FDNYOldGuy

Thank you again for the help and pointing me in the right direction! I appreciate you taking the time.

Awesome. Thank you for the reply; it's a huge help. I wasn't sure exactly what type of orders would be the "best" for the family of what's possible and was definitely unsure what was most beneficial WRT TDY en route/PCS then TDY/TDY then PCS. I'm a Reservist and I'll be going through the 340th FTG to get the orders written, so the structure and who can help push things in a good direction is a little different. Our 340th LNO here is great, so I'm sure I can utilize him once I have more of an idea what I should do. I am sure I could also call in some help from my gaining unit (the 340th "owns" us for the pipeline until the end of PIQ, then the home unit gains us for Prog Tour), but I don't want to bug them yet since they don't have control over any of it and would more be coming in more as an advocate/"could you help our guy out." I have looked at AirBnB and wasn't sure how that would play in, exactly. From some research, it seems those are acceptable per JTR, but I wasn't 100% sure how to go about going that route or what my limits were. Do I need to get the Non-A from Kelly lodging to be able to go for an AirBnB, or am I allowed up to a certain amount per day per the JTR? IIRC from initial Inprocessing at Randolph, we could get $70/night for lodging (we ended up with a Non-As there and stayed in a hotel). If I went the AirBnB route, would I get the $70/night for the month (eg, $2100 cap for a 30 day month) for the AirBnB? I did see a couple there that fit the bill with a quick search, so it's definitely an option. Thank you again for the help and I appreciate you taking the time. I've tried to dig a little into it myself, but there aren't a lot of other easy resources here since we're all in the same UPT boat and I don't have much extra time to go too far down the rabbit hole.

Hello, all. I wasn't sure what Discussion Group this fell best into, but this one seemed to have more family-specific questions. Barring any unforeseen issues, I'll be heading to Kelly for PIQ here in a few months and I'm looking to bring my family with me. I was wondering if you folks might have some pointers on helping to make that happen. I gather they won't put any family provisions on my orders for a TDY, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to go about it all since they are coming with me. As of now, I'll likely have to have a TDY en route or TDY from UPT because I've got a tight turn between UPT graduation and my first day of PIQ class. There likely won't be enough time to PCS all the way to my gaining base (Reservist, also, if that matters any) and back to San Antonio in the days between. I know there's lodging at Kelly they initially want us in, but it seems like it's not impossible to get a Non-A or, perhaps, the JTR allows other accommodation? I've had a little more trouble locating a family crash pad, as most seem to be closer to Randolph for PIT or more based on single folks sharing a Real World house, but I've heard that there are family crash pads out there. Have any of you had similar experiences of bringing family TDY or getting a family crash pad and have any tips? Any pitfalls to look out for? Should I aim for a specific TDY setup (en route, PCS first, TDY then PCS) in my orders, if I can swing it? Thank you in advance.

If you're Reserves, I'd doubt that you'll have that much of a break. They like to keep you on solid orders from start to finish with no more than 30 days break in training (causes them more paperwork?). Got a buddy in OTS right now, leaves for IFT 2 days after OTS graduation, then right to SERE, then immediate PCS to UPT. Don't think he's got more than 4 days break between any of the different training pieces. I had some longer stretches between OTS-SERE-UPT, but still nothing more than 30 days. You're also not "owned" by your unit until you're spit out at the other end of the pipeline post-FTU, so you won't be going to drill with them. You might, if anything, go to your UPT base and get a casual job. Guard will give you longer breaks between training pieces, but I haven't heard of anyone in the Reserves having 3+ months. Then again, maybe the shortage of slots has changed things up?

First Assignment Instructor Pilot. Basically, you graduate pilot training with wings and, instead of getting sent to a MWS/another base, you get sent to Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) and come back to instruct T6s. Usually T6s and usually at the base you just left UPT from, but there are exceptions. Only been for AD folks, but brought up as a potential for Unsponsored Reservists.Yet to see it happen, though. The active orders for 4 years is roughly encompassing all training from OTS through unit seasoning in your aircraft. 2-3 years is more likely for mobility and tankers, with the up to 4 years likely being for the more in-depth fighter training/seasoning.

