tarheelaviator

I've heard a rumor they are having a prior military only UPT board this summer. Could be complete BS but that's what another applicant told me.

To those that get discouraged by numbers like this dont be. Of those 180 once you start accounting for how many lack competitive AFOQT/PCSM scores, didn't visit, have close to zero flight hours, were just socially awkward, etc that whittles the numbers down. The Pacific Northwest is also a cool place to live which attracts more applicants and this board was very clear they had 4 openings (very unusual). The bar for simply emailing an application isn't that high. One of the pilots I met in Portland had to apply for 3 separate UPT boards before he got in. Focus on what you can control and keep your heads up kings.

Air Force won’t meet pilot training goal in 2020 This should surprise nobody.

Hey yall adding another number to this. Previous score from 2016: 88 Current score taken last week: 92 (no increase in flying hour bracket) and hypothetical 95 with 201+ hours Would have probably done even better had I not borked a few questions on the UAV section but having practiced and played a bunch of video games with inverted axis controls helped me do significantly better on the tracking and multitasking sections. Would recommend everyone retake who can and just practice, practice, practice beforehand. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to roll the dice on this one.

Not to discourage you but at least for fighters alot of places are not stoked about older candidates. Despite the new age guidance for UPT from the Air Force Personnel Center alot of the Reserve/Guard units still won't seriously consider anyone older than 28. Just some expectation management that's all. You would still be remiss not to try wherever there is an opening. That being said you are prior military which may help.

Haven't heard anything back from Oregon yet but best of luck to everybody. Also if yall are applying to the 121st FS (DC Guard) make sure to get your applications in by 2/29. They moved their deadline up from 3/31 and they require a longer application package than most places.

Unfortunately I just went ahead and took it again this morning. Think the people that have it are no longer active here. You can practice some multi tasking, memorization and play FPS (with an inverted axis)/Flight sims to help prepare. Seems to have a bit more on the retake.

Don't know about all the aircraft but their HH-60 squadron is on deployment now so they've been understandably hard to get in touch with recently.

Yup just reviewed it you are right. Oh well best of luck to folks who got an interview.

Flyer for the board said it wasn't till April but I remember hearing something at the most recent drill weekend they were convening earlier. Anyone else who heard better care to chime in?

Just be the best you can at your job and try again for pilot later. Get your PPL, help your peers out and keep at it. You definitely aren't going to get another chance if you don't have support of your command and aren't a good team player. If you did ROTC it means you are probably still on the younger side so you have time (the Air Force raised the UPT age limit to 33). There have been people (plenty of whom are in this forum no doubt) who tried for way longer to obtain a pilot slot. Keep your head up.

Every other recruiter I spoke with other than the one I used the last time stated you are under no obligation to put any jobs other than the ones you want. Also have a friend at the Pentagon in the USAF A1 who seems to confirm this. The whole if you turn down a previous non-pilot offer to try again for pilot it will hurt your chances isn't really true either. Bottom line don't let your recruiter(s) scare you into taking a job you don't want.

Can confirm from my trip out there. Not sure what the breakdown is between the 2 locations are but they have 4 openings.

As someone who is also trying the active duty route while doing the Guard/Reserve circuit find another recruiter. You are under NO obligation to use the regional LO recruiter. I'm in a similar situation. My recruiter for the last AD board made me think I had to put down an alternate job other than pilot (I put down CSO so he would push my paperwork through). Naturally I got selected for CSO and wasn't interested. He lost patience with me and refused to let reapply for another board for 12 MONTHS. I then just started cold calling recruiters all across the country until I found someone who is amicable to my cause and is now helping me apply for the next open active duty rated board due in May (wanted to apply for the January one but nobody could get me in before the deadline). TLDR for everyone seeking active duty (or any other) recruiters: 1. Only put down pilot for jobs you want (you aren't required to put alternates) 2. Don't like your recruiter or they aren't working with you? Find another. 3. Don't admit anything medically that they won't find on your physical. I made that mistake and it took me YEARS to get a medical waiver (finally achieved just last year). Everything you say can and WILL be used against you. No reward for medical honesty. I'm not saying lie but don't shoot yourself in the foot.

