Guard/Reserve training timeline

ukwildcatpilot

ukwildcatpilot

New Member
Hey everyone,

I was wondering if I could get some input from the folks that have gone through the training process when you get a pilot slot with the guard/reserve.

Here is my situation. I am probably going to be getting engaged at the end of the year and were trying to get an idea of planning around when I would most likely be gone for ots, pilot training, etc. I'm lucky enough to have a lady that understands that were going to have to be extremely flexible with when we set the date because the Air Force def. has to come first in this instance. I'm graduating in May of 2010 from college, probably applying with the March/April application deadline. Assuming I was fortunate enough to get an interview in the September-November time frame and get a slot, is there a ball park date I can expect to start training? I know that nothing is set in stone but I'm just trying to get a general idea of when I should not be planning anything. Anyone that has gone through a similar situation I would especially like to hear what your thoughts are and how you managed it. Were happy to do the wedding really early or wait if we need to and put off the honeymoon if need be. Any thoughts and advice greatly appreciated!!!


Happy Flying!

Tim
 
Remember to put the apostrophe in "we're"

If you wait until after UPT to get married, you will be living in a dorm at UPT and your fiancée will be living off base somewhere, that's if she decides to be in the same place as you while you are at UPT. That's something to take into consideration.
 
Yeah we're thinking getting married ahead of training would be optimal to be able to live off base and not have to do the dorms. She will finishing school in December most likely so its possible she may be staying in Lexington temporarily.
 
My timeline:

Oct 2008- Interviewed and hired
Jan 2009- Brooks AFB for FC1/MFS
Mar 2009- Approved by AFRC
May 2009- Graduated
June 2009- OTS
Oct 2009- IFS
Nov 2009- UPT

Hope that gives you an idea of what to expect.
 
frog_flyer said:
My timeline:

Oct 2008- Interviewed and hired
Jan 2009- Brooks AFB for FC1/MFS
Mar 2009- Approved by AFRC
May 2009- Graduated
June 2009- OTS
Oct 2009- IFS
Nov 2009- UPT

Hope that gives you an idea of what to expect.
Click to expand...

Wow FF, your recruiter must be way more motivated than mine. Last I heard from him, he said to get in shape for OTS...and that was about it. I hope my IFS and UPT dates are as quick as yours are!
 
frog flyer that was a great help thanks!

Fez, sounds like yours is taking a big longer, would it be safe to assume it really depends on how prompt the particular unit is on getting you started through the process?

Also when you leave for brooks for your medical stuff and while you wait between each phase are you getting enlistment pay or any kind of compensation or do I need to continue holding down my current job for as long as possible?


Thanks for all the help thus far you all are a great help!
 
Frog and I were pretty fortunate. My timeline:

Sept/Oct 08: AFOQT/TBAS
Late Oct: Invited to interview
Dec 6: Interview (AFRC)
Dec 7: Notified I got the job
Early Jan: MEPS
Early Feb: FC1 (Brooks)
March 31: AFRC Board
June 22: OTS Start
Aug 1: Report to IFS
September: Casual status
October 3: Report to ENJJPT

Your recruiter will have very little to do with the pace of operations. YOU will determine how quickly things move, up to a point. My unit scheduled my FC1 directly and busted their asses to get me inprocessed and uniforms when the time came. I was extremely fortunate to start with to get a job on the first interview. With the Guard/Reserves, a lot of guys interview for several years.

On marriage: If you get married, she'll get benefits while you're at OTS and all over the place. However, several people here (mostly nonpriors) are really struggling with their spouses at this point...It's a tough adjustment.

Active duty guys are looking at being on casual for about a year right now between OTS and UPT.
 
mhcasey said:
On marriage: If you get married, she'll get benefits while you're at OTS and all over the place. However, several people here (mostly nonpriors) are really struggling with their spouses at this point...It's a tough adjustment.
.
Click to expand...

Very, very true statement. Take heed in this advice, those in this situation.
 
Originally Posted by mhcasey
On marriage: If you get married, she'll get benefits while you're at OTS and all over the place. However, several people here (mostly nonpriors) are really struggling with their spouses at this point...It's a tough adjustment.
.
Very, very true statement. Take heed in this advice, those in this situation.


Although I haven't been selected, I'll second mhcasey's advice. I've had more than one squadron invite my wife to visit with me to see what her take is on me flying and deploying, give her the run-down on what spouses can expect at UPT as far as lifestyle, etc. This probably isn't the norm for squadrons to do, but just something to think about.
 
This is excellent input, I appreciate all the honest opinions and personal experience with the subject. We have had a few long discussions talking about the strain the first few years and she is on board with it. My current job while I'm going to school has had me away for long periods of time which has kind of helped serve as a test drive to see how we'd do and while its not fun, we have made it happen without too much trouble.