I haven’t heard of that out of the gate. There was talk of allowing Unsponsored folks to FAIP, which would obviously be 3-4 years of AD orders, but I haven’t heard of it panning out. You could come back full time as an IP under the Reserves (~15% of IPs are Reservists), but that would take time in service and time with an MWS/unit before happening. More likely, if you didn’t get picked up by a unit by UPT completion, you’d just get shuttled to a unit that was undermanned by the 340th. You’re going to be pretty desirable to a unit while at UPT and will likely get hired by someone, unless you’re really jamming up in the interview process.

🥃 Is the link supposed to be direct for him? It’s not populating the info fields for “in memory of” or putting his name anywhere on the page that’s coming up for me when I click it. Certainly no issue just donating to the cause, but I’d love to have it go in his memory, if I can.

Of course, dude! It really is a great community and I strongly recommend giving it a shot. If you just want to be a part of it, no matter the airframe, it certainly isn't an impossible goal. If you're 100% set on "fighters or nothing," then you are going to have quite an uphill battle. Again, nothing is impossible until you've heard the last "No."

Eh, this is certainly true for a great candidate being able to accomplish anything, but it is even further along to age being a big issue. Having been here now, there is something to the old-dog-new-tricks concerns they have about older folks in UPT; especially in the fighter track. The pressure to perform, put time in, and pick it up quickly is very real in the 38 track and it starts in T6s from day 1. A young candidate is going to be way more moldable, have much more free time to study and focus solely on the program, and just flat out have more brain space available to cram in GK than an older person that has a ton of other life/job/etc. taking up space in there already, in most cases. I have quite a few points to that I think back it up, but in the vein of brevity (not my strong suit), UPT is a young person's game. Multiple IPs said the same to me in their teaching experience: The old folks seem to struggle in the beginning, but come on strong later when it all starts to get put together. But, that's not conducive to the T38 track. You've gotta hit the ground running in T6s, catch on quick, and be top-performing from the beginning to give them the confidence you're going to succeed down the road. Of course, if you've been picked up by a fighter unit and have a guaranteed 38 slot, the pressure to earn that slot competing with others is removed, but the pressure to perform perfectly isn't. And that continues throughout fighter career which, again, can be harder for older folks to be okay with. Again, it's not the case 100% of the time, but it's what .02 is from my short run in this world.

The 37 year-old mentioned above checking in. Let me start by saying I’m certainly not one to listen to being told things are impossible, or else I wouldn’t be where I am now. Even more so, I don’t wanna piss on anyone’s dreams. You never know til you try. That said, the advice above is as solid as it gets and you should take a long hard look at what you want. Is flying for the military what’s important, or flying fighters all you want? You’ve got an extremely high goal and are standing in a less than perfect position. Your age is a huge hurdle for fighters. While you don’t need a waiver this instant being < 33, that timeline of a year or two is solid and the cap is age at UPT start, so you’ll have to get a waiver. Guard/Reserve fighter units are REALLY not likely to do waivers and active duty doesn’t do them at all, AFAIK. Your AFOQT scores are likely too low for fighters and your TBAS won’t likely be high enough with the lower Pilot/Nav scores and no flight hours. The GPA and possession charge aren’t going to make it any easier, either. @EvilEagle is a legend and his word might as well be gospels. Especially with his love of V-Twins from that bike list...although I’m biased and had a few sport twins in my past; including a TL. Again, I’m not one to take or believe “it can’t be done,” but he’s very right in the time, effort, and money it will take to even see if it’s possible. If your goal is to fly mil, time spent chasing fighters and battling 50 other people for 1 slot could be better used working on rushing heavy units. Anyway, I wish you the best, dude. Nothing is impossible and, if you want it bad enough, put in the work and see what happens. It ain’t over until you’ve heard (and accepted) the last “No.”

