Questions About Air Guard Application Packet

T

Tsh0005

New Member
I am sending in a UPT application packet for a local air guard unit this week. I feel like my AFOQT and PCSM scores are pretty good. I also have four well written cover letters from three O-6s and one O-8. All that being said I am concerned about my Navigator score and my graduating GPA which was only a 2.95. Does anyone have any idea how much they'll look at these, and do the letters of recommendation really make any difference? Also, I'm going to visit the unit next week so any advice on what I should know going in and what to ask while I'm there would be much appreciated.

PCSM: 96

AFOQT
Pilot: 97
Navigator: 76
Academic Aptitude: 87
Verbal: 82
Quantitative: 81
 
First of all, it's hard to say how a specific squadron will look at your packet. Some guys who don't get an interview at one squadron will get a primary fighter slot at another. There are no super-secret decoder rings to figure it out.

I wouldn't worry too much about your scores. They nav score isn't perfect but it's decent. Letters of rec definitely can make a difference, especially if you've got an O-8 who knows people in the squadron and puts his name on the line for you by saying "Candidate X is the best ever. Hire him." Can, but not definitely. Be able to explain your GPA. Were you working 30 hours and paying for school? If you let academics get behind, tell them what you learned from your mistakes and how you'll use that to your advantage in UPT.

As far as visiting, just be yourself and talk to a good cross-range of people in the squadron. When I visited one place it helped to talk to the commander for a bit, then to a crew chief, a nav, and a few pilots. Ask about the mission, ops tempo, what guys like to do for fun on days off (boats, hiking, whatever). Slacks and a polo seems to be common. Bringing booze is hit or miss; maybe ask around up there before you go. Whatever you do (and some might flame me for this), don't get anywhere near drunk.

Search around here, BaseOps, APC for some notes on visiting squadrons, too. Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.
 
I am pretty confident that your scores and letters will get you in the door at most units, hell my pilot was an 80, and I just got selected. The GPA is a bit low, but definitely not a deal breaker, they really do hire on the "whole person concept". I'm really guessing here, but I'd imagine that you'll get an interview at most places you send your stuff too. When you visit just introduce yourself to folks as being someone interested in flying for the squadron and really just talk to them. Seeing as how you're a CFI w/ 350, I'd say that flying stories are a pretty safe ice breaker to lead into other stuff. Also no one talks about this, but if you're talking and hanging out and it doesn't feel like a good place to fly, just let it go, there's other squadrons.

Also do not get your hopes up for one specific squadron, you might have to knock on several doors before one opens up. Being a civilian is a frustrating/uphill battle, but stick with it and you'll get on somewhere.
 
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