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iRobot

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    What are my chances, airline to ANG

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    I can answer as best as possible. Just got picked up recently and my insight is pretty fresh through the process, but I am not a military pilot yet.

    1. AFOQT is a breeze. Questions aren’t that difficult and are really more time-based than difficult; questions are a lot more like the SAT. Study a few AFOQT prep guides and be fast at answering the right question (obviously).

    2. Pay can be found online; when you’re in OTS it’ll be at an E-5 pay scale (not including your BAH/BAS - if applicable). Thereafter it’ll be O-1 pay until you promote; again, information you can find online.

    3. Not sure what he may have meant by “wasn’t deployable”. My assumption (again I’m not a pilot yet), is all units and their respective airframes can be deployed, so best expect to deploy; it comes with the territory of being in the military.

    4. My answer, yes! But that’s because I’ve always wanted to serve my country and be a military aviator. If you have ambitions to be an airline pilot and are considering this solely as a “gig on the side”, then do yourself a favor and don’t bother. Not to sound like a douche, but understand that coming into this is a huge commitment and if getting into the majors is your goal, then ride it out. If you want to serve your country, receive the best aviation training on the planet and be part of a community of studs who want to do the same, then go for it.


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    What's wrong with my package?

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    Just a heads up, I'm not a fighter guy, nor a select, but from my first hand experience asking fighter guys this is what I've learned...

    @brabus hit the nail on the head. I've been very fortunate to have some fighter advice imparted on me and the cover letter/resume can make a world of a difference. Standing out is KEY. Write a cover letter that shows personality and is one-of-a-kind. Took me over a year and several dozen pairs of eyes on it, but I finally tailored something that fits who I am and has definitely caught attention. For your resume, best advice I've gotten, "if you only had one page to gloat, what would you write?"... talk it up. 

    LOR's can be a saving grace, especially from the right people, either within the community or people who can speak to your professionalism and personality, but typically letters only get eyes on them unless its coming down to the wire (make or break decision for an interview/hire).

    Otherwise, your scores are great, I wouldn't sweat anything else (age, scores, letters). You've definitely got better scores than me and are a few years younger. Instead focus on rushing and standing out; fitting in with the right squadron and making sure your presence is remembered (in a good way) is what should land you that interview, at the very least. Good luck!

    Upcoming Boards

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted

    Hey guys, might be a noob question here:
    Do some squadrons not allow applicants to rush? For example, this particular squadron wrote this note "Individual tours are not done for prospective UFT candidates during the period of time we are accepting applications."
    Does this mean we can only rush before the applications begin? Or we just cant have individual tours but can still rush?
    Thanks!

    Good question. Even though one may live locally to a particular squadron, the answer can still be “yes”, for many reasons that depend on their interests/reasons.

    Commonly it can be due to the fact that it’s expensive for people to travel so they’re looking out for the candidates. Also, some squadrons can have hundreds of applicants which I imagine can be a logistics nightmare if the same amount decided to rush.

    These are just some reasons, but from my experience, this is what I’ve heard first hand from some units. My advice, make that application standout. Good luck to you!


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    Upcoming Boards

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted

    @DesperateApplicant I doubt it, unless folks really bomb the initial interview screening. If most folks got invited, it was probably due to a great application and having a great attitude/fit in the unit.

    Remember, this is just speculation... so I can very well be proven wrong. Either way, great group of folks and best of wishes for those folks that got interviewed! Still plenty of other slots and I'm definitely going to gun for those A-10 slots! (Pun intended)

    What are My Chances for Active Duty Fighters?

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted · Edited by iRobot

    @gatsby I'm getting closer to the age cut-off (28 now) and let me tell you, don't stop until they tell you NO, cause guys get waivers for just about anything short of missing a brain (kidding of course). This is not coming from me, but from POC's and chief hiring members (various fighter squadrons), so to their advice, I'm not letting a number stop me.

