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Major: B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (GPA 2.79) Grad School: Accredited online MBA AFOQT: Pilot: 99 Nav: 92 Acad: 60 Verbal: 75 Quant: 46: PCSM: 80 w/ 22 Hours, (97 w/ 201+) Flight Hours: 22. Fast tracking PPL; connected with the Capt. running the board; she knows my PPL situation and am keeping them updated. I'm on Part 141 so I've been flying a lot but the way the syllabus is structured I need to also have ground lessons so we've been doing those recently. I'm preparing for the stage check for my first solo. Age: 28 (29th birthday in December) really just 3 kids in a trenchcoat. LORs: Former coworker (USAFA grad, Major, USAF active duty pilot [now reserve]), Propulsion professor in college, flight instructor Civilian Career: Currently a rocket propulsion engineer reporting to the CTO at a company designing space stations. I'm leading a team of 6 engineers building out a propulsion test stand for our space station's attitude control system. Free Time/Hobbies: Recently got my advanced open water Scuba certification, working on my nitrox, drysuit, and rebreather certifications (if I can find a place that does rebreather), upgrading my 2012 Ducati Monster 696, working on my 2001 Jeep XJ with 291,000 miles, and starting my skydiving A-license as soon as the weather clears up. Also studying for the GRE for an engineering Master's degree. Airframe: I'm not interested in joining the airlines and I'm pretty set on fighters; F-16's preferably (that bubble canopy 😍). Through my coworker (the same one writing my LOR) I connected with a USAF reservist who helped me with the Guard/Reserve process. That reservist then put me in touch with the Captain actually running the board with one of the units I'm applying for and we had a quick chat on my situation. She basically said my age is going to be the biggest hurdle since the commander's view was "if this was a lifetime goal of yours, why are you waiting until now to get it done?". I understand the age limit, but I'm willing to put in the work to get a package together (I was able to schedule and take the AFOQT and the TBAS in the past couple of weeks in June without the help of a recruiter) so I feel like I shouldn't self-eliminate just because of my age. My mitigation plan for that is that it wasn't only until recently working alongside active NASA astronauts at my previous job that inspired me to become a fighter pilot; I didn't have that opportunity when I was younger so I'm going all out in making that happen now. For example, I'm trying to fast track my PPL and my pilot logbook shows almost daily flying from 31 May to 12 June after my regular work hours of 9-5pm. In order for me to progress further in the Part 141 syllabus though, we need to catch up on the required ground lessons. We're doing that now and I'm preparing for my stage check so that I can solo. (Mainly been in a Grumman AA-5A low wing). The Captain that's running the board had told me to keep them apprised of my PPL progress. This unit (and really all the units I'm interested in) are out-of-state from my current career location. Reading through here I realize that will be an issue, but I'm confident that the company I work for will be supportive. Also should mention I'm single and don't have any family attachments/dependents. Thanks for the help!

If someone has the time to give some advice, it will be greatly appreciated. Currently a civilian with no military experience. I started a business at 22 years old and used it as a means to an end for getting my bachelors in mechanical engineering from Auburn. Worked my way through school doing manual labor with my business and my grades aren't the best, but I graduated debt free. No stranger to hard work and perseverance, so this UPT seems the right fit. Currently trying to get my application in for AD and one guard unit before the new year. I take the TBAS Friday and took the AFOQT last month. From what I know I just need a flight physical and all my i's dotted and t's crossed after this test on Friday. My grandfather was a fighter pilot and he raised me over half my life, so to say I've been wired for fighters would be an understatement. He's in the film Thud Pilots if any of you have seen it. After seeing the flyover at his funeral in August, I'm all in to serve this country and hopefully fly fighters someday as well. I'm 32, so my age is going to be a factor and I had a possession charge for pot (adjudication withheld), but everyone I know in the military tells me to apply because I don't have any felony charges. LORs from a retired Brig. Gen., a judge from my hometown, and from one of my professors at Auburn. Scores: Pilot 88 Nav 74 Acac Apt 44 Verbal 26 Quantitative 66 Found Bogidope today and found lots of useful information. Is it as useful as it seems, or worth the money to pay for consulting? Don't mind paying for it, but thought I may ask around here first to save money since I'm currently the main caregiver for my grandmother and I am not working to take care of her. Time is of the essence and as I mentioned, I am trying to get my application together before the new year. I know I have some strikes against me, but I'm willing to put in the work and give it my best be it either the guard or AD. If any of you are willing to share information, or have some good examples of cover letters, resume, etc., it will be immensely useful. Again, any help is appreciated and thank you ahead of time.