For you all that have gotten slots, CONGRATS! I'm trying to get my foot in the door at a few places around the country just to get to know them a little bit before I apply, I inquired to some through email about visiting the unit also. I have gotten a very limited response and I'm wondering if you all have any tips on getting in touch with units and trying to build some kind of connection or arrange a visit. I know with certain jobs you have to beat the door down to get what your after but I don't want to come off as crazy to these people. Should I try calling them up? My local recruiter (by local I mean the guy serves a huge area and isn't really punctual about getting back with you) said he cant do anything for me until my last semester of school so I'm sort of on my own trying to contact these units and any tips or ideas to start building a relationship would be great.



HAPPY FLYING!
 
Regarding your recruiter...I say again, getting selected is on you. Your recruiter will help you schedule physicals and knock out paperwork, but he's not going to find units hiring, get you contact information, etc.

He is full of crap if he won't schedule your AFOQT, TBAS, and MEPs physical now though. Get the tests done before you start bugging units. Get the physical done ASAP because it will take a while if you need waivers. By the way, Frogflyer was selected by his unit while he still had a semester and a half to go.

Contacting units: I posted some contact info at baseops in the Guard/Reserve forum, "Units hiring" thread. Go find that because I don't have the files anymore. That information will get you started, but to get any attention you sort of need an in. My advice is to do what you can to get in touch with the Squadron Commander or higher. This is not always easy, but if you call the base and ask for ops, you should be able to track someone down. Don't be a pain in the ass, but express your interest, tell him your qualifications (without sounding like a dbag), and ask if there might be a good time to visit. For me, this was always Friday evening at the squadron bar.

When at said-bar, your best bet is to stand in the back quietly until spoken to. Speak confidently, but don't be cocky or say anything stupid. You don't need to be anyone's best friend, but to get an interview your name is probably going to need to be familiar to someone. Don't think your image stays in one place either. I hung around with the 457th FS a few times before I interviewed and was selected at the 466th. My unit knew I was from Fort Worth and called the 457th CC and wing commander to get their input.

Good luck man! Maybe before too long you'll be on Jetcareers on a Sunday morning avoiding making powerpoint slides for your goofy ass informational briefings at OTS.
 
ukwildcatpilot said:
Fez, sounds like yours is taking a big longer, would it be safe to assume it really depends on how prompt the particular unit is on getting you started through the process?
Click to expand...

Nah, my problem is my recruiter. He's not exactly forthcoming in providing me with information, and he's hard to get a hold of. Reminds me of my Guard recruiter 7 years ago....

As others have said, get the tests and stuff out of the way early. When I first started calling units, their first question was, "What are your scores?" I hadn't taken the tests yet and they basically told me to get lost until I could provide them with some info. Showing some motivation can go a long way...
 
I'm in the process of getting the tests knocked out now. Took the AFOQT and scored a 93 Pilot score so I'm happy with that. I have a number to schedule the TBAS and as soon as I can find a day when school isn't in the way I'm going to drive over to Louisville and knock it out. As far as the physical, I believe it can be taken care of in Louisville also. Other than that, is there anything else I can do before contacting the units? I want to have all my bases covered and have as much taken care of as possible before scheduling to pay units a visit. My only other concern is my vision, I have 20x400 (approx.) uncorrected and I currently wear glasses and contacts to correct it. I know some units prefer certain methods of correction and I have heard that I may be able to get a waiver to wear glasses or contacts, will I just need to check with each indiviudal unit to see what their preferences are?
 
Quick tip on the TBAS: Get a good night's sleep and eat/drink whatever you have to before hand that puts you "in the zone." You need a fair amount of concentration to be successful. Do it in the morning if you can. I took mine after a shift at work and on an empty stomach. My tired eyes and growling stomach made the test way harder than it had to be.

The TBAS isn't the cornerstone of your UPT package, but like the other tests, you want to do your best.
 
ukwildcatpilot said:
My only other concern is my vision, I have 20x400 (approx.) uncorrected and I currently wear glasses and contacts to correct it. I know some units prefer certain methods of correction and I have heard that I may be able to get a waiver to wear glasses or contacts, will I just need to check with each indiviudal unit to see what their preferences are?
Click to expand...

Good job on the AFOQT BTW. Here's a link to one of the vision requirements sources I found: http://wantscheck.com/PilotSlotResources/MedicalTips/tabid/68/Default.aspx

Consult a flight doc before you take this as scripture! There are a bunch of caveats dealing with PRK and other vision stuff that I know absolutely nothing about. Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top