SnakeLegsBanks

AD is hiring pilots again if you are really interested. Just got a call from the recruiter I worked with a year ago asking if I wanted to re-apply. Said they were looking at a short window for building packagaes.

Anyone have any gouge on what types of things to include in the ETP letter? Non-prior ANG pilot select here.

OR ANG is back on. Got this email today: "Earlier this year you showed interest in becoming a pilot in the Oregon Air National Guard. I wanted to inform you that we have opened up our application window through August 15. If you're still interested can you please re-send your original or updated application so we can include you in this board. Selected applicants will be notified in early September and can expect an interview the first weekend in October. If you have any questions you can look at the 142 fighter wing website under careers and pilot applications or email me directly. Thank you for your interest and have a wonderful day,"

First Post, recently selected to fly C-130s so I'll add my experiences from my 3 interviews here. Fist of all, the key for me was going to visit the unit (may seem pretty obvious but I think it's worth repeating). I sent out a lot of applications and as the record stands, I'm batting 1.000 on interviews for units that I visited, and .000 for those I didn't. This may have been more important because I'm from CA, and everyone automatically assumes you are a douche (can't really blame them). First interview was at an a-10 unit. I had visited once for a drill weekend and met most of the pilots. One of 14 I think interviewing, most were non-prior like me. I wasn't prepared for how INformal it was. Interviewed with 3 pilots, 2 of them were pretty new. It was a very casual atmosphere, and basically just a conversation, really don't remember many interview-type questions. -Tell me what we do/what is our mission? -How do you feel about killing people (was told prior that the correct response was somewhere between the guy who said he was against it and wouldn't do it, and the guy who said he had a gun in his truck and would go kill anyone they wanted right now) I had prepared pretty thoroughly for all the tough questions, and walked out of there feeling like I left alot of my good talking points on the table. 2nd interview was a c-130 unit. I had visited previously 3-4 times, one drill weekend and a couple short mid-week drop-ins. I developed a pretty good relationship with the guy running the board, and another LtCol who lived near me. I was one of 7 or 8 being considered, I think I was the only non-prior. The interview was pretty formal, ~6 O's in blues with you sitting in the single chair in the middle of the room. Most of the questions were what you would expect. A few that stood out to me were: -Do you plan to move here, what will you do for work? -Would you consider a navigator position? -Why this aircraft/this unit? -If a fighter unit called after you were selected, would you go interview with them? -Tell me what leadership and integrity mean to you, and how they go together. -Tell us a joke. 1 or 2 questions I stumbled on, but felt I recovered ok and didn't completely bomb them. Ended up getting the alternate position. I got feedback from the guy running the board that it was close and I was his top choice. The advice he gave me was that I did a good job in the interview, but I could have kept the atmosphere a little 'lighter' and to act more like a 'rockstar'. Tought to do sitting in the hot seat in front of 6 officers in blues grilling you, but take that for whatever it's worth. 3rd, successful interview was another c-130 unit. Visited once, mid-week met a handful of pilots. One of 5 interviewing, I think only 1 was prior service. Interview had 7-8 pilots in flight suits, and was much less formal than the last. A few questions I remember -How will you support yourself here if selected. This was a very big deal in this unit, and I had taken the advice of a Col. I had met during my visit, and researched some specific jobs in the area. Nailed the response by telling them I had started the application process for x, y, and z jobs in the area. -We are only hiring pilots on this board, but why pilot and not nav? Also nailed this response by telling them it didn't make much sense as a career move with the upcoming J-model transition. Probably wouldn't be a good response if there was a Nav in the room, but it was all pilots and I remember seeing each of them nod in approval and start writing notes almost in unison. -If you were selected, and for some reason ended up being DQ'd for pilot down the road, would you consider a different officer position in the unit? Told them I would because I was down with the mission of the unit, and by that point I would be too old to be applying for pilot spots anyways. -Tell us about a great leader you have met, and what some of their traits are that you would bring to the unit. The rest of the interview was just them asking questions about about my resume. I was able to take the feedback from the previous interview, and tried to keep the atmosphere more casual. The whole thing was more of a conversation than an interview, if that makes sense. I walked out of there feeling like I got the job, and 2 days later I found out I was right. Every interview was very different, but no matter how formal/informal they were looking back they all wanted to see the successful canidate connect with them on a personal level. My advice is don't be the 'I'm honored for this opportunity/thank you for your consideration/If selected I won't let you down, Sir' guy. You don't want to be cocky, but you don't want to be humble either. It's kinda like meeting your girlfriends parents for the first time. You don't want to be disrespectful and cocky, but you want to impress them and be confident. You have to know your place, but you want to walk away as friends at the end of the interview. I think working on this approach is more important than preparing for any specific questions. Good luck to everyone, and have fun travelling around the country and hanging out with pilots. PS- about showing up with booze: most units are stoked, but some are not (maybe the commander doesn't drink or something like that). My move was to show up in the morning with a travel case or 2 of hot Starbucks. It's a safe play and they aren't expensive. Leave the booze in the car until you can gather some intel.