Reserve Unit Interview

[learherkjay]

To any Reservists out there,
I have an interview in two weeks with a Herk unit and was wondering what to expect. In other words, how do I not look like a complete knob at the interview (harder than I think I am sure). I know this has been covered before in another post, but for an active duty guy presently in uberanal AETC, what can I expect? Thanks for the help.

 

[chawbein]

Just don't bullsh!t them, be honest; and don't put your foot in your mouth. If you are going to make a joke, make sure it is witty and pertinent to the conversation. Relax, think of it like starting a new job and you are meeting your co-workers for the first time.

Have you had the chance to visit? Go if you can before the interview.

 

[T1bubba]

I went to three guard interviews after I got out, they were all pretty much the same. Be prepared for the inevitible questions about where you're going to live and what you're going to do for a full-time job, how you'll handle the commute to the job/unit, why you want to live wherever they are, etc.

I'm sure the reserve guys in your squadron could give you a good idea what to expect.

T1

 

[siucavflight]

where is the unit located that you are interviewing with?

 

[siucavflight]

I also have an interview next wendsday. Just wondering if anyone knows what the chances are of actually getting the position?

 

[AlbieF15]

Different animals....

SIU and Chawbein,

You are comparing apples to oranges. If you are off the street wanting a UPT slot, the unit looks at your potential and your characater.

If you are competing having already been an active duty pilot, the unit is interested in your ability to fit into the unit and "what you bring to the fight"...ie previous experience that might help the unit.

LHJ,

Here's a list of what I'd take to an ANG/RES unit as far as answers ready to go....

Why are you getting out?

Why us? Why do you want to live here?

What does your family think of the move?

Are your goals to fly for us full time or do the airline act? Why?

How would you handle being activated?

Know and be able to explain the AF core values.

What makes a good leader?

What makes a good _____ pilot?

What is diversity and/or why is diversity important to the organization and/or what does diversity mean to you?

Know the director of the ANG or Reserve command. Know the name of your state AG and AG/Air. Know the Governor's name.
Know the ANG's vision, mission, wartime and peacetime role.

Be ready to discuss your previous leadership roles.

Chawbein may be a riot, but personally...I'd save the jokes for the bar call Friday after I joined the unit. I'd concentrate on showing that I'm fun, not necessarily FUNNY. And I'd make darn sure the unit knew I was there for A-the long haul B-in war or in peace and C-even after I get my coveted slot with an airline.

You wouldn't be rushing the unit if you really didn't want to be part of the team, and really wanted to live there...so tell them why you want to be part of the team and how much you'd like to contribute to their mission. Your honest desire and enthusiam will shine through.

Have a nice set of blues ready with ribbons up to date--just in case you need to interview in them. Virtual MPF can print out a color copy of exactly the way they should look--and you can bet your interviewers will have copy of the correct decorations. I don't know if a unit would subject you to that (vice your flightsuit!), but I just went through an ANG promotion board and had to get my monkey suit updated. Order your new silver nametag for your service dress just in case...if you have to interview in blues down the road those things take weeks to get...so be ready.

PM me if I can be of any help...and good luck!

Albie

 

[siucavflight]

thank you for the help. Where could i find the AF core values. Like i said i have had not had any military experience and i was very excited to get the call to go in for an interview. I just want to be sure to do everything right.

 

[HoursHore]

chuck
you dumba$$ just ask the guys in the 5th, The questions i got form them were the same as i got from the 22d. where are you going to live, how long a commitment can you give us. Why do you want to work for us.

P.S. Sorry Albie but if you have to interview in service dress, don;t go to that unit, unless its where you want to live forever and ever.

 

[T1bubba]

Re: Different animals....

What is diversity and/or why is diversity important to the organization and/or what does diversity mean to you?

Know the director of the ANG or Reserve command. Know the name of your state AG and AG/Air. Know the Governor's name.
Know the ANG's vision, mission, wartime and peacetime role.

Albie,

Do units really ask this stuff? I don't know if I would have been able to keep a straight face. Sounds like Colorado School For Boys-style harassment to me. I'd be pretty leery of any unit that expected you to spend hours memorizing stuff just for their interview.

SIU,

No one expects you to know the core values or will ask you what they are unless you are already in the AF in some capacity.

HH,

Are you actually out yet?

T1

 

[AlbieF15]

Actually, I didn't get asked too many tough questions when I got hired, as I was already part of the active duty wing where I would be in an ANG detachment.

