Av8

I have this same question^. Since it says "initial ADSC" I would imagine you can apply right when you PCS, even with 2 years remaining on a PCS ADSC since that isn't your "initial ADSC", but I do wonder if that's the case... To try to answer your first question, based on the AFI (36-3205), as long as you completed 2/3 of that initial ADSC then you are able to apply for Palace Chase...but that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be accepted. However, with the expanded palace chase program @pawnman posted about above, I could see the AF more apt to accepting applications with more years remaining

https://thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40282/all-b-1b-bombers-have-been-grounded Related to the Dyess MX SQ/CC firing? I could see it

I must be out of the loop, what is this referring to?

This is a big deal. Getting your medical done first is huge for both you and the ANG/AFRES unit you are applying to if you can get it. Heavies generally hire older people as opposed to fighter squadrons, that's why you can wait it out a bit if you wanted to.

Hey man, I would totally apply everywhere you can including active duty. I will say the guard/reserve side is going to be very very tough without a PPL yet/low flight hours. You've got a ton of highly experienced pilots who have been furloughed from airlines competing for these slots in the guard/reserve right now. I'm not saying experience is everything, but especially on the heavy side, with the Civilian Path to Wings program, they are targeting dudes who have their IR, commercial and over 250 hours. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that units are allocated less slots than usual this year because of the training pipeline backup. The nice thing is that until you sign papers that commit to doing one or the other, you can pursue both avenues. Even going to OTS could take awhile, and in the meantime you can apply on the guard/reserve side...if you get picked up, awesome! Get that PPL and keep improving your resume, it can't hurt. Hope this helps...

I have about 7 days of ADSC left, but I imagine it would run out before I sign the papers to PCS. It would be sweet if I could sign the paperwork before then and not incur ADSC though

I should clarify I am currently non-rated. I have a little knowledge of where I stand based off of how many guys are still in the running and how many spots are available. My gut and the little info I have tells me I will likely get the alternate slot. Also, this AD opportunity is a new development (within the past few days) so I haven't had a discussion with the squadron about it yet. I'm trying to get my ducks in a row first and fully understand my predicament, but I will likely reach out to the squadron before I make my decision. Also, I do have new information that since my assignment is a volunteer opportunity, they have had success in the past taking care of their people when other opportunities come up. Makes me feel better about possibly accepting it.

Typically that's the case, but this one is a unique scenario. I have an equal shot at getting picked up, getting an alternate, and not getting anything based off of the number of interviewees and slots available. The timeline to hear back from the ANG squadron is indefinite as of now, but I have a week or two to make my active duty decision. Palace Chase is definitely a great option, but really the scenario I'm worried about is if I get an alternate. Then I would likely need to be "on call" if someone can't make it through the process, which doesn't work out well if I have a service commitment. Rumor is, if I pay for my move then I could possibly get my ADSC waived...has anyone tried that successfully?

I've got a pretty tough dilemma. I'm in the interview process for an ANG fighter, with a high likelihood of either getting picked up or alternate, but no deadline to hear back. I'm talking like a 69% chance or higher at this point of being picked up or alternate. However, I just got offered essentially my dream job on active duty. Problem is... If I take the active duty job, I incur an additional two years of service commitment and likely wouldn't be able to take the fighter job if offered (I think). My logical thought process is struggling to make a decision. On one hand "a bird in the hand" applies, but on the other, a fighter flying job in the ANG is my real dream job overall. I have a couple weeks before I sign the paperwork for the active duty job, so here are my questions to help make this decision: 1. Say I take the active duty job, then get notified I got selected for the fighter job. When would the squadron expect me to transition to the guard? Immediately (pending the scrolling process)? Before my UFT start date? 2. With the pipeline backup, could I possibly do both? Go to my active duty job and palace chase into the guard job? 3. I can't stay at my current base forever, so eventually if I don't take this job I will have to incur a service commitment or get out of the Air Force altogether. If I get out (which I don't necessarily want to do), does that make it tougher to go back into the guard/reserves with a break in service?

Totally just googled what "terse" meant...I've heard Oregon is big on guys visiting/being around the unit. Tough to do in COVID times, but could help for future applications

Deadline was 26 Feb 😕 I also submitted an app...tracking via FedEx said it was received but I haven't emailed/called asking about it yet. I'd imagine since it was a hardcopy submission they may not confirm receipt unless asked?