Exactly what was said above, with a further caveat: you get to start the clock on your TSP matches. Your only option will be blended retirement, which involves getting a match on your TSP contributions. The kinda shit part is Uncle Sam won’t start matching (up to 5%) until you’ve been making your own contributions for 2 years. Well, guess how long your guaranteed full-time active training time for OTS/SERE/UPT/PIQ/Seasoning is? About two years... So, earlier you can start contributing, means you can hopefully catch some of the tail end of your full time orders and get a few more Spacebucks out of Uncle Sam. Just make sure you start putting into your TSP when you get your first checks/MyPay setup for drill weekends and you can get ahead of the game a bit. It’s not a crazy amount of money, but it’s a little something extra.

You won’t drill with the 340th or your gaining unit as a Reservist before UPT; the 340th doesn’t have drills for UPT pipeline and won’t let you drill with your home unit. You’ll just be on DEP, basically. You’ll swear in, but you won’t be doing anything until you leave for your first piece of the pipeline. Your sponsoring unit has no control over you until you head to your PIQ/FTU. 340th handles your school/travel, pay, leave, orders, etc., so your home unit is just waiting for you to pop out at the other end with some wings.

Totally feasible; especially for heavies. I got waivered off the street at 36 (technically 37, by the time I started UPT). It’s all in how hard you’re willing to hustle to get there, but a lot of my hustle was in getting the stuff that was needed (test scores, medical, recruiting paperwork, etc.) done before/right after getting hired. Get your AFOQT and TBAS done (when you’re ready to test); sooner the better. If you get 80s-90s on Pilot, Nav, and PCSM, you’ll get a lot more attention from recruiters and units. You said you needed a medical waiver, which is another huge hurdle and something that might give units pause, so get rolling on going to MEPS and, if it’s possible, try to get an FC1 out of the way to ensure those med waivers don’t hold you back. You’ll have to have that before you go to a UPT board and that takes time. Get a solid packet together and get working with a recruiter if you’re looking at Reserves options. A single Reserves recruiter can handle any Reserves unit you’re interested in; Guard will have individual recruiters for each unit, which makes things tougher (but still doable; just more duplication of efforts). It’s all based on your hustle and anything is possible until you’ve heard ”Yes” or your final “No.” Keep networking, keep digging for what you can do next to help your cause, and don’t let any “No” answers dissuade you from trying more options. Part of it all is proving how bad you want it and putting in your own legwork and being persistent will go a long way to showing you’re serious. Good luck!

Here now, if you have any questions...

Still not mandatory unless it just recently changed. I didn't go and had a PPL and know there was another stud that wanted to go (even with a PPL) but wasn't allowed to. I had heard that they might have changed it to you'll have to go to IFT even with a PPL if you haven't flown in 2(3?) years, but I don't have a solid line on that.

There is a Reserve FTS here at Vance; The 5th FTS. We've had a couple guys fly with us in T6s and they aren't tied to specifically to us Reservists; they've flown with everyone in our class regardless of status. Wiki says the 5th instructs in 1s and 38s, too. Our Reserves LNO (officer who wrangles us Reservists at each UPT base), is attached to the 340th and also a 38 IP here. Not sure if he only flies with 340th 38 studs or not. Like @matmacwc said, these folks have been MWS trained and came back years later to instruct. It should be less than 30 days. I went to Inpro and was headed to OTS in 24 days from leaving Randolph and there were folks in our Inpro group that went to the class that started a week earlier than me, so definitely didn't have a 30 day wait. They try to keep a 30 day limit for breaks in training with the Reserves, so it's highly likely you'll be sent to SERE or IFT between OTS and UPT start. Some of my group went directly to SERE from OTS (seriously, the Monday after OTS graduation), others (myself included) PCS'd to UPT right after OTS then left for SERE a week or so after getting here, and others went to IFT and will hit SERE after UPT. YMMV, but that was the gist for our batch. Only a few folks that had already been to SERE or had a PPL and didn't have to go to IFT started right up with UPT after OTS. Their goal seems to be to keep training rolling over paying us to sit in a casual job, so they'll fit in what training they can.