I was hesitant about posting here because due to my particular background and currently still being AD, it won't be too hard for people in my community to figure out who I am. That was dumb. I'm here to try and climb back in the cockpit, so people figuring out who I am doesn't matter one bit. I'm currently working on setting up applications for ANG Fighter Wings / Squadrons, but am not at all opposed to the Reserves or AD AF. I've tasted fighter life and having it snatched away for not being deemed qualified to land on a boat was a devastatingly humbling experience. It truly reoriented my world, however, through this adversity I've become laser focused and more determined than ever to achieve my dream of serving our country as a Fighter Pilot. To that end, what are my chances? Age: 30 Former F/A-18F WSO (2014 - 2017) 1 Deployment (more details if req'd) Student Naval Aviator (2017 - 2019) Completed Navy Advanced Strike Training (for F/A-18E/F or F-35 pipeline), but disqualified for Carrier Landings (more details if req'd) Hours: Pilot: 313 Total WSO: 836 Total (241 Combat) Combined Total: 1146 Hours AFOQT Pilot: 99 Navigator: 99 Aptitude: 91 Verbal: 92 Quantitative: 82 PCSM: 98 I'd be more than happy to supply any additional information that may be helpful, just let me know what I can do for you! -Checkmate

Hello everyone, I made some edits and wanted some additional guidance/answers to questions. I'm a current regional airline pilot trying to get a pilot slot with a guard fighter unit. Age: 23 Finishing BS in Aeronautics from ERAU (should be finished end august/september) GPA: 2.94 from one year of community college, 3.85 from ERAU AFOQT: Pilot-99, Nav-99, AcadApt-70, Verbal-79, Quant-56 PCSM: 94 ATP with 2550 hours, 1000 airline hours, current CFI/CFII LOR's from retired USAF Lt. Col./F16 driver, AA 737 captain/mentor One year experience as CFI/CFII, year and a half with the airlines As far as 'extra curriculars' go: ALPA P2P and scheduling committee for my airline 6 years in CAP, started as a cadet, current senior member captain, national flight academy instructor, worked FEMA missions for Hurricane Harvey, RPA escort pilot I've currently applied to 7 units since December, with all being 'thanks but no thanks.' I've asked for some feedback, but haven't gotten any, so I figured it at least update things here and cast around for some additional info. New Questions With everything going on in the aviation world, and me being reasonably young, I'm seriously considering enlisting, both for the secure income source, and to check another resume box. The unit I would be enlisting in would be my 'dream' unit. Is this a wise course of action or no? If you think I should enlist, what MOS should I have (crew chief, weapons, and life support and been mentioned). Thanks Edits:

Time to join the club. I'm still waiting for that coveted fighter interview! I know if I can just get one then I can sweep the board off its feet and get hired. Just one chance. Here are the scores Age 31 P 92 N 66 AA 45 V 68 Q 33 PCSM 99 Flight Hours 73 - PPL GPA 3.67 Germanic Studies LORS A sergeant in the Army, a Lieutenant in the Air Force, and my supervisor. I'm working real estate right now but I really want to serve my country, but only in a fighter. It might sound bad but if I don't get fighters then I do NOT want to be in the military, I would find another way to serve my country. My scores are pretty strong and GPA is really good but my age is the weakest part of my package. Do I stand a chance? Are there any particular units who are sympathetic to older guys such as myself? I just want one shot....

