bs98

can you elaborate on project? I really like my civilian job as a paramedic, so anything useful I can do with the medical section (training with them, getting approved to run my squadron's medical training) would be a dream.

Going to an airlift unit that has ample opportunity to go full time. I'd like to hear what a day or week in the life looks for an LT, specifically what happens when not flying.

Anyone got gouge on reserve pilot timeline once the AFRC board approves and all the paperwork is approved? Wondering if a couple months is realistic or if it's more like a year...

@brabusIn your experience how does that conversation go at the home unit when an LT says "I want to leave"? Assuming the individual is meeting/exceeding the standard and not shitbagging.

Has anyone heard of this happening while someone is still in UPT? Asking for a friend whose personal life fell apart while in training assigned to the 340th. No more interest in going back home and wants to ride the adventure of AD for better or worse.

@tx_flyer are you able to regale us with any updates on your hunt for the B-2?

https://www.edwards.af.mil/Units/USAFTPS/ Does anyone here have experience with the space test course? The website is pretty vague, and doesn't really explain who its targeted for or what its like beyond "college academics". It seeming to be a sister school to TPS makes me intrigued that it might be more hands-on than just college classes in the desert.

Didn't mean to exclude you or anyone, but didn't want to bother too many. Thanks for the info! When a crew goes out for a few days and there's about an even split of O's and E's, how does that dynamic look, and how should it look? Where does the Air Force draw the line at fraternizing? e.g. hitting the bars together every weekend when tdy?

@TreeA10 @HossHarris @joe1234 Another mentorship question for all you: I am coming from the Army, where our pilot LT's were leaders first and foremost, pilots when time allowed. Cultural stuff like that is one of the many reasons I switched branches, but what are the typical leadership expectations heavy units have for their new LT's? How about Captains?

There's some good wisdom on here, and I cannot thank you folks enough for steering me on a good path thus far. Curious to know what you wish someone told you years ago. Whether it pertains to flying, Air Force, or life in general.

@Burt do you know what is in store for you between OTS ending and UPT starting? i.e. coming off orders?

@atomatoflamesawesome, that's what I had figured. I imagine its some combination of a formality/ check on the good ole boy system.

right here with you my friend. I never contacted a reserve O recruiter until after I got the offer. The O recruiter sounded pretty unsure about the statistics / probability himself. All of my scores/ work experience are well above the AD average so I'm choosing to not worry too much. Not finishing my PPL unless this scholarship comes through to pay for it.

Just checking in here, curious what has changed in the last 6 years when it comes to AFRC/ANG applying to TPS, and what makes a package competitive vs meeting the minimum stated on edwards' website (any degree, as long as it has 2 calculus courses, physics, and statistics).

Off the street (but prior service) hired to reserve heavies. AFOQT/TBAS: December 2022 Board / verbal offer: February 2023 Contacted Reserve Officer Recruiter: March 2023 MEPS: July 2023. no waivers needed. Submitting documents to get FC1 soon. I was given a very loose timeline, and told to wait for a few months before anything more formal happens. It's tough being offered a dream job followed by complete silence with no set plan as to when things will be put down on paper.

Anyone care to chime in on where they've applied and/or heard back from? I've put in to Portland and Vermont fighters, heard nothing.

How was the rush!? I’m learning some are not worth the trip

Currently a reservist applying to both AD and NG/Reserve boards. As part of the AD process, my recruiter will have me go to MEPS. As a reservist, I was told if I get hired by a reserve unit, I can bypass MEPS entirely. Would paperwork/waivers required by MEPS complicate any accessions on the reserves side? I have deployed and gotten some minor injuries. Conversations with reserve flight docs say it wouldn't be a problem at their unit, I'm fit for duty. I'm worried that MEPS would be more strict about this, and would complicate my life. Can anyone in the know weigh in on this?

Thank you sincerely for laying this out so clearly, haven't come across anything as succinct as this on the internet yet. It sounds like regionals will accept the 61.51 PIC time as part of the 750 mil R-ATP? Also, I'd love to hear any of your favorite non-traditional flying jobs. Being in and out of commercial airports doesn't interest me a whole bunch. I've also noticed an unfortunate vagueness whenever I've asked someone about their pay as a corporate / search and rescue / medevac pilot.

Could you elaborate on this? As far as the FAA is concerned, would a heavy pilot be commercial and multi engine instrument rated ?

For anyone here who left for UPT training holding only a PPL or similar, what were your civilian ratings / job opportunities afterward returning home and going part time status? From what I read online, it sounds like commercial and instrument ratings are awarded after an FAA proficiency test. I'd love to hear how many hours you all came home with after UPT, air frame training, and seasoning orders. All PIC time? What jobs were available with your experience level? I understand this will vary greatly between aircraft, and even down to the individual unit but I'd like to start a conversation and hear from anyone willing to share. For context, I am applying to units and have a good civilian, non-flying government job, but eventually would like to fly full time. I am not going into the application process assuming I can guard bum.

Interesting, thanks! Any gouge on average scores / flight experience of those invited?

Anyone gotten a confirmation from Louisiana ANG after submitting a packet? Or Oregon for that matter...

@stuckindayton Figure I owe you an update to say that you were right-- the diagnosis my surgeon gave me of never being 20/20 proved to be completely false. I've met with the 3 optometrists and 1 ophthalmologist in the last year, all of whom have confirmed my 20/20 in each eye post surgery.

Thank you, this gives me a lot to think about. I just finished six years as an Army guardsman / guard bum and have seen the benefits of flexibility, but my previous experience for any request to do something in another state / component was “well you can send up your transfer packet to the general and see if they’ll let you go despite massive retention problems and your contractual obligation”… granted, I could see that conversation going easier for a CPT than it did for enlisted me.