guard/reserve questions

[cyork25]

Okay guys, I need some help here. I am 24 years old and I have been flying lears for over two years. I am about 2 years away from my degree and I am very interested in becoming a pilot for the guard/reserve. I would love to fly a fighter for my country. I was just wondering if my current pilot qualifications would help me get into a unit and if it is realistic for me to get a fighter spot? My current GPA is 3.7-3.9(depending on the semester) and I have almost 1000 hours lear(24 and 35 series). What should I do? Will I be too old to fly by the time I graduate college(26-27)? How do I get the ball rolling? Thanks for your help and time.

 

[frog_flyer]

afoqt

tbas

don't get arrested

don't apply to only fighter units

don't talk about how cool fighters are at heavy units

don't apply to brac unit

that's all I have. Let's see what the been there done that dudes have to say...

 

[Huggyu2]

No, you are not too old. But getting older never helps.
Did you ever rush a fraternity? Well, that's a good way to start getting to know a Guard/Reserve unit.

 

[jherk02]

Enlist in the ANG/Reserve unit closest to you...or one that flies fighters. When it comes time to select a UPT candidate, if you are a current member of the unit and have shown an active interest in flying, you'll have a leg up on the other candidates.

(My hunch is that your 1000 hours in a Lear will weigh equally with the guy who saved all his tip money and scratched enough lessons together for his private pilot. You both have demonstrated an interest in aviation.)

Also, the college degree is (or at least "was") waiverable, but not likely.

Good Luck.

 

[jherk02]

afoqt


don't apply to brac unit

If for some reason a brac unit is advertising a UPT slot, I absolutely would apply. Get to UPT any way you can. If your unit closes then you may have to find somewhere else...but you've got Wings, and you won't owe anybody anything.

 

[PastV1]

You can meet the AF Reserve UPT board without a sponsor unit. With a good AFOQT score to go with your college grades and flying exp you should do well at the board. Once selected for UPT, you can then go look for units to hire you.

Best bet is to go with a sponsor unit but that is not required. We've hired guys at my former unit that went unsponsored adn were selected.

Past....

 

[cyork25]

Good deal guys, here is the other thing. I am in North Texas, what is a unit close to me or what do I need to do.

 

[frog_flyer]

theres the c130 guard unit and the f16 reserve unit both at carswell.


Get over to wantscheck to look up the unit numbers

 

[Jafar]

Proximity to the unit seems to be a decisive issue for many outfits. I applied to 3 units, two of them were across the country from me and the third was one state away. The close one hired me, the other two didn't even interview me, and I later found out that they both hired local guys.

Another reason geographical closeness helps is because it makes life easier for you, the applicant, to show your face around the unit. I joined my unit after I applied for a UPT slot, (transferred in from the Air Force Reserve) and prior to the interview I hung out with the squadron a lot. Even being one state away was an issue for them, they asked me straight up if I intended to move to their city upon returning from training. This isn't really an option, as this unit has about 2 years of active duty seasoning upon completion of the RTU. Nonetheless I made it very clear that I would be relocating to the area.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of guys who get selected who lived a long way from their sponsoring unit, its just more likely for locals and or unit members. Don't let that discourage you, apply everywhere. I really lucked out. I got my first choice and didn't even have to turn down my second and third choices because they didn't want me anyway.

My advice, take the AFOQT and TBAS to get a baseline for where you stand score wise. These scores are a big deal for some units, and not so big of a deal for others, but required by all. In the meantime, find out when units you want to fly for are having their hiring boards and start making contact.

Once you're knee deep in rushing a unit you'll know what everyone is talking about when they say, "rushing a unit." You're interviewing every second you're in front of them, but you should be sizing up the situation yourself. They're deciding if you're cool enough to be a part of their club, and you should be deciding how bad you really want to be a member of their club. It's almost like courting. If you both dig each other you've got a good chance of hooking up. Ummm... STS. (Can't forget that.)

Good luck

 

[psysicx]

How much money can a guard bum make flying a C-17? I don't think the F-16 unit out of Carswell hires people.