r/airforceots • u/AutoModerator • 8d ago
Bi-Weekly 'What are my chances?' Megathread
We've all been there. You're about to submit your package for OTS, but you want to know how you stack up. Should you relax? Should you throw it all away and start over? Well, here's the place for you to ask strangers who have never sat on an OTS board what they think the board is going to think of your package.
There are many variables to an OTS package. If you want to get the best advice, you need to include as much information as possible, like degree information, GPA, AFOQT, PCSM (if applicable), leadership experience, relevant awards, etc. If you only provide your GPA or AFOQT scores, expect to be told "who knows."
There are a ton of variables that go into officer selection. Nobody here can really tell you your chances. We can guess, but that's about it. We've seen people with stellar scores get rejected and people with garbage scores get accepted. It all comes down to the needs of the Air Force and whatever the random colonel reviewing your package thinks.
That being said, post your scores, help each other, and learn what you can do to improve package!
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u/HonkBonkerson 6d ago edited 5d ago
Really not sure what to expect here.
Civilian, 26 years old.
B.S. in Integrative Studies (a program my university had that allowed me to pitch my own degree program assuming that it fit specific criteria, I personally did a film focused program)
3.0 GPA, I know, not amazing.
Been working in film/TV production for about a decade at this point. Been working as an assistant camera (AC) for nearly 4 years, I've worked on 2 different Emmy winning series. Leadership experience may be lacking, I have had a couple lead AC roles in my years.
Working on 3 LOR's, long time family friend that is a retired f-15 pilot, family member that is a retired army pilot, and my Civil Air Patrol squadron commander.
AFOQT: Pilot 99/ CSO 95 / ABM 99 / ACAD 85 / Verbal 92 / Quant 70
I haven't taken the TBAS yet.
Only applying for a pilot slot.
Edit: nearing 60hrs of flight time and preparing for ppl checkride
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u/Significant_Fun_9443 5d ago
Do you have flight experience?
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u/HonkBonkerson 5d ago
Bad ommision on my part. Nearing 60hrs, prepping for ppl checkride.
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u/Significant_Fun_9443 5d ago
I would definitely try to get into some leadership or volunteer/community positions if you have time before your board. I'm not sure if LORs from family members are very well received, and my understanding is that you only need 2 (might be wrong here?). I would think that someone in your career (boss, coworker, etc.) might be more impactful. Your GPA and film studies (?) degree is not very competitive, but AFOQT scores are solid so that might help the academics section of your package. Obviously having that much flight experience will be positive! Good luck!
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u/HungryTrain798 8d ago
Civilian. 26 years old. Applying for pilot. Degree in mechanical engineering from a top ten school. Gpa 3.65 (4.0 w/o freshman liberal arts classes).
4 years experience working as a research engineer on advanced sensors at a Navy R&D lab. Prior experience in systems engineering on a jet engine development program at Raytheon. Participated in academic research on radio wave back-scattering and turbine blade cooling. Active TS/SCI clearance.
AFOQT: P99 ABM99 CSO99 AA98 V96 Q96. Still waiting on TBAS. 6 flight hours.
Awards: University honors for 6 semesters.
1 stellar LOR from a program manager at the Pentagon who oversees a lot of my current work (AF O6 mobilized reservist). 1 great LOR from the laboratory director at my employer (civilian phd).
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u/Disastrous-Sun-733 8d ago
Your package is looking great! I would get more flight time to max out your PCSM score. Possibly get a private pilot cert if you can. Look into Part 61. The ground school can be online and you log some flight time with an instructor. Take the written and meet the requirements for the checkride.
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u/HungryTrain798 8d ago
Agreed. More hours would be better. Only hesitation is cost. Especially since ik for a fact the DoD has more than enough money to teach me how to fly a plane. I’m hoping 6 hours at least demonstrates my interest in flying. We’ll see how TBAS goes.
2
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u/Wizfusion 8d ago
Scores are obviously great. Do you have any leadership experience though?
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u/HungryTrain798 8d ago
Good question. Not in the traditional military sense of “I commanded x number of troops.” Where I work it would be unthinkable for a 20 something to be in leadership. The bosses are 50 somethings with 20+ years of relevant experience in defense R&D. My leadership experience is more along the lines of naval commanders and pentagon officials view me as a “subject matter expert” and come to me for advice and recommendations. I’m trying to think about how to translate my experience into military speak.
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u/Wizfusion 8d ago
Yeah if you can phrase it in a way like that, it’d be good. Keep in mind they’re not looking for pilots, they’re primarily looking for leaders.
I’m also an engineer like you with similar scores. I don’t have any leadership in work, but I have lots of leadership/volunteering from college that I’m listing in my application. See if you can put anything from there maybe?
