JohnClark

I'm still baffled as to why they cancelled. I have very little social media presence. Nothing political, controversial nor racy. No drug use, no physical limitations, no arrests not even a speeding ticket. My hair is short. The picture on my application was a head shot of me in a suit. Officer recruiters are tough and always have been. The first time to schedule the AFOQT it took me almost 2 years. Part of that was I didn't have a degree yet, then COVID happened. Now it's mostly age. It seems the odd chance I do get an officer recruiter on the phone or via text, they either tell me my age is too high (I'm 30) or they have too many applicants now and ghost me. I've tried ROTC units as well and it seems a lot don't allow non-cadets to take the test anymore. I've tried bases but all of them say, I need a military I.D. to get on base. The first time I finally managed to get the AFOQT done in the middle of COVID, it was an out of state Reserve Recruiter. After my test results came back, he told me through email that my scores were too low and then ghosted me. It took me six more months with another out of state recruiter to get the TBAS done and that recruiter is no longer active. I'll look into enlisting again. I didn't before as I was afraid getting deployed since I was an older college student and wanted to finish.

Thanks for the insight. I've been trying for months now to see if I can retake the AFOQT. Just having a tough time getting it scheduled. largely due to age. For every unit I've applied and visited, I did use Bogidope's App Review. Both times my Bogidope Coach was stunned I actually didn't get an interview or at least an email with some Feedback. One of the units, I did technically get an interview but they changed their mind the week of, two days before I was about to leave and still haven't given me feedback as to why. I've tried active duty and other services but have had no luck. I did take the ASTB for the Navy, did OK but have been ghosted by every recruiter. I was looking into the Army and Army National Guard Flying and Coast Guard now is well.

GPA is 3.85 with a Master's. Just struggling with trying to find a steady salaried job to afford a PPL. I'm having a hard time getting anyone to let me retake the AFOQT. MEPS, ROTC Units or On Base.

I'm trying to keep this short. I think as many may know for most of the last 2 years, it was very difficult to get visits/rushing opportunities to units due to COVID. It seems like by summer of this year, units started to soften their restrictions and begun allowing rushing opportunities. Anyway, I've been trying to rush Heavy Units largely in the Northeast. That's where I am from, plus I play hockey and love the fall/autumn. I have had two units where I had multiple visits with and turn an app but not selected for an interview. Neither unit was able to give me feed back. Both basically said they had received too many apps and can't give everyone feed back. Now this is where I wonder what I can do better during visits. Yes my test scores are mediocre (Pilot score in the 70s and Nav in the 40s) and I don't yet have a PPL (was getting close and then recent financial set back), I'm sure both could easily be the reason why I was selected and that's fine. I'm trying to work on both. But It does kind of bother me that after I visit a unit multiple times, they couldn't give me specific feedback? Am I asking for too much? Am I being entitled for wanting specific feedback? Also is their anything I should be doing at visits? I know there are other threads on the subject and they give common sense advice "Don't be an @sshole." "Don't be awkward" "Ask questions and listen." I ask because when I go to visits, I try and talk to everyone from the unit. The pilots, the Navs, Boom operators, Loadmasters, HR Personal, Fuel Systems personal, maintenance, Cyber, etc. I talk to everyone. Even at the visits, the pilots and officers tell me it's awesome I talk to everyone since a lot of people only talk to pilots. Aside from military/flying, I try to relate to everyone other ways. I grew playing hockey and both units have hockey teams so I talk about that, fishing, hunting, cars, music, etc. Usually by the second or third visit, people do remember me. I also bring a bottle of Whisky as a gift for the squadron. However, it's kind of disheartening when I don't get the interview or at least get feedback as to why. I'm over 30 and I know age is also not on my side. Should I maybe cast a wider net and start looking at other regions of the country? Would I still be a good fit?

My biggest worry if this will effect my chances of getting an interview.

Currently I work for a company that does machine learning and AI. It's my first tech job right out of college and I've been hear for less than 6 months. My job has been talking about Layoffs for the last 3 months, I've been applying to other jobs like crazy while trying to rush guard units. Today my job announced layoffs. I wouldn't be surprised by the end of the week if I'm gone. The tech industry is in a real rough place. Lot's of layoffs at all levels. I know I can get a retail or fast food job quickly and keep it to pay bills. Would that be looked down though by Guard Units that I apply too/rush? Would they see my Resume and wonder how I went from tech to flipping burgers or stocking shelves? Maybe I should go back into a blue collar job instead?

I'll try to see if I can solo soon. Me and my instructor just started working on stalls and pattern work. Hopefully I can solo soon.

I'm in Florida. The cost of living is high down here. I think part of it too is due to lack of instructors, so it's hard to sometimes fly more than one day a week.

