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bb17

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Posts posted by bb17

    Best Route to UPT

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Just one thing to keep in mind. I saw people wash out of the process by getting medically DQ'ed at their FC1. So it is possible that you could enlist, apply to be a pilot, selected, and then still wash out. The people I've seen hired probably were about 50% enlisted / 50% civilian. Some units seem to hire only one or the other, while other did a mix. There doesn't seem to be a magic formula. Just do what you think is best.

    Best Route to UPT

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    7 minutes ago, pilot97 said:

    @bb17 Wow, well congratulations and thank you for your insight. I have wanted this since I was little, so I am never going to give up. As I live far away from an ROTC detachment and the chance of not being selected, ANG/AFRC seem to be a good fit. Is OTS as competitive as the ANG/AFRC.

    Not sure I understand the question - but ANG/AFRC go to the same OTS as active duty. But I guess if you go to ROTC or Academy you get to skip OTS and commission directly. I'd rather put up with 2 months of OTS than 4 years of ROTC, but that's just me. 

    Best Route to UPT

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    17 minutes ago, pilot97 said:

    @bb17 Thank you so much for your information. I do like how with AFRC/ANG I will have a choice with selection of which time of aircraft. On service academy forum, I read that it can take years to obtain a spot and that one must have a ppl to become selected?? 

    That is true but it is not entirely a bad thing. I am probably a prime example of that. I started thinking about it seriously in my mid 20's, took my TBAS/AFOQT when I was 26, had a few interviews from age 26 thru 29, and then hit an age wall and pretty much gave up on it. Two years later I woke up and said screw that and started applying again and actually managed to get hired with an age waiver. So yeah, it took me about 6 years to get hired. That is definitely NOT the norm though - most of those years were during sequestration when it was close to impossible to get hired, and then my age situation caused a big paperwork delay on top of that. Most people seem to have a PPL but it is not required. I think if you just have a few flight hours it will demonstrate that you do have the interest. I've seen people with between 0 and 3000 hours get hired. 

    Applying for a pilot slot will always be competitive, whether it is Academy, ROTC, or AFRC/ANG. So there is no easy route, but I think AFRC/ANG will give you the highest chances of accomplishing your overall goals.

    Best Route to UPT

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    Since I opened this thread again I figured I'd provide some input. I was naive about the process even into my mid 20's when I started thinking about it more seriously. I recently got selected by AFRC but had considered other options along the way. Based on what I've seen other people experience, and based on what I've read here, I've come up with the following general conclusions. Take what I say with a grain of salt because I'm not commissioned yet:

    If you go ROTC, you will basically putting all your faith in being in that percentage of cadets that get selected for pilot training. It can happen, but if it doesn't you're stuck for a number of years doing something else. 

    Also if you go ROTC, or if you apply to an AD pilot board down the road you still have to be a part of active duty. Some of my friends went AD and hated it, and a lot of people on these forums recommend against AD.

    AFRC/ANG totally puts the ball in your court. Your chances of being a pilot are basically 100% if you can get a unit to hire you, and like you said, you can do other civilian stuff on the side. And you get to pick a squadron, mission, and location that you like. 

    In the wise words of the chief pilot of my squadron: "You do what you want". But in my circumstances, Guard or Reserve were really the only appealing options. 

    One added stat, when I did my FC1 physical a few months ago, 100% of the ROTC cadets that were there were selected for the RPA mission. So honestly I would not put myself at the mercy of ROTC. 

    It is great that you're thinking about it now. Good luck with whatever you decide! 

    Dealing with and resolving chronic fatigue?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    15 minutes ago, Slick said:

    Can you not tough it out?

    I've followed your posts and was excited for you when you got your age waiver and got selected for UPT.  Then you seemingly dodged another bullet by not having the 5 year AD commitment that the reserves are throwing around apply to you.  You're all set to be self employed as a civilian with the worlds most bomb ass job on the side as a pilot in the reserves.  You're on the verge of having it made.  After all that are you telling me that the show stopper is going to be "sleep apnea"?  Cmon dude, get a temper-pedic mattress and go to Walmart and buy some melotonin.  Then go to UPT.  

    I'd kill to be in your place.  Not sure what else to say.

    I appreciate the input - and funny thing you mentioned the temper-pedic mattress, I bought one yesterday in hopes that it will help out and it gets delivered in a couple days. After testing it out I realized how shitty my mattress at home is. I even ordered a CPAP machine that I get this week as well. I'm not familiar with melotonin but maybe I need to look into it. I am trying these things behind the scenes to see what works so that I can succeed. However, in the meantime I am trying to get advice on here and elsewhere in case I need a plan B if I do have an issue. You're right man, I have an awesome thing set up here and its all I ever wanted - just a little concerned with this recent situation. 

    Dealing with and resolving chronic fatigue?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted

    So I could use your input - what do you think the possibility is of getting a waiver for sleep apnea after enlisting in the AFRC, but before in processing with the 340th? Since i haven't actually been trained in anything yet I suspect they will want to just cut me loose before they have in investment in me. 

