Pilot Selection Process

Anybody know what is considered a "good" PCSM score? I know it is a "whole person" concept to get accepted, but any additional info on this subject...

Situation: I was 17 years old and through friends of the family got a Major General (Two stars so excuse me if im wrong on the major part) to write me letters of recommendations for college. It was great and was accepted to the school I wanted. However, it was never me who initially wrote him to ask about this letter for me. Also, as soon as I got it I heard he relocated somewhere and I didn't know where. So many things were going on from my dad having a failed surgery in hospital and died a few times in a row afterwards. Luckily he pulled through but it took literally a year of babysitting him here at home. My mind was not in the right place nor was I mature enough…

Throughout my training for my PPL I made a variety of mistakes (most of them stupid) that caused me to receive a nice chewing out from my instructor. Most of them were just me not really thinking and doing something like trying to pull flaps out 20 knots over max flap speed. My most memorable one was during a simulated engine failure 2000 ft above a field, and I tried to fly a rectangular pattern all the way out and back rather than just circling to a lower altitude. How often did you guys make mistakes like these during your flight training? Did it cause you to hook the ride? Maybe I have put AF pilots on too high a pedestal, but I have scared myself into thinking t…

Hey everyone, I am looking at options to increase my PCSM. I am flying as much as I can to build hours and am trying to get my score up that way, but the highest I can get it to with 201 hours is 87. Although that’s a decent number, I am striving to get it in the 90’s, as I am dead set on fighters. I recently retook the AFOQT, nearly doubled my my pilot score, and more than tripled my PCSM. While that’s great, my PCSM with my current flight time is sitting at a 67. Aside from continuning to build hours, my best option at this point, I believe, is to retake the TBAS. My question is for those who have retaken the TBAS. How much of an impact did retaking the…

I am an interview away from being finished with my AF OTS application. My scores are 88p 80n and 91pcsm. I will not know if I am accepted until June 3 SO...I called a marine officer recruiter today just to get information and got off the phone with my head spinning and an appointment to take the ATSB next Wednesday. The recruiter said that pilot is a 'hot priority' for the marines right now and acceptance is not to hard to get. I have a friend who is flying t45's in Texas who went through OCC with the marines, what I would go through. He did mention that in OCC even the best candidates have a 20% chance of washing out due to unlucky events such as a twisted ankle.…

Is there actually "officer" recruiters? or are they all the same, if not how do you find one. Thanks ( I live around Philadelphia if anyone can recommend a good one )

Hi All, Figured I'd share my TBAS simulator (airplane and horizontal tracking) with all of you because it's been pretty helpful for me. Hopefully you all find it just as useful as I've found the flash cards, etc. The main game window looks like this: Download Link: Here Included is everything you need to simply play it as well as edit it to your liking. Use 7-zip to decompress the zip file. I'm currently using a simple thrustmaster joystick and thrustmaster rudder pedals. These both work as needed and were relatively cheap. Full disclosure, I haven't taken the TBAS yet. This is based on readily available info from big blue so this may or…

I know most guys here going to the AF want to fly jets or c-130s but what if you want to be a helo pilot - u just don't want to go to the ARMY- how hard is it to make it to chopper school?

When it comes to applying for SUPT what GPA is looked at total cumulative, major GPA, or GPA while in ROTC. I ask this cause I have a shit gpa right now, cumulative is 2.3 and major gpa is 2.95. I was on the presidents list spring 04 semester (3.8) and had a 3.3 over the summer and plan on being on the presidents list from here on out. This will be my first semester in AFROTC. I know gpa is a small part of it but I was just wondering which gpa is the one that counts? I will be commuting a little over an hour both ways for ROTC, and I also hold a full time job so I do not have much time for extra cirricular activity. Is this going to hurt me a lot? Also any …

I don't know if I'm posting in the right place so please tell me if I'm not and then move or delete if you want. I want to a be a Full-Time(not in the Guard or Reserves) Pilot. But right now I just graduated 10th grade. So I know I got a little while but I just want to know what I'm getting into. I'm home schooled but I will get a high school diploma just like a high school student. Will this keep me from becoming an officer? How can I become a Officer? I know of the Academy and ROTC and I have been told that I can forget the Academy and forget a 4-year ROTC scholarship because I'm home schooled. Anyway if anyone can help please post, any information will help.

