Pilot Selection Process

E-mail from cadet personnel at the zoo: Subject: Reduced Rated Quota for 2014 There's more to this e-mail but not too much as far as info that matters to anyone on this forum. I'm not complaining whatsoever about getting less pilot slots, just wondering if anyone has a clue if more are just being allocated to ROTC now. I would agree with that being case because everyone and their mom got a slot last year, even dudes who didn't want it at first and figured "Hey, they have more pilot slots? I'm gonna switch from contracting to pilot because it sounds like more fun." And i'll tell you from my perspective....the quality of people getting slots was kinda low. …

So I've heard a lot on foxnews and wantscheck.com that there will be a shortage of fighter pilots in the years to come because of higher paying commercial jobs and so on. Can anybody going the active duty route shed some light on this? I'm in my last year of trying to go guard for fighters and if there is a way to get track selected for 38s and fly eagles or vipers before going to OTS/UPT, tell me where to sign. Sounds too good to be true but any info on this would be useful. Thanks guys!

So I am heavily considering getting a dog from a local rescue. It is something I have wanted to do for sometime, and the exact dog I've been looking for was brought into a local shelter recently. I commission in August from AFROTC, and EAD sometime this fall to Vance AFB. However, I've been told I likely won't start UPT until next spring (some of my classmates who commissioned in April have a set date of UPT starting in Feb. Considering I don't commission until August, my NCO's are betting my training dates won't start until after theirs). My big question is: how feasible is it to have a pet while at UPT? I know they aren't allowed in the dorms. The dog is already alm…

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I'll be going for my PPL this summer and am thinking a LOR from my flight instructor would be valuable and will add some diversity to my package that is otherwise largely academic. I am hoping to finish in no more than 45 hours (21 hours currently), so I'd probably have 20-25 hours with this guy. My question is: Is it appropriate to let him know on day one my intentions and, more specifically, that I may request a recommendation from him if all goes well? My line of reasoning is that such a preamble would allow for specific anecdotal information to be more readily committed to memory for use in a possible recommendation. Then again, maybe this is completely inappr…

Due to a paperwork issue, my commissioning has been pushed back to 1 OCT, even though I graduate this May. Does anyone know if there is a waiver that can be put in to move my commissioning up?

I'm sure this has been posted before, but I can't seem to find it. Where can I find the active duty pilot board dates?

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.

Howdy, all. I'm planning to get a PPL this coming summer. From what I understand, the minimum flight hours needed to earn it is 40 hours, but the flight school has told me that can be rare depending on how quickly I learn. They say the average time that people have spent in the cockpit is 50 hours or more. Do any of you pilots have any advice on how to better prepare for the flights so that I could maybe learn faster and perform better? In addition, the reason I am going for a PPL is to gain the pilot knowledge and flight time so that when I retake the AFOQT next year, I can get higher scores on the pilot and navigator sections before reapplying the second time for OT…

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…

I (along with everyone else) hope to join the AF and become a fighter pilot within the next couple years and was wondering if it is worth getting a glider pilot's license or a PPL. A few family members keep encouraging me to go for the glider because it has the "fighter feel" (granted, I don't think any of them know what the "fighter feel" is). The other side of the coin is that a PPL would give me a much more traditional flying experience. I have 0 flight hours but I did take an aerobatic glider flight which I really enjoyed. Thank you for the help.

I have heard conflicting information as to whether or not applicants for a pilot slot before attending OTS require or do not require a technical degree. Also, I have heard that there are moratoriums on applicants with non-technical degrees that eventually sunset. If such a caveat is in effect now, will it eventually lapse?

Okay, I've answered many posts on this topic. Let there be no doubt that IFS is not a "given." It really is not some "requirement" to get to the real game. It is a step in the process that is meant to eliminate those from the flow that don't have what it takes. I don't care what your prior experience is, if you can't do it our way (which is meant to mirror the UFT environment) then it is the highway. And, it is full throttle throughout the course of your specific syllabus. It is screening in the context that the syllabus is very demanding. IP's provide the training in the time alloted. You have to use that in conjuction with your effort to attain the r…

Recently spoke with the 14 FTW Commander here at Columbus, and figured I'd disseminate what he told me for all you T-44 hopefuls out there. He said the last class to get T-44s will be Class 12-14 here at CAFB, and 12-15 at the other bases. Thought I'd let everyone know what he said.