After years of struggling financially, I took my first few consistent flying lessons beginning in March after being able to land a better paying job. COVID happened, the country went on lockdown and couldn't resume until recently. I started flying again and have just under 20 hours now. But my job today just announced layoffs are coming. Business has been slow due to COVID, hours for a large number of us have already been cut. I saved up a bunch of money to hopefully solo. The problem is the area I live in, the cost of living is very high. To get a PPL through a flight school it's anywhere from $12K to $18K. For a Private instructor it's around $10k to $12K. I'm flying with a private instructor right now he solos most students around 30 hours and average hours to get PPL is 65 (flight schools told me 80). His rates aren't any cheaper than a flight school either, just easier scheduling. Sadly he's the only active independent instructor in my area. The only alternative I found is there is a Sport Pilot school that flys Cessna 162s in my area. The rental price is far cheaper than any of the 172 but the instructor fee is the same. Would it be worth it to get my Sport Pilots license and simply rent a 162 to build time? Would units view this as a good thing or do they view as simply having flight time and no PPL?

I'm 28 years old. I've been calling pilots from various units to try and rush them. I've had several lengthy phone conversations which have been great. Being that I am 28 years old, I have been asked by every pilot if I have a fiance or am getting married and starting a family soon. I tell them no and that I have zero kids too. They are always surprised. Today for example I spoke with a pilot from a guard unit on the phone and he said not verbatim. "What does your girlfriend or fiance think you doing this? "I'm single at the moment." "Really?" "What if you get engaged or married before UPT or during." "Not planning on it." He seemed very surprised said something a long the lines of most people or at least engaged by my age (which is true. I'd say a good 75-90% are). But he seemed surprised in a disappointed way. Many other pilots have also asked about kids and if I plan to have any soon, which I say no. But most sound disappointed when I say no or not interested. I have zero interested in ever having kids and marriage is up in the air still. I only bring it up when asked. I've been told most Guard units have a strong family environment, but I figured most would sound relieved. A few of the pilots when I told them I wasn't planning on a marriage or a kid soon or during UPT told me something a long the lines of "You never know." Which is true but at this point in my life my mind is made up. Does this seem strange to units?

I've been told by a few enlisted vets I know that they have never met a fighter pilot that wasn't a big drinker and all teetotalers end up in Heavies. If I apply to a guard unit and during the interview I tell them I don't drink would that be a deal breaker? For the record I am not against drinking, Jeremiah Weed is my favorite Dos Gringos song, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by George Thorogood is one of my all time favorite songs, I love Trailer Park Boys and It's Always Sunny. I'm not super religious I don't drink more due to family issues. A large portion of both sides of my family are alcoholics and live crappy lives. I know I have tendencies addictive and prefer not go down that road. The only other info I found on the subject is one here an old thread on here from circa 2007 or so where a young LT. wrote a long email to everyone in his unit on why drinking is bad and no one should do it (I don't believe that) and an article from another website where a guy claimed to be a "Christian fighter pilot" and how fighter pilots that are "Christian" should avoid being around drinking and naming ceremonies because their is cursing and he refused to sing any squadron songs for that reason and instead sang happy birthday... Not surprisingly the comments weren't a fan of the article. I'm ok with hanging out in the squadron bar, listening to Dos Gringos, smoking a cigar, playing some poker, crud, etc. Would this still be a deal breaker?

I have to ask OP what are your AFOQT scores, PCSM score and TBAS score? Also did you do the Bogidope application prep? I'm not trying to sound hostile or call you out. I'm just curious. I'm sure it's competitive as hell but I wonder if a guy has all 90s on the AFOQT and a PCSM score of 76+ and great TBAS he should be a top 20 select for an interview. I haven't been able to take the AFOQT due to COVID my testing date was cancelled. But talking to my state's officer require it seems the average tester scores in the 50s to 70s on most of the sections. I'm also surprise by the amount of threads I see on here and reddit where applicants did use any of the online practice tests just used the books. I wonder if the average candidate applying half-asses it and has all 70s on their scores and doesn't get an interview, while the 20 that do have 90s across the board. Again not accusing you just a theory.

My state seems to be the weirdest state. None of the AFROTC opens offer it to civilians and MEPS only does it once a mouth and I believe they are still closed. I believe my recruiter said he has well over 100 applicants for the July AD board alone, that he is dealing with, so he's hard to get in touch with.

I was suppose to take it back in March at MEPS but it was cancelled due to COVID-19. I see boards are still happening for AD, Guard Units and Reserve. Is there AFOQT testing still going on? I managed to reach the testing center at an Air Force base, they told me maybe September or October they will have testing again but they aren't sure as of right now. I want to take it, I've been waiting a year at this point. I was on a waiting list from June 2019 until March 2020 to take it at MEPS. I keep seeing Guard Boards pass me by.

I LIKE THAT! If I can't get a guard slot and do go active, that's what I am saying.