Magic24

You're enlisted with the unit you're interviewing with right? I'd wear dress blues to your interview...

What was your major? One of the first questions the board will ask you is "Please explain your GPA?" If you have low AFOQT scores those scores and GPA won't coincide with each other very well, but if you have killer AFOQT scores that will help combat your low GPA. Ultimately helping to prove you're capable of much more than your GPA on paper. I didn't have the best AFOQT scores but had a really good GPA so my unit knew my mediocre AFOQT scores weren't what I was capable of. I'd study your ass off for 4-6 months and hopefully kill the thing.

Can you please elaborate? How would they get laughed at and be considered a waste of space if they performed well enough in T-6 to be recommended to a 38. I would think that's proving yourself worthy regardless if he was originally selected by a heavy unit. If a guard heavy guy ends up wanting a 38 and is good enough I would assume he now has the itch for fighters he didn't originally have, and would seek out a fighter squadron and hopefully get picked up on their manning doc.

I know a few Guard heavy guys who did very well and ended up tracking 38s instead of T-1s. Someone with better knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong, but if your T-6 flight commander recommends you to 38s I think that becomes your guard units decision as NGB funds your slot and wouldn't necessarily be taking a track select 38 spot from the AD side? On the flip side of that you could finish #1 in T-6 but if your unit says No, T-1s you go. This was a few year back when the shortage wasn't as prevalent. I think the other guys may be right as with the fighter pilot shortage it's probably a much steeper hill to climb justifying sending a C-17 guard guy through 38s. It's probably not impossible, but I wouldn't bank on it.

Enlisting in the Guard helped me in eventually achieving a UPT slot, ROTC worked out for brabus. As everyone here can attest to, any route you take luck and timing always plays a part. Good luck in the path that you feel is best for you!

With taking school off it really depends on timing. I've know people who only had to take a semester off of school, some a full year. If you're young it's definitely worth it. You can certainly enlist after you receive your Bachelor's. Also, yes at anytime during your enlistment you can apply to boards. Even AD OTS. The Guard/Reserves is a family. They like to take care of their own. *If you're a good dude

If you want to go the ANG/Reserves, enlist with a Guard unit in your area, or a unit you would like to fly for one day! Most units have great educational benefits with tuition assistance that you could use to help you achieve your bachelor's degree without incurring debt. Then apply to every Guard unit that has a UPT board. Most units will give automatic interviews to unit members that have all of the boxes checked. Like Kilo said get a private pilots license, or as many flight hours as possible. I recommend enlisting because as most people can attest here it is very hard to get hired off the street, not impossible though. This is the route that I took, and I got hired my first interview. Best of Luck!