    I have been seeking the guidance of some other folks as well - their assessment was that if I do have a potential DQ'ing medical condition (recruiter suggested it as well), that it might be best to get a DEP discharge before going on orders to in-process with the 340th, and if I show up to the 340th and get DQ'ed there I could already be on the hook for some other type of other non-deploying enlisted or officer commitment. I'm starting to feel like I'm playing with fire here.

    Any suggestions?  

    Dealing with and resolving chronic fatigue?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted

    44 minutes ago, Bobsan said:

    Found this in a unisex/gender-tolerant bathroom in SF, it was a very safe space... LOL. Anyway, it's actually good advice.

    You're probably fine, I would just "ignore" it and eat/sleep/f.uck/exercise well. Going to the best pilot training program in the world to be a military aviator for the best Air Force in the world which is the best f.ucking thing there is to do in life should be good therapy for your problem. I know it's easy to just say to others, but sometimes issues like this are in your mind.

    everything-is-awful.jpg

    Ok, I guess I'll go and find a teddy bear and a pretty dress. Thanks, I feel better already. 

    • Upvote 1

    Dealing with and resolving chronic fatigue?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    16 minutes ago, tk1313 said:

    Mono? That can take you from stud to dud in no time with hardly any symptoms besdies "fvck, I feel worthless".

    I got that in high school from my hot girlfriend at the time but that was over 10 years ago. That got resolved over a couple weeks but I've had this fatigue for a few months. 

    Dealing with and resolving chronic fatigue?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    28 minutes ago, viper154 said:

    Take some time off from whatever it is your doing. You would be amazed how much a couple days sitting on the couch, a 30 rack/bottle of your favorite alcoholic beverage, carry out and some "gettin jiggy with it" will do for the mind/body. Could also be a actual health problem. I would tread lightly, don't get yourself DQd before you even get to the show, at the same time you don't want to ignore a actual problem if it is one. 

     

    I have minimal knowledge of the medical field, and know little about your situation, but you asked for a opinion, so take it for what it's worth. I'm assuming you probably have been working hard/stressing with college/work/family/OTS packages etc. Sometimes you just need to do what I said above. If being a drunken fat ass isn't your thing, go to your happy place wherever that may be and chill.  

    Yeah man I thought the same. I took a week off and went on a cruise and then chilled for a couple days when I got back. Lots of great beverages involved too. It didn't help me. 

    I don't want to get DQ'ed obviously, but if I know about it before in-processing I could get a DEP discharge right away, otherwise I could be on the hook for a non-flying gig. Best to hear the bad news now and possibly get a waiver or being able to make a decision before having an obligation. Hopefully everything is okay. I just got myself scheduled for a thyroid screening tomorrow. The clinic I go to is ex-military pilots and doctors so they are cool about it fortunately. 

    You might be right about the stress situation though. I currently run a local consulting firm and it is pretty demanding - I think doing that for years has taken a toll me on. However, I anticipate OTS and UPT to be even more demanding so I want to make sure I'm ready.

    Thanks for your input! 

    Dealing with and resolving chronic fatigue?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    Hey guys. So here's the deal. I passed my FC1 with flying colors back in March and felt great. Started experiencing a chronic fatigue situation maybe around June and enlisted in August with the expectation that with some rest and a healthy lifestyle I could shake the fatigue situation off before heading to OTS in January. Well that hasn't happened so I've had to bump my OTS date back a couple months and now I'm under pressure to get it resolved. I've had some additional testing done and doctors can't find anything wrong with me but I feel like I got hit by a truck. Doctors have stated that it isn't really uncommon but often times it is not a diagnosable condition, and it really puts doubts in my head about succeeding as a military pilot and officer for the next 12 years. Regardless of military, I still need to get this sorted out. 

    Have any of you encountered a health situation like this? Any recommendations for dealing with a health concern like this? 

    Just out of curiosity: What happens if you DQ before inprocessing, flunk OTS, or wash out of UPT as Reservist

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    I know this topic is taboo but I would like to know. Of course I am planning on great success but it will be good to know what the implications are if any of the above happen in the training pipeline, rather than be naive to the situation and have something unexpected come up if there is a situation. 

    Do the Reserves basically decide what they get to do with you? If you drop before inprocessing are your just out of the system? If you have issues at OTS are you just a Reserve staff sergeant for a few years? If you wash out of UPT can you essentially just pack it up and go home or will they assign you another job? Just curious. Thanks! 

    Education Exception to Policy Question (ANG/AFRC)

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted · Edited by bb17

    On 10/13/2016 at 8:08 AM, tk1313 said:

    This is actually refreshing to hear... Pilot/Nav/AA/Verb/QI scored 99/92/95/77/99. After seeing the scores, I was like IDGAF because pilot is 99... but the verbal thing just caught me off guard because literally everything else was 90's...

    My scores were nearly identical to yours so you are good to go! In fact I'd say you are quite a bit above average. Do well on TBAS if you haven't taken it yet. That test is pretty easy if you know what to study for but can screw you over if you are unprepared. 

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