If I want to fly, should I join AFROTC when I get to school in January, or should I wait until after college and try to get a pilot slot through OTS/OCS? I wasn’t sure where my chances would be higher. I have a non-technical major, but I think I will do well in it. 

Thank you!

My apologies if this has already been covered. For officer training school, do you have to apply for multiple jobs, or can you strictly apply for one job? IE, I want to be a pilot, am I forced into applying for another job, or can I choose whether I apply for jobs other than pilot? Reddit threads have made me question my knowledge on the process.

Thanks!

Alright so some background info, as the title suggests I’m currently active duty. 20 years old, based in macdill with the stratotanker. Maintainer, I joined with zero college, almost done with my cdcs so I can start working on my associates. This is where it starts to get a little hairy for me. I’ve spoken with a captain about two or three scholarships the Air Force offers for Rotc. 

My hopes are to get accepted into these programs and further my education full time and get my ppl to increase my pcsm. Also to have a high gpa and commanders ranking obviously.  Now where things get confusing to me is I keep hearing to go ang or reserve. And I was hoping to get some more advice on that, not only that but advice on what choices to make now and what steps to take.

I read that macdill also has a guard unit, I went to a briefing on palace chase and palace front which is essentially a program to join guard either 2 years before your contract is up or when your re-enlistment date comes around. So if for some reason I don’t get accepted into these scholarships does that seem like a feasible option? If so do I join with my associates and go to college full time (Rotc) and also be in the guard? Is that something you’re able to do? Financially is this do able? I’m married FYI.

Well I can go on and on about this, I have a lot of anxiety when it comes to figuring all of this out, it’s something I love doing. Flying is something I enjoy and am hoping to make the most out of my career. It just seems like something that’s out of my reach, which is strange because of all the routes I see. In a sense the more research I do the more unsure I am about WHAT to do. 

So thanks for reading this short essay on how confused I am, I’m hoping I can get some clarity from people who either A. Have done it or B. Know how it’s done. Again thanks for taking the time to read.

Married ANG guy here with a baby (both of whom will be going to UPT with me). Finally just got my dates for TFOT, IFT, and UPT. I'm sure I'll have some briefings that deal with this when I'm at drill next month, but I figured I could start getting educated on what kind of pay and entitlements I can expect during different phases of the training pipeline.

Currently I'm sworn in / gained as an E3.

For example, I should be eligible for BAH while I'm TFOT, correct? Just want to make sure my paperwork is squared away so that I don't have to worry about my mortgage payment while I'm away for 8 weeks. 

Thanks for any help / resources you can offer!

Also, if anyone with ANG/AFRC experience has figured out any tricks to getting more points, I'd love to hear them!

What happens to the slots filled by cadets who end up being DQd or leave for whatever reasons?

I dont want to miss out on using my Gi Bill to it's full capacity (e5 bah plus tuition) so I was planning to either Minor in something while I do Afrotc or start an entirely new degree.

I spoke to someone on a different site and they said I "cant do this."

I want to know from others if it's possible to do this? (Since every det. Is different)

My plan is to do AF-ROTC and Air Guard at the same time.

I was told some AF-ROTC dtachments take the Air Guard's 422/IMR in place of DoDMerb medical exam and I want to get the opinion of those who's detachments allowed them to do this.

Was it difficult to get your detachment to take 422/IMR?

Another side of this is that I have read countless stories of awesome cadets being DQ'd over absolutely nothing and I figure 422/IMR would help me avoid being DQ'd.

Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

I am currently a sophomore in the process of joining the detachment at my school. I've done the application and as of now I'm just waiting until orientation. I understand AFROTC is traditionally a 4 year program and I know that means I will need to double up on the courses and grasp the day to day operations in order to catch up.

Has anyone here joined their schools detachment after completing a year of undergrad already and has gone through the program?

If so: 

a) Does joining late make me less competitive for a rated slot?

b) Do you have any advice on how to catch up? (ei. supplemental information/guides I can use)

Thank you for your time

Im 20, I’m a little stressed about what I should be doing now up until I’m in Rotc. I’m worried Rotc won’t be the best way to get a pilot slot. I’ve been considering calling the detachment but I’m not sure what to ask. By the time I’m in Rotc I’ll be 24 (unless I get accepted into a scholarship program). This is a very hard goal I’m shooting for, I applaud anyone who’s made it far enough to earn their wings. 

Sometimes I feel discouraged and unmotivated to keep chasing this dream, I don’t know what I should do. Right now I’m being the best maintainer I can be and learning my job, working on starting college. I don’t want to lose sight of my goals and hope to hear some more advice. This forum is awesome, I’ve posted a few similar threads. Anyways thanks for reading! 

Edit: forgot to ask for advice on detachments around the Tampa area, specifically USF.

Thanks!

What is the policy for taking leave as a Lieutenant on casual status, awaiting a UPT class date? Is it any different because of AETC or training status? I ask because it was generally not approved when I was an enlisted MRA MX student back in 2011.

Anyone have advice for me as for how to pursue finding a flying unit and contacting them with this information? I feel like an e-mail is a better form of communication with all the info here, especially if they aren't aware of the program but i don't just have a list at my disposal. Maybe i should call around as much as i can until i get a decent lead to continue on from there with e-mail communication

My background: 25 in a few days, 7 years in the reserves/guard so far. Aeronautics major with my PPL, working on commercial and instrument. Multi-engine and potentially CFI afterwards.

Here's the e-mail, i put it in an image because it's so long. 

Thanks!

I'm currently starting my final year of college also seriously considering retaking my AFOQT to try and improve my PCSM.  AS of the moment, I am planning on commissioning FY18, but that may all change.  Hear me out.  I'm not really one to be tact so I'll just say this the best that I know how.  At the moment, I have an RPA slot and as glamorous as the future of this career looks, it's not something I think I want for myself.  That whole idea of flying in a box, disconnected from everything that has defined flying  for the past century is something I am still not sure about.  

As of right now, my PCSM is at a 59.  I've taken the TBAS twice and AFOQT once.  I know that taking the AFOQT and doing better on the pilot sections can help raise the PCSM score, but I also recognize that failing any section of the test means losing everything I've worked towards these past few years and throwing away a big career I've longed for since my youth.  

However,

if I retake the AFOQT, I can raise my PCSM and hopefully get picked up on the supplemental board for pilot.   Maybe it may happen even if I don't retake the AFOQT, but still, maybe it won't and really all I want to do is maximize the variables that I can control and one such variable is that AFOQT.  At least once I have done all I could can I have a peace of mind and say to myself that I gave it everything you know?  I recognize that getting a higher AFOQT does not necessarily secure my chances of getting a pilot slot, but it would also hurt to not take it and have this lingering thought in my head.  That "what-if" scenario, what if I had taken that AFOQT and done better?  

I've spoken to friends and my cadre about this and all are against this move simply because of what I can stand to lose, a commission in the USAF and a job for next few years.  My cadre specifically noted that as an RPA I stand a higher chance of getting upgraded to a pilot than a CSO (can anyone confirm this?) and as such, the best course of action for me is, and should be, to remain still and let it play out because you know sometimes the best course of action is do nothing.  What do you guys think?  I

If anyone has been or is in the same shoe, I'd very much like to hear your input on this.  Thank you.

1. Should I retake it?  
2. How much weight does the AFOQT pilot scores have on the PCSM?  
3. If you've done better on the pilot section after your retake, how much did it affect your PCSM?
4. Is RPA more likely to be upgraded to Pilot than CSO?

Anyways, any help really is appreciated.  Thanks guys.