Air National Guard

[khallen2754]

For over a year I have paid attention to these message boards and they are obviously a great source of information for those interested in serving their country and flying as well. I have roots in both aviation and the military and I planned to pursue an Air National Guard pilot spot since I was in college. Now I am 26 and in January I started working on my private pilot's license and plan to have 100 hours of flight time by year’s end.

Even though this has been a great source, I am still confused about a few things. If you could help answer a few questions, I would be appreciative:

1. Is it best to 1st get in touch with a number of units with openings and meet with their personnel or an air national guard recruiter about obtaining a position in UPTS? I noticed most openings with units are for pilots with previous experience in specific military aircraft.
2. What will be the net affect from the reported cutbacks in the Air Force and current hiring by the regional air lines to the number of candidates accepted to UPTS for such guard positions?
3. I am a CPA and had a competitive GPA and received a masters degree in accounting at Notre Dame but have no technical training or engineering experience. Will the fact my work experience and education have nothing to do with aviation affect my application?
4. When exactly should I expect to have my application complete, go through interviews if chosen, and enter OTS if selected. I thought this whole process took about a year and applications need to be completed by March. What is the application timeline and does the process only start once a year?

I know how important it is to make a good impression in the application process, so I would like to understand the whole process as best possible. Any insight and advice you all can add would be a big help. Thank you.

 

[RedDogC130]

So you know the source of this info I am giving you, I currenlty fly in the Air Guard so I hope you consider this pretty reliable. PM me if you have more specific question, I would be happy to help out. Your best chance is within the state you live. Most units want local guys/gals. I happen to move away from my squadron and commute to it and it has been a hastle but I fly for an airline which makes it easier to get there. First you need to take all the written military exams, AFOQT and some others I believe. A good book to purchase is called Flying in the Guard and Reserve. Look for it online somewhere. It has a buch of good info and some outdated names but good addresses of all squadrons across the country. After taking all the written exams, find a local place to take the BAT test. I am not sure how do schedule for that I forgot how I did it, mabye through a local ROTC or something, it was a long time ago. I am sure you can figure it out. Next put a package together and mail it to every Guard and Reserve squadron in the country. Send it addressed to the squadron commander or chief pilot. Do not go through a recruiter. I did not and had calls for multiple interviews directly from the sqaudrons. Obviously pick states you would not mind relocating to for a good while. If your package which will include resume, test scores, transcripts and a picture of yourself, unless you are a band geek and look better on paper than in person. After the packages are sent via CERTFIED mail or something so you know when it got there, call the squadron and see that they recieved it. If you live close by, take a trip to visit. If you flood the market with packages, you will most likely get a call for an interview if they are interviewing and you a strong candidate. Disreguard the job lisitings for previously qualified persons. The UPT hirings are totally seperate. I have rambled on for awhile, hope that answers some questions. If you have more fire away. The process is long sometimes a year or more until you hit flight school. Good luck.

 

[khallen2754]

Thanx for shedding a little light on the whole process. Hope you don't mind being bombarded with more questions but I would like to know if I should have my package prepared and ready to send to each squadron at a specific time of the year and how long would it be before I begin UPTS if selected? Can the application be sent anytime or is there a specific "hiring and interview season"? Also, do I need to be hired by a squadron before I get into UPTS? I assume a squadron is the same as a unit, let me know if that is not the case. Also,

 

[RedDogC130]

To clear one thing up. It is called UPT not UPTS. I would send in the package as soon as you get it put togehter. Each squadron has their own schedule when they interview. Some only every few years such as mabye a fighter squadron some like C-130 squadrons hire a few each year. If you search each squadron online, if they have a website, it may even say if they are hiring for UPT slots and when and who to apply to. If you go to the Reserve side versus the Guard side the process can be a little different. If you get that book it talks about the different ways of getting a slot in the Reserves versus getting hired outright by the Guard squadron. I think that answered those questions, keep firing away

 

[CFIIer]

In addition to the Guard, also check into the Air Force Reserves....equally a good deal. If you go guard, you'll actually be going to AMS (academy of military science) which is only 6 weeks long. If you go reserve you may go either AMS, or OTS (which is 12 weeks long). OTS sucked bigtime!
From the time that i applied to the reserve unit i'm in, until the time i went to OTS was about 2 years. There is a ton of paper work that has to be done, and all sorts of logistics that have to be taken care of. About 2 months after I finished OTS, I started UPT, and I'm about halfway through UPT now. So, it's a pretty long road.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM

 

[khallen2754]

How long would you expect the whole process to take? Assuming I sent my package off to the squadrons as soon as I received my test score back and I had 100 hours of flight time, when should I expect to start training if selected? If my employer knew of my plans to serve, they would want to know when to expect me to leave for training.

Also, there are reports about some cuts buy the Aire Force and also reports that regional air lines hiring left and right, so it is tough to get a clear picture of the current need by the military for pilots. Do you have any way of estimating the military's needs for pilot's in a year or so when I begin sending out my package? I imagine it would affect the responce I get from the squadrons who receive my package.

 

[RedDogC130]

The Guard is a little faster to get to UPT but then it is about equal on the time it takes to finish it all. Depending on when you get an interview, plan 6 mths to 1 year until that. 6mths-1yr until going to AMS (guard commisioning source) then 3-6mth to start UPT. 1.5-2.5 yrs to finish UPT follow-on aircraft school (FTU), various survival schools, unit seasoning, then depending on airframe straight to the desert. I can't do math so add it up and it will be a long time before you get back to work. I have been on orders since August of 2003 which includes all the events I have stated above and I will not com off orders until this November.

 

[khallen2754]

Will going the Guard or Air Force Reserve route affect whether or not I become an officer? Also, will the decision have a large impact on where I am eventually assigned, what aircraft I will fly, and future training opportunities? In addition, would either of you feel free to comment on whether you think there will be a strong demand for pilots or whether there might be a glut based on the future needs of the both organizations?

 

[CCDiscoB]

First you need to take all the written military exams, AFOQT and some others I believe.

...and at your age, you need to have this accomplished yesterday! Things are getting tight in the Guard. Squadrons are losing jets or simply closing. Find one in your home state that is staying open. Best chances are the non-flighter wings. Fighters in the Guard are becoming a near impossiblity these days considering all the units that are closing.

Also, will the decision have a large impact on where I am eventually assigned, what aircraft I will fly, and future training opportunities?

...yes, yes and yes. Signing up with the Guard you'll know what aircraft you are going to. That's your aircraft for life unless you leave the Guard and go on active duty, or they change aircraft. The Reserves, you won't know what aircraft until later, and then the same applies.

feel free to comment on whether you think there will be a strong demand for pilots or whether there might be a glut based on the future needs of the both organizations?

Too early to tell, but you're dealing with right now because of your age.
Good luck!!

 

[khallen2754]

I think the age limit for active duty is 27. That is you must have begun UPT before you turn 27. Does this same age limit apply to the Guard and Reserves?