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Keep in mind that I'm 33 years old, so it'll likely be inherently more difficult to get an interview, but let me offer my 2 cents: I've been at this game since I was 22 years old coming out of college...that's right, going into year eleven of this game in some form or fashion. I've applied to all of the following: 2009 - 2010: Air Force Active Duty (2x; non-select, then board cancellation) 2010 - 2013: 13 different ANG/AFRC units (12x non-select; 1 interview, 1 selection by a KC-135 unit...had to eventually relinquish my slot due to some tough family stuff that would have certainly interfered with successful UPT completion and more) 2013 - June 2020: Get the personal life situation in order, while everyday thinking about applying as soon as things were. And they are now. June 2020 - Present: 6 applications submitted (2 outright rejections due to age, 3 I've never heard back from, 1 that still has the chance to interview) I'm old, but have decent numbers: 96 Pilot, 87 PCSM (97 with 201+ hours), ~60 flight hours (post-solo) and on-track to finish my PPL this Fall, assuming CA wildfire issues don't keep grounding my flights. At my age, I've come to learn to learn two things: 1. Patience isn't just a virtue, it's the ardent protector of sanity. While life is indeed short and years certainly do go by fast, unless you're already in age waiver territory chances are you've got several years to make this happen. I know we'd all like to be picked up on Application #1, but man, patience is key. We're all pursuing a career that is as cool and as fulfilling as it gets, and part of that career is the process: Enjoy it! Don't let impatient steal the happiness that's found in all of this! I know it seems like, if after 13 applications it hasn't happened that it may never happen, but I promise you: keep at it, improve in someway every month, quarter, etc., and simply don't stop pushing. It will work out. Be patient, and let the math (i.e. # of apps submitted over time) work in your favor. Eventually, even after years of applying, there's gonna be a unit that's gonna be like, "Ya know, this is the 3rd year in a row this guy has applied, he's visited several times, and wow, he's now got his PPL, instrument rating, and his PCSM just hit 99. Let's get him in here to interview." 2. Be yourself. ALWAYS. And when you get that interview, come more prepared to this interview than you have anything else in your life, and be yourself. Take it from someone who's done it: pretending to be anybody else but yourself is incredibly difficult, a cancer to the soul, and I have no doubt squadrons can see it coming from around the corner. My granddad used to say, "I can tell by the way that joker walks what he had for breakfast," and I'm sure these hiring boards are no different. I highly doubt you'll secure a pilot slot simply saying everything the board wants to hear, and if you do, you're likely to be eventually be weeded out, one way or another. So be yourself--and always strive to be your best self, but that's a different topic--and take comfort in knowing that, whether or not it worked out, it did or didn't based on you being you. There's solace to take in that, I promise. Eventually, it will work out. And in the off-chance it doesn't, and, somehow, it's become official that being an ANG or AFRC pilot wasn't in the cards for you, you'll be able to look yourself in the mirror knowing you didn't sucker out, and you'll likely have some awesome civilian flying and ratings to sustain your love of aviation as you move into the next phase of life. Best of luck to all, and as many others have said, don't stop improving, and don't stop applying!

It worked for me quite well. In Oct 2009, I three-day-opted a non-flying remote to Iraq. I had 22.5 years of service, was a U-2 interview pilot, and evaluator in both the U-2 and T-38. I didn't want to retire. The three-day opt required me to retire 1 May 2010. I was determined to defeat the threat. I was working a number of angles, but nothing was panning out. By early 2010, I hadn't found a solution, but I did figure out that I could request a 6-month extension to my retirement date if my Wing CC wrote a letter asking for it. At the time, the Beale Wing CC was a 1-star. I presented my case that extending me 6 months was in the best interest of the 9th Wing and the Wing CC agreed. AFPC isn't going to tell a 1-star to pound sand: I got the extension. Around that time, AFPC announced the VRRAD. In my first phone call with the VRRAD person at AFPC, I explained that I was still on active duty. "Will you be retired before 31 December 2010?" "Yes, I will be." "Then you are eligible for the VRRAD." Basically, one office in AFPC was requiring me to retire... and another office in AFPC was allowing me to return to active duty as a retiree. I never told the two offices about each other, and figured it was best if they didn't know my plan. My VRRAD got approved. So, on Friday, 29 Oct, I had a short ceremony in the bar and retired. The following week, I came back to Beale, to my old desk, which I obviously didn't vacate... turned in my week-old retiree ID card... went through in-processing with a room full of 18 year olds (at least I got a verbal waiver from the Vice to skip the Right Start briefings). I even submitted a travel voucher for my 33-mile drive from home to Beale AFB for my first day back on active duty. In 2013, after 3 years, the VRRAD was coming to an end... but I asked the Wing CC to write me a letter requesting a 1-year extension. He did, and I got it. Finally... I retired 1 Nov 2014. It was my third set of retirement orders, and the second time I actually retired.

