[Changing/switching units]

6 hours ago, brabus said:

You can absolutely turn down the offer, but clearly you risk going to UPT at all (if you don't subsequently get hired by another unit). Do it before swearing in, and nobody should care that much (as you said, alternates), do it after and you might piss people off. It's your life, don't let a few people possibly being pissed drive your decidion, but also know if fighters don't work out and you're back applying for heavy units, I have to imagine you may face an uphill battle (the new prospective units will find out, whether you tell them or not). Hard call, good luck.

@brabus thank you very much for you’re advice.  At what point do you actually “swear in” is that during OTS?  I’m not completely familiar with the timeline.

[Changing/switching units]

4 hours ago, flammable said:

I've stated this before but assuming you're already enlisted/sworn in with your current unit, at the end of the day if you're accepted into another squadron/wing, you will need to fill out a transfer sheet which needs to be signed by your leadership and wing. If I were you, I would be 100% transparent while doing this.

I’m not enlisted.  Just an “off the street” hire as they say.  So, it sounds like technically you can switch but you can potentially offend some people by doing that?  Isn’t that why they select alternates though? @flammable @RunningMan

[Changing/switching units]

Thread revival here!

 

I have a similar question, but I think it is different enough to warrant me asking.  I was recently called by a heavy unit to be one of their UPT candidates.  I was very excited and said that I would love to go to UPT.  I haven’t received an official letter, started my official paperwork, or gone to MEPS  yet.  I’ve only received the phone call.  

Anyway, it’s always been my dream to fly fighters, but I haven’t had a chance to interview with any fighter units yet.   I don’t want to say no to this offer, and throw away a chance to go to UPT on just the hope that I might be picked up by a fighter unit in the future. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”  I’d rather fly something than nothing, since eventually I plan on flying for the airlines as well, and I don’t want to waste time not flying!   But, I still want to know if I can land a fighter gig.

 I was wondering if I accept the offer, can I still try for other Guard/Reserve fighter units in the meantime?  Can I switch over to another unit that flys fighters before I go to UPT? If so, when is it too late for me to switch to fighters? I’ve heard that once I start flying T-1s the deed is done.

I was thinking of accepting the offer as a safety net to ensure I go to UPT this year, but still interviewing with fighter units up until it is too late for me to switch (whenever that is).  The heavy unit that called me was the first I interviewed with, so I didn’t expect to have an offer so soon.  I thought I would at least have tried a few fighter units before I got an offer. My main fear is that I accept the offer and start flying heavies and then later in my career I start to have this burning “what if” feeling.   I feel if I do fly heavies without at least trying for fighters I will constantly wonder “what if I could have been a fighter pilot.”  

Any advice? Slash back to the original question - can I switch to another unit even after I accept?