For the Reserves, you can work with an officer recruiter to get you through the initial million forms of paperwork, get you scheduled for MEPS/TBAS/AFOQT (this will take a LOT of pushing on your part, but they can do it), and they can also have you apply for an Unsponsored slot. Unsponsored means you're picked up by the Reserves as a whole to go through pilot training and you just hustle to find a Reserves unit to sponsor you. If you don't get sponsored by the time you're done with UPT, they send you to whatever unit they need manning at. You can also start doing what others above have said and making contacts at units to set up your interviews. But, unless you're hired by the unit (unlikely if you don't have AFOQT/TBAS scores), you're still going to have to get ahold of the officer recruiter to get those things booked and done. Guard is completely different and each unit runs its own recruiter, so working with one unit's recruiter won't do you a lot of good if you're trying to get hired by another. And, as others said, they're more focused on enlisted folks, so they might not be able to help as much. Active is a different beast and I don't know anything about it, but there's good advice already in this thread about only applying for what you want and don't let them push you into a position you don't want. The whole process can take about 2 years (especially for Active and Guard), so get the ball rolling ASAP if you want to do it. Good luck!

You can definitely make it, if you have the drive, can market yourself well, and a unit wants to help push the waiver on their end. I'm here at 37. What @N730 said, is right, though: if you don't want pilot very badly, it's a WHOLE LOT of work and, if you're not completely dedicated, the workload might deter you. And, 100% it is harder to do when you're older. I've got my wife and 1 year old kiddo here with me and juggling all of it is not easy; twice as hard if you're trying to compare yourself to kids in their early-mid 20s that are likely better at studying and don't have any other obligations that take study time. But, it's completely doable. I was insanely lucky/put in a whole lot of hustle to get from hired to UPT (means 2 months of OTS and, in my case, a month of SERE in there, too) in less than a year. That's very quick and most of the time it takes closer to 2 years; especially if you get picked up by a Guard unit. Their timeline is quite a bit longer than Reserves, it seems. Lastly, your Pilot/Nav scores are a bit on the low side. I had the same quant as yours, so they're not really gonna care about that (maybe break your chops a bit), but I had 89 Pilot and 91 Nav. You need that TBAS ASAP, too, and if you can get in the 80s or higher, you might be okay. All that said, time is not your friend and you need to start applying ASAP. Put together a packet, have folks on here look through it and offer input (I can try to take a look, too, but time is definitely not something I get much of these days in the thick of T6s), and start sending it out to units that have open hirings. Apply to every airframe you'd be willing to fly and be persistent. Fighters are probably too much of a long shot for you, but there might be some heavy units that'll give you a look. Bottom line is you never know until you try and you're never out until the last place tells you, "No." I still have quite a few moments where I laugh and can't believe I'm actually here. But, I put in a lot of work, marketed myself as best I could, and got lucky along the way. If I can, anyone can. So, get moving! Good luck!

Backing up what @FLEA and @viper154 said on the DITY. I flew up, rented a truck, hired movers to pack and load, and drove the truck down myself. I took all the receipts from the truck, movers, fuel, etc. to TMO and got those amounts taken off the taxable amount paid out for weight, the packet certified, and sent off to my finance office. The payments are in the works and I've gotten the tickets that they're to be paid out, so I think all is well. As for hiring movers and still doing a DITY, a Guard bro here at UPT with some solid prior service time and a lot of financial savvy told me you can definitely do that. He said he just hired movers on his own and was able to come out ahead because they were below what the government would have paid out. It's more wrangling on your end by getting everything lined up properly by booking the movers, getting them on base, ensuring they get the weigh tickets, etc., but it's definitely doable and you can get a few bucks for your trouble, as long as your bill for hiring them is less than 95% of what the government would have paid out to do it themselves. And you don't have to wait weeks for your stuff.

