GDAL
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Posts posted by GDAL
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18 hours ago, Dan Meyer said:
Hello All,
I just found this forum and I am new to baseops.net, but I will throw the question out anyway. I know back in the day, Reserve and Guard UPT slots were sometimes awarded to undergraduates. If I was a straight A student in HS and college, very involved in sports and leadership positions AND I had my FAA Commercial ASEL,AMEL,CFII, 1st Medical, was 21 years old, could it happen?
I am happy to hear any feedback.
Thanks,
Yes
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14 minutes ago, matmacwc said:
I had a friend eject out of a Viper due to a poorly rebuilt engine, it ran for like 100 hours before it detonated itself. If I could put on here exactly what happened you'd be surprised it lasted longer than 5 minutes.
You never know, that's the scary part. Just saw an engine come back into the shop with a sheared HP shaft because someone put a seal in backwards. Was fielded for about 250 hours. We couldn't believe it made it past the first run to takeoff power.
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I recall the first portion of the test (orientation questions) gives you instant feedback for each question. All of those questions are (or should be) freebies. I don't have specific feedback for your question since I didn't retake any tests, but I think you should retake the TBAS after studying the online flash cards.
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Did you get all the orientation questions correct?
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11 hours ago, SPAWNmaster said:
More or less. They are trying to figure out how to put me on orders but the only option we are getting from NGB is to submit an ETP and rob from my MEST days (for MQT) which would make for a short seasoning. It just sucks because I have a wife and kid and my civilian job is seasonal (worst timing for all this unfortunately). Just trying to stay useful at the unit and use drill days until we can figure something out.
I hope everything comes together very soon for you and your family.
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47 minutes ago, mb1685 said:
Thanks for the info! I'll probably PM about that if you if I happen to get selected by a Guard/Reserve unit.
Very good. Just to give you a rundown, I got accepted for a guard unit after accepting an active duty slot. I then had to submit a declination form to my AD recruiter. She ran that up the chain and it took about 2 weeks before they released my MEPS records. She was incredibly surprised that it was released that quickly. I've heard it can take months.
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8 minutes ago, SPAWNmaster said:
Unable. I’m guard so we come off orders after UPT and they PCS us back home. My last aircraft was a Huey which my unit has none of.
As of right now I am just a civilian with about six more months before I go back on orders. My colleague is an airline pilot (hired right out of UPT) so he has some way to keep his Air sense but I don’t have that luxury.
Just out of curiosity...what are you doing in the mean time? Just showing up to drill once a month?
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Well there's nothing you can do about the numbers, so don't worry about it. Sounds like you've got a good all around package. I was recently interviewed along with a guy in your position. So there's definitely a chance for ya. Just apply to all the units you can!
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41 minutes ago, iceman said:
Are the height/weight standards for the FC1 the same as for MEPS? I'm borderline, so at MEPS I was pretty dehydrated, and that caused my urine sample to show protein and I had to go back and do it again. I'm going for the FC1 next week at Wright-Pat and I'm 5'7 and just weighed in at 174. I think at MEPS the max weight for me was 175.
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45 minutes ago, extender10 said:
I can't see your PCSM score - but unless getting 201+ hrs is incidental because of the time between now and graduation and the fact that you own an airplane, it's not necessarily worth the money to get 201+ hours in a single engine GA plane unless you're tacking on an IFR or commercial ticket as well, it probably wouldn't set you apart from others with 100 hours in a Cessna and a PPL. I'd focus your time and money on finishing your degree ASAP if it's possible to get it done before you're 28. How fast can you get a bachelors through an online degree program or something similar with an associates in hand? From most of the job postings I've seen, age waivers are very rare unless you're a special case.
As far as the random degree thing, it may be wise to pick something at least remotely useful in advancing your employability as a civilian, back up plans are never a bad idea. Unlikely you can be an AGR/ART forever, and your GI bill is a hell of a useful tool for advancing your career or opening up career opportunities.
