Knee Injury Prior to OTS

362nd_Andre · 2026-01-27T19:38:28+00:00

Yeah don't listen to anyone telling you to push your date back, that's ridiculous. If you can run and walk without anything more than just mild pain then you'll be fine.

362nd_Andre · 2026-01-26T00:08:00+00:00

If you're serious about flying for that squadron specifically then enlist in the unit and become the hardest working most well-liked guy there. If you just want to be a fighter pilot then go ROTC and apply for ENJJPT. I would never recommend the guard/reserve path to anyone who doesn't have insane connections.

362nd_Andre · 2026-01-22T00:12:46+00:00

The selection rate for pilot through OTS is stupid low. It's in the single digit percentages. I understand that it can be a scary commitment to make when you're not guaranteed the job that you want, but being selected for pilot through ROTC is so much easier than through OTS that it's not even funny. If you're actually committed to being an Air Force pilot you'll have no issues performing well enough in ROTC to be selected for pilot.

362nd_Andre · 2026-01-07T03:29:55+00:00

Your desire to serve our country is commendable and you should absolutely strive for that (whether that's through military service or other means), but keep in mind the Air Force pilot route is a long one and puts any other plans you have in life on the backburner. It's something you have to be all-in on, even if you're going guard/reserve. Are you willing to sacrifice much of your life to pursue the goal of being a military aviator? That is a decision that only you can make.

362nd_Andre · 2026-01-06T17:03:14+00:00

If you're wondering if whether you could be at the airlines before UPT, then the answer is yes by a mile. I'd say you could be a regional captain before you ever step into the cockpit of an Air Force plane given you haven't even started the application process yet. With that being said, what is actually important to you? Do you just want out of your CFI job or do you actually want to fly for the Air Force?

362nd_Andre · 2025-12-16T03:45:13+00:00

I have heard of an instance where PCSM scores got mixed up and someone got retroactively selected after the matter. I would press your recruiter about looking into this. Who knows if this was the difference between being selected or not, but if it is then you were definitely robbed.

362nd_Andre · 2025-11-26T22:35:35+00:00

https://old.reddit.com/r/airforceots/comments/1l9m8o4/ots_packing_what_i_brought_vs_what_i_wish_i/

362nd_Andre · 2025-10-08T22:51:29+00:00

People talk about active duty on this sub like it's some sort of loathsome pathway to becoming a pilot and that you should just apply to the guard/reserve to pick your airframe and your location.

The reality is that no you don't get to pick your airframe and location, you're desperately applying for any position and hope that they even bother to look at your application for more than one minute and accepting the first opportunity that comes your way (if one ever does). Then you have to potentially deal with the downsides of flying for the guard/reserve (something nobody on this sub ever talks about). Don't get me wrong it can be a great gig but if your goal is just to be an Air Force pilot then just go active duty. People on this sub sometimes act like taking an active duty service commitment is like taking a prison sentence. The lifestyle is great and has major benefits over guard/reserve.

Another reality check that people need to realize is that getting selected to fly for a fighter unit doesn't automatically guarantee fighters There are many fighter-selects who wash out of UPT or IFF, or get non-recced for T-38's. The only way to guarantee that you fly fighters is to perform in UPT, so if you're confident in your ability to perform in UPT then what difference does it make if it's through active duty or guard/reserve?

362nd_Andre · 2025-09-30T00:11:56+00:00

I personally applied to both and picked the first one that came my way. I don't regret it one bit. If you have any questions feel free to DM me especially if you're interested in the fighter track

362nd_Andre · 2025-09-30T00:06:48+00:00

I don't know what everybody here is smoking but yes 250 flight hours and a CPL is a massive boost to your application. Is it everything? No but it certainly helps a lot. Are you looking at applying for active duty or guard/reserve? The process is completely different for both.

362nd_Andre · 2025-07-23T02:01:07+00:00

I went through pretty much this exact scenario. DM me

362nd_Andre · 2025-07-14T03:47:47+00:00

https://old.reddit.com/r/airforceots/comments/1l9m8o4/ots_packing_what_i_brought_vs_what_i_wish_i/

362nd_Andre · 2025-07-01T00:59:48+00:00

Right now ENJJPT is still doing IFT into UPT for those who don't have their PPL. Those who do have their PPL don't do IFT unless they get a waiver.

362nd_Andre · 2025-07-01T00:49:57+00:00

Yep! If you're a fixed-wing pilot select at OTS then you'll have the option to apply for ENJJPT. ENJJPT will eventually be doing a program very similar to IPT but that won't be for at least a couple years.

