Guard/Reserve Fighter Applicant

[aspen32]

• 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!