Thanks for the support guys. As for the AFRES I will not just hit up fighter units, I have an unspondored slot so all is not lost by any means, just thought Id give the fighters one last try. I know of two C-130 units in Florida that will be hiring this fall, so I might give them a go. I think a couple A-10 units might be interviewing guys this fall as well.
As for the questions, here’s all the ones I can remember, as well as my responses as best I can remember:
1.) Tell us why you choose our unit? Why you want to go guard? what you know about us? Tell us about yourself and what you have to offer? (Yes he started with all those questions wrapped into one)
2.) Do you have a problem dropping bombs, shooting missiles and possibly killing people?
I said I would not be here if I had not considered this possible scenario and that if that split second decision comes up, I won’t hesitate a bit. Also added that I realize by hesitating I could cost more lives.
3.) What would you do if you were up with another flight instructor and he wanted to buzz a town? (here is were I got a bit hung up and tried to joke a bit by saying "depends on the town and who lives in it" but then when they did not laugh, I quickly said "but seriously I would not jeopardize my career and tell the guy "no way"
Then the same guys asked "but this instructor your up with says I don’t care what you think, were buzzing this town!" Then what do you do. (I hesitated and thought for a about 10 seconds), then said “ I would still not do it even if I had to smack the guy” Felt dumb saying that, should have sternly said “ sir, its not gonna happen in my aircraft”
Same interviewing pilot says: "okay let me ask it differently, you come back to the unit here, your the new guy and you’re up flying with me and now I say I want to buzz a town in our F-16's, what would you do? I responded "no way, I’m not risking my career". Then he proceeded to ask what I would do when I got back? go tell some one else or talk to him? I responded "go talk to you and ask why you put me in a bad position like that, I prefer to deal with problems face to face"
4.) I see you set a lot of goals for yourself, how do you reach your long term goals? I said, "by setting short term goals so I don't loose sight of the long term ones", then I talked about how I had to do the same thing when I was putting myself through school so even little things like waking up for class or getting to all my classes were small goals Id set to reach the big ones. (When I actually said this came out a bit jumbled though)
5.) What is the difference between management and leadership?
For some reason again I probably sounded like I was giving a line of B.S. but I said "management to me is basically a structured system of superiors and subordinates and the uppers basically tell the lowers what to do, in leadership its more like someone setting an example that others want to follow, its not as cut and dry as management". Then I had one of those dreaded pauses and they waited for me to say something so I gave them an example of how I was mid level management where I worked and how the person above me was both a manager but had leadership qualities and how I liked that sytem because I also had people below me who I had to manage but found it useful to set leadership examples (don’t know why I said this but what a dumb line)
6.) What leadership qualities do you posses?
Drive, Determination, (then I forget what I said because I’m sure it was a line of B.S. and Im mentally blocking it out)
7.) What weaknesses might you have?
I started this by saying I don’t like to think of it as having weaknesses but like anyone else I have had things I know I could work on so then I gave the old "owe Iv tended to be a bit of a workaholic in the past to compensate for thinking I did not do the best job or could have done more toward a specific task but I learned you have to be able to kick back and have a good time once in a while as well".
8.) How do you prioritize the following: military service goals, personal goals and family or relationship issues?
Said to them: "ask anyone around me and they will tell you I have put everything on hold to accomplish my dream of becoming a military officer and pilot, everything else is on hold till I know what is going to happen with this.
9.) What would you do once your part time here at the guard?
Said to them: I would hope for a full time opening but if that’s not possible I know I do not like airlines or that type of flying, and I told them how I worked on the ramp of TWA and talked with a lot of pilots and saw the lifestyle they had and how it was not appealing to me, so Id either try to get some cushy private jet deal or fly be an island pilot sipping up margaritas.
10.) You say you work hard and play hard, so what do you do for fun?
Said I hang with my buds, go out on the town, barbecue and drink beer, go on a big float trip twice a year on a now polluted river.
He said: Oh yeah is that because you all urinated in it so much? I said: "That and then some sir!"
11.) Do you only want to fly fighters?
Yes sir!
12.) Do you want to ask us anything?
I said: No Iv pretty much had all my questions answered on my visits here but I would like to say I’m ready to move here at the drop of a hat for the rest of my life to fulfill my dream, and then thanked them for the invitation to interview.
That was it. Probably 30 minutes long in all. By the way I found out two hours later why they asked me the question about buzzing a town. They had a major and lieutenant do it a couple years ago, the major got fired for it. No wonder they did not like my light hearted joke. Oops