Hi all, Thought I'd create a separate thread from the AD UFT one. Anyone else reapplying/applying to the active duty civilian boards for active duty Air Force (not Reserve)? Curious if anyone else has had any success getting a UPT slot this route. As a quick lesson learned from the last board don't let your recruiter force you to put any job on your sheet other than pilot. My recruiter(s) made me believe it was required to put alternate jobs beside pilot (put CSO as the 2nd choice just to get pushed through). Turns out that is not true and is absolutely not required. If your recruiter tells you this is required just move on and call a different one don't ma…

I was out driving and I had a few beers before (a couple hours) and I was completely sober... I was pulled because I was in a friend car with daytime running lights, so the headlights were already on and I didn't manually turn on the lights and I figured the taillights would be on as well. Unfortunately, I ended up recieving a DUI-minor because the cop could smell the beer on me. I did deferred disposition or adjudication (same thing) and this allows me to take community service and alcohol awareness class and not be convicted of it. When I turn 21, I will be able to have this expunged off of my record and there will be absolutely no traces of it. So, will I have a…

What format should be used in the resume and cover letter for packets being sent to guard and reserve units? Is there a generic example available on the web? Thanks!

Is it possible to go to an FBO and rent airplanes while in UPT or is there a restriction on that? I am not looking to go and practice maneuvers or anything of the sort. I am just curious if I can go and get a $100 hamburger from time to time.

Anybody know if one can go about getting his order of merit? Just curious b/c i would like to know if i am compettive for ENJJPT. I dont think this is info the cadre would hand out, but maybe AFPC would tell you if ya called? Any Insight?

I'm getting ready to head off to UPT at Moody, class 07-13, and I've got a question. In some of the pre-arrival info I received from the registrar, it recommended having flight-suit nametags before showing up. They gave their specs for what they require, black leather, name, rank. However, in the picture and accompanying description, nothing was mentioned about having your jump wings on them or not. Does anyone know for sure if I can have them? Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone, I hope this post is under the correct thread. I am trying to get a fighter slot (f-16, 35, or 22). Now I am at a point if i should seek out active duty or reserves for UPT. Does anyone have any info about active duty fighter positions (such as if there is a shortage). I heard a lot of UPT guys are getting RPA at UPT for active duty. If I go active duty, I know I can score 1st or 2nd in my class and ask for fighter/ bomber track. On the reserves side, I am having troubling seeking a sponsors ship from fighter units (deployed, not looking for sponsorship, or even having trouble trying to get ahold of them). Does anyone have any advice for my situation?…

I just graduated from SUPT-H in June. If anyone has any questions regarding the Helicopter track feel free to ask here.

Hey guys. I'm a senior in high school right now, and sometime last year(under 18) I had a run in with the police of underage drinking, I also have a couple of speeding tickets. Will this affect me later when I go to apply for a pilot slot? Or will it not matter because I was under 18? Thanks for all the help

Hello Everyone. I am a recent college grad and newly commissioned Air Force 2nd Lieutenant. I was lucky enough to snag a pilot slot and I am currently at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX and will soon begin pilot training this Wednesday, Oct 1. So, to document this milestone in my life, I've decided to blog a journal on the day to day activities that I will be involved with while going through pilot training. There are many reasons to why I am doing this, but I thought that maybe for those out there who are curious as to what real life pilot training is like, or who may be interested in pursuing a career as a pilot for the Air Force, but never knew where to get started or w…

So I sit here now in Pensacola at UCT (do they even have an official name for this training yet?) and I feel its time to really start figuring out which road to take that would best get me to UPT. I have roughly 150 hours of flight time, instrument rating, 98 PCSM, etc, but a crappy semester from my freshman year is what killed it for me (that, and a brand new PAS at my det for the semester of boards, but I can hardly shift even a majority of the blame). As of right now I'm 26 and will be finishing up UCT later this year and thats (hopefully) where the process starts. I, like many on this forum, am dedicated to making it to UPT. I spoke with my Flt/CC about this beca…

As I was waiting to take my first flight today (which went really well!), I noticed a couple of AFROTC cadets meeting with CAP officers and taking a flight. Does CAP offer free flight lessons to AFROTC cadets? I would be very interested in this since I am a bit financially strapped right now. I would appreciate anybody's advice especially anybody with previous CAP experience. Thanks.

I'm commissioning in October, but I have yet to update my form 53 after getting selected this February. I'm looking for any advice on which UPT base to put in for, any info is helpful. What are the pros and cons of each base, what are some things to do around the area, and are the UOQs any good? Anything else is appreciated.

Hola, I've heard some talk about abysmal T-38 track rates at UPT recently (sometimes none at all), can anyone confirm? I'm currently in limbo trying to decide between an active duty slot (if I get one) or go all in on a guard fighter squadron that is my dream unit. I'm only really interested in fighters, which obviously makes UPT even more competitive and makes guard more alluring to me with the airframe guarantee. If UPT classes are hardly dropping any T-38's then that's a little dissuading for guys who are shooting something you might not get just based on availability. Of course, even if I got an AD slot I wouldn't be at UPT for a year or two so everything ca…

I recently talked to my hometown reserve unit, the 419th FW and they told me that its very difficult to get picked up for UPT if you're already in a active duty career field. I was just wondering if it would be extremely difficult for me to get a UPT slot if I'm in Acquisitions for a year.