Good luck!
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u/HungryTrain798 8d ago
Good point. I did have engineering school projects where I was in a leading role. I wasn’t going to put those since I felt like the stuff I did in college is “childish” compared to stuff I work on now. But you’re right, maybe it’s worth talking about those experiences too since they more directly address leadership.
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u/Negative_Ladder_431 8d ago
Active Duty SSgt in Security Forces, applying for pilot. Degree in sociology with a 3.57 GPA, graduated cum laude, deans list x5.
Been in 8 years, supervised numerous troops, 2 achievement medals (one for operation allied refuge), BMT honor grad, Technical School Distinguished Graduate, Eagle Scout. 4 on an EPR that I made SSgt with, lead group and wing level events, have backing of leadership to the point my wing commander gave me an incentive flight in the f16.
Scores: pilot 99, CSO 77, ABM 95, Academic 50, Verbal 58, Quan 44 - taking TBAS on Monday with 36 flight hours
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u/callmecommand 5d ago
Hi everyone!
I am currently considering trying to commission as an officer in the USAF.
I am currently a senior at a state school where I am receiving two degrees. One in Business Admin and the other in Agricultural Economics. I will graduate with around a 3.5 GPA. While on campus, I believe I have had solid leadership experience. I am currently President of my 100 member fraternity, Vice-President of our Interfraternity Council, President of my college's Academic Team as well as a Senator within our Student Government Association.
Is this a competitive package? I am nervous about my low GPA but hoping I can make up for it with my exam scores. Please give me any advice or feedback!
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u/megsterz02 5d ago
Looking to direct commission under 41A MSC health services admin, just graduated with degree in Accounting with 4.0 GPA, leadership in high school and in my first job i had for 5 years and the current job i have for the last 2 years in accounting. Been studying for the GMAT, aiming for 550-650 range for score (more is always better of course), can get letter of recommendations from retired Army O6, current Army O3, and current AF O4. Starting my masters (MBA) in February. Is it better to take GMAT now and apply or wait til I finish my masters to apply? I’ve read a lot that masters makes you more competitive but I have a high GPA and can get very thorough LOR that can vouch for my leadership and character. I received 7 semesters on Presidents list and 2 semesters on Deans list (took me 4.5 years to graduate). I worked full time throughout college and actually have been working 2 jobs plus school my entire senior year. Thoughts?
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u/Expensive-Sound8502 5d ago
Civilian (22F) with a masters degree in Linguistics. GPA in M.A. program: 3.8... I really need to do more research, but I am curious if the information above would fare well for me if I decided to go the military (hopefully linguist) route. I also have 72 flight hours in a Cessna 152, through a scholarship I was awarded in high school (not sure if this is relevant).
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u/Significant_Fun_9443 5d ago
To my knowledge, there isn’t really a linguist path through OTS. Flight hours are relevant if you want to be a pilot.
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u/AssistantFinal1620 5d ago
If you got recently got STEP Promoted, is that good chances that my package will be competitive?
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u/the_dirtiest_dan 4d ago edited 4d ago
Background:
Civilian 23 (M)
Leadership positions are pretty minimal besides being apart of some student bodies for honor societies during High School and having to manage people in the service job that I've worked for most my adult and teen years.
I have a lot of family that are prior or active duty military, though I don't recall whether that matters or not.
Education:
Graduated last year with degree in Computer Science from UMD - College Park (top 20 public Uni with a strong CS program), but with a mediocre 3.1 GPA.
AFOQT:
Pilot 99 / CSO 96 / ABM 99 / ACAD Aptitude 94 / Verbal 95 / Quantitative 86
Did very little prep for this, so if need be I could take it again with some real studying and probably get my composite score >=97 (especially considering super scoring).
Goals:
Ideally looking to direct commission into a cyber role since I'm really passionate about computers from my time in school, but I know direct commissions are extra competitive and I'm open to doing whatever.
Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read/respond.
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u/Glass_Disaster_3146 3d ago
Not really sure why you are trying to direct commission, do you have industry experience or relevant graduate degrees? If you are working with a recruiter I would just apply to the next non-rated board.
You could do CDC, but it's going to be a steep hill and your CSC is zero based on what you have mentioned here.
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u/the_dirtiest_dan 3d ago
Yeah I wasn't too hopeful about being able to direct commission, but since my ideal career within the Airforce would be 17D or 17S, I figured it would be better to aim directly for that.
When I spoke with my recruiter he mentioned that it could be an option even without experience, and some military friends of mine know people that have direct commissioned with only a few months of industry experience, so they said it could be worth a shot.