Appreciate it but damn I've clearly been partaking in the wrong hobbies.

Can confirm the B-1 bit. The Dyess Reserve folks won't have a UPT board till 2023. As for the Missouri B-2s they just had a UPT board but it was open to only for folks who were currently in the Missouri Air National Guard. The POC said they occasionally will recruit UPT from the outside but it depends on the year. Hope this helps some folks.

Hate to resurrect this old thread (again - feel free to flame me). I tried PM'ing a few people on this thread and it appears most are no longer active. Anyone perchance have this file? Trying to retake the TBAS soon so anyone who might still have these files it would be greatly appreciated.

If anyone else is in the same boat as WeatherLion and myself in the future, I spent a ton of time this week calling different recruiters around the country. The whole threat of blackballing is not true and you CAN apply again. Now unfortunately there appears to be a 180 wait period between being a non-select or declining another rated offer (CSO, ABM, RPA) before you can reapply for pilot but there is no rule that says you cannot or that you'll be barred from consideration again. If your recruiter refuses to work with you just politely end the conversation and find a recruiter who will. Also don't work with any recruiter who says you have to put down alternate jobs other than pilot. There is not any rule that says this is required. I made this mistake and it complicated my efforts when I was offered an alternate (non-pilot) rated job.

I know one of the pilots in the C40 squadron at Andrews. He actually used to fly Vipers for the 121st and then switched over to the bigger jet so he could balance other responsibilities outside the guard. He mentioned that they haven't had a UPT board and typically just hire rated aviators (I know they tend to fly around a bunch of very powerful government officials which probably has something to do with it). If you're looking to fly heavies I'd probably focus your efforts elsewhere.

So this would indicate the rumors about the backlog at UPT have some truth to them? A contact at Vance said they just don't have enough planes and instructors to get everyone through. Seems unlikely they'll meet the goal of producing 1480 pilots if that's the case.

I'm currently making phone calls and trying to get through the gatekeepers for the bomb squadrons. Have you had any luck? I'm sure the B2 squadron in Missouri probably recruits pretty heavily from the AD rated in that aircraft but I've heard (poorly supported) rumors the Dyess AFB Reserve B1 squadron has sponsored people in the past for UPT.

Hi all, Thought I'd create a separate thread from the AD UFT one. Anyone else reapplying/applying to the active duty civilian boards for active duty Air Force (not Reserve)? Curious if anyone else has had any success getting a UPT slot this route. As a quick lesson learned from the last board don't let your recruiter force you to put any job on your sheet other than pilot. My recruiter(s) made me believe it was required to put alternate jobs beside pilot (put CSO as the 2nd choice just to get pushed through). Turns out that is not true and is absolutely not required. If your recruiter tells you this is required just move on and call a different one don't make my mistake.

Yeah think it'll be worth the risk to take the TBAS again I'll get it arranged. Last time I took it it was after a friend's wedding weekend in NOLA. Needless to say having almost zero sleep and imbibing too much right before taking the TBAS the next morning was not the smartest move (protip: don't do that).

Not going to this one but I got some folks on the phone a few days ago asking about the next one (call the POCs phone and if nobody is there ask for someone else). Apparently just show up and somebody will get you on base is the feedback I received.

The Reserves and UFT boards for AD are a separate process. WeatherLion is talking about the civilian OTS boards. It seems that some recruiters are pushing for folks who got selected for jobs other than pilot to be able to decline their offer and reapply to the next one. Unfortunately my recruiter is claiming the active duty Air Force will "blackball" you (their words not mine) from reapplying to future civilian to OTS active duty boards. As a background I'm in a similar situation to WeatherLion where I was selected for backseater and I asked about declining the offer and trying again for pilot. Did not get good feedback but I have not found any concrete AFI or memo that states an applicant cannot apply again. Think it may be the recruiters just trying to intimidate people into taking whatever offer they give you.