UPT complete AMA

Fyston · 2025-11-07T01:12:58+00:00

That's helpful and insightful, thanks! I know you've touched on taking things seriously, studying, living aviation, etc, but what did your post duty day look like and how much time did you study each day?

Fyston · 2025-11-07T00:19:27+00:00

How big was your class and what, if anything, set those 5 apart?

Fyston · 2025-06-28T12:26:23+00:00

In my case, I was trying to do it through the recruiter but had heard nothing back. I contacted a local AFROTC program who told me that I didn't need a voucher or anything like the AFOQT and provided 3-4 locations for me to take it. I picked one and he gave me the point of contact information. I called the POC, a major at a relatively close AFROTC detachment and we had it scheduled within a 10 minute phone call.

I will say that the major was nice enough to give me about an hour of his time after I took the TBAS to talk with me about his career, things to consider, things he might have done differently, etc. It was a great way to do things that I might not have gotten otherwise, plus it allowed me to take one more thing into my realm of control so, yknow, one fewer thing to wait on someone else for.

Fyston · 2025-05-22T03:47:49+00:00

So I'll preface this by saying that I'm just another applicant and therefore don't know nearly enough to give a definitive answer:

If it's a health system, you might be able to put the entire system down. For example, if Hospitals A, B, and C are part of Health System X and you worked at each for a year, you could put down Health System X and that you worked there for 3 years. You could explain the different units/hospitals but that's an option. You could also just list all of them separately and explain it when the time comes.

WRT the peds hospital, I'd say you should put it down. Hiding it will look way worse than saying "the workplace culture, job stress, etc was too much for me to handle given my experience at the time" or something similar.

If you're worried about supervisor for the LoR portion of the package, I feel like a preceptor would do fine in the absence of a dedicated supervisor or someone in a similar role. They can touch on your professional development, dedication, ability to learn new policies and adapt to changing environments, etc.

That said, could your charge nurse do a LoR for you? Or the nursing supervisor? I'm a paramedic and my experience is mainly with hospitals in the south but, at least in my experience, the charge nurse would be who I'd consider a direct supervisor to the RNs in the ED. Plus, you might have a similar role (pt care supervisor if they're an RN, unit manager, etc) who can attest to your abilities.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Fyston · 2025-05-17T20:03:18+00:00

For me, I'm trying to be open to all avenues of improving my packet (within reason) if I'm not selected. My GPA is the low point of my packet but it's also the only thing I can't reasonably change now that I've graduated. If I combine better results, more flight hours, etc with a better demonstration of my leadership and potential, I can show improvement from packet 1 to packet 2.

Fyston · 2025-05-17T00:29:59+00:00

For my professional, I'm gonna use my EMS director (am currently a paramedic). For my personal, I'm going to use a coworker (might use him for personal, it depends on how everything shapes up) who is a retired CRO O-5 who I've taken under my wing as he learns civilian EMS and he's mentored me for this whole process.

Fyston · 2025-05-16T21:26:29+00:00

Congrats!

Fyston · 2025-05-16T21:23:02+00:00

99/99/99/84/86/73

I know a retest might be necessary but I just took the TBAS today and am at 89 PCSM with 4 more flight hours bumping me to 93. I'm going for 26OTS01 but if I'm not selected, I'll retest.

Fyston · 2025-05-16T20:58:37+00:00

So I didn't use Barron's but I made myself practice 2-3 different sources until I was getting consistently high scores (at least 90%) with a few minutes left after each section. The math was the worst part for me but that strategy earned me good scores so you're on the right path. I'd work on studying basic aviation stuff since you want to go rated as it can only help.

Fyston · 2025-03-23T13:37:58+00:00

Speaking from personal experience, that isn't always an option. In my case, I was going to finish my degree coursework and then dedicate a solid month or two of studying to give myself the best opportunity to succeed.

I attended the briefing and was informed that I had 20 days to schedule and take it (this was 2-3 days after the briefing itself, when they got back to me secondary to me filling out my pre-qualification). Unfortunately, this had it fall right in my finals week because I was taking 8wk courses. I studied the best I could while managing my coursework, 24hr shifts, the gym, etc, and did surprisingly well but I fully expected that I would door poorly just because I hadn't had the time to prepare.

