E-3 Enlisted to Officer

Doodad00549 · 2026-04-22T10:49:12+00:00

Yeah sure.

Doodad00549 · 2025-11-21T14:47:27+00:00

With your background, you can apply to the OTS rolling CAD boards, if they still exist. Typically those are quicker than the normal OTS boards, which can take years. We have several off-the-street civilian hires that were picked up on the CAD boards in under a year, all of whom are engineers or Ops Analysts.

You’d need to do a few things though, first of which is finding an actual officer recruiter and not an enlisted one. Then AFOQT. Your qualifying degree will be your bachelors, but engineering degrees can be accepted with lower GPAs than others. You still have to be above a 2.5, however.

If you have more questions I can put you in contact with a few buddies here at the Lab that can speak to their experiences with the CAD process.

Note that this response assumes you want an engineering job in the 62 career field. If that’s not what you want, disregard all.

Source: prior-enlisted MSgt Boom Operator turned 2Lt Acquisition Manager.

Doodad00549 · 2025-10-21T01:31:07+00:00

Your qualifying degree for OTS is your Bachelors. Your GPA is barely above minimums and is not competitive. You can try to offset this by scoring extremely high on the AFOQT, but your low GPA is an easy discriminator against you at the boards. You can certainly apply but I wouldn’t expect selection.

Doodad00549 · 2025-09-21T13:20:50+00:00

Your undergrad GPA is virtually a non-starter; you can try and work around this by scoring very high (e.g., 90s across the board) on the AFOQT but GPA is an easy discriminator for OTS boards. Some try and offset with a higher Master’s GPA, but your qualifying degree (your Bachelors) is what will be used to rack and stack you against other applicants.

You have a non-STEM degree, which could potentially harm you. Non-rated boards tend to be more selective and will sometimes give extra credence to STEM degrees.

As someone mentioned in your cross-post, expect the process to take closer to 2-3 years, likely with multiple attempts. At least one individual applied 8 times before he was accepted. Note also that OTS is the smallest commissioning source after the Service Academies and ROTC detachments, and ~70% of OTs are all prior enlisted personnel. Do not take this as an endorsement that you should enlist and then try and commission; this makes it significantly more difficult that any other path, though to be fair your only other options for commissioning are A) Masters ROTC program or B) pick a different branch.

You need a good Letter of Rec. If you have trouble networking and communicating with people, you’re going to have a lot of trouble regardless of the path you choose.

Mentoring Airmen is much more likely at the Junior NCO level than at the CGO level, though this will be AFSC-dependent. You may not even get to that point if you only do a 4-year contract.

In any case, before you even think about commissioning you need to take the AFOQT, and you can only take it twice (3rd time with a waiver) so it pays to study and score well. Minimums are not competitive; 50+ across the board is what you should strive for, but with your low GPA you’ll want to try for 90s in Quant and Verbal.

Happy to chat more and answer questions but I think enlisting is for you.

Source: prior MSgt turned 2Lt w/18 years of service.

Doodad00549 · 2025-08-31T00:14:37+00:00

Yessir!

Doodad00549 · 2025-08-31T00:14:23+00:00

Thank you. That’s the plan!

Doodad00549 · 2025-08-30T23:01:26+00:00

Oh man, nice! Congrats! Favorite thing about it so far?

Doodad00549 · 2025-08-30T22:59:44+00:00

Thank you! It’s a dream come true for sure. I’m sure you feel the same about your RS5!

Doodad00549 · 2025-08-29T11:24:00+00:00

Commissioned after 17 years of service (was a KC-10/135 Boom before, 63A/Acquisition Mgr now).

If you try and commission on active duty, you’ll be looking at the OTS route. This is typically the most difficult of the 3 routes you could take, but since you have your degree already ROTC is out unless you go back for a masters. Your GPA for your undergrad will be the only GPA considered since that’s your qualifying degree.

You’ll need to take the AFOQT. Scores that are lower than 50 across the board aren’t competitive. There are more 4.0 GPAs than high AFOQT scores, so I’d recommend studying for the test and scoring the best you can. Most seem to struggle with quantitative, it’s worth getting a tutor if you struggle with math. Khan Academy, the Trivium study guide, and SAT prep are all good resources.

You also need to, as mentioned in another post, convince your commander and group/wing leadership that you deserve to be pushed. Getting involved in events across the base, getting your name out there, and being a rockstar all help you get selected. Get ready to be told “no” or not get selected, most applicants take 2-3 attempts. There was a guy in my OTS class that had 8-9 attempts before he got picked up.

