Dangerzone

Can confirm. Was told to reach back out in the spring.

Would like my 1:30 of watching two men ramble and talk over each other back...

Reached out to a few reserve units to ask about pilot openings or their next UPT board and through the course of the convo and exchanging niceties they essentially gave it to me straight saying the previous AFRC board selected 5 of the 70 fully qualified and vetted applicants ~10%. They mentioned they’d sponsor me no problem but it doesn’t really mean anything because the selection rate is so low due to AD taking back some UPT spots, the current backlog of applicants, and the UPT slots are going to the flying units that are under manned. Just seems like going Reserve these days is a pretty bleak prospect with all the variability. Think this is an isolated issue or will it continue to be the case?

Not sure what that recruitor was smoking because that’s the whole point of going reserve, being in control of where you serve and what job you do... Choosing the AFSC will be based on manning/availability so the recruitor should have a good idea of what jobs are available, and depending on if your daughter is dead set on a job even if it isn’t available the squadron may be able to go passed 100% manning in certain situations. TLDR: ask for a different recruitor who’s not a dipshit.

Solid points,I’m 26 years old and definitely open to AD if it gets me flying although that is plan C. Partial to the AF due to having finished an enlistment already, but the Navy is something I’ve more and more been looking at due to the backlog of AF. Do you happen to have any more insights into either the USMC or NAVY flying? Yes I can also research but didn’t know if you had already done some due diligence I could PM you about. Thanks

From my experience sitting through a brief or two you’re correct. I think the only potential hiccup is if you just landed a civilian job and left on orders quickly after there may be a time req before USERRA kicks in or the employer can fight it. Also don’t forget to give ample notice to your employer before leaving on orders because I’ve heard that can turn into a nasty legal battle.

It needed to be said and I take that criticism fully. Hopefully I am not putting off the vibe of complaining as that is not my intention. I have worked very hard for the things I’ve had in life and wake up with a heart of gratitude for my health, job, etc. especially in the age of 2020 where anything can happen and knowing some buddies who got laid off and are still in the job hunt. All that to say my seemingly cozy life to onlookers which was heavily influenced by following the advice of what people told me to do and it’s led me to where I’m currently at, semi quarter life crisis if I need to label it, is unsustainable for me. I’m at the point I’m already failing doing something I don’t want to do so what’s the harm potentially failing doing something I want to do. In the meantime yes I’m building up the areas I’m lacking with the goal in mind of officer/pilot.

Forgot to mention I went balls deep into highly leveraged options trading in February when you couldn’t not make money in the stock market and subsequently after the onset of the China virus and the fateful week of multiple circuit breakers going off, realized I pissed away 50k in my 401k I spent the last 3 years accumulating due to my stupidity. So I don’t have a high regard for money right now as my hierarchy of needs is met in abundance and I am not focused on the idea of suffering through the next 30 years to hopefully retire at 60 to drink mojitos in Mexico if everything goes right. I think the brotherhood and the guys on the left and right of you is something you don’t get in a corporate setting either which also makes the desk job times more appealing I would imagine.

Paying for the ratings out of my pocket vs letting the gov do it later on is something I go back and forth on. Would definitely help me have a more competitive application and keep me groomed for a career in aviation, not sure if the present cost/financial strain associated is worth it. Were you a ROTC guy or what was your path to wings if u don’t mind me asking?

Thanks for the perspective gents. Always refreshing to hear the unglamorized side of things. I definitely miss the sink or swim type of atmosphere associated with sports or what I felt going through BMT many moons ago and how I depict UPT to be from what I’ve heard and your quick synopsis. I think the preparation of managing stress, being content in my current situation and not always longing for the next thing, I.e. being happy with what you have in pursuit of what you want mentality would be beneficial for me to learn now. A pep talk I had for myself struggling through difficult classes in engineering school was “you won’t be happier any more when you finally make it, if you’re discontent in the present”. Feel like that’s where I’m currently at in my career. Knocking out my PPL is probably what ruined me, it gave me just enough taste of the freedom of flying to realize I could get paid to do this and not want to deal with normal jobs anymore. Currently just flying for expensive hamburgers to stay proficient. Thanks for the help both of you!