I’m also 30. Decent scores. Not great. Am I happy with them? No. Are they competitive? I think so. Basically here’s where I’m at with it. I started super late. I just realized 28 1/2 was changed to 33 in the past 4 months. Based on what I’ve read, and I’ve done a lot of reading, realistically I have roughly a year left. I then find myself in the same position where age again becomes a significant issue. It’s been a lifelong dream I thought was gone because of age. I look at it as blessing that I even have the opportunity to submit application packages. It’s a blessing I even had the ability to get my PPL and have 120 flight hours. If a unit looks through 50, 60, 70, in one case 120+ apps and deems me worthy of an interview. That’s amazing. If that unit chooses me for the slot out of all those apps. That’s a blessing. If I submit 25 packages and never get an in person interview then it wasn’t meant to be. I have a good job, a very supportive fiancé that’s supported me chasing this dream, and a beautiful, happy, and healthy 1 year old daughter. I’m still a lucky guy. I’m still blessed to be so lucky. Do I have the burning desire to serve my country and fly the best aircraft in the world? I absolutely do. If I fail to realize that dream I at least chased it. The best way I knew how. Based on the conversations I’ve had with people I’ve met here the people that caused that dream to fall through deserved to live that dream as much if not more than I did and I’m nothing but happy for them.

Took fuel many times over the years from that jet.....McGuire 141/-17 pilot 1987-2014

Got my CMP 1911 today. I had honestly forgotten about it since I submitted the application almost two years ago. It's a 1945 S/N R&R field grade. It'll go well with my Garand in the heavy metal class whenever three gun opens back up.

Fill out only the applicant portion 🤙🏻

By the way, Thank YOU For Your Service!!! That goes for all veterans current, prior and to those who have departed (Godspeed). Regardless of all of our various viewpoints, backgrounds, upbringing, professionalism and sense of duty/servitude. I always wish the best for everyone here and our Great country. We don’t always get along and that’s OK and that’s what makes this country Great! We are an incredibly diverse nation having most all of the worlds climates along with people from all walks of life inhabiting them under one nation. It appears the majority are all striving to get it right regardless of party, race or religion so sally forth with your convictions and your beliefs. It’s our right and we all understand it has been and always will be paid in blood.

Recently declassified photo we have in the squadron. 2020-09-09 14-57.pdf

The 357th is sending out invites next week

Wish I could get back in and serve under Big Scary Orange Man any day and twice on Sunday. But you maybe retired (perhaps like me) and we can just sit on the sidelines with paycheck of the month club. Not a bad deal as I don’t miss the extraneous B.S. Just gave my Wife a Trump Photo Documentary book. Pages and pages of the guy and/or couple with the troops, at memorials, military cemeteries - Yup that’s a true warfighter hater. She’s still looking thru it. Horrible book for you, but she loves it cuz she’s a take no crap kinda girl. I bit my lip serving under several less than brilliant presidents, they were my Boss bottom line and we collectively did not hit the ground, cry, whine or make disparaging remarks. Civilian now, seeing the world personally and able to view from another lens besides camo. Military spends money, civilian sector makes money. Very fortunate and opinionated like most and able to poor mouth but don’t, at least not as much as we could. Keep those facts coming, this is a very interesting topic at times.

Another 2,200 troops out of Iraq by end of the month. Diplomatic relationship between Israel and UAE established. (Nobel Peace Prize nomination for that one. Last guy got if for not being W.) vs. Biden's....er....ummmm...gimme a minute, I'm thinking...

Lol. THE Commander in Chief. I’m guessing YOUR CinC. But no longer in my Chain of Command brotha. The Wife’s the only one who holds that title for me now!

I looked into the Skillbridge. Some key details 1-Military approved program 2-unpaid internship 3-there is a website that shows the approved internships based on location I will see if I can find that for ya. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

5 year window might happen starting with the CY21 board. It was not applied to the CY20 board.