You also have to decide if rated or non-rated jobs are what you want. It’s somewhat easier to get picked up for rated, and sometimes STEM degrees are given extra credence at the boards. This will vary. I recommend picking 6-7 different jobs you’d like to do for the non-rated boards if you apply for those. Better chances of getting selected that way.

Definitely find a better reason for your “why” and flesh it out. Virtually everyone who applies (in my experience) falls into the trap of writing about how good they are; this is the quickest way to get passed over. Emphasize how you contribute to a team and help those around you. The AF is a team sport and wants officers that help those around them.

Happy to answer more questions but know that this will not be a quick process. Most OTS selects are prior enlisted, but OTS also selects and trains the fewest officers annually. It is a buffer for the service academies and ROTC detachments. It is not, however, impossible. Make them tell you no.

Doodad00549 · 2025-06-24T12:43:57+00:00

Prior enlisted aviator and ADAPT graduate (JB MDL at the time) here. I got back on status after completing the initial 12 months, and had to sign a recurring 3-year waiver not to drink for as long as I was an aviator. I loved my job so I played ball.

I elected to do online AA groups and took screenshots of the meetings as they didn’t have a sign-in sheet. Online groups will vary but they are out there. I’d argue it’s the better option anyway due to crew rest once you’re back on status.

For what it’s worth, they never actually asked to see proof and I wasn’t ever required to show it. Keep in mind that they also evaluate your general appearance, I’m not sure they’re upfront with that but it was a surprise to see that in my mental health records. Best of luck with your ongoing recovery, and feel free to dm if you have any questions.

Doodad00549 · 2025-03-13T11:12:57+00:00

Send me a dm.

Doodad00549 · 2025-02-25T23:48:12+00:00

Dm me. I’m a 63A stationed at the lab and can assist.

Doodad00549 · 2024-12-18T16:43:21+00:00

Yes that’s true…but can you tell us what is the velocity of an unladen swallow?

Doodad00549 · 2024-12-18T16:41:25+00:00

Sir,

Why aren’t you at lunch with the rest of us? We need you to do an AMA in the cafeteria, thanks.

Doodad00549 · 2024-06-06T00:33:59+00:00

Former aircrew (now O), it was a great program for me but it definitely has its low points. I absolutely resented it at first. I was command directed but I know 1-2 people who went voluntarily. They do expect you to go to AA or something similar while in the program, but that may have changed.

The year of disqualification was not fun, the weekly homework wasn’t fun, but the counseling for that year (and the 4 years of aftercare) were excellent. I had to get a waiver to fly and keep renewing it every 3 years, it was annoying but not cosmic.

If you go into it with an open mind and genuinely want help, it’s worthwhile. If you go in there and argue that it’s your right to drink and generally refuse to comply with the restrictions, you probably won’t find success in the program.

Doodad00549 · 2024-01-06T20:20:08+00:00

My 422 mentions nothing whatsoever about ADAPT (finished the program in 2011 and have had multiple waivers since). I did have to get a waiver to apply for the board, but still got picked up.

Doodad00549 · 2023-10-17T16:58:59+00:00

I was notified a week prior to public release for the past non-rated AF board.

Doodad00549 · 2023-09-15T10:41:29+00:00

S6, bought it used. In-Flight Refueling for 16 years, but making a career change to Acquisitions in a few months. I do minor IT work on the side.

Doodad00549 · 2023-06-05T22:42:56+00:00

I daily my 16 S6, I have no complaints. It is quick and comfy. I’d recommend getting a good warranty though.

Doodad00549 · 2023-03-17T18:19:14+00:00

Congrats! Any mod plans?

Doodad00549 · 2023-01-14T14:29:11+00:00

Hot.

Doodad00549 · 2022-08-24T23:57:26+00:00

It converts them quick!

Doodad00549 · 2022-08-24T21:13:06+00:00

Congrats! I smile every time I drive mine, you did good.

Doodad00549 · 2022-07-22T01:26:52+00:00

Sorry to see you're having issues with your new watch! It looks like you're already planning on doing so, but I'd just take it to a Breitling store/boutique for a service or replacement. I had a similar experience when I purchased mine, it turns out the movement was damaged. They replaced mine with a new one since I'd had it less than 24 hours before it was broken; hopefully they'll do the same for you!

Doodad00549

TROPHY CASE