Back already. Iowa ANG

[stlpilot]

Well I just got back from the interview. Unfortunately things did not go as I had wished. Its funny how after you go to a lot of these interviews and after a while the questions start to sound like a broken record and your ready for all of them. But for some untold reason I got a bit stumped today. Might of rolled out on the wrong side of the bed, who knows, I just know they asked about 90% of the questions Iv heard but my falter came when I hesitated in some of my answers, maybe not hesitation per say but I just hung up a couple time to think how I wanted to answer but Id do this in the middle of giving an answer. Other times Id go off on a bit of a tangent and thought "man if I was on the other side of the table interviewing me Id be wondering why this guy did not just answer the questions directly. At a time or two I felt like what I said may have sounded like a line of B.S., although it was not meant to be. It reminded me of one of those papers you get back in English 101 where you teacher has red ink everywhere saying things like "incomplete thought" or "need to focus more on this issue" The one time I tried to kinda make them laugh did not work at all.

Just goes to show you, prepare for the interview but stay relaxed and don’t think to much. I know we are our own worst critic but I totally understand when I get the "thanks but no thanks letter" in the mail in a week or so. They had no one hanging around afterward either which kinda sucked. Oh well, AFRES here I come...

 

[AD SUPT Hopeful]

stlpilot,

I'm sorry to hear about your interview; you never know though. Don't beat yourself up until you open that letter. Out of curiosity, do you plan to hit only AFRES fighter units or will you broaden your horizons to include tanker units now that time is an issue. Why or why not?

Mike

 

[dudeone1]

stlpilot,

Sorry to hear that the interview did not go as well as you hoped. Before I go into any kind of an interview I take a deep breath and tell myself one thing, "They just want to talk to you." It has always settled me down just enough to stay sharp, but not too much that I become complacent.

Would you care to list the specific questions you were asked in the interview?

Keep your eyes on the prize! Good Luck!

 

[busdrver]

I'm sure it went better than you think.

Good luck.

 

[stlpilot]

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

 

[kelleyadai]

If it makes you feel any better...the unit I picked up my UPT slot from asked me the same "What are you weaknesses?"

I sat there for what seemed like 30 min trying to come up with one and couldn't. They let me off the hook...went on to the next question, asked me again at the end...

I still had none!

I don't know maybe they liked the arrogance...but I felt like a jack#ss. ..I thought I was screwed for sure! But, I still got a slot

So hold your breath...sounds like you had most of the "right" answers..from advice given to me...

 

[dudeone1]

Stlpilot,

I didn't realize you replied to my question in this thread before I pretty much asked it again in a different one. I appreciate you taking the time to list all the Q's and A's that you could remember.

I’m no pro, but it sounds to me like you answered everything well. All I can say is if it doesn't go your way, keep trying and don't give up. I’ve been chasing the guard now for two years and I will continue to do so for the next five (or until someone takes the bait and hires me, which ever occurs first.)

Now have a beer on me and tell me which river you pissed in so I don't ever go swimming it it!!

 

[stlpilot]

Thanks for the support guys I will let you know the results in a when I find out in a week or two. I know what you mean, it probably went better then I think, but one thing Iv learned after 2 years of interviewing is that I know when things went well or bad. Iv just always had the belief that if you hesitated, went off on tangents and felt like you BS ed your way through like I felt like I did, then the next guy that comes in will blow you away. Oh well let the chips fall as they may, I believe everything happens for a reason (well okay not all the time, but it gives me peace of mind) If your ever down my way stay out of the old "Big River" your bound to come away with a strange new disease never classified by mankind.

 

[stlpilot]

Results are in, got the "thanks but no thanks" letter today. I will still send a short thank you letter and follow up with a phone call after all, its my own fault I dropped the ball.

 

[VMA214]

STL,

Have to disagree. No ball was dropped on your part...just keep trying. I drive by a billboard occassionally with a picture of Abe Lincoln on it. The wording next to it simply says: "Failed, failed, failed..."

I guess the only elected office he succeeded at was President of the United States.

As most of those guys were probably airline guys maybe they did'nt like your answer about the airlines? Just a thought...

 

[Easywithit]

Stlpilot,

Have you ever thought about active duty? Why or why not? I have some good info if you are interested. Good luck in your quest...its worth the effort.

 

[jkarl1]

Abraham Lincoln

STL,

I drive by a billboard occasionally with a picture of Abe Lincoln on it. The wording next to it simply says: "Failed, failed, failed..."
I guess the only elected office he succeeded at was President of the United States.

Not to get sidetracked but, Abe Lincoln held many positions as an elected official. I believe the billboard refers to losses or "failures" he encountered during the civil war, and the fact that he kept fighting and eventually won.

Good luck,
Jk

 

[smellthejeta]

Stlpilot,

Have you ever thought about active duty? Why or why not? I have some good info if you are interested. Good luck in your quest...its worth the effort.

Do tell. All of my sources indicate getting a guard spot is a b*tch, and I've been told AD is easier. Can somebody give me the scoop on what it means to be AD, what the life is like, etc?

 

[stlpilot]

I tried active duty and got turned down 4 times. I’m sure it did not help my recruiter was lazy and knew nothing about the process but still my package went to the board and no luck. While the guard can be tough and is, you can at least get face time with units and don't always have to have a 3.875 and an engineering degree to compliment. Not saying those are the stats you always have to put up to the active duty board, but it seems if you have one mark on your record then you stuff looses just enough points to be competitive when it comes to active. just my .02 cents.

 

[Easywithit]

Navy, Marines, or Airforce? the commitments vary. Right now Navy/Marine are 8 years for jets and 7 for props/helos. I had heard that AF is 10, but you'll have to talk to an AF bubba about that. As far as lifestyle, again it varies from service to service. I'm Navy so here it is...

OCS: 13 weeks of B$, just play the game.
API (Aviation pre-flight indoc.): 6 weeks ( If memory serves) of basic aviation (Metro, aero, FAA rules, physiology, etc.) and lots of water survival (Navy...go figure)
Flt school: 4-7 mos of T-34 and then you select either Jets, helos, or props.
Intermediate/advanced training: for jets its either the T-2 or the T-45. You will get your first look at an Aircraft carrier and then winged. The commitment starts after wings.
RAG: 8-12 mos for Hornets.
Fleet: 3 years with probably two deployments, but sometimes only 1.
Shore duty: 33 mos. Rag instructor, test pilot, Topgun instructor (weapon school), Op eval pilot, or if you are lucky an exchange tour with a host country (Canada, France, Sweden, Australia, Spain, and a couple of more)

Carrier landings are no joke, especially at night. ship life is pretty Spartan, but the ports are awesome. With Iraq being a done deal and Afghanistan pretty much an SOF deal I really don't know what theatre of ops you can expect. If you get jets, then you have an excellent chance of getting one of the Hornets. Overall, trapping on a carrier is amazing, and we get to bomb lots of evil doers. AF has a bar in every squadron (the ones I've seen) so factor that in your decision.

Call your nearest OFFICER recruiter. don't bother with any other recruiter. Get your package together and get anything waived if it doesn't meet standard. The important thing is to get the best looking package together that you can. Get letters of rec from old professors, bosses, your dad's friend who is an Admiral, etc. There might be a crunch now with Sep 11 and I'm so far out of the loop on recruitment that all my info could be outdated. bottom line: make them tell you no and then try again, and again....

I'm new to the board so if you need to PM me then explain how I do that. Good luck