When to start the process?

Time2Fli

Time2Fli

New Member
When can/should I start the process of putting an application package together for an OTS and UPT slot? Can this be done before I complete my degree? It’s my understanding that this process can be very lengthy and I would like to understand it a little more.

Thanks
 
FYI: I was selected for my Reserve pilot slot in October of my Senior year of classes. Grad in May. That's > 180 days. I also interviewed with 2 other units during my Junior year.

I'm not sure if that helps since you're trying to go AD (why, when you can go ANG/AFRC????) but it's what I know. Good luck.
 
Go to wantscheck.com and read about the application requirements. Do you want to go active duty, guard, or reserve? You'll need to contact a recruiter from your respective branch eventually.

I began an active duty application. First thing was meeting with the recruiter and filling out a bunch of forms. Then he scheduled me for the AFOQT, which then got canceled so I just scheduled it myself at the AFROTC unit of my choice (I was in Dallas, but needed to go to Austin one weekend and just scheduled it with UTAFROTC). It took close to two weeks to get my scores back. After that I scheduled my own TBAS with UNT AFROTC in Denton. Scores took a few days to come back (Frog's came back later that day).

For me that was the toughest part minus the medicals. It's actually remarkably easy. I scored well and decided to apply to a Reserve Unit. They gave me "the job" (in AFRC all applications must be approved in March or September...mine is still pending). At this point I contacted a reserve recruiter, filled out pretty much the exact same paperwork I had done with my AD recruiter, and started working on all the other crap.

Review:

  1. Go to wantscheck.com for a breakdown of the full requirements.
  2. Take the AFOQT
  3. Take the TBAS
  4. If you haven't already, talk to a recruiter.
  5. Take your medical ASAFP. There are two physical exams for pilots: 1) Commissioniong MEPS Physical (everyone takes this. 2) Flying Class-1 Physical (If you are AD you won't do this until after OTS...Guard/Reserve guys do it ahead of time).
  6. Work on your resume, cover letter, letters of rec, graduate, etc. whenever...
The physicals have been a monstrous pain in the ass and so far they haven't even found anything wrong with me. I should have taken care of business at MEPS with my AD recruiter months ago, but he was dragging ass and I didn't think to push him. Get this crap done.

PM me or just reply on this thread later if you have any questions - Several of us are going through/have recently completed the process.
 
Is the flight physical much more intense than the commissioning MEPS? I know that no one should join the military without being committed to what it fully entails, but getting through OTS only to be rejected a pilot slot due to the second physical would be a tremendous blow it would seem.
 
AA34 said:
Is the flight physical much more intense than the commissioning MEPS? I know that no one should join the military without being committed to what it fully entails, but getting through OTS only to be rejected a pilot slot due to the second physical would be a tremendous blow it would seem.
Click to expand...

I guess my FC1 physical was my commissioning physical (reserves). But it wasn't over then; after OTS I had to go to Brooks (San Antonio) and go through what's called "Medical Flight Screening" (MFS). It's a few additional tests that weed out around 2% or so I believe. They do some kind of mapping of your eye and look at the valves in your heart on a sonogram, etc, plus an IQ test. They wouldn't really tell me exactly what they were looking for, as if it were some kind of secret. Not to scare you or anything, but these tests sometimes find things wrong with people who have never had any health problems of any kind. Nothing you can really prepare for either; just hope you're not one of the 2%. They may give it now before OTS; I don't know.

Then on top of all that, they give you another FC1 physical when you show up at your UPT base. You've already been deemed medically qualified at that point, but it's just a final check to make sure you're good to go with the program.
 
germb747 said:
I must have slipped through the cracks on this one; I never once stepped foot inside a MEPS ;)
Click to expand...

When did you get picked up? The process has changed a lot in the last year from what I hear.

AA34 said:
Is the flight physical much more intense than the commissioning MEPS? I know that no one should join the military without being committed to what it fully entails, but getting through OTS only to be rejected a pilot slot due to the second physical would be a tremendous blow it would seem.
Click to expand...

I'll tell you for sure in two weeks. Here's some info on the FC-1:

http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/IFC1-MFS
 
mhcasey said:
When did you get picked up? The process has changed a lot in the last year from what I hear.
Click to expand...

Selected - Summer 2003 (FC1 shortly thereafter)
Enlisted - Nov 2003
OTS - Summer 2004 (Class 04-07)
MFS - Sept 2004
UPT - Oct 2004 - Oct 2005 (Class 06-01)
 
I just got back from Brooks earlier this week for the FC1/MFS. I was fortunate to be in group one, which finished on the second day of testing and was able to blow off some steam that night in San Antone.

First day: dental/ekg/7 vials of blood/ depth perception/ UA/ maybe some color vision?/corneal topo/lunch/ 4 hours of BS psych testing - "do you still beat your mother?"

Second day - Drug UA/ additional battery of color vision tests / meet flight doc/ dialate eyes/ all sorts of eye crap/ don't remember.

Lots of sit and wait, but it's a good process. They have their #### together down there for sure.

Best of luck, feel free to ask me any questions. The lunch is awesome. 5 bucks and you get a turkey sandwich, chips, apple, cobbler, water - next day it's pizza!!! half a pizza for everyone!!
 
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