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Guard/Reserve Fighter Slot

Last Post 30 Dec 2008 08:32 PM by Gfisherx1. 7 Replies.

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Michael Primiano User is Offline

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06 Mar 2007 08:49 PM	�
I've heard, on this site and other places, that if you get a Guard/Reserve fighter slot you must place in the top half of your UPT class. Is this entirely true? Meaning, do they give the unit that selected you the option of letting you proceed with the rest of the training even if you didn't place in the top half? Also, my buddy was down at Brooks getting his physical, bastard got picked up for AD ENJJPT, and he mentioned that one of the other guys with him was guard and that they will both be in the same class. I had no idea they send guard guys to ENJJPT. Anyways, one of the guard guys was talking about that top half rule and he said that in one of the classes a guard fighter pilot finished in the bottom half while a guard heavy pilot finished in the top half. He mentioned that all they did was switch slots and carried on. I didn't know that could happen. Im sure there's more to it such as both units would deffinately have to concur, but nonetheless I had no idea they could do that.

lagguer User is Offline

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06 Mar 2007 09:29 PM	�
Yes, you better be in the top half of your class at least . The unit you're hired by is investing a lot of time, money, and effort into you so if you don't make the cut you're most likely gone. I have heard of guys switching airframes too, but by no way is it guranteed. Speaking of making it, I just got back from a fighter interview and was informed that they have a 50% washout rate. Where they go from there is beyond me, but just because you have an ANG slot and thus a guranteed "fighter," you should not use it as a reason to slack off. And yes, ANG guys can go to any UPT base, ENJJPT included.

Caveman User is Offline

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06 Jul 2008 03:44 AM	�
What would you say is responsible for the high washout rate. Lack of study, no monkey skills or just inability to do tight air-work. How long does it take the average guy to adapt to yanking and banking in high altitudes and at a fast rate.

Caveman User is Offline

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28 Jul 2008 08:44 PM	�
For the Reserve and or ANG pilots, how many times do you go to your units to maintain currency. Would you advice looking at a unit I will need to fly to for drill and things like that. I can definitely handle a round trip ones a month. Could I come in a week before drill and catch up with my needed flying. I understand TDY's will come up, but on a regular how often do you go to your drill unit other than drill weekends.

FlyinJhawk User is Offline

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03 Aug 2008 04:04 PM	�
These are all good questions...I'm interested in hearing some answers if anyone has them. I just put in an application to the 132FW in Des Moines and the 104th FS in Baltimore

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bravodelta79 User is Offline

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03 Aug 2008 08:25 PM	�
At the interview with the C-130 unit I got hired with, here are some things they mentioned... - You'll need to fly MUCH MORE than just during drill weekend. You need to stay not only current, but proficient. - You will have a laundry list of quals you'll have to keep up with and depending on the airframe, you could have a ton (fighters, I'm sure do, as does the Herk) or not nearly as many (KC-135) - At the beginning (first 3 months or so), you'll pretty much be expected to be there all the time getting a lot of flying and experience so you can go on some "trips" - After you're "in" and been around, you still should come in and fly 3-4 times per month. That should be enough to stay proficient and not have a ton of quals to finish up all at once and have to start bumping others just to make your deadlines. Anyone who's actