Q & A Forum

Good afternoon all, Does anyone know how backed-up it is to start training at each of the Pilot bases. I've heard from a friend that an individual who got picked up on last AD board is still waiting to start at her previous base (Cross Training). Thanks in advance. -Mike

I got hired by a guard unit a few months back, and just went through my FC1. I am still working on finishing my PPL. It's tough with budget and job schedule, but I'd like to finish so I don't have to go to IFT. Does anyone know if there is a cutoff time between not having your PPL and whoever signs you up (unit, NGB, other?) to go to IFT? For example, if you don't finish your PPL within 30 days of your OTS dates, you have to attend IFT. Or something like that. Thanks

Does anyone know a good officer recruiter in Virginia, for USAF active duty? I keep getting routed back to a particular recruiter. I've worked with her before, and I want to work with someone else.

So, perhaps many of you folks here have flown upside down in an airplane like the T-6. We all know that the shape of a wing is what causes lift due to air on top of the wing moving faster than below the wing, which creates a pressure differential. Low pressure over the wing, high presure below the wing, inturn produces lift which balances weight. Thrust forward balances Drag backward. Now, when you fly inverted and level at the same altitude- the lift should be pointing toward the earth because the same shape of the wing is upside down. This adds to the weight. So what force is balancing upward the (weight + downward lift) that's pointing down?

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So.. many of you guys here are pilots.. and I am guessing many know energy management principles from fighter training. From Wikipedia.. And you know that kinetic energy of a moving body is 1/2 x m x(v squared), where m is mass of the body and v is velocity. Imagine you are in a spacecraft in outer space, beyond the galaxy.You are observing another spacecraft that is quite close to you and has no relative motion with respect to you. These two spacecraft are the "isolated system" and are free from any outside gravitational influences. Now let's say the other spacecraft fires its engines (Burn 1) and accelerates to velocity v with respect to your spacecraft. Th…

Hello, My name is Savvy and I am 26 tomorrow I meet with a recruiter to discuss my career pathway to becoming an officer. I have a BA in English and an MS in Criminal Justice. I wanted to join Security Forces and maybe eventually OSI. I just wondered if anyone had any advice in terms of what my chances were into getting into Security Forces is and what kind of things they would be looking for in my background. I have never been in trouble but my family has and I know I was asked about going to therapy or counseling as well which has me a bit worried because I have attended it in the past.

Share your recipe for putting together a physical packet to be sent in the mail. What kind of paper did you use, resume binder, envelope etc. How did you build it? Go.

In your opinion, is bogi dope worth the $$$? I'm thinking of having them review my packet.

Hey guys, I am in a precarious situation, I have the ability to take the AFOQT and the TBAS here in Europe before I redeploy and at the same time, meet the some hiring board deadlines for units. the test dates are 21 and 25JUN. I have not really studied and I don't want to get a bad score to hurt my chances later, in addition to that, I don't know how I can study for the TBAS, as I understand it's more of the motorskills test. I'm also sitting at just shy of 800 hours so I am not worried as much about the stick wiggling part. what do you guys recommend?

Considering applying to my home guard unit to which I feel like I have a high likelihood or being hired based off previous conversations provided I don’t totally tube the AFOQT & TBAS. I’ll require an age waiver as I’ll be turning 33 in the fall when the board will most likely happen. I’ve been holding off my PPL as my Wife a I have been discussing this. She is an RN and loves the floor she works on which took her many years to get hired on to so she isn’t real keen on the idea of quitting. She can go to an ultra part time status and travel to see me while in training every couple months. The tough part is we have a 3.5 year old son and leaving that dude behind …

Hello all, I took my first class flight physical for the Air Force Reserves back in December and unfortunately found myself disqualified, due to color vision. I just recently got word that they lowered the color vision standards for the Air Force. Passing is now a 55 (not sure how the scale works), but I now pass in one eye with a 55 and fail in the other with a 50. I was seeking advice on how to potentially get re tested. Should I try to fight for another FC1 test? Do they even offer that? I was also told to maybe find someone who offers the CCT and submit the test. If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks. -Cody J. Burd

Hey everyone, I'm applying active duty for the 2nd time. My first time was pilot only. I'm on the fence about whether to apply for all officer positions or pilot only again. My recruiter is really pushing for me to apply for all officer positions. I'm not sure I want to. Anyway, I have to redo my medical at MEPS and she has a new form for me to sign before I get there. It says, "I understand that I am going to the MEPS to join the Active Duty Air Force, take the oath of enlistment, sign a contract and I will enter the Air Force Delayed Entry Program (DEP)." I never had to sign a contract or take the oath of enlistment while at MEPS last time I applied for a comm…

Hello All! This is my first post; please be gentle. I’ve been lurking here and at the AirForceOTS forums looking for a line on academics to study prior to UPT. From what I understand, you can go in without much prior knowledge and be fine. However, if there was ever a time you said to yourself, “Yeah if I had been habitually bored in the months leading up to OTS/IFT/UPT, I wish I would have learned more about ‘X’.” I would appreciate that insight! For example, this BaseOps link talks about academics covering aerospace physiology: Would reading the Handbook of Operational and Aerospace Physiology (that I rapid googled after I read th…

Does anyone know the process to get a waiver I retake the AFOQT a 3rd time? I retook it recently and panicked on the math section and I know I can do much better. Just wondering if anyone has had success with this or knows the process.

