bs98

How was the rush!? I’m learning some are not worth the trip

Currently a reservist applying to both AD and NG/Reserve boards. As part of the AD process, my recruiter will have me go to MEPS. As a reservist, I was told if I get hired by a reserve unit, I can bypass MEPS entirely. Would paperwork/waivers required by MEPS complicate any accessions on the reserves side? I have deployed and gotten some minor injuries. Conversations with reserve flight docs say it wouldn't be a problem at their unit, I'm fit for duty. I'm worried that MEPS would be more strict about this, and would complicate my life. Can anyone in the know weigh in on this?

Thank you sincerely for laying this out so clearly, haven't come across anything as succinct as this on the internet yet. It sounds like regionals will accept the 61.51 PIC time as part of the 750 mil R-ATP? Also, I'd love to hear any of your favorite non-traditional flying jobs. Being in and out of commercial airports doesn't interest me a whole bunch. I've also noticed an unfortunate vagueness whenever I've asked someone about their pay as a corporate / search and rescue / medevac pilot.

Could you elaborate on this? As far as the FAA is concerned, would a heavy pilot be commercial and multi engine instrument rated ?

For anyone here who left for UPT training holding only a PPL or similar, what were your civilian ratings / job opportunities afterward returning home and going part time status? From what I read online, it sounds like commercial and instrument ratings are awarded after an FAA proficiency test. I'd love to hear how many hours you all came home with after UPT, air frame training, and seasoning orders. All PIC time? What jobs were available with your experience level? I understand this will vary greatly between aircraft, and even down to the individual unit but I'd like to start a conversation and hear from anyone willing to share. For context, I am applying to units and have a good civilian, non-flying government job, but eventually would like to fly full time. I am not going into the application process assuming I can guard bum.

Interesting, thanks! Any gouge on average scores / flight experience of those invited?

Anyone gotten a confirmation from Louisiana ANG after submitting a packet? Or Oregon for that matter...

@stuckindayton Figure I owe you an update to say that you were right-- the diagnosis my surgeon gave me of never being 20/20 proved to be completely false. I've met with the 3 optometrists and 1 ophthalmologist in the last year, all of whom have confirmed my 20/20 in each eye post surgery.

Thank you, this gives me a lot to think about. I just finished six years as an Army guardsman / guard bum and have seen the benefits of flexibility, but my previous experience for any request to do something in another state / component was “well you can send up your transfer packet to the general and see if they’ll let you go despite massive retention problems and your contractual obligation”… granted, I could see that conversation going easier for a CPT than it did for enlisted me.

Thanks for the encouragement and beautiful plane. My first thought was something AFSOC? U28’s and C12’s we’re my first love

@brabus @Biff_T @Tarawa565 @Nate B First off, a big thanks to everyone who replied. I truly did take the advice to heart and am actioning just about all of it. New updates, so I'll just post a summary since I'm excited and don't have too many pilot mentors in real life yet: 3.7 GPA, 95 Pilot score, 92 PCSM (new), 22 hours (more scheduled), 24 years old Plan: This website and the commenters have been invaluable in helping me figure out this process. Now that I have a good PCSM, I feel like a lot of options have opened up. My first choice might be active duty until someone can talk me out of it; it just seems there are more opportunities for a single, unmarried guy whose imagination gets captured by U2/B2/AFSOC roles and the Pilot Physician Program. Obviously I'm not assuming I'd get any of those, but the opportunities seem more prevalent in AD world than in AFRC or NG. Getting a recruiter to deal with me as a prior enlisted guy has proven to be a pain in the ass... So I am still finding a few AFRC and NG units that promise really unique opportunities e.g. CSAR, AFSOC, fighters and applying to every one in the country. Question for you all: 1) Am I correct in thinking that a lot of the AF's niche programs would be an uphill battle to apply for from NG/AFRC? It seems like a tough conversation to have with a unit that invested in someone at such a personalized level. 2) Any anecdotes about NG/AFRC pilots who have broken the mold of flying one week a month and working on the airlines?

I'm getting ready for my TBAS retake after doing pretty poorly the first time around, despite some preparation. Can anyone here verify if the baseops link below is accurate, specifically regarding the combination of listening and target tracking? It also mentions an "emergency scenario test". I have no recollection of either of these and I'm trying to figure out if I accidentally took my headphones off too soon or something. https://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/tbas.html

Mind mentioning your scores/flight hours/experience? congrats by the way!

Thanks for the response… I never really thought about going all the way to CFI to boost the application process (and learn along the way), but I do have 4 months or so before my graduate school starts and this sounds like a good use of time. As soon as I can stomach the thought of spending $xx,000, I’ll heed the advice

congrats on getting picked up! I'll be applying to the one FY23 board I'll be stateside for. Honestly, I think there's a lot more flexibility in active duty careers. Just has the uncertainty up front. Out of curiosity, what type of units were you applying to on the reserve component side? Your scores seems great.

GPA: non-stem 3.7 from a brand name school AFOQT: 95+ in all categories except quant (78) PCSM: ***Now 92***60, including the points added for my 20 flight hours. (considering TBAS retake) Removed the rest for personal stuff. Message me if you want to know anything!

Thank you for the detailed, albet\it very unfortunate answer. Are flight surgeons held to the same vision standards as pilots?

I searched but didn't find anything in the last decade about this topic: I had PRK eye surgery 4 months ago. My eyes were initially each about 20/400 and they are now 20/25 individually, 20/20 when working together. The doc that did my surgery told me there is nothing I can ever do or wear that would get me to 20/20 in each eye due to the “muscles not developing”. That leaves me with two questions: -Has anyone ever heard of a waiver for 20/25 vision that does not correct to the much-desired 20/20? -Flight docs, does that sound correct that there is nothing I could ever do or glasses I could wear that could get my eyes to 20/20 individualy?

I love medicine and aviation. Naturally I am pursuing med school and the flight surgeon path. I've read throughout the internet that Navy flight surgeons attend a portion of their UPT and spend a lot of time back seating jets, whereas neither of these roles are as common for AF flight surgeons. Can anyone on here chime in about this? Is any portion of a flight surgeon's flight time actually logged training? I am aware of the pilot physician program, but unfortunately that sounds like it's all but exclusively for pilots to transition to medicine rather than the other way around.

Removed.