100%! Want to be my first paying customer..? ; ) I think that’d end poorly with the Mrs, unless she’s in on it, hmmm.

Could do a few months with savings and get by, and hopefully find something else in the meantime without settling. I get where you’re coming from, my issue is the feeling like my best years are being sucked away from me and I’m stuck in the play it safe mindset which has proven to not bring me the quality of life I had hoped for besides a decent W-2 at the end of the yr. I’m holding to this optimism of the AF will solve all my problems if I can just land a UPT position but seems like the time continuum could be a yr or 2 out and don’t think I can last in my current environment for that long.

I appreciate your sentiments. Glad to know there’s a few of us out there. I guess I should expound on the quitting the job thing. Honestly I feel like if I don’t quit in a reasonable time I’ll get fired for dropping the ball on my responsibilities, I’ve “toughed” it out for long enough and between the commute, doing something you have no desire to do, and lack of mental stimulation—I’m over it. I would be quitting to force myself to find something else for my own sanity. I think I came into this process with unreasonable expectations on timing and quite frankly have been humbled by the competitiveness of it all, lots of great and qualified dudes out there. Glad to see you got picked up, and I’m sure I’ll see you on the other side. I was going to make a sarcastic remark initially about if it were smart to share my feelings or being too honest about difficulties or something in an interview if the question came up, thanks for the heads up!

Hi everyone, just trying to find common ground with other people who may be in the same struggle as I am. 2020 has been a challenge—mentally, emotionally, financially, with my marriage, at work, feeling like the US country is being ripped apart before our very eyes and feeling the weight of all of it. I started submitting UPT applications Jan of 2020 and I put so much pressure on myself to get picked up for a UPT position because I got the flying bug, was dealing with extreme boredom at work with my engineering job, feeling unmotivated and not challenged, and wanting the excitement, community and team mindedness of being in the military and in a flying squadron. I know this is what I want to do in life, but with the constant delays, COVID, hearing talk of guard/reserve pilot manning numbers being essentially slashed in half for FY21, going to UPT through active duty at the soonest not until summer 2022, I’ve just become so impatient and down about it all. Through all of this waiting, and just the negativity of 2020, I’ve frankly lost the enjoyment for life (not in a suicidal way), felt kind of trapped and like I need to switch it up to get the fire back in my belly. I’ve already decided I need to take the 100k a yr golden handcuffs off and have planned to quit my job in Jan, in the meantime hope to spend my last 2 weeks of vacation left doing my favorite activity—snowboarding, and working on my self-development, fitness/health, and aggressively reaching out to whatever unit will give me a chance to send them my application. Thanks for listening to my TED talk... If anyone is in the same boat or feeling the weight of life would love to hear what’s going on by PM or below. Or if you’re a gray head and want to call me a b*tch first then impart some advice I’m all ears. Thanks

Heard from a recruitor they were delaying pilots going to OTS until 2022 due to backlog and what not.

I reached out and they said Interviews already went out, safe to say if you didn’t hear anything they went with someone else.

Is there a job posting for Charleston somewhere? Didn’t see anything for that.

I never saw that job posting advertised. Where did you find it?

Hell yeah dude. Exactly what I needed to hear. Channeling my inner Goggins from here on out. ; )

Honestly glad you got picked up so u can quit stealing the rest of the interviews 😉. You could of just summed it up as you are the ideal candidate every squadron is looking for Lol. Congrats on your hard work and good luck at UPT mate. 👍🏽 I’ve found it difficult to make connections, what’s your approach—try and communicate with the chief pilot and ask to come out for a visit? But in a covid environment just try and give him/her a call and build a relationship that way? I’ve just been sending out apps and hoping for the best, does not seem to be the winning approach.

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.

In the same boat as y’all. Maybe we all got interviews and they just haven’t sent them out yet... 😉

Anyone else feel like they’ve been nonstop waiting to hear back from Units since January? I understand COVID, but man the “pending or lack of response” is killing me, I’ll take a yes or no at this point just so I can have my mind at peace and not left in limbo.

Alaska sent out their invitations today. Congrats to all who got one. On to the next one for me.

Retweet on the Tulsa memo. Said they had over 100 apps. On to the next one!