Q & A Forum

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…

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 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…

I am interested in buying a house for the purpose of being a crash pad at either Randolph or Sheppard. Does anyone here have experience with this? I had a few questions if anyone is willing to DM. Best, Mighty

So far my wavier has been processing for 6 months. Has anyone else done this? Have any insight on why it has taken so long ? (IFC1) Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

I'm preparing my application for a UPT position. I commissioned via AFROTC about 10 years ago, did my active duty time, separated, and am now looking to apply to the guard / reserves as a pilot. As part of the application, they're asking for a "Certificate of Air Force ROTC completion". I don't recall ever being issued a certificate for completing ROTC, and haven't found anything in all my military records. Has anyone heard of this, or know where I could get one? I called my ROTC Detachment, and they had no clue what it was either, other than possibly the AF 133 (oath of office). They provided me with a screenshot from one of their admin systems showing that I w…

Is it frowned upon to apply to Guard units in a state you do not live in? I am really interested in a unit across the country but have never lived in that state. I would love to move there at some point, but I am hoping to apply to its upcoming board. Thanks!

Initially I had just intended on applying to my local AFR unit but have since found an ANG unit I am hoping to apply to. I have only been talking to the AF recruiter and was wondering if I also needed to get in contact with the ANG recruiter. I have the AFOQT and the TBAS completed already. Also, all of my LORs reference the Air Force Reserve and not the Air Guard. Should I ask my references for separate letters?

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.

GA ANG as a whole has officer boards that cover rated positions with the SCORE (Streamlined Commissioning Officer Recruiting Effort). Does that mean that the 158th and 116th wont have their own separate boards anymore? Anybody have any updates with the summer rated board? Other than it was delayed. The SCORE process is supposed to be like active duty right? Where they see who's best for what position and you ultimately dont get to decide pilot or nav or what unit?

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

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.

On average how many from a UPT drop rotary wing? Are those slots hard to drop/ highly competitive? Need to be top 3 in your UPT class?

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.

Looking for any 2.5ers who have 'graduated' and/or finished phase 3 and hit up the FAA for those Commercial/Instrument tickets. Any issues with the FSDO not liking the new syllabus/documentation? Trying to stick you with a ASEL instead of AMEL? Good gouge on what exactly to bring with (aside from the written test cert)? Thanks all.

I am an Army CW2 UH-60 Blackhawk Instructor Pilot. I am a few years out from my service obligation expiring and am in the search for a career shift at that time. I am curious if it is possible to transfer to the air force to fly rotary wing. I am wanting to stay on active duty and fly black hawks rather than seek a guard/tech position. I am UH-60 A/L/M qualified, over 1000 hours of rotary wing time, and previously commissioned in the Army through ROTC. Does anyone have experience or know someone that does in this process? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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

So I have lurked around this forum for a while and have never posted until I noticed this Q&A section, so I wanted to put my situation out there and see what kind of feedback I can get going forward. I read through some of the other questions but none of them really matched up to my situation, so any help that can be provided is much appreciated. I am currently an enlisted Comm guy stationed at Andersen AFB. I extended for this assignment and my DEROS basically matches my end of service which will be summer of 2021 giving me just under two years to get my ducks in a row. I’m about 80% complete on my degree, which I will obviously have completed by the end of this …

Just to make this short, some ADHD/mild depression stuff is in the Air Force system for me due to a rule change, so I'm looking at enlisting in other branches just so I won't have to risk it with waivers. The question is, when I get my bachelor's and PPL and start rushing squadrons in a few years, how would being enlisted in an Army Guard or Navy Reserve unit affect my chances with fighter squadron UPT boards as compared to someone who was already enlisted in another fighter squadron or even that same fighter squadron? I have a lot of respect for helo people, but flying fighters has always been my dream. Thank you in advance to anyone who can provide some advice or insigh…

With training it seems to be a 12 year commitment to pilot for the AF. Is it worth it? Is there a healthy balance for family life? Are you able to transition to guard/reserve a few years in?

I tried searching the threads for this but is it possible to become an engineer after flying? For those who have followed this path what is some advice you can offer? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is a total spitball question just because I’m curious, but what hypothetical pathways exist to eventually get in a B-21? Current B-2 pilots? B-52 WSO’s? I have no idea and I don’t know if anyone on here does, just thought I’d throw it out there.

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.

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

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