O Face

Hey @Padres02, I’ll take a swing at your questions: Though you didn’t mention it specifically, I’m assuming you’re applying to Guard/Res units. Your scores are really good. Your flight time is also a huge plus. Your young age is also a big help, and the fact you’re applying in your last semester of college is excellent. Lastly, being enlisted in a unit can be very helpful in getting selected for an interview; certainly some home field advantage. Your GPA isn’t awesome, neither was mine. But, if I were reviewing your application I’d think that “spatial data science” sounds like a difficult field of study…simply because I have no idea what the hell that is and it has the word science in it. Also, you framed it well showing improvement, you can definitely talk about this maturing process in an interview. You asked about the other endorsements, it’ll show some ability on your part, but more than likely won’t be a huge deciding factor. I tell you this because unless you have a ton of money burning a hole in your pocket, I wouldn’t worry about getting that instrument rating. Uncle Sam will pay you to learn it in UPT. As for the PRK, definitely bring it up, and let them know the waiver process is being started. Laser correction is not a secret you’ll be able to hide from them. If I selected you and then found out that we were stuck in the waiver process, I’d be pissed, as we could not move forward until those waivers are moving as well. There’s an awesome flight doc on here: @stuckindayton He’s super helpful, and really goes the extra mile to help folks with all things AF med. I’d start bouncing questions his way, while working with your home unit, because if we know anything about medicine, it’s that answers often vary. My final piece of advice is regarding airframes, locations, and attitude: I get it, we all want to live/work somewhere nice. However, I bristle whenever we’re interviewing some UPT hopeful and they go on and on about how much they love my state…blah, blah, blah, yet they’ve never been there before the interview or rolled through on their way to Disneyland once. Every state, every unit, and every mission has positives and negatives. It’s going to be up to you to decide what’s reasonable. You’re young enough to be selective at this point. If you don’t have any luck this interview season, cast a wider net next. Having said that, I’d find the location and mission you’re most interested in and get to know that unit. The more you can get to know the folks you want to work for, the better. If you’re applying to your home unit. Wander over to ops next drill. Introduce yourself to the pilots. Ask to speak to the Chief Pilot or DO. Let them know you’re applying. They’ll probably invite you to a function to get to know you better. Repeat this every drill! Bring them a bottle of something good for the bar, next time they might invite you to stick around for a drink. Lastly, under no circumstances show a speck of entitlement. Your attitude matters more than all of your qualifications combined. We’re looking for a good pilot and long term friend. I hope this helps and good luck to you. I’d say your chances of selection for an interview are high, the rest is up to you.

I hope they used C4 to breach the new tax-payer funded wall around it…and confiscate his gas stove while they’re at it.

Bet this will raise some eyebrows…And for Milley, that’s gotta be excruciating.

If only that inflation was malleable and dick shaped, you could really experience the ecstasy of 20% more.

Here’s a badass most never got to hear about! https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/20/asia/korean-war-fighter-pilot-soviet-shootdown-intl-hnk-ml/index.html

It certainly helps. Remember, we hire our pilots for the long haul, no regular PCS’ing, so we prioritize getting the right fit. Typically applications are lower at heavy units, but they are looking for the right guy as well, as they obviously spend much more time on the road together. I can’t stress it enough…Get to know the Squadron you’re hoping to get hired with.

I am in the guard now, yes. I’m really not trying to dissuade anyone from taking their shot in the ANG. I just want folks to be aware of what’s actually going on. Most AD people (earlier self included) think the ANG is some sort of weekend flying club and certainly second rate. Of course it took about 10 mins of talking with my new ANG buds at UPT for me to learn I made a huge mistake. I got picked up because I was deployed with my ANG unit, as well as exercises. Get to know the bros I strongly suggest any interested in how to get a ANG UPT slot wander over to the ANG/Res section and you’ll find a lot of answers and advice.

Ask absolutely anyone who has done AD and ANG and they’ll tell you the Guard is infinitely better, 100% of the time. Having said that, ANG slots are much more competitive than AD. We get many, many hundreds of applicants for 1 UPT slot usually. I’m not trying to discourage you from applying, but wanted you to know what you’re getting yourself in to. Best of luck.

Thanks again for chiming in Doc! I thought this was the case, but wanted someone to verify, so I called back to my squadron to get SOF_CSO a solid answer this morning…All the full-timers must still be at lunch. Anyway, I would most certainly put proof of the waivers in your packet somewhere, even if the ANG decided you needed to do them all over again, for some reason only NGB could dream of, it would make the folks on your board feel more confident in selecting you.

That curvy symbol at the end of my sentence was a question mark. That makes the sentence interrogative. I’m very pleased they didn’t ask you all that. If you actually believe these things are not considered, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.

Glad to hear that.

Were those lower strat folks, that you know, selected because of some all important factors that you could do nothing about ie, race, sex, and or sexual preference? You know the really critical things to consider when selecting pilots??

Sorry to hear that you weren’t picked up AD, however if you do get selected by a Guard unit, you’ll be forever grateful you weren’t selected AD. Having said that, it’s gonna be a bit tougher considering your age. Declining an RPA assignment won’t hurt you in the least. The fact you already have your waivers will help a lot in the interview process as well. So now the process is like anybody else out there. Go find the units you’re interested in. Get to know them, and start applying. You do have also have the advantage of being a C-130 Nav and there’s lots of H model guard units out there still who are perpetually short on Nav’s. You could always roll the dice and get a Nav job and hope they’ll make you a pilot. It’s a bit of a risk though as they may want to keep you as a Nav. Either way, I’m certain you’ll be much happier. Best of luck.

Could not have asked for more than that!!

That was how I read it as well. Males do not enjoy equal protection under the laws we have passed.

Some damn good football games today! Hoping tomorrow’s are entertaining as well!

Absolutely. There’s tons of dudes who rode out the whole lost decade bumming at their guard unit.

I agree but, more than likely, Trump will not win the GOP primary over DeSantis and will then run as a 3rd party candidate and will bring enough votes with him to ensure a Biden (or whoever) victory. Trump certainly isn’t capable of just quietly walking away.

Normally if I’m quoting you it’s to shit all over your political views, but I must’ve missed this gem from a year ago. Absolutely beautiful; nearly pissed my pants!!

Serious question here, not trying to be a dick, but what advantage, other than cost I suppose, does the lightning carrier offer over other carriers?

Maybe work on your gifs as well!!

Those two bros pretty much said it all. Only thing I’d add is to do what it takes to score very well on your AFOQT.