time you need to buy.

You can go active duty, but it is possible that you can get a class with no fighter drops (although not likely). There is a good chance you will end up flying a C-17 active duty when u could have done it in the guard/reserve with a much better quality of life (and more $$$ from the airlines).

You can also go navy or marine, but you might get a helicopter or osprey or c-130.

Morale of the story is don’t pass up a great guard/reserve flying career flying heavies or something cool because you are chasing something that probably won’t happen. Try for fighters at first and give it 100%, but don’t ruin a great plan B because you chased a job with a 00.5% chance of getting hired.  You have to be optimistic but also realistic as well.

[admdelta 45]

2 minutes ago, John Doe said:

I would 100% have a plan B.

 

The circuit is crazy this year, with fighter units getting 200+ applicants for 1-2 spots. You literally have a 1-2/200 or 00.5% - 01% chance of getting a guard fighter slot.

Than even if you do get a interview, you will have to spend around $800 on flights, hotel, food, car rental, etc out of your own pocket. And even then they interview 15 guys and pick 1 or 2.
 

If it takes you 12 interviews to get a spot, then 12x$800 and you are talking big $$$$. And that’s not counting all of the flight time you need to buy.

You can go active duty, but it is possible that you can get a class with no fighter drops (although not likely). There is a good chance you will end up flying a C-17 active duty when u could have done it in the guard/reserve with a much better quality of life (and more $$$ from the airlines).

You can also go navy or marine, but you might get a helicopter or osprey or c-130.

Morale of the story is don’t pass up a great guard/reserve flying career flying heavies or something cool because you are chasing something that probably won’t happen. Try for fighters at first and give it 100%, but don’t ruin a great plan B because you chased a job with a 00.5% chance of getting hired.  You have to be optimistic but also realistic as well.

Hey man keep it down, I don’t wanna have to compete with 200+ people on heavies too! 😂

[bigdreams 2]

2 hours ago, John Doe said:

I would 100% have a plan B.

 

The circuit is crazy this year, with fighter units getting 200+ applicants for 1-2 spots. You literally have a 1-2/200 or 00.5% - 01% chance of getting a guard fighter slot.

Than even if you do get a interview, you will have to spend around $800 on flights, hotel, food, car rental, etc out of your own pocket. And even then they interview 15 guys and pick 1 or 2.
 

If it takes you 12 interviews to get a spot, then 12x$800 and you are talking big $$$$. And that’s not counting all of the flight time you need to buy.

You can go active duty, but it is possible that you can get a class with no fighter drops (although not likely). There is a good chance you will end up flying a C-17 active duty when u could have done it in the guard/reserve with a much better quality of life (and more $$$ from the airlines).

You can also go navy or marine, but you might get a helicopter or osprey or c-130.

Morale of the story is don’t pass up a great guard/reserve flying career flying heavies or something cool because you are chasing something that probably won’t happen. Try for fighters at first and give it 100%, but don’t ruin a great plan B because you chased a job with a 00.5% chance of getting hired.  You have to be optimistic but also realistic as well.

It seems that some ppl here think if you even remotely understand the possibility that you won't get fighters then you have the "wrong attitude". Lol. Let's just all go in with blind optimism shall we?

[ryleypav 33]

15 hours ago, Lisenbyjacob said:

So would it be inappropriate to attach a LOR with my resume or advisable to just stick to what they're asking?

I would follow their instructions as listed. If they wanted a LOR at that point, they would ask for one. Attention to detail is key.

[BlueSkyz 3]

On 2/20/2020 at 6:47 PM, ihtbasitc said:

big thanks. if i don't get the chance to at least meet them this year i'll be disappointed. i've got calls and emails in to the personnel office too.

Sorry, which unit is this? Im AD navy right now about to jump ship and am interested. 

[tarheelaviator 46]

1 hour ago, BlueSkyz said:

Sorry, which unit is this? Im AD navy right now about to jump ship and am interested. 

I believe he's talking about the 131st Fighter Squadron (Massachusetts Air National Guard) out of Westfield.   

[admdelta 45]

On 2/20/2020 at 9:47 AM, ihtbasitc said:

big thanks. if i don't get the chance to at least meet them this year i'll be disappointed. i've got calls and emails in to the personnel office too.

Just heard back from the Mass POC, he says the board details for this year are still TBD. Doesn't sound like it's happening next month as someone else reported. He did say to keep an eye out on Bogidope and that they'd be making a post there.

Edited February 25 by admdelta
Added more deets

[BlueSkyz 3]

Sorry if this was already posted...has anyone heard back from the 100th FS out of Montgomery yet? Their board is supposed to be 6-7MAR. I've tried emailing Capt Sanka but no joy. 

[Sky400 0]

Hey everyone, 

I'm currently looking for any upcoming UPT boards for fighter squadrons, I'm aware of the 121st in DC, the 112th in Toledo, and the 119th in Atlantic City. Feel free to private message me or comment on this post if you know of any other squadrons that are having a UPT board this year or you have a POC for me to use!

I'd really appreciate the help.

[pilotcrum 13]

2 hours ago, BlueSkyz said:

Sorry if this was already posted...has anyone heard back from the 100th FS out of Montgomery yet? Their board is supposed to be 6-7MAR. I've tried emailing Capt Sanka but no joy. 

I just heard back today. Invites were sent out already. 

[Desk Jobs Suck 84]

Just wanted to say I got picked up! I've been on this forum for almost 2 years now and it has helped me a lot with SA. Looking forward to the adventure and thanks for all the help!

[admdelta 45]

1 hour ago, Desk Jobs Suck said:

Just wanted to say I got picked up! I've been on this forum for almost 2 years now and it has helped me a lot with SA. Looking forward to the adventure and thanks for all the help!

Congrats bud! Where at?

[Desk Jobs Suck 84]

6 minutes ago, admdelta said:

Congrats bud! Where at?

Thanks man! Madison

[bigdreams 2]

7 hours ago, pilotcrum said:

I just heard back today. Invites were sent out already. 

Yay or nay?

[pilotcrum 13]

30 minutes ago, bigdreams said:

Yay or nay?

Nay 😞. But we move on. 

[pilotcrum 13]

So is Oklahoma supposed to send out invites this weekend? 

[ihtbasitc 16]

18 hours ago, Desk Jobs Suck said:

Thanks man! Madison

Any trade secrets for those of us wishing to replicate your success?

[tarheelaviator 46]

14 hours ago, pilotcrum said:

So is Oklahoma supposed to send out invites this weekend? 

Possibly but I heard it will more likely be the weekend of March 6-8th since that's their first UTA since early February.  

[Desk Jobs Suck 84]

5 hours ago, ihtbasitc said:

Any trade secrets for those of us wishing to replicate your success?

Ask away, I'm willing to look over applications and help with interview stuff. Getting help from those already picked up really helped me as well.