Hey guys, a civilian here just a asking a question regarding security clearances. I would like to join an ANG unit but I have some concerns regarding the security clearance process. I married my wife who is from Ukraine about 3 years ago. We started the process right away for naturalization and residency, and we are almost at the end of the process. The question is should we wait until she is a permanent resident, until she's a citizen, or is it completely out of the question? Thanks

I am coming from another branch and am having trouble finding out what exactly a Form 8 is so I can provide the equivalent copies from the Army. Can anyone give me a description of what this form is used for?

Hi everyone, new to the forum. I just graduated from UCT in Pensacola as a guard C130 NAV. Having spent the year on orders with all the active benefits I'm feeling like that's the best option for my family in the long run. Is there any conceivable way for me to go active duty as a guard NAV fresh out of school or maybe even go to UPT as an active duty pilot at this point? I do plan to start doing boards for UPT as I just got my PPL and my scores are very competitive. Any advice will help, thanks

I am a civilian off-the-street pilot select for an ANG unit. I've been transferred to an enlisted recruiter because he said I need to enlist first to go to MEPS and then go to Wright-Pat for FC-1, and then my packet will be sent to NGB. I was wondering if this is an aberration or if this is typical. I will be going this route regardless, I am just curious. Thanks in advance.

I'm a cadet and I was just offered an ABM slot. I was just looking to find out the pro's and con's of becoming an ABM as well as any advice people have on the subject. So far, people have told me that it's a stressful job, there's low retention, there aren't a lot of civilian careers that can utilize an ABM's training/skillset, ABM's get deployed a lot. Can anyone comment on or verify any of these things? Thanks!

Hey everyone, new to the forums and trying to absorb all the great information here. I’m a current AD Navy guy trying to get into a Reserve/Guard unit. Anyways, I looked around and couldn’t find a specific answer to my question. Since I will Be basically shotgunning resumes and application packets to several different units over the next year, my question pertains to formatting for the LORs. I’m in the process of gathering my letters from multiple sources, however, I am unsure of how to format and address them. Obviously I know I need to put the specific fighter unit and/or squadron commander on it. However, since I am using these letters to send to multi…

I posted a thread over in the medical section a few weeks back. I have had asthma/allergies my whole life and taken medication for it, so I realize my chances of even getting into ANG are slim to none. As stated earlier, I am 23, currently an Engineer (Mechanical Engineering degree) for a large Aerospace/Defense contractor. I love flying and currently have my PPL, working on my Instrument Rating as we speak. I am really considering making flying a career at this point. I have already confirmed I can get a first class medical (for civilian flying of course). Should I go to a local recruiting office and talk with a recruiter? Or even just call one of the local recruiti…

Ladies and Gents, I'm currently active duty USAF. I'm doing my level best to earn a pilot slot. I'm not keeping my eggs all in one basket. I'm looking at active USAF as well as ANG/AFRES. I'm also looking at the USMC. I haven't heard a whole lot from the USN. I'm studying Aeronautics at ERAU and my grad date is April 2019. That would put me at 30. Before graduating, I'm looking at going to ground school as well as getting at least 10 flight hours under my belt to improve my PCSM score. This is the dream. All that being said, I could potentially transfer to another university that will potentially put my grad date in April/May 2018. But, haven't hear…

I have a quick question about flying for the regionals before joining the Air Force Reserves. I am coming out of the University of North Dakota as a CFII here pretty soon and the regionals are offering some pretty healthy sign-on bonuses and pay packages as well as cadet programs. Looks tasty to me, but I have always wanted to go the Air Force Reserves route. That's my main career goal is to become a heavy guy in the Reserves. Would it be a bad move to get my feet wet in the regionals as a line pilot before applying to the Air Force Reserves and going through UPT? Do units look unfavorably upon regional pilots? I talked with a reserve pilot and h…

Hi All, Have some questions regarding pilot slots for the ANG/AFR. Up until this point, I was looking to go AD for a pilot slot if I was picked up through a rated board however; I have decided Reserves/Guard may be better suited for me....mostly that I get to choose which airframe to fly. I just do not know where to start. I am currently 27 and retesting on the AFOQT Aug 4th for a higher score. My plan was to then work with the line office recruiter to prep my package for the next rated board, which I believe is this fall. For the Guard/Reserves, what do I need to do after taking my AFOQT and getting good scores? Do I then need to find another recruiter or is it…