Extender is right. Forget the flight hours. Focus on your degree. Get it quickly, but don't leave yourself down the river without a paddle because you chose the easiest, fastest degree. Maybe you don't make it in time and find out you've earned a degree that isn't much use for you in any other career field.
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ANG and AD can't both have access to your MEPS records. I just fought that battle to get AD to release my MEPS records so I could proceed with my NGB application.
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57 minutes ago, Darth said:
And so it begins...
"Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a longtime advocate of stricter gun control measures, introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban the sale and possession of bump-stock equipment and other devices that essentially turn a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic one."
Hasn't she been trying to get rid of bump stocks for years? She's just using this tragedy as an excuse to continue her agenda.
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56 minutes ago, gearpig said:
I'll ask again.
Is there any circumstance in which our society, through it's elected representatives and their laws, should deny the right of anyone to purchase or possess any type of firearm?
So convicted violent felons should also retain this right?
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Just now, Warrior said:
What is this gunshow loophole? Private face to face transactions were not included under Brady. Characterize it as a loophole if you like, but in reality it's perfectly legal under the law as written.
The real issue that laws are written by politicians who have no clue about "the shoulder thingy that goes up." How is someone with that level of expertise going to write a law banning bumpfire stocks that doesn't also outlaw belt loops? (No, i'm not being sarcastic).
Well, that's part of the point I was trying to make. Do any compromises make sense? What legislation will produce any measurable effect beyond the feeling that someone did something?
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34 minutes ago, gearpig said:
Those three snarky posts were intended to mock the earlier absurdly simplistic immovable conviction that any restriction or limitation on any type of weapon, firearm, or accessory is an infringement on a constitutional right. I don't want just anybody walking into a gun show to purchase an M249 unchecked. Hell, I'd like to own one myself but I fully expect to throughly vetted to meet some sort of minimum standard other than simply existing before walking out the door with one. Likewise, I don't believe bump fire stocks designed to circumvent laws preventing just anyone from owning a firearm with an absurdly high rate of fire should be plucked off the rack at any retail store.
From a negotiating position, I understand the "all or nothing" and "slippery slope" and tactics of debate. Because if I get you to admit that a line must be drawn somewhere in an attempt to find a better balance between safety from violent citizens today and safety from tyranny tomorrow, then the debate becomes much more complex and difficult over exactly where to draw it. That's why few will attempt a sincere answer to my first question. A "no compromises, no concessions" position is an intellectually lazy bullshit approach to governing a civilized society. I support and defend the Constitution not because I have an unquestioning quasi-religious zealotry unto it as if it were a holy manuscript written and mandated by God, but because it was created by a room full of citizens who endlessly debated and quarreled over it until they reached middle-ground, and then realizing that it was not perfect or beyond reproach until the end of time, gave provisions for it to be improved upon.
No bump fire stocks. How's that for a law? But it is the position of many here that laws don't impede law breakers and this guy could have whittled one out of table leg, it wouldn't have changed the outcome at all, right? Absurd.
So what are some reasonable compromises the right might take? Close the gunshow loophole? Outlaw makeshift devices that increase fire rate? I'm just trying to take the temperature here, not saying anyone is right or wrong.
As a side note... I've found it's pretty easy to bump fire most AR/AK/SKS type rifles by hooking your trigger finger through your belt loop. Of course, you're firing from the hip and you have virtually zero control. Just a thought.
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Absolute confiscation is the only answer. Hell, it works for the war on drugs.
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6 hours ago, ZenBrendan said:
Hi I have a similar question. I recently took the AFOQT and TBAS and just recently got my scores back. I am wondering if I will be a competitive applicant for any unit. I would love to fly fighters, but I am open to anything and anywhere. I would love to fly C-130s as well. I received a high Pilot score and a relatively high PCSM score, but the rest of my scores aren't the best. I'm wondering if my current PCSM, AFOQT, GPA, and flight hours would be strong enough to be considered as an off the street hire at any unit. Do you think I should retake the AFOQT? Is it possible to get more flight hours and recalculate the PCSM without retaking the TBAS? Thanks!
