Info for guys who go AFRES or unsposored

[stlpilot]

I know some guys asked me a while back to let them know how the unsposored route pans out, so for all you wondering here is my current status.

Apparently I have set some new record on the longest person to not find a unit after being approved by the board this past March. The war does not help b/c the pilots who make the hiring decision are not available so this creates an obvious delay. Okay 2nd problem is that this is a record year for the number of unsponsored guys approved by the board, 10 I think, so you tend to blend in the crowd a bit more when being reviewed by perspective units. Third issue I’m now running into is the fact that I thought it might be to my advantage to be waiting around for this long, that way I could interview with some units who were not looking for guys this past march but could be looking this fall. Ahh but I have called 5 units up who have already had their boards in the past few weeks and don't need anyone now. I did not call till now for 2 reasons. Number one, my recruiter said to be careful just calling up units "out of the blue"(the guy is actually really good at his job, he is just relaying what his boss told him) and secondly, I miscalculated when I thought units would have boards for this fall but it turns out most are interviewing now! Woops. Moral of this story call! call! call! don’t wait and get passed over and explain in detail to these units that you already have a slot, you just need a home now. Which then runs into my last issue, is the fact that most units don't even know what “unsponsored” means. Every unit I have called assumes I’m just Joe blow off the street who wants to be a pilot one day and I have to explain very carefully that "I have a guaranteed pilot slot already" and even then they are still unsure of how I got this far. Its not their fault but it’s a difficult barrier to get through, one that should have been explained to them by someone. Oh well welcome to the military, right!

The unit I really wanted to get into was a fighter unit who was having a UPT board this year but has suddenly decided at the last minute to not have one because command will not allow them any slots this year. They did not know this until now b/c they have just returned from Iraq. ARRRGGG.

For anyone wanting to know if you can go AFRES and get a fighter I can tell you with 100% assurance that YES you can get one, but it takes very precise timing, luck, and your own persistence to get one. Know this, all the fighter wings I called have a UPT board except two units, Florida, Louisiana, and Arizona b/c they are FTU. The other fighter units only sponsor UPT guys every 2-4 years, if that. The A-10 units are your best bet but even they dry out on slots once in a while. But again for any of you curious about Viper slots, they do happen once in a while and my info is current as of last week after talking to the OG/CC for the F-16 units in Idaho and Texas. That poor Texas unit may even have to send some of its own guys packing b/c active duty is stuffing their guys into the reserve unit.

Anyway just some FYI for you guys trying the Reserve route or unsponsored. Good luck, you may be my IP by the time I get in.

 

[stlpilot]

"Know this, all the fighter wings I called have a UPT board except two units, Florida, Louisiana, and Arizona b/c they are FTU."


Okay a correction to my blunder before the grammer police get me, it is 3 units not 2.

 

[av8g]

In the same boat

So far, I'm unsponsored as well. Although my packet has not yet gone to the board, my recruiter says he does not think I'll have a problem because of my scores and my resume. I'm being carefull not to jinks myself - I know its not a sure thing and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get selected.

I have not found a unit yet and I can empathize with you that it seems as though we may know more about getting where we want to go than many of the individuals at the units.

Are you saying that you cannot go to UPT until you have a home or are you just waiting for a school date? I feel like I've talked to many of the same units as you have and have heard the same things. I would love a viper slot but would happily take a c-130 or anything else for that matter. I'm temporarily living in Louisiana but I'm originaly form the midwest. I would like to get back to the midwest but I have this sinking feeling that the reason my recruiter is so confident about getting me sponsored is that he is setting me up with an A-10 unit in New Orleans. I told him I would rather not be down here but again beggars can't be choosers and I certainly will take what I can get.\

PM me if you want to talk about this some more. Perhaps we can join forces since it looks like we are sort of in the same boat.

 

[jkarl1]

Av8g:
I think you may be a bit confused. You are not considered "unsponsored" until you are medically qualified, than selected by the reserve board that meets in March and September each year. You may seem like a good candidate, but the term that Stlpilot is using - "unsponsored," means that he has been selected by the reserve board, but can not go to UPT or OTS until he finds a unit that will fund his training.

The typical way to apply for a flying slot in the Reserves is to interview with a unit, than they will decide if you are a good candidate for the AFRES/HQ Board. Your sponsoring unit will usually right a good letter of Rec. for you, and will help your chances of getting in. (Although it is not guaranteed) That is why it is a lot more competitive going unsponsored to the board, rather than going sponsored by a unit.

And your scored are based on all of the candidates that are applying for that board.

JK

 

[av8g]

Forgot to ask

Sorry I forgot to ask in my reply. To whom (or what) to have your LORs addressed to? I have a couple of people waiting on this info so they can finish them.

Thanks,

 

[av8g]

I gottcha Jkarl1

Thank you and you are right but I understand that. My point was is that I have already done everything and I just waiting for the board to convene in September and I feel like I might be heading down the same path. Just trying to prepare myself to be in the same situation stlpilot is.

I do appeciate the help and if you have anymore insight to the process it is welcome.

 

[jkarl1]

Av8g:
I am planning on going to the September board also, Just waiting on the stupid physical. Have you taken yours yet? If so, what was the wait time. And who did your officer interview for the form 56?
JK

 

[stlpilot]

AV8G

check your private Messages.

 

[av8g]

Jcarl1

I did my FC1 at Keesler on or around the 15 of May. Everthing checked out but it has not gotten back to my recruiter yet (I guess the surgon general of the universe did'nt get it yet.) As for my form 56 I guess I better get on my recuiter about that. He has not mentioned it!!

 

[bssthound]

I think I had something to say but jkarl1's avatar pretty much derailed my train of thought!!

I must be kin to Homer Simpson!!

 

[jkarl1]

LOL

Juggies

 

[stlpilot]

Found out more info this last week. First I spoke with MSgt Freeman at AFRES Headquarters and she informed me that an approved unsponsored candidate has their guaranteed slot until age 30, that was nice to hear b/c I thought I was on a time limit. Then she told me that a unit does not even have to have an official interview board, if they want to sponsor me all they technically have to do is sign one from, fax it to her, and I'm off. She said the money for my slot comes from AFRES all the way through pilot training but when I get back to the unit, they have to incur the cost for me from then on. So my original theory was proved right, in that technically I can go to any unit I want, including fighters, but an issue comes up when I get back to the unit and they have to start paying me as well as for my training from that point on. The unit may tell me they can't sponsor me b/c they will not have the money for when I return from training. The next thing I found out was that even if I found a unit today, OTS is backed up for reserve guys until February 04. The reserve pilot/navs get 100 slots held open for them in OTS each year.

Anyway hopefully that's some more good info for anyone wanting to go unsponsored or interested on how the unsponsored process works, Ill try to keep this link updated so it can be referred to by anyone interested.

 

[airgator]

The next thing I found out was that even if I found a unit today, OTS is backed up for reserve guys until February 04. The reserve pilot/navs get 100 slots held open for them in OTS each year.

$hit i wonder what that means for those of us awaiting our OTS class date from this past March board. When the board met I was "projected" a Nov. class date but am waiting on my orders.