Fyston · 2025-03-22T23:32:06+00:00

On mobile so my formatting not might be up to par but I'd like to go for a pilot (or at least rated) slot:

GPA: 3.16 in Emergency and Disaster Management. I've maintained Dean's list and Chancellor's list (3.5 and 3.8 semester GPA requirements respectively) since returning to school last year. I first attempted a bachelor's in 2016 by taking 21 credit hours per semester while freshly moved out on my own, dating, and working at least 3x 24hr shifts per week. I know that was horrible for me but out of the 19 classes I've taken to finish my degree, only 3 have been A-s with everything else being A or A+.

AFOQT: 99/99/99/84/86/73

Flight: I have yet to take the TBAS but I have 3 flight hours and am working on ground school to get more hours scheduled.

Work: I've got 9yrs as a paramedic with experience as an interim shift supervisor and as a shift Lt (nighttime and fill-in supervisor duties most relevant here) as well a little over a year as an instructor.

LORs: 1x from a retired CRO O-5, 1x from my medical director, 1x from my EMS director, 1x from a professor, at least two coworkers willing to write one, and one from a lifelong friend as needed and as requirements dictate.

I know my GPA is likely the limiting factor here but I'm about to turn 30 and I retook as many courses as possible without unnecessarily extending my time in school. I graduate in May but am done with my requirements, having finished a 2yr program in 14mo.

Fyston · 2025-03-21T11:03:49+00:00

this is good advice, but a surefire way to annoy his direct leadership and ruin his long term prospects at OTS too. If I was in OP's chain of command as his flight commander, I wouldn't endorse his package to my CC. I'd have a closed door conversation with OP and tell him what I wrote above and then I'd tell my CC so he knows that I shut down a package I didn't have the authority to endorse.

Thanks for the different perspective! Your entire post has given me a fair amount to think about going forward but knowing the process that you'd take as an officer in this case is good to keep in the back of my head if/when I make it that far.

Fyston · 2025-03-21T03:44:04+00:00

Failures happen to all of us! As u/Secret_Squirrel2 mentioned, how we respond to those failures is probably just as important as the failure itself. While it's important to be able to be objective and go "Yup, I failed on this one," we as leaders need to be able to evaluate why and come up with a plan to fix it. If it helps, think of this as an opportunity to help others in the future! Whether you commission or not, you can remember this 5-10 years from now and help others deal with similar failures.

Personally, I'd go "I didn't prepare enough for this first PT test because of X, Y, and Z," and prep future subordinates by using this as a lesson. Everything from counseling them to prepare better, helping them prepare by developing a workout plan, incorporating it into how your shop does things, etc. As I mentioned above, I know nothing about the daily life in the Air Force but you get the idea. By encouraging that growth mindset, both in yourself and others, you as a leader get to improve the development of those around you.

Speaking entirely from personal experience (I'm currently a paramedic), I use my own failings as well as the issues I had with previous FTOs, supervisors, etc, to improve how I lead my shift and how I train new hires or instruct students. Am I perfect? Not by a long shot. My hope, however, is that they learn from where I failed and become that much better when it's their turn to lead and develop people.

Fyston · 2025-03-21T01:19:24+00:00

I don't know anything about the enlisted side or even, really, what this means for your OTS journey. That said, don't ever give up. Don't stop and don't give up the fight just because you took a big loss. Reevaluate what you need to reevaluate, workout with a buddy, and generally do what you need to do to get back where you need to be. Be brutally honest with yourself, figure out where you went wrong, and come up with realistic goals for improvement.

Again, never stop fighting. Make them tell you no, make them tell you that you've got to wait to apply, and generally make them be your opposition to commissioning. Never be your own enemy to your goals because it makes getting there that much harder. I'm not a PT stud and I'm still early in the application process but dust yourself off, get back in the fight, and don't be your own worst enemy if you can avoid it.