However..some of the other questions came directly from my promotion board this week. They played "the game" and had a serious approach. I took it seriously, and now am 2 ranks above where I EVER thought I would end up.

I'm only trying to inform the guys of the "worst case". If units are booze and donuts during the interview--rock on! Most Eagle units are that way. However--if I REALLY wanted in some where I'd at least know my @#%# in case some toolbelt throws you a curve. Remember...there are a lot of folks in the ANG who ARE NOT PILOTS, and some of those might just be on your hiring committee or interview board.

For you wannabes...if anyone asks...AF core values were addressed by Chief of Staff Ron Fogleman a few years ago and are:

Integrity first (we don't lie, cheat, steal, etc. and we do the right thing even when nobody's looking)

Service before Self (we do what is asked...even if it doesn't fit our personal goals or desires)

Excellence in All We Do (do your best...whatever the task...)

OK...maybe I'm a geek for throwing those on the board, but for you hopefuls out there I'd at least know a little about the force, the mission, and the goals before asking for that UPT slot. There are a lot of dudes out there wanting that brass ring...

Fly safe...

 

[siucavflight]

Albie i appriciate it.
It sounds like the odds are good that i will not get asked any of the questions that you were talking about but i would feel a lot better walking in prepared. At the very worst i do not get asked any of those questions but at least i will feel prepared.

 

[T1bubba]

Albie,

First of all congratulations on the promotion! I guess my point is out of the three formal interviews I had and the three other units I rushed over the last several years, none of them asked anything remotely like the questions you mentioned. Any rated folks are capable of memorizing anything they want, the units mostly just seem to care about finding people who are going to fit in and will stick around for a while. I don't know anything about promotion boards, they sound like an entirely different animal.

If you have unlimited time to prepare there's nothing wrong with memorizing anything relevant that you can find, but for rated guys I think prep time is better spent working on nailing your answers for the open-ended HR-style questions.

T1

 

[Yahtzee]

Learherkjay,

I had been in contact with the unit that hired me for about two years prior to 9/11. I had a very informal "interview" with the DO, then the SQ CC a few days later. That was one year ago next week.

Questions I got asked...

1) How do you feel about being activated? What about being gone 180+ days a year?

2) How do you feel about Anthrax & Smallpox? A: "The same way I feel about my AF hat....I would like to get rid of all three of them, but I'm not going to quit the AF because of any of them." It was truthful and I guess somewhat amusing in that it drew a smile from the DO.

3) If we don't hire you, what are you going to do? A: Even if you can't hire me now, I would like to keep in touch. Maybe one day an opportunity will come along when you will be able to hire me.

4) Are you in contact with other units? A: Yes...then I named two other units that I had contacted. I explained that they were my first choice, due to the location and proximty to my family. The fact that the unit is only about 4.5 hours from Athens is a hugh bonus...after all it's all about UGA football. The rest is just details.

5) How much do you want to fly? A: "You can fly me 0, 1 or 30 days a month. Whatever you need me to do." Again an honest answer and yet another smile from the DO.

6) Are you pursuing a job with the airlines? A: Yes. I hope that isn't a problem. To which the DO replied: We like our guys to have full-time employment and most of our guys are airline or furloughed airline pilots. That won't be a problem. Plus there's plenty of flying around here to keep you busy.

7) Where do you plan to live? A: About 20 minutes from the airport. And I do!

Like Albie and others have said, with your experience they are just looking to see if you will fit into their unit.

Best Wishes

Yahtz

P.S. Congrats on the promotion Albie!

 

[chawbein]

SIU and Chawbein,

You are comparing apples to oranges. If you are off the street wanting a UPT slot, the unit looks at your potential and your characater.

If you are competing having already been an active duty pilot, the unit is interested in your ability to fit into the unit and "what you bring to the fight"...ie previous experience that might help the unit.

Yeah, right after I posted I looked at the profile and saw he is a pilot already. Rather than go back and edit I thought I would just let it stay. Maybe some other moron like myself will search for interviews and read my post and maybe get some info. Otherwise I would've changed it.

 

[learherkjay]

Albie, Yahtzee, T1bubba, and all,

Thanks for all of the information. Pretty much what I thought, but didn't know if there was something I was missing (just paranoid I guess). Albie, luckily I was told "flight suit" for the interview, but I appreciate you bringing up the more "serious" stuff - always good to be prepared. I think I will show up prepared, but have the cooler on wheels waiting in the trunk!!! HoursHore - thanks for the encouragement you b@st@rd!!! How's life on the outside?? Where are you now?? Anyways, thanks again to everyone - Fly Safe