ANG Fighters/Helos, or Active Duty

[hummer]

Hello everyone!
Just trying to see what you guys think of my chances for either ANG Fighters/Helos, or Active Duty pilot board.
 
AFOQT: P:99 C:83 A:99 AA:79 V:39 Q:96
 
PCSM: 88, with 58 hours of flight
 
PPL: imminent, should have it within 2 months
 
Mechanical Engineering, GPA: 3.72
 
LORs: engineering professor, flight instructor
 
Extracurriculars: senator in student government, tutor -> manager for a student program, numerous engineering projects, competitive/friendly sports for 10+ years, avid weight-lifter.
 
1) Are these extra-curriculars even relevant?
2) Does the school name matter?
3) Anything else I should add?
 
Please shoot it straight, I appreciate any feedback!
 

 
 

[Biff_T]

What mission do you want to do in the AF?   

Your package looks good "sts" for OTS.   That being said, I retired from AD in 2018.  I applied to OTS when "W" was in office so things could have changed since then.   It's a little harder to get the "mission" you'd like to partake in going the OTS AD UPT route.  You will have to compete for slots with your bros (sts, kinda like real life lol) that are made available by the needs of the AF.  

I flew helos.   I wanted helos.  I told all the dudes in my UPT class that helos were gay,  but I told all my instructors from day one of UPT that my balls were too big for a fixed wing. Lol.  In all seriousness, for AD dudes, UPT is like a reality show where you compete against your bros to get whatever the airforce has available for you.  

ANG and AFRC already know what they will be flying.  I imagine that removes a little stress from the competition at UPT.  

To answer your questions:

1.  Your extra curriculum seems applicable for an OTS application.  

2. School name probably matters a little.  IE.  3.7 from Harvard vs 3.7 from Devry Diesel Driving Academy.  

3. Maybe some volunteer work?.  Not sure on this one.  You just wanna make yourself look motivated and leadership minded.

These answers are very basic and apply for OTS. Im not versed in the ANG, AFRC hiring process.  

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by Biff_T

[hummer]

What mission do you want to do in the AF?   
Your package looks good "sts" for OTS.   That being said, I retired from AD in 2018.  I applied to OTS when "W" was in office so things could have changed since then.   It's a little harder to get the "mission" you'd like to partake in going the OTS AD UPT route.  You will have to compete for slots with your bros (sts, kinda like real life lol) that are made available by the needs of the AF.  
I flew helos.   I wanted helos.  I told all the dudes in my UPT class that helos were gay,  but I told all my instructors from day one of UPT that my balls were too big for a fixed wing. Lol.  In all seriousness, for AD dudes, UPT is like a reality show where you compete against your bros to get whatever the airforce has available for you.  
ANG and AFRC already know what they will be flying.  I imagine that removes a little stress from the competition at UPT.  
To answer your questions:
1.  Your extra curriculum seems applicable for an OTS application.  
2. School name probably matters a little.  IE.  3.7 from Harvard vs 3.7 from Devry Diesel Driving Academy.  
3. Maybe some volunteer work?.  Not sure on this one.  You just wanna make yourself look motivated and leadership minded.
These answers are very basic and apply for OTS. Im not versed in the ANG, AFRC hiring process.  
 
 
 
 

Thanks for the info! Out of curiosity, what mission/helo did you fly? Any recs for specific mission/helos?

[Biff_T]

On 8/22/2023 at 12:50 PM, hummer said:

Thanks for the info! Out of curiosity, what mission/helo did you fly? Any recs for specific mission/helos?


 

I flew the UH-1N.    I was is in the 1 HS, 36 RQF and 40 HS.  Three different missions. 

I wanted to fly 53s but they retired them when I was in UPT.  CSAR was awarded the 47 so I thought that'd be cool to get into that mission because they are actually spending money to beef up CSAR, that didn't happen. CSAR guys were still doing cool shit at the time but in locations I had not wanted to ever see again. The CV was too new at the time.  I had a good time in the Huey.  Your mission is stateside (and Japan) though.  Dont get me wrong, plenty of 11H3s deployed as air advisors and etc...

Helicopters in general sit some form of alert.   When there is no action, you train and sit alert.  Sometimes 39 minutes from your family, other times you're in some shit hole with sand everywhere and a dude named Biff bumming smokes off you.  

Helicopters are ATVs of the sky.  You do strictly military type flying in helos.  Low and slow..  you will have friends who die flying them but my God, there is nothing like hovering at 200 AGL, at our bingo, pulling a dude off (sts) a mountain and seeing your FE wearing an old man mask on his helmet.  Beard and all, dangling in the wind.  Fuck yeah Spider! 

Helicopters are fun to fly.

The missions can be dangerous and sometimes deadly.  

Helicopters are hot and sweaty.  

Missions are rewarding.  

But you can sit 100s of hours of alert without seeing any action at all as well.   

Hueys are being replaced with MH-139s.  They have retractable gear (dont forget). AFGSC is spending a little money on helos. They are all AD units. 

CSAR has AD, ANG and AFRC units.  Im not sure how much ACC invests in CSAR but it seems like a pendulum.  Probably the coolest mission the AF does. Dont tell my 60 buds I said that lol.  

I have no idea about the CV mission.  Just wasn't in the cards for me.  

Edit: Doing armed nuclear convoy escort in a Huey was cool as well.   I actually liked that mission.  Mountain flying was a challenge as well. 

Edit: Helping someone on a really bad day is the most rewarding thing I ever did in my life.  

 

Edited August 30, 2023 by Biff_T
Afterthought