Here are my scores, as well as my interesting background. AFOQT: 98/61/40/33/50 PCSM: 97 Flight hours: 1300 Flight Ratings: PPL, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, ATP (ERJ 170/190 type rating) Age: 22 College: 3.80 GPA, B.S. in Aviation Management, A.A.S. In Aviation Flight LORs: PPL instructor, Retired navy captain, prior Civil Air Patrol Squadron commander Volunteer work: Civil Air Patrol (Transport mission pilot, Billy Mitchell award recipient) My background: I was at Navy OCS last February with a pilot slot (SNA-Studnet naval aviator). I was there for about a month before I got discharged for 2 medical reasons. The first was eyesight due to astigmatism. I got PRK surgery March 2018 on my own dime and it’s been over a year, no complications. The other medical issue was my sitting height. I’m 6’3” with a sitting height of 39.4”. The navy has 4 aircraft pipelines; strike, E2/C2, helicopters, and Maritime. You needed to be eligible for a minimum of 2 of 4 pipelines, and my sitting height was too tall for the T45 goshawk, which canceled out the strike and E2/C2 pipelines, as well as the UH-57 which canceled out the helicopter track for me. Because I was only eligible for one pipeline (maritime) I could no longer be a student naval aviator. The base commander said I could choose any other naval officer job, such as SWO or Supply, but I decided to discharge and continue flight instructing to be a regional airline pilot, which is what I’m doing right now. I don’t know if this experience helps or hurts. It could help because it shows that I’m not giving up on becoming a military pilot, but it could hurt because I really want to serve and the interviewees might ask why I just didn’t do another naval officer job then. I plan on taking the AFOQT over again, but I will be applying with my current scores and just see where it goes.

Howdy, I am currently attending a state university and have been planning on flying fighters for as long as I can remember. I am a young 20 years old and pushed through college in 3 years (May '19). Here's my current stats: AFOQT: 94 Pilot 75 Nav PCSM: 98 Major: Aviation Science w/ Flight Training Concentration GPA: 3.51 205 Hours with commercial multi w/ instrument I have met with several officers in the ANG including the wing commander. They told me now is the time to apply! The unit I am applying to currently flies F-15s, and are supposedly getting either a newer version of the F-15 or F-35s within a few years. Either way, they are planning on switching airframes. What are my chances? I was told to enlist before applying to this unit, however that would mean missing school and ultimately applying for a job I wouldn't want to have, and delaying my track to achieve the slot. I feel like if I just signed on it would be as if I were trying to pander to the board, saying "See?? I'm committed! I have no interest in (enlisted job), but I'm using it as a stepping stone!" Don't take this as "this peasant work is below my rich blood!" I sweep floors, clean pools, jackhammer cement to pay the bills. I am a musician, mechanic, artist, surfer, etc and I think I would fit the 'whole person' concept pretty well. I exercise regularly. I am concerned about a couple of things. 1.) Not being enlisted. The wing commander says that they hire off the street occasionally, so its not impossible. 2.) Age. Would they say 'yeah apply when you're older'? I have some solid letters of rec, one from a Colonel. One is from the director of flight operations at my school, and the other is from a world renowned professor. Thanks!

I just applied to my first squadron, and I'd like to know how you guys think I stack up. Here are the numbers: GPA: 3.75 AFOQT: 92/77/50/60/43 PCSM: 67 Flight Hours: 27 Age: 28 LORs: 3; from current and former AF officers Obviously I need to get more flight hours and get that PCSM up. Flying and graduating college are my top priorities right now. I expect to have my PPL by the end of the year, and about 80 hours around that same time. I will continue to build hours until I get picked up by a unit. I know I'm cutting it close with my age; I'm going to keep pushing until I get hired. Thanks everyone.