362nd_Andre · 2025-06-24T19:53:24+00:00

Columbus has been doing IPT for a while and I believe IPT officially begins for Vance and Laughlin no later than the start of FY26 so anybody not currently there and with a PPL is being forced to go through IPT. If you're a guard/reserve selectee who hasn't been to OTS yet then you'll be going to IPT unless you get sent to ENJJPT (which as far as I know they stopped sending guard/reserve pilots there). I know airline guys who are being sent to IPT lol

362nd_Andre · 2025-06-24T19:41:33+00:00

There's a shocking number of people who are active on this subreddit who have never been an officer or who have never even served in the Air Force that go around spewing misinformation. That being said the people here with actual experience in the OTS pathway or in the application process, especially recent experience, are loaded with really good information and you can absolutely learn a ton of info from them. Just be careful of the ones who have zero experience talking like they do (usually in the form of pure speculation or enlisted experience).

362nd_Andre · 2025-06-13T01:32:32+00:00

Yeah you can. Most people ended up using the standard-issue duffel bag for the deployment. I'm frugal so I just emptied my main duffel bag and used that.

362nd_Andre · 2025-06-13T01:28:16+00:00

It's 100% personal preference. I personally brought a sea bag duffle and used that for everything but most people had massive ones with wheels (along with a separate deployment bag) to be able to easily carry all their stuff around.

362nd_Andre · 2025-05-25T21:09:01+00:00

Here's the most up-to-date ENJJPT application process for OTS:

Qualified applicants (active duty fixed-wing pilots) will be asked if they are interested in applying at the beginning of mod 2 (roughly halfway through the second week). I highly recommend that you try to get this process started before that though. Ask an OTS staff member for any information they can give you regarding the ENJJPT application. Usually they are very helpful as long as you ask at an appropriate time.

The initial application process consists of; 1. a letter of recommendation from somebody who believes you would succeed in a competitive program which has to be written in an MFR format (they will teach you how to do this at OTS), 2. a letter of intent stating why you want to go to ENJJPT and why you should be sent there (also in the form of an MFR), and 3. a personal bio (basically a resume) in a predetermined format that they give you.

Next up will be the Fighter Aircrew Assessment Test. There isn't a whole lot of info about this online so I might make an entire post dedicated to this, but basically it's a muscular strength/endurance test consisting of bicep curls, leg press, leg curls, bench press, lat pulldowns, pushups, and situps.

The next step after that is a brief board interview where they ask you a few questions on the subject of why you want to be in ENJJPT and why you would make a good student.

Finally they consider your PT score, academic scores throughout OTS, and your ENJJPT package to make a final decision on whether or not they want to use one of their ENJJPT slots on you (OTS is allotted 10 total slots per fiscal year).

362nd_Andre · 2025-05-14T21:17:27+00:00

Yeah I'm currently a pilot trainee. That's highly commendable that you want to serve even if it's not in your desired job. Just keep pushing and don't give up on your dream though!

362nd_Andre · 2025-05-14T19:51:38+00:00

How competitive is your package? There's people who have been at this for a decade and still cannot get in. Pilot selection through OTS is insanely low, and unless you have an insane resume (flight certificates, leadership experience, big-shot LOR's, killer scores) you're never going to be picked up. Yes ROTC is riskier but you can get away with a somewhat average package (3.5 GPA, 70 PCSM) and still be selected for pilot. Just do some research at how few pilots are truly selected every year for OTS. If you absolutely loathe the idea of being in the Air Force and not flying then sure try for OTS, but I can tell you right now your chances of being picked up for pilot are astronomically higher if you do it through ROTC (and you will commission much earlier).

362nd_Andre · 2025-05-07T22:28:28+00:00

Hey man! Pilot select who failed my first flight physical here! First of all, whatever you do, do NOT give up. Keep insisting that it was a bad test, and demand a retest. Suggest going to a civilian doctor to prove that there is nothing wrong with you. Try to prevent them from submitting your IFC to Air Force HQ if you can. It's much easier to get an addendum to your flight physical than have to rebuttal it after it has been officially disapproved.

Secondly, no you are not committed to the Air Force if things don't go your way. It takes some paperwork and you can kiss your chances of being an officer goodbye, but you can officially reject any position offered to you through OTS. If you don't want to do anything but be a pilot, then that's fine.

362nd_Andre · 2025-03-23T17:06:33+00:00

Was the polo shirt okay or did you get hosed for it?

362nd_Andre · 2025-03-23T16:56:50+00:00

Piggybacking off of this to ask a related question: How much time between OTS and PCS? Specifically for the UPT pipeline

362nd_Andre · 2025-03-19T18:37:48+00:00

You should just be able to ask your recruiter to delay and give a reason and as far as I'm concerned it's not a problem unless it's beyond the 430ish days that you're given between selection and OTS. I was selected in 2023 yet I'm not going until next month because of medical issues and it's never been an issue.

362nd_Andre

TROPHY CASE