Scores/Application Overview:
GPA: 3.70
Flight hours: 74.3
PCSM: 85
Pilot: 95
Nav: 67
Acad: 62
Verbal: 66
Quant: 56
I personally wouldn't retake the AFOQT because of the risk of impact to the pilot score (which affects your PCSM). Start applying to units and see if you get any nibbles. If you don't, retake the AFOQT. Some of this would also hinge on how old you are.
As for the PCSM, yes you can easily just update your flight hours through their website. I hear it only takes a day or two. I would focus on getting more flight hours.
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You should do a quick search. You will find a topic called USAF / USA / USN / USMC Vision. Here's the AF summary for which you're looking:
There is no longer a visual acuity standard. You simply have to meet the refractive error requirements (-3.00 for myopia, -1.50 for astigmatism and +2.00 for hyperopia).
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8 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:
They don’t give a shit about your credit score. They care if you are a bribery risk.
I'm not worried about that, just curious if I need to unfreeze my credit.
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6 hours ago, jaygebee said:
Wanted to get advice on my chances with my scores and current situation.
I'm currently a non-rated active duty O-3 in the Air Force trying to get picked up by a reserve heavy unit. I am 27 turning 28 in February, so age is getting close, but I am already over the 5-yr Total Federal Commissioned Services requirement and would need an Exception To Policy (ETP). I am only just now a month past my 5-yr date. I would also need to Palace Chase, if picked up in early 2018, and would be asking for 6 months off my current Active Duty Service Commitment.
Undergraduate GPA: 3.35
Masters GPA: 3.38 (2/3 complete)
AFOQT: P 97, N 99, AA 62, V 83, Q 42
PCSM: 89 w/63 hrs (93, 96, 98 in next three tiers)
PPL
Initial Flight Class I Approved
My letters of recommendation are: my former squadron commander, my current supervisor, a friend/coworker (reserve C-17 pilot), and my father-in-law (retired reserve C-141 pilot).
I have visited my ideal unit once and plan to visit again next month. I have strong connections to the area around the unit. Both my wife and I are from there and our families are mostly all still in the area. We are looking to settle down and I would be seeking a long term position with the unit and would likely pursue an ART position. As a result I am initially only applying to that unit. If I am not selected, I plan to blast my application to various units as I will be pushing the age limit.
Dude....stellar. With those scores and your resume, I'm certain you could get an interview at any unit in the country. I'm not sure about the ETP, though. I know a unit near me was doing age wavers for prior commissioned, so anything is possible. One of the more experienced guys will have to answer that, though.
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Here's another question... I know the investigators are going to look at your credit history. What if you have a credit freeze on all three bureaus? I imagine that will throw up a huge red flag if an investigator can't access your credit. Am I expected to unfreeze my credit for the entirety of the SSBI? After hearing about the Equifax breach, I'm wary...
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17 minutes ago, stuckindayton said:
GDAL,
What kind of stats are you referring to? Numbers? Outcomes? Complications?
Just curious if many pilots elect to get PRK/LASIK during their AF careers. I'd imagine it probably pulls you out of the cockpit for at least 6 mo.
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Assuming you are medically qualified but still require corrective lenses, anyone know the stats on when/if pilots elect to undergo LASIK/PRK after being winged?
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26 minutes ago, brabus said:
No. But you'll need to get the investigation done at some point as TS will likely come up at some point in the near term once you are at your ops squadron...depending on aircraft/mission of course.
As of right now, the squadron only requires a secret (C-130). But some of the tribal knowledge seemed to indicate a TS would be received initially anyway.
Should I test again?
in What Are My Chances?
Posted
Scores are low. Retake both tests ASAP after executing a better study plan. Apply in the mean time and don't get discouraged.