There's only so much you can control. Hardest one for me was when I interviewed somewhere one year, they said I was in the top third of interviewees, and the only reason I wasn't selected was because the guys who got selected interviewed the year prior. Fast forward one year...didn't even get an interview at the same place and my app was much stronger. I can't really explain that one, or why I get certain interviews some places and not others. I just look at it and say, it's probably a good thing you didn't get selected there because there is another squadron out there who actually wants you, what you can bring to the table, and would be a much better fit. The problem is that you don't find that out until after the interview and everything is already a sunk cost. I agree, it stings to put the emotional, monetary, and time investment into each unit, but it stings more when you don't even get the chance to interview. I am an out-of-towner for every unit, so I would like to think that as long as you get an interview, each dude you are interviewing with has an equal chance, but I doubt that is usually true. Always an uphill battle, even more so recently.

Thanks for the encouragement, it has really fueled my drive, but it's something I wish I would have known two years ago when I started this process. I'm actually far from O4 and still relatively young, but the question that I can't win with in the interviews goes along the lines of this: "Can we expect you to be an Lt again when you come back to the squadron from training? (making popcorn, taking out the trash, etc.)" It's a catch 22 because my biggest strength in my application is my Air Force experience and leadership roles I've already had to take on in active duty, but I know squadrons are looking for a FNG when they hire someone for UPT. In the sense of learning as a Lt, I'm all about it and ready to absorb all the knowledge I can as a student, but the more I talk about my active duty experience I feel as though it is hurting my chances more than helping. I'd imagine the time it takes to scroll isn't as big of an issue now with the length of time it takes to get a training slot, but who knows, that could be part of it as well. I'm definitely glad I went active and became an officer, but it feels like in an ironic twist, going active duty in the Air Force actually is my biggest source of drag in this process.

About a year ago I had highly competitive scores and was getting guard/reserve fighter squadron interviews left and right. While I never got picked up, I felt that eventually I would get a slot. ...fast forward to today: I was turned down from even getting an interview at a fighter board where I interviewed a year prior and was in the top third of interviewees, I was turned down from the active duty board, and I am not even getting heavy squadron interviews anymore. I have a hunch that there are a few others in my position as well, so I might as well ask this question as broadly as possible: What can we do to improve our chances? The common feedback that I have been given is that guard/reserve fighter units would rather hire off the street guys than active duty (non-rated) officers to fulfill their UPT slots. While this is something I obviously can't control, I know there must have been people like me who have been hired in the past. What was your secret sauce? For reference: PCSM: 90 AFOQT Pilot: 95 Hours: 300+ w/PPL I can retake the PCSM but it feels like wasted effort to take these tests again if the reason I am not being hired is due to the fact that I am already an active duty officer.

I believe you are correct, I think @Bean may be referring to the fact that you can only apply once more if you declined something previously (i.e. wanted pilot but got CSO and declined CSO). Technically, I think you can apply as much as you want if you aren't selected for anything. However, it does raise an interesting point that it may be better to be selected for nothing than selected for something you don't want if you have a certain goal.

UPT non-select as well...200+ hours w/PPL, 95 pilot/90 PCSM, but from an very undermanned career field. Been on the guard/reserve road for awhile now with quite a few interviews and no dice. Alot of guard/reserve squadrons don't like to hire current (non-rated) AD officers is mostly the feedback I have gotten. The quest to fly continues!

You can change your profile name to 'URTSelect2021' now. Congrats!

Is anyone able to even see the full list, or is it just the CC's giving y'all the info that you got selected? Congrats to all those who have found out! Looks like it's at least another night for some of us

How much do you want to bet the release will be delayed again for snow tomorrow 😂

That's what I'm expecting as well, although the comment on the board page makes it seem like UFT is all TDY. Looking at the previous UFT forums it looks like we will be waiting awhile until RNLT dates anyway. Cheers and best of luck!

I'll add to the discussion while we wait...Does anyone know if your orders are a TDY for the whole UFT? Or is it just TDY for the MFS, SERE, etc before the training and then a PCS to your training base (Columbus, Vance, Laughlin, Sheppard) afterwards? If anyone is wondering, this is the comment I am referring to, from Mr Hornburg: "For those selected off the UFT board, they will remain attached to their current base and PCS once they finish training." I guess my question is, what is "training"? I was always under the impression you PCSd to your training base for UFT.

Looks like we may be within the 7 day window from the PSDM release if commanders are getting notified, "Commanders will receive advance notification 7 days prior to the official PSDM release on myPers." Best of luck!

I also heard the same thing from a guard airlift unit. It seems to be a work around for only having 1 slot allotted per year for each unit.

Thanks for the update! Did they mention whether they would make a final selection for an applicant or if the next round would be in-person interviews?

Not yet, but last year they sent out the notifications mid December so I would expect another week or two.