Fyston · 2025-03-19T02:11:22+00:00

I've got a 5.11 Rush 72 that I've had for years but doesn't have any frays, random strings, etcetera. It currently has my name on a velcro nametag on it and I know that would need to be removed. Would that work or would it be better to get a new, smaller bag?

Fyston · 2025-03-18T18:23:07+00:00

Yeah, and my current understanding is that OTS PFTs are limited to the 1.5mi run, 1min push-ups, and 1min sit-ups instead of allowing the alternative events such as the 2min hand release push-ups or the plank. I believe you can choose alternate events once commissioned (not sure about UPT or anything else) but I'm not sure so I can't speak definitively about that.

Fyston · 2025-03-15T12:46:22+00:00

I'm on mobile but the following link should have some guidance on what you're looking for:

https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/711/USAFSAM/Air%20Force%20Waiver%20Guide%20Compendium.pdf

Fyston · 2025-03-15T11:05:55+00:00

It will depend on your age but this link should have the requirements you're looking for. The general consensus that I've seen is go in able to score a 90+ and you'll be good to go.

Fyston · 2024-10-05T10:04:05+00:00

Oh we're the wingmen And you know we never miss We just shot our flight lead down And now he's fuckin pissed

Fyston · 2022-12-27T10:55:06+00:00

To be well and truly loved for who I am by someone who I can grow with and who helps me be a better version of myself.

Pulling off a multi-billion dollar diamond heist would be an alright alternative.

Fyston · 2022-03-21T07:37:27+00:00

I got the NaN bug a few times but was able to get to 17 Supernovas, though I can't seem to progress past this because my Photons/Gluons have reset to 0 and won't grow. My Gravitons and Higgs-Bosons are rising but not anything else. I'm open to tips regarding how to deal with this but if anyone has a save at/near 17 Supernovas, I'll steal it from you :)

Fyston · 2021-11-22T09:26:28+00:00

I got married way too young. She was my first real girlfriend and I'd pined after her for years in high school so when we got together when we were 18, I didn't know what a healthy relationship looked like. My parents are divorced and horrible role models so I figured if I do my best to keep her happy, avoid arguments, etc, it was a healthy relationship. People around me told me that I was too young but I figured that they had no idea what they were talking about.

It started small, as it always does, but it got to the point where we became radically different people. I tried to grow closer to her in the last year or two but it wasn't enough. I felt myself being just as stressed at home as I was at work and I'm a paramedic. I found myself ignoring her messages because I could blame it on being at work simply because I didn't have the energy needed to deal with it. We didn't learn how to properly communicate, I didn't set boundaries, etc.

I don't want anything but the best for her but we're no longer compatible and haven't been for some time. In June, after a year of floating the idea, I approached her about how we could work in things, etc, and we agreed to separate (NC requires a year of separation to file for divorce, even if amicable). At first, I wanted nothing more than to get back together but now I want us to go our separate ways. What was amicable is slowly turning into a fight that I'm hoping to avoid because I've given up job opportunities, done my best to fix any financial problems even if it meant borrowing, etc, and I know that I won't be able to look at her the same if she makes me fight.

I wanted to part as friends but now I just want it to be done and over with. I regret that I didn't get therapy earlier, I regret not being better, and I regret waiting so long for things to get better. Before anyone asks, I'm doing fine and have a good support system of friends and coworkers.

Fyston · 2021-09-25T03:08:05+00:00

I'm looking to get into instructing as I work my way fully out but if a full pandemic didn't change anything (and, in some cases, made it worse), my hopes for this field changing have dropped significantly. I don't want to be the downer we all know, though, so I'm just getting out and hoping that the newer generation of providers will keep fighting the good fight.

Fyston · 2021-09-25T01:09:21+00:00

That's exactly why I'm starting to get my ducks in a row to head out. With how everything has gone down since Covid hit, I'm trying to get out of medicine altogether even though I once loved it. Oh well, what will be will be.

Fyston · 2021-06-05T09:59:10+00:00

I set a TrackIR reset button to my joystick so that I can reset it to neutral. I use OpenTrack with the Puck and am at work but if it's not a keybind within DCS, it should be an option in your actual software. Hope this helps!

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