Hey everyone, I have a hypothetical scenario that I was hoping to get some advice on in case it comes up. 

 

Quick elevator summary about myself: 30 years old, good scores, STEM degrees and work experience, PPL. I’ve been lurking on the forums for a while and I think I’m fairly competitive for heavies. Been applying for about a year now and have had a few interviews but no offers yet, but I’ve been improving my interview skills with each one I get. 

 

As everyone here is aware, the boards this summer were very sparse because of Covid. Many were postponed or cancelled. Because of the current climate I applied to almost all boards that were posted. After a summer of not getting any call backs, I was very fortunate in getting four interviews with heavy squadrons within a month. 

 

The scenario I’m hoping to get some advice on is this. The first squadron I interviewed with is probably the one I am least interested in out of the four. In fact, I almost didn’t submit an application at all, but since times were so tough I threw it in last minute. The guys were great and it’s a unique mission but I don’t think the flying will be very interesting. I’m very interested in the missions and units of the interviews I have coming up. However, I feel like my interview with the first squadron went very well and I’m from the nearby area which also adds points in my favor. I feel like I have a decent shot getting a slot there, but I would really like to have the opportunity to interview with the other squadrons and try to get a slot with them. Unfortunately, those interviews won’t be for a few weeks and I’m expecting to hear back from the first one sometime soon. 

 

I know I’m being very presumptuous in assuming that I’ll be offered a slot in the first place, let alone multiple ones. I know everyone else on here is also working very hard to earn that slot and would be happy to get picked up anywhere at all, and I don’t meant to sound like I’m gloating or that I think I’m some hot-shot candidate because I’m not. Like I mentioned, I’ve been applying for over a year now and still haven’t gotten in. I just feel more confident about the first unit because I’m local and I feel like the interview went well. But the other interviews will also be local so the situation can end up being similar. I just want to have some kind of game plan if the situation were to happen. Has anyone encountered this before? Is there a time frame you have after getting the call to commit to the unit? Can I still interview with the other units if offered a slot somewhere else before getting the paperwork started? Do I need to disclose it? Should I inform the unit that I have upcoming interviews and ask whether they would let me interview and make the decision later? If the span is weeks apart I feel like that won’t be a viable option. Also, there’s no guarantees that my upcoming interviews will go well and they could be a flop. I could end up giving up a slot and not getting picked at any of the other ones. Is it stupid to even consider it? Especially since time isn’t on my side either. Is it better to get the wings, fly for the unit for a few years and put in a transfer request? For any current pilots, how important is mission satisfaction for you and is it possible that I just have an outside perspective and maybe don’t have the full idea of what they do?

 

Thanks for reading, sorry for the long post. I’m genuinely concerned about how to handle the situation if it were to come up. I don’t want to burn any bridges and I don’t want to give up the opportunity for something I’ve been working so hard and so long for, especially if it’s my only shot. Any advice is very much appreciated. 

 

 

Edited October 6, 20205 yr by Pilot_Hopefull1122

Bird in the hand, and what not. Especially in this environment.

Secondly, you’re on the outside looking in, so while it sounds like you have done your due diligence on missions, you won’t know what it really all means until you’re doing it. Lots of people love “XYZ” when they walk into UPT; a couple flights in/after talking to people/etc., they realize they didn’t want what they thought they wanted and shift priorities/wants. 

Third, people play a huge part. In the heavy world, you’re gonna be sitting next to folks for a long time. Better in the long run to like the people than the mission, IMHO.

After all that, you can commit and then change if you get another offer. The first unit will have backups for that reason. It’s hit or miss whether they think it’s a scumbag move to take a slot and then go somewhere else, but it’s also your life at the end of the day.

 

For heaven's sake, take the first pilot slot you are offered!    

I'd say take what you're offered. You already know you're on the higher side for age. And like OldGuy said, you haven't done the flying, you have zero idea how exciting it will be. What did the guys at the squadron say about the flying. If you think the mission is cool, you'll likely enjoy actually carrying out that mission. Also, just my opinion, if you dont think the flying is going to be exciting/want to fly for that squadron, then why even apply? I get the age part, but if I didn't have an interest in the style of flying a unit did, I wouldn't be applying there. Regardless, best of luck to you. You'll likely enjoy anywhere you get picked up, especially if the camaraderie is good there.

Thank you all for the insight and responses. To answer the question of why I applied, it’s because the amount of boards happening was limited because of Covid and after not getting a slot in over a year, I figured it would cast the widest net I can. I was also thinking the unit would receive fewer applicants because of their particular mission and with my local area connection I though my odds would improve. I wasn’t expecting to get as many call backs as I did. But since I did, I want to try for the units I’m most excited about. 

As a UPT hopeful myself, if I were you I’d take the sure thing vs wait for the potential. I’m sure your situation is similar to mine, get a flying position with the AF, location is kind of irrelevant because you don’t have control over that unless you’ve been with a unit for a long while and have some rapport established.  I’ve been told many a times if you want to fly you can’t really be picky, I think the COVID environment and airline furlough situation only makes it that much more uncertain. Take the gig.    ; ) 

If you happen to get multiple offers go with what works best for your family and long term goals, I don’t think anyone could fault you for that, and toughing a situation out when you’d rather be elsewhere will impact your work and the mission. 

Edited October 6, 20205 yr by Dangerzone

Did you interview at the 68th as well? I may have met you on Sunday.

+1 on “Take the slot you are offered.“
Good luck.

2 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

If you happen to get multiple offers go with what works best for your family and long term goals, I don’t think anyone could fault you for that, and toughing a situation out when you’d rather be elsewhere will impact your work and the mission. 

It’s the multiple offer scenario that I’m worried about because the announcements will be staggered quite a bit since they’re happening a month apart. I’m wondering if there is a way to hold off committing to the first one before hearing back from all the others. 
 

1 hour ago, splithaivan said:

Did you interview at the 68th as well? I may have met you on Sunday.

I did indeed. It was a pleasure meeting everyone and that’s one of the units I’m hopeful for. Best of luck to you as well!

So what's the update here?

Well turns out that neither the first squadron I was talking about or the one I was hoping for offered me a slot. Neither did the 68th. But I'm glad to have gotten some feedback on the hypothetical. 

That unfortunate, but keep pushing on!