Q & A Forum

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'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!

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.

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 …

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.

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

Anyone know if water survival training (initial qual) is all consolidated now to Fairchild AFB?

Hello, I'm currently AD and looking into the ANG as a career to allow me to continue to serve to 20 years or more. I have a unique background that has generated a broad range of questions I have yet to find the answers to and I was hoping I could get pointed in the correct direction here. These questions involve the application process, rushing squadrons and how time in the ANG is counted as far as time in service goes. If you knowledgeable on any of these topics, please message me. Thank you, Checkmate

Question on providing the correct # hours to the PCSM folks. The PCSM worksheet requests "instructional and/or pilot in charge private flying hours". The "instructional" here refers to hours where I have been instructed, correct? Not hours where I have instructed someone else? (The latter wouldn't make sense to me as your logbook doesn't track hours where you are instructing someone, and the former does make sense since your logbook tracks ground / flight training received.) Want to confirm so I provide the right figure. Thanks!

Haven't gotten an answer on this yet so I'm assuming I was asking too general a question. Just wondering if anyone could comment on my current pros/cons list and tell me if I'm way off base with these or if I'm on the right track. This is just the list I've come up with so far during my research into the two branches. Thanks! USAF -Pros -Large number of well-maintained, fixed wing aircraft -Nice base facilities -Bases in interesting foreign countries -Cons -Could get stuck in a boring base location stateside -Have heard that leadership seems to regard pilots as office worke…

So I am trying to submit a waiver to retake the AFOQT a third time to improve my AFOQT Pilot/PCSM score. The main acceptance criteria for a third retake I am trying to leverage is having "significant flying time" as stated in the AFMAN. I have 23 flight hours since I last took the AFOQT and was curious if anybody has any success with getting this waiver to retake approved. Any insight is appreciated.

Looking for some info on being a sim instructor in San Antonio. T-6 or T-38, typical schedule, compensation etc. Thanks in advance.

Good afternoon aviators. apologies in advance if this is a dumb question, but I am looking for some Navy and ANG pilots to shed some light on this topic. I am a senior in high school, and am stuck choosing between which branch I want to create a career in. Like every other person in this site, I want to pursue jets. I love the Navy's mission and I was inspired by the Blues at a young age. It would be a dream to inspire others like I was. But acquiring jets in the Navy is like "dark magic" such as where your placed for primary, your NSS, or how ever many slots are open in your squadron when you select that week, etc. (Needs of the navy). I dont know much abou…

Going reserves from AD, wondering if I will keep my fly pay when i transition from RPA to manned? currently getting 700 bones a month, so hoping I wont lose it...

Currently waiting on tech school dates to become a c-130 FE. Any prior or current FEs wanna give me some advice? What should I expect and really focus on? How long is the tech school? Thanks.

I am currently attending one of the flying trainings but unfortunately do not see myself being able to to finish. I have one more assessment and if I fail I completely wash out of the training. I have a couple questions about what the reclass process looks like. Background: I am a 1st Lt that started his career in acquisitions. To be completely clear I do not want to go back. I would much rather gain experience leading airman and the 63A career field just doesn't provide that because it is very civilian heavy. I saw the list of "air force needs" and I feel like I would THRIVE in Security Force, Force Support, Logistics or Finance. My questions are: 1. Will I be forc…

Howdy folks, I just graduated from school and I'm on my way to Laughlin to Await Pilot Training (APT) pending an IFT/UPT class date. I'd sincerely appreciate any and all wisdom y'all have on PCSing, inprocessing at a new base - especially Laughlin/UPT, the IFT/UPT pipeline itself, etc. Thanks a bunch! - Ike

Are people still going through the U-2 pipeline, I want to know how feasible it is to pursue this or should I wait on if they have a replacement or pursue another airframe similar to it?

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.

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

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.

Howdy all, I am a prior service infantryman finishing undergrad in a STEM field. I would like to commission to continue to serve the taxpayer, but also gain experience relevant to human spaceflight. Ideally, I'd like to find a sponsoring unit to send me to OTS+UPT. Then I would start a PhD program after seasoning and becoming MWS qualified. Some things I am curious about: Is there anyway to become a T-38 FAIP for Reserve/Guard? As a companion trainer for 'X' unit? Could I attend TPS as a civvie flight test engineer, even if I am a rated pilot in ANG/AFRES? Will there ever be an AFRES route to the U-2? NASA has been using another high-alt…

I'm only 16, so there's still time for this to change, but I'm 5'3". I come from a Southeast-Asian family so I'm considerably shorter than most, but my dream has always been to become a Warthog pilot. Even with the old height requirements being sacked, I've read that there is no chance of hobbits like me taking the ejection seat/fighter track at all due to the way the seats are manufactured, and not even a waiver can save me. Is all hope gone?

Prior service USMC applying to ANG/Reserve boards, and I am now trying to determine the most equivalent document(s) for the USAF Report on Individual Personnel (RIP). Would anyone mind giving me a quick overview of what information is captured in a RIP? Bonus points if someone who speaks Marine and can translate. Thanks. S/F

Back in UPT, I had a Reserve IP tell me that there was a deal where AFRC gives you up to 5 years of orders that you can go on and off. I found it after the conversation but now can’t find the info. Anyone know anything about this?