Congrats on getting through the board! You'll probably be in the next OTS classes, as long as your MFS goes off without a hitch and your medical is certified. That can take a month or two, which might delay your OTS, if you get bogged down. But, I think mid Oct is the beginning of FY20 classes, from something I remember seeing passed around, so you've got a little bit of cushion (but not much) built in for certification since you're going in mid-July. I was picked up in the Sept 2018 AFRC board (had my FC1 complete and certified before going to the board) and made the next batch of available OTS classes in Jan 2019 after that board. Your recruiter should be getting you sworn in soon and the 340th will gain you at some point in the next month or two, I'd guess. Then you'll head down to Randolph ~2 weeks before your OTS start date for a week of Inprocessing. You're in the Delayed Entry Program, so you won't be drilling or anything; just swearing in and waiting until they bring you down for Inpro before OTS. Reach out to the 340th before too long to ensure your paperwork goes through properly and they gain you. My paperwork (1288 form, specifically) got a little screwed up from my recruiter and I ended up getting gained by my home unit, which is not supposed to happen; all Reservists go to the 340th FTG for the training pipeline, no matter who you're picked up by. So, there was some time burned getting that squared away, but it worked out in the end. Feel free to hit me up if you have any questions along the way!

Yes, as I understand it, part of what they do (beyond wrangling us Reservists) is to help place Unsponsored folks because they can't really go chasing down interviews while in training. But, there's always the chance "needs of the AF" overrules if you don't get picked up.

Pretty much every two weeks

No worries, dude! I'll definitely offer up the advice someone told me: make everyone tell you "No." Apply everywhere you'd consider applying to and to every airframe you'd think you'd enjoy flying. You're not out of any fight until they definitively have told you, "No," and closed the door on coming back for another application period. Unsponsored is good and you might have a leg up getting hired if you're already through OTS and here at UPT, because you've got pilot community connections helping make connections at a unit and an interested unit just has to agree to pick up the tab. In the Guard pipeline, this is doubly so, as they have to fight for each training slot (OTS, IFT/SERE, UPT, etc.); the Reserves just have you shunted to the 340th, which handles all training for all Reservists, regardless of the squadron. On the downside, until you get picked up, you're at the whim of the Reserves and don't have a "champion" of your cause. If you're picked up by a unit before starting the ride, you'll have them in your corner if you hit any bumps and to help push your paperwork. Pros and cons to both. Either way, just keep doing all you can to get that spot!

I'm not sure if they bumped Unsponsored age cutoff up with the general UPT cutoff age (from 30 to 33), but I thought it was 28.. So, if not, you might be a little late to grab one of those. My .02 from the few Unsponsored dudes I know here at UPT is that it's not terrible. One got picked up before even starting UPT and the others are still in the hunt. You'll be likely shunted into T1s and leaving fighters a very long shot, but it's not impossible if you get picked up. I wouldn't rule it out if it's an option. They need meat in the seats, so my brief time on base at UPT hasn't had anyone dropping drones. But, that can always change. You have a good explanation for the college scores, but you might have to overcome the AFOQT scores, too. Your pilot is strong, and your PCSM is decent for heavies (fighters will be a stretch, I'd guess), but the other scores might on the low side for a lot of boards. I had a low Quant, so they can definitely be overcome, but you've got a few that aren't helping much. In the end, it depends on how bad you want to fly mil, no matter the airframe, or if you're set on a certain mission. Keep networking and making friends in the community; that'll help, too! Good luck!

I'm just getting ready to start UPT and got in with a Reserves heavy squadron, so I'm not sure I'm going to have the fighter game down very well and I'm not a pilot on a hiring board, but I can look over your packet for ya if you just want a different set of eyes. I did manage to get myself picked up at 36 with no prior service and worse scores than you've got, so I reckon my packet wasn't terrible. If you want me to take a look, just PM me on here with your info and I'll get to it when I can. I'm in the middle of moving into my house and have my family coming down on Sunday, so it might take me a few days to get to it.