Hello all. I am relatively new to this forum as a poster, so I will try to keep this brief and to the point. In order to increase my overall PCSM score I will need to log at least 5-10 flight hours since at present I am unable to afford the full cost of a PPL. My question is this: What exactly counts as flying hours? I currently live in Japan and plan on going back to the states to take some flight training after I have completed their ground school course. I've been reading up on the forums and a few folks mentioned that dual time recieved with a flight instructor can count toward my log book. Does this dual time include pre/post briefing, or only time spent in…

Hi everyone. Im in a dire need of some help. I have wanted to be a pilot since i was old enough to walk. It has been my dream. I couldn't afford college after high school so i did what i though was best...i enlisted in the Air Force as a F-16 Avionics Specialist. Now 3 years in, i am finally getting my chance at going officer but i feel like im approaching this all wrong. It seems like everyone i talk to has only 2 pieces of advice for me...1. Go to the Academy (well im 22 and damn me for not going out of high school but i didnt know any better and i didnt go, im sure theres another way) and 2. I have no chance at getting a pilot spot going ROTC unless i have 99s in every…

I've got a buddy coming up on a Commander's Review Board after hooking an 89 ride...does anyone know the ROE's on these things (i.e. how to best defend yourself)? Is he supposed to "lawyer up" and list every single action/comment/etc that may have played a factor in his failure, or is that frowned upon by those deciding his fate? I've heard that the chances are slim that anyone will be reinstated after one of these, but does anyone know of someone who made it out alive? If so, for what reasons were they reinstated? Any advice on how to fare better on these would be appreciated. We had some guys wash out when I went through, but (to my knowledge) none elected to d…

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.

I'm about to mail off my UPT application package: Any advice on how to put the package together?...folder? 6-part folder? paperclip? staples? I didn’t see any guidance in AFI 36-2205 beyond the necessary items. Additionally, I was looking back at a post from 2003 that talked about a "cover letter" for the package. I didn't see that in the AFI either...did any of you submit a cover letter? If so, what did you put on it. Thanks for the help. MK

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…

This is my first post here. I've been lurking on this board for a while though. I am working on putting my application together for OTS. I don't believe I'll be able to get my package together in time for the 09ot01 board but I am going to give it a shot. If I am not able to complete my package in time for the 09ot01 board I'll be applying for the 09ot02 board. What would be the most competitive AFSC to have when applying for UPT from AD?

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?

I wasn't sure if this belonged in ROTC or Pilot selection thread. Anyway, I'm studying Mechanical Engineering and I "heard" that USAF is looking for civil engineers. Mechanical Engineering is alot differenct from Civil. I was curious if wanting to try for Pilot slot with a Mechanical Engineering degree would hurt me. Would they say hey we need you more as a Engineer even though you are qualified for pilot? I wanted to put down some type of engineering job for a fall back if I don't get NAV or PILOT. Then I was thinking maybe thats not a good idea because they may just give me the engineering position. Any suggestions?? Also, Anyone here who got selected fo…

I am in the situation where I have the opportunity to attend a civilian flight school and get all the ratings (PPC/IR/Com./CFI/CFII/ME/MEI) and then go to college and get a degree. Naturally, I'm considering an aviation college, cause I would be able to work part-time as an instructor to pay for tuition/get hours. This way I would get a Bachelor and at the same time be educated and experienced as a civilian aviator, so if something unforseen happends that disqualifies me for military aviation I will be able to work in commercial aviation. However, I fear that if I show up with 1000-1500 hours flying time and all those ratings, the OTS-board will think "hey, this g…

Ok everyone so I am putting the finishing touches on my 215 for the upcoming AD board and had a quick question. I have been told in the past the 215 is not an OPR so it should not include a great deal of OPR type information. That it should be written more towards what’s going to make you a better pilot not just how good you are at your job. As a navigator the majority of the things that I excel at in my current job are things that will help make me a better pilot. Well my question is where does one draw the line on what information to include or exclude. Any help is greatly appreciated...Just trying to give my package that platinum touch needed to achieve the des…