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What are my Chances for heavies? (2024)


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Goal: Any heavy unit. I am not particularly picky. I would love flying the KC-135 particularly. 

Age: 23

GPA/College: 3.22/Premed Biology

AFOQT: P: 99 CSO: 89 ABM: 99 AA: 74 V: 68 Q: 72 

PCSM: 99 

LORs: Boss, former air national guard now a Lt. Col, Flight instructor

Flight Hours: 83 PPL. Working on getting my Multi Engine. Sadly don't have the funds to get instrument inn this economy. 

Extracurricular: Fly fishing, Pickleball, Golf, and Gym. Also trying to join the Civil Air Patrol once I can find some time. 

Volunteer Experience: Volunteered multiple semesters at Children's hospital and sleep study

Negatives:

1. The first unit I rushed, I thought it went terribly and ended up making it to the final round of interviews with a KC-135 unit. I was so nervous that I realized mid-way through the interview that I absolutely was messing up my answers. This of course, was before I found out about this website so I was unable to prepare at all. Obviously, I did not get the slot and when I asked for feedback, they said they loved my personality and that if I really wanted to join that I should enlist. I do not have any desire to enlist at the moment so I pushed on and went on to my second unit and did not make it to the interviews. The the third unit I applied to I did not even make it to the meet and greet. I feel as if my "performance" is getting worse and I am not even getting any chances anymore. Was this normal for everyone else? I am going to keep applying but I am definitely starting to get discouraged. 

2. How important is job titles? During college, I was struggling to find a job due to COVID and the place that I work at now gave me a chance and hired me. The job was very good to me and I have been working there for around 3 years now. The money is not the best and I could definitely get a higher paying job, but my boss eventually promoted me to a supervisor and has been struggling to hire more people. I did not just want to leave him high and dry so I am staying since he helped me out when I was in my lows. my job title is Valet Supervisor and I heard that places don't really care what you do for work as long as I get some good leadership skills. Is this somewhat true? 

I just want to hear honest answers as to what my chances to get hired with a heavy unit are and maybe anymore tips to help me out on my journey. Thanks.

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Posted (edited)

Preface this all by saying I'm relatively new to all of this so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Your scores are extremely competitive. I got hired in 2019 with a 69 PCSM (with 0 flight hours). Your packet as it stands should get you to interviews at most places, and that's where you'll stand out. I credit my hiring at my current ANG unit 95% to my interview. The big picture question they're usually asking, from what I've been told by the guys that ran my board, is if they can live and work with you for a deployment and you will impact the atmosphere positively, not negatively. There were a ton of questions specifically geared towards assessing your levels of blue falconry. 

2. I didn't have much on my resume in terms of work experience, other than leadership positions in college athletics. Leadership experience in any capacity is looked upon favorably. If you want to make it a point to speak on why you stayed at your current job, do that. Trust in your packet and once you get another interview, have confidence in yourself and go into the interview truthfully; but also with a vision of who you want to be as an officer/aviator/member of the squadron and wing. If this is your goal, don't give up. Reapply to that original unit you rushed. Keep reapplying, show interest.

Edited by ConfidentlyIncorrect
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Posted (edited)

You have great scores. Reapply and keep applying. You’re only 23, so you got some time. See if any units will let you come visit on a drill weekend, bring a bottle of booze for their bar, face time is key. When a unit tells you to enlist, it’s because a guard unit wants to know who they’re going to be stuck with. If you enlist there, it gives the guys a chance to get to know you. If you don’t want to enlist, then you’re going to have to get to know them some other way. The ANG pilot hiring process is still the very best hiring process in the DOD. We can be picky, and that’s a good thing. If you don’t know any pilots there, better start trying to make some friends. 

Edited by O Face
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