Forum: Future F-16 crew

I'll try keep this short and sweet.
My Story- first choices for college education were Air Force and Naval Academy. Being 17yrs old I was not ready to say goodbye to my private life by joining the academies and missing out on the college experience. Ultimately I found myself going to a highly respected private college -- one of the Top 20 business schools in the nation. Graduated and found myself in NYC with a career in Finance. Majority of my career has been in Trading (Wall Street, if you will). Needless to say I'm used to a stressful environment that requires a cool head and quick decisions. I have always had a passion for aviation and especially Military Fighters. 8yrs after parting ways with the goal of Air Force or Naval Academy education, at age 27 have found my self down the path of a corporate [Link pending approval] happened? Having recently moved back to Chicago where I grew up, I decided to re-evaluate what really matters to me. I am still trading but with more free time. I will be getting my private pilot's license this fall. HOPEFULLY I am not too late to get a few shots at a pilot slot!

In Jan this year, I sat for the AFOQT and received these scores:
Pilot: 97, Nav: 89, Acad Apt: 70, Verbal: 45, Quant: 83

My GPA was [Link pending approval] overall and [Link pending approval] for my majors Finance/Economics
I know the GPA may be low (no offense with my next statement) but the college I went to was not a piece of cake state school. The academic rigors were up there with the top schools in the area (Harvard)...I hope the Boards will recognize this.

I will be taking TBAS in the following months (no flight time hurts).
Reference letters are from long time family friend, a retired AF fighter pilot from Vietnam era, and Family friend with good connections to Naval Academy (son in law is F-18 driver).

Units I'm pursuing: 115th FW - Madison WI, 122nd FW - Fort Wayne IN, 132nd FW - Des Moines IA, 180th FW - Swanton OH, and 127th FW - Selfridge MI

I know I have this Fall and next year's boards to make it into a slot before I am too old upon entering OTC.

Any thoughts, would be helpful. If any one knows of Drivers in either of those units that would be open to me contacting them, please let me know (offline).

Thanks to all of you who support this [Link pending approval] A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH!!!

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I'm no expert, and I certainly have no knowledge on how to get into USAF flight school, but I must say this; Don't EVER let someone other than the approving authority tell you you can't fly. I've got buddies I served in the Army with, who are late twenties and early thirties, that are now military pilots in various other branches. They all served a minimum of six years, some more. All of them were in their late twenties when they graduated college and applied. You're not the first guy with such a post on this site. I think you'll be able to find someone who can at least point you in the right direction. Good luck!

Read up on the TBAS if you haven't. Reading that helped prepare me for what to expect.

Do Fort Wayne and Selfridge have a board this year? I haven't heard anything about it...

I have not heard of any Boards set up for this year. A few units have replied to my emails that they usually give a two month heads up for Boards. It's a waiting [Link pending approval]

You better do darn good on the TBAS if you dont have any flight hours. I was under the impression that ANG units wanted people to have at least a PPL, but I am more focused on the active duty side. Your AFOQT is good, your GPA is solid. One thing that caught my attention was your letter from "Family friend with good connections to Naval Academy (son in law is F-18 driver)". Sounds like a friend's mother's brother's cousin kind of thing. Letters from civilians are fine, but make sure they arent tooting their horn about indirect connections in the service. They only have 3/4 of a page to talk about the main topic, YOU.

discofishing wrote:

I'm no expert, and I certainly have no knowledge on how to get into USAF flight school, but I must say this; Don't EVER let someone other than the approving authority tell you you can't fly. I've got buddies I served in the Army with, who are late twenties and early thirties, that are now military pilots in various other branches. They all served a minimum of six years, some more. All of them were in their late twenties when they graduated college and applied. You're not the first guy with such a post on this site. I think you'll be able to find someone who can at least point you in the right direction. Good luck!

The max age for UPT is 29. You can turn thirty during the course, but day one you must be 29. Im sure there is a waiver, but for the 3 years i was a FAIP i never saw that happen. V/R

I'm not specifically talking about USAF UPT. Some of the dudes I know have left the Army and have gone into the Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard. Many have gone back into the Army, which has an age limit of 32. I mention them because they weren't guys fresh out of college or some sort of academy. Where there's a will, there's a way.

discofishing wrote:

I'm not specifically talking about USAF UPT. Some of the dudes I know have left the Army and have gone into the Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard. Many have gone back into the Army, which has an age limit of 32. I mention them because they weren't guys fresh out of college or some sort of academy. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Unless your dealing with GOVT red tape. Navy is 27, AF is 29, Marines is 28? Army... IDK.. but I sure dont want to fly helicopters! Surprised

Quote:

Unless your dealing with GOVT red tape. Navy is 27, AF is 29, Marines is 28? Army... IDK.. but I sure dont want to fly helicopters! Surprised

Not everyone is smart enough to fly helicopters. Wink

If the Army has age waivers, then I imagine the other branches would too. If you've got an impressive dossier then being 2 or 3 years over the age limit might not be a huge problem.

If you really want this, then you need to show a high drive and passion for it as well as the ability to successfully accomplish the training. Based on what I've seen both Active Duty and in the Guard/Reserve, you need to be flying. You should, at a minimum, get your private pilots license, if not even more. Your PPL doesn't indicate success, but it does indicate, to some degree, a drive and a commitment to getting in. Purely skills wise, flying time will get you part way through T-6s, but doesn't translate to jack squat in T-38s where your takeoff speed is faster than your max speed in a GA aircraft. Your GPA isn't the end all but your drive and enthusiasm frequently are major keys to success in the fighter world.

Last board we had over 50 very highly qualified guys apply - we gave one pilot slot. Good luck.

Is it accurate when they say that most ANG units hire within? I feel that my APP is very good and I have a good shot.

Hello,

I still have not been able to take the TBAS test. A unit did say it is not "required" but I'm assuming that would be for someone who is already a pilot in the military. I am a civilian. My current job as a trader requires my presence everyday and it is extremely difficult to make it out for an appointment during the day, let alone driving 6hrs round trip for the TBAS test during the week. Right now all I do have are my AFOQT scores and letters of recommendation and I will begin my PPL this fall/winter. I'm in Chicago and the only near by places to take the TBAS are Indianapolis ([Link pending approval]) and Champaign, IL (3hrs). Really wish they had closer locations!!!!! Bang Head

How badly would it hurt me to submit applications with out TBAS [Link pending approval] I guess I wouldn't have a PCSM score if I don't have TBAS score?

You would be wasting your time to apply without a PCSM score. There are so many good applicants with complete packages. Do what you have to do. Call the ROTC units, get them to take you on. You can also call your local MEPS and tell them your situation, persuade them! All they need is a signature from a recruiter (any recruiter). So see what you can do about getting any type of AF recruiter to sign you off. Enlisted recruiters have the power to accomplish this for you...you just have to show how bad you want it.

Okay back in business here. Finally took my TBAS test. Did excellent with the orientation, numbers recognition, and single target joystick/foot [Link pending approval] really got sloppy with the simultaneous joystick AND foot paddle tracking. Anyway, PCSM score was 94. I do not have any flight hours and at this point if I do not retake the TBAS, I need 81-100 hours just to get to 98 PCSM. I have a 97 for AFOQT Pilot.

Thoughts? Competitive score? At this point I am sure I will re-take the TBAS. Shrug

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Applying to ANG Viper/Warthog unit