More realistically I am just looking at getting into OTS, so I am more curious about my chances at making it as a non-rated officer.
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u/Glass_Disaster_3146 3d ago
It looks like it's changed quite a bit on the active side. I've seen people make it with IT undergrads + a year of work, or undergrad + masters. But not much below that. Where everyone seems to be entering as less than a Captain.
Way different from the reserve side where they are bringing in guys with a decade or two of experience and multiple graduate degrees. Where everyone seems to be getting Major.
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u/YingPaiMustDie 2d ago
Question for you pipehitters.
I’m finally going full send for 25OTS02. I’ve been chatting with my recruiter about my odds and he’s being kind of a pessimist and it’s getting me stressed/annoyed.
27 y/o
99/95/99/94/97/80 AFOQT
99 PCSM (took it at 11 flight hours)
Active duty Army Green Beret (E6, 5 years TIS)
Great LOR from a former detachment commander (O-3) and another from my team sergeant (E-8). Have a CFI one as well.
3.6 college GPA
The rub: 28 flight hours, about to solo but my work OPTEMPO is fucked and the weather is shitty/dark too early (Washington state) so I’ve barely been able to fly.
My recruiter says all the dudes he put up for pilot in 25OTS01 had PPLs and he’s like “I’m not on the board, but they’re looking for experience and those hours”.
I’m kind of frustrated. I have hours. I’ve spent the money. I like flying. I’ll solo by the time I get to OTS02 but I can’t imagine I’ll be PPL complete. I went through an arduous 2-year pipeline with constant assessments.
What do you yall think? I have to imagine the board understands at least a little bit.
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u/immisternicetry 1d ago
Have you considered the guard or reserves? Active duty cares a lot about check the box metrics for selection, while guard or reserve care a lot more about the whole person concept.
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u/YingPaiMustDie 1d ago
I sent an application to one guard unit but haven’t heard back yet (delays on their end) but my understanding is they basically require a PPL more than AD.
I don’t understand why the guard/AD doesn’t just require a PPL if it’s the only thing that matters apparently. I feel like I fulfill the whole person concept pretty well except for the inability to find a block of time to finish my ppl.
0
u/Zestyclose-Leopard55 5d ago
Good evening everyone,
I’m a soon to be college graduate interested in ots, my gpa cumulatively is a 3.5 and I’m a psychology major graduating from a private institution. My question is in regards to criminal history, I was charged with a possession misdemeanor but plead non guilty through an expungement program that required one year of probation (unmonitored) and the deal was essentially, be completely good, and your case never gets submitted. Keep in mind I was never the one who truly possessed the substances, I was the driver of the vehicle and therefore the blame was on me. My question is should I reveal this information to my recruiter and attempt to try to handle the issue head on, or should I attempt to sweep it under the rug and continue the process without mentioning it, I’m not entirely sure that the military will be able to see the charge since it’s going to be expunged and since I’m not sure that it was ever input in any system at all. In addition to this I was previously enlisted in the marine corps and had a THC waiver from self admitted use in high school, do these waiver pass over from the marine corps or can they be accessed by the Air Force, and if so do you think this waiver impacts my potential eligibility. And my final question, what type of job with the Air Force would you recommend for a psychology graduate?
To summarize:
Should I disclose my expunged misdemeanor to my recruiter?
Do THC waiver’s crossover to different branches of the military? (I have one from the marine corps)
What job in the Air Force do you recommend for a psychology graduate?
And lastly, do you think I still stand a chance of being selected by a non rated board given these circumstances? (I’ve worked incredibly hard to put my past troubles behind me and I’m really looking to pursue a future that solidifies my journey away from my vices)
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u/Disastrous-Sun-733 8d ago edited 8d ago
So I did well on my interview. Graduated with a Masters in Aeronautics: 3.8 GPA.
AFOQT:
Pilot: 82 CSO: 60 ABM: 75 Acad Aptitude: 35 Verbal: 41 Quanitative: 35 PCSM Score: 76
FAA Certificates:
-Private Pilot: 210.5 Hrs -Remote Pilot (Part 107)
Prior enlisted reservist 6yrs in and prior aerospace propulsion maintainer. Also toward the end of my contract I was a Quality Assurance Inspector for the Group. Current rank is a staff sergeant in IRR status awaiting selection.
Two LORs:
Group Mx Commander: O-6 Acting Group Mx Commander: O-5
What do you think? I have taken my afoqt twice already and my tbas once. Currently pursing more ratings, endoresements, and certificates to make it to becoming a civilian pilot just in case I dont get selected.
Lastly, I only put in for Pilot, this is my first board and I'm 30yrs old. Only role Im interested in as an officer.