O Face

Thanks for the article, Biff. And I know it’s been mentioned before, but if any of you are looking for an amazing A-1 book, read this one!

Are you planning on going Active Duty or applying to Guard and Reserve units?

No problem. You’re learning and showing some humility. Keep up the good work.

Appreciate your enthusiasm, but remember the other day when you asked me how to not be annoying? Well, I guess I overestimated you when I said “you know what annoying looks like.” It’s time for lesson one… Don’t be a poser and jump into a conversation, acting like you know what you’re talking about, and giving someone advice on something you know nothing about. In fact, you’re a lot further behind mocephus in this process, as you have not even taken the AFOQT or began college yet. Most importantly, you have absolutely no clue if he could “definitely get picked up by a fighter sq” or any squadron for that matter, or what a squadron will ask on an interview. There’s a whole lot more to getting selected for pilot than AFOQT scores. Also, on a personal note unless an applicant was a teacher’s aid or worked for them in some capacity, I give letters of recommendation from a college professor about the same level of credence as if from the guy taking my order at the Taco Bell drive thru. The folks answering these questions are dudes who have gone through the process, succeeded, and now have the experience to give aspiring pilots some advice. I realize that the internet is a cesspool of horseshit and people pretending to be experts, and yes these forums are full of threads where pilots think we’re lawyers, financial planners, and politicians. However, when it comes to AF pilot questions, it’s best if you left the answers to those who are. Let’s try to maintain a degree of validity here. Lesson two: Humility. Mocephus scored a 99 on his pilot, that’s as high as you can get. He knows it’s a good score. You should’ve answered his post by saying something like “Damn! Great pilot score. Do you have any pointers for me so that I can score that high too?” instead of acting like you’ve been sitting on hiring boards for years. You seem like a bright and eager kid, that’s good and I’m definitely not trying to crush your spirit here. I’m certain you’ve spent hours combing these threads and picking up whatever morsels of intel you can digest. However, don’t confuse regurgitating the words of others as personal experience. Make sense?

Gotcha. Good luck to you then. Sounds like you’re on the right track.

What enlisted career field are you in currently? Do you interact with the pilots at all? If so, wait for an opportunity when they’re not busy or in a rush, and respectfully introduce yourself. Tell them you’re hoping to apply as soon as you finish up college. Nothing cosmic, no secret formula. You already know what annoying looks like. Don’t follow anyone around like a lost puppy dog, don’t be obnoxious, and don’t act entitled. Be helpful, respectful, funny, and humble. Offer to help the Lt’s clean up the bar or help DD after a Sqdrn function. The fellas are going to remember you come interview time. I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t be nervous talking to the pilots. Remember we’re always looking for our next pilot and like hiring our own folks, so be the guy that you’d like to work with.

Ah, so the reserves don’t have a student flight or anything like that? The guard will enlist a kid and pay them for drills until they leave for school.

Recommend you get you PPL first. Accumulate whatever hours you can afford the next few years. You can’t apply for a UPT slot until your last year of college anyway, so start studying for your AFOQT as you near that timeline. You can only take it twice, so put in the effort preparing for it. Also, and equally important, spend these next few enlisted years getting to know the pilots in your unit. Don’t be the annoying guy, but rather be the bro they want to hire and keep around. Try bringing a bottle for the bar, on a drill weekend, every once in a while. I bet you’ll be invited to stay for some drinks, let them know you’re interested in flying with them.

Hey Doc. I’m glad some of us can finally answer a question for you since you’ve dutifully been answering countless medical questions on here for years. First of all tell your son congratulations from all of us on here!! That’s a big deal!! The answer is yes. Swear in ASAP. He can begin going to drill and get paid for it, and even though he’ll be sitting for a while waiting for school dates he can get a good year in the reserve towards retirement. When he goes to visit your old stomping grounds at WP, and if they DQ’d him for something, he would be eligible for release. He won’t be committed for his 10 yrs until he completes UPT. Again - congratulations.

“You know how many foods are shaped like dicks? The best kinds!”

It most certainly is.

What a great movie Superbad was

Now I finally get why Nsplayer and this guy are so excited about Joe Biden…Water Trains!! That’s badass!!!

Ok. Thank you. Man, I’ve gotten old. “Now you kids with your loud music, and your Dan Fogleberg, your Zima, hula hoops and pac-man video games” -Ted Denslow

You’ve posted this face multiple times…In all seriousness, what the f@$k is it? Also, I’ve been a member of this f&!?*ng forum since 2005 I think, you’re a mod right? How long does a guy need to be a member here before he can drop some F-bombs, like the other kids??

You know, Bud Light could really win some customers back if they brought this advertising series back again. Or maybe that was the plan all along and their first commercial is going to be “Bud Light salutes you Mr Mutilates Your Dick and Cuts Off Your Balls Guy!”

I’d say it’s fairly common. Some folks just can’t cut it, for whatever reason. Guard units then will go to sister squadrons and play baseball GM trading draft picks. We’ve sent dudes who didn’t make T-38 to a heavy squadron, as well as picked up a guy who was at a heavy squadron, but wanted fighters and scored high enough to make the 38 cut. Guard units are pretty good about helping each other out.

Not trying to pile on here, but also you need to realize that the chances of getting palace chase approved are slim to none as well. Those who have been successful, are generally in the last year of their commitment, or so. Not saying you won’t still want to go back to UPT in 10 years from now, but I’d recommend shopping for a mission/airframe that seems enjoyable to you for the time being. Going to fly RC’s or EC’s because they’re ACC is going to make for a long decade and at the end of it, you may not be that interested in flying fighters anyway.

Agree with all. I like your dark horse picks as well. Not saying I expect them to be in the national championship anytime soon, but it’d sure be fun to see Colorado and Nebraska relevant and slugging it out. That was a great rivalry.

Well it’s spring ball time already! Only a few more months until another season kicks off!! Let’s hope it’s as exciting as last year, minus that championship game. Who do you got winning it all this year? Also, draft time again. Some of the “experts” are saying QB’s are going to go 1-4 picks for the first time in history. I find that difficult to believe since they all are kind of, unremarkable.

Definitely the recruiter for the particular unit, in this instance. It is certainly possible to enlist from another area. Guard/Res recruiters only answer to their own unit, unlike AD. So, your local guy isn’t going to go out of his way to help out another unit. If you got your heart set on the 302nd, https://www.477fg.afrc.af.mil/ talk to their recruiters. They’ll be your best source of info for enlisting there.

Did you talk to the 477th recruiter or just your local recruiter?