Alternate Route

I see it all too often, people want to join the military and fly for an Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, but don’t know how to apply. There is just too much information spread all over the internet, however, there is not just one source of consolidated information. That’s why I’m going to share with you the 6 steps to getting a pilot slot in the Air Force Reserve Component.   Research            One of the biggest perks about joining the Air National Guard or the Air Force Reserves is the ability to pick your aircraft and/ or location you wish to live. As a result, you must start the process of getting a pilot slot with the research phase and find out what opportunities (aircraft and base locations) exist within the Guard and Reserve. Begin by asking yourself what it is you want out of the military, then find the opportunities that exist to help you achieve your goals and dreams.  In addition to choosing the aircraft you wish to fly; ...

               I had the opportunity to interview the hiring manager of a highly competitive squadron, to view the process from their perspective, and to gather more insight into what an ideal candidate might look like. I have intentionally left out any personally identifiable information for the privacy of the military member and the squadron. This is the perspective of one person and is not meant to be the only guideline for getting hired into a squadron but as a tool to help you gain a competitive advantage. Please explain the hiring process from your point of view as the hiring manager, from the first contact with the squadron to getting invited to the squadron hiring board.      “When people are interested in the squadron, we funnel them to a UPT hiring email address where I will begin the process of weeding out potential candidates. Typically, I will receive about 100 emails each month from people requesting information a...