I was offered continuation to 24 years after either my 1 APZ or 2 APZ. It didn’t mean I had to serve to the 24 year point, it just meant I could if I wanted to and I wouldn’t get involuntarily separated unless I did something stupid. What I am more curious about is how to get a 6 month Skillbridge internship before retirement. Does anybody know if you can do a skill bridge program and then start your terminal leave? That would give me about 10-11 months of civilian sector work before I actually am retired. It would also essentially allow me to “retire” at 19 years.

Not sure about the oldest I've heard of getting picked up, but I'm 31 and I have a first-round phone interview with one tomorrow. It's been hard, like real hard since turning 30. I've lost count of how many have told me no because of my age. But obviously it can be done if even one is willing to talk to me.

God I love this forum lol. Never have I ever been rooting for my competitors to also succeed so much!

Maybe thats what Himat was really about.

43X was a CCW game changer for me. I used to carry either a G19 with a Surefire XC1 or a S&W 360 .357 snub depending on what I was wearing. Now I only carry the 43X, with the Shield Arms mags I have 15+1 in a single stack width pistol. The picture has the 15 rounders in the gun and mag pouch and the other two are the regular 15s with the Shield Arms +5 extension. There’s a railed version of the 43X coming out soon that Surefire just released some mini lights for, not sure if I want to pick the railed version up or not yet.

I just got into this racket at the beginning of the year and have applied to pretty much every board that doesn't have the PPL or solo requirement. I was able to build 11 hours of flight time before COVID shut down my flight school and I haven't been able to fly since (I'm on Guam and options are very limited for flying). I have good scores and GPA, but had been getting shot down since I started. Then out of the blue, 4 interviews fall in my lap within a couple weeks. I had to decline one because they required an in person interview. I also can't visit units to establish a relationship from here so I've just taken advantage of units passing through Andersen AFB and have been spamming POCs with emails and phone calls to express my continued interest. I think that's really the only reason I've gotten any traction so far. If nothing happens with these interviews I'm gonna go ahead and reel it in to start prepping for my active duty separation. My advise to you when you're feeling discouraged is to remember that old chestnut... "Instead of thinking why me? Start thinking why NOT me?" And carry that attitude into your applications and how you communicate with the unit. Thats what I've been doing, and I'm right there with ya.

I applied to ~10 units too, combination of fighter and heavy (actually all fighters except 2). Here's what went down for me: Visited: 2 units, 1 heavy, 1 fighter. Got interview for heavy, but didn't really fit me. Got TBNT for fighter. one Interviews: 2 heavy. Again, declined the interview for one. Accepted interview for the other, got offer, accepted offer (did not visit, first time in person was the interview. Loved the atmosphere, loved the mission, loved the people). Phone/first rounds: 2 fighters. 1 TBNT, other one I declined because I already got picked up. Stats-wise, ~180 hours, PCMS 99, P99/N99/V97/Q99/AA99. BS/MS in engineering, 4 years in industry. Moderately involved in undergrad. Cool guy all around 😎 (lol). Have you visited anywhere? It's tough to be interviewed without visiting is essentially what I've learned from the process. That and knowing why you want to be a fighter/bomber/tanker/herk/etc pilot and be able to delineate it well. If you get an interview, you're basically qualified. The interview is to weed out the people that are weird, jerks, not team player, not-committed, and not well suited for the military. If you aren't making it that far and have good stats/resume, the only thing left to do is making connections with people at the squadron especially for fighter units. Having someone within the squadron that is willing to vouch for you goes beyond any test scores or resume (assuming they still think you can graduate from UPT...). Also, keep applying.

Hey guys wanted to just poll the group about the success/failures people have been having this year regarding getting an interview or UPT slot. Not sure how everyone else is doing but this yr out of like 10 fighter/heavy units I applied for I only got 1 interview. Was blaming COVID at first but gotta take away that excuse at this point. You dudes/ladies getting picked up for interviews or UPT slots, is it because it was your home unit or you have a 99 PCSM score or were the D1 football captain (hint of sarcasm)? Felt like I had a decent application but with all the TBNT or lack of replies I’ve been getting, feel like I need to go back to the drawing board to understand what I need to focus on more. Or just say to hell with it and do the AD thing. Thanks in advance.

57 remain. 87-0120 flew west today. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Didn’t know we had neurologists on this forum? We already have a ton of political scientists, attorneys, and national security experts.

Not to be "that guy" but a minor point that muscle does not weigh more than fat. 1 pound of muscle weighs the same as 1 pound of fat. Muscle is more dense, therefore 1 pound of muscle will take up less space than 1 pound of fat.