    If you've got the aptitude and attitude, then go for it. Like I've learned and been told... If there's a will, there's a waiver and where there was a waiver, there was a will.

    • Thanks 1

    Upcoming Boards

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted · Edited by iRobot

    2 hours ago, Nash2018 said:

    I think this question is ok to post here as it's relevant to the topic, but if not please let me know.

    How do you address a Lt Col in an email/cover letter? I've been using "Col" but I asked my dad (retired 0-6) and he said "Lt Col" and that you should only use "Col" when speaking to them. 

    I'd imagine either are safe and probably won't make or break an application, but I'd love any input you have. 

    BONUS: I've seen letters signed both as "LtCol" and "Lt Col". Space or no space? 

    @Nash2018 Safest bet (just my $0.02) is to give a full address (i.e. Lieutenant Colonel) without any abbreviation. I always address by full title and name unless told otherwise, shows some level of respect and discernment.

    Standard Interview Questions

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted

    Hey all,

    I tried to memorize the questions as best as possible from my interview. Not exactly verbatim, but very close. Here are the questions I was asked:

    1. Tell us about yourself, personal and professional; also, tell us about your flying experience.

    2. What do you know about the KC-135?

    3. What does it mean to you to be an Officer in the military?

    4. How have you handled leadership roles (if any applies to you)?

    5. How have you handled disagreements between you and co-workers, including superiors and subordinates.

    6. Tell us about your coolest/craziest flying experience.

    7. Can you pass the physical portion of OTS? (funny story with that 😅)

    8. What are your personal/professional goals?

    9. What are your goals for flying with the Air Force Reserves? (Full time AGR/ART or TR)

    10. How do you plan on supplementing your income as a Reservist, especially in CA?

    11. Are you ok with deployments?

    12. How do you plan on committing your time (outside of your career) to the Reserves?

    13. Tell us about your most proud moment(s)/achievement(s).

    14. Tell us about your least proud moment(s)/failure(s).

    15. Are you applying to any other units?

    16. Is your family/spouse on board for what you plan on committing to?
      • This question was something they really emphasized. I believe a lot of folks (especially younger) don't realize the extent of how committed you have to be, especially with a family on board.

    I interviewed with the amazing pilots and aircrew from the 336th ARS, and they mentioned I did well. Awesome experience and quite frankly, ANY chance you can interview, do it, regardless of the base, airframe, etc. (just my $0.02). Being a civilian showing up to an air base for the first time with a panel of 7+ Officers and NCO's can be intimidating for some. (I've been fortunate enough to be around a lot of military personnel, so I've grown used to it).

    Side note: I know I really shouldn't have to say this but...  just be completely open and honest in your answers. Some of the answers I gave were very personal, but hey, if I am to be with these folks for the next 20+ years of my life, then we better lay a solid foundation of trust right out of the gates.

    • Like 3

    Just another dreamer

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted · Edited by iRobot

    1 hour ago, Stoker said:

    You're likely in striking distance for fighters, finish your PPL and you'll likely be able to land some interviews provided you show up to the meet-and-greets and mesh well. But you'll be among the less well qualified candidates, at least on paper. Not insurmountable though, and potentially worth spending six months or so chasing that dream before switching to applying to heavies.

    Get your PPL and you should get a call back from any heavy squadron you apply to (except McDill).

    Thanks for the advice, been rushing a few fighter squadrons and one heavy squadron, but in any case, I'll definitely stick to my guns and crank out the PPL -- a personal achievement at this point. @Stoker

    Just another dreamer

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    5 hours ago, DifferentViper said:

    Similar everything as you except one small point. Your AFOQT is way better than mine. PCSM is same as mine with 21 hours. I'm a 28 year old EE with a 3.2 gpa working as an engineer for an aerospace defense contractor. I got picked up by a heavy squadron. 1 for 1 on interviews/ offers. I was also in ROTC.

    If you don't mind me asking how did you leave rotc? Voluntary departure after no pilot slot? 

    Are you my doppelganger? @DifferentViper As for my leave in AF ROTC, I was competing for the pilot slot and didn't get picked up (suuuper competitive then in 2009), afterward I tried to get a STEM scholarship (full-ride) but I'd be selected for an engineering position only. Tried my hand at that, but I wasn't picked for that either (only about 4 slots for the whole detachment -- again, competitive). So I opted out and figured I'd finish my degree and try out at a later date (AD, Reserves or Guard).

    Upcoming Boards

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted

    @KingKid Don't know if its my place to say anything, but I'll do it anyway... Worrying is not going to add anything more than grey hair to you (if you don't already have some 😅). As far as personalities are concerned, from the fighter pilots (and pilots I've met in general) there is no cookie cutter type out there... just a bunch that loves flying and worked their tails off to make their dreams come true (again just from my experience). Just be yourself and really if it's meant to be, you'll find a home, even if it's not with a fighter squadron... life isn't over if you fly heavies (you're still flying AND serving your country :usa:), they love what they fly as much as the fighter guys.

    **Steps off soapbox**

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    Just another dreamer

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted · Edited by iRobot

    Hey all,

    Figured I'd at least give a brief introduction and leave my information open for feedback, as well as, an opportunity for others to get a sense of their chances if I get picked up. 

    Resume breakdown:

    • Age: 28 (Turning 29 at the end of the year)
    • B.S. Electrical Engineering (at a Cal State), starting Grad school (M.S.E.E.) in Spring 2019
    • 3.09 GPA
    • AFOQT - 97 Pilot, 85 Nav., 76 AA, 63 Verb., 81 Quant.
    • PCSM - 76 (w/ 27.9 hrs.), *max 95 w/ 201+hrs.
    • Current Student Pilot License (working toward PPL, should be complete by end of October, early November)
    • 3 LOR's - 1. Current AF Reserve Pilot/Ops Commander, Current Supervisor (retired SMSgt. - AF), Current CFI
    • 5 years of work experience as an engineer

    Aside from loving planes (having grown up in Palmdale and watching them fly out of AF Plant 42 all the time), I am a competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, surfer (when I was living in CA) and musician. Outside of work, I'm all about being a family man (wife and two puppies), church and volunteering.

    I have no prior military experience, with the exception of AFROTC -- "AIR POWER!!"; tried for a pilot slot then, but didn't get picked up. Focused on engineering to become an avionics expert (hoped to become a Test Pilot for NASA like my college mentor), and got picked up to work for Northrop Grumman. After a few years working in the Manufacturing world, I began working in materials and analysis (working in sustainment and survivability -- cool stuff!). Recently, I got an opportunity to work in Lockheed Martin (January 2018 in DFW);

    Now I'm trying my hand at getting a pilot slot (another mentor and family friend said I shouldn't give up), since I couldn't do it as a young chap; was too expensive for my folks, and I could barely pay my tuition in college (student loans suck by the way). Hoping to get picked up for fighters, but regardless of the airframe, I'm totally in it to finally serve and fly!

    Since I'm on the older side, taking the time to retake my tests (AFOQT/TBAS) might be out of the question, so I'm trying to rack up hours and finish my PPL as fast as possible. I am open to any suggestions, especially when it comes to people's previous experiences with rushing squadrons and what the logistics were for the guys getting picked up. Lastly, I'm open to networking and getting to know other folks going through the process currently (and helping them as well), seeing that it's not always what you know, but who you know. 

    In any event, I'll keep everyone posted with my journey so it gives other folks hope!

    158th Green Mountain Boys

    in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves

    Posted

    @Deuce362 According to their website: "The Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) will begin accepting applications beginning January 1st, 2019 and closing March 31st, 2019 for an Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Board to be held in June 2019. This will be a selection board to hire new F-35 pilots into the VTANG."

    Here is the link: https://www.158fw.ang.af.mil/BECOME_A_PILOT/     

    I plan on applying as well, would be awesome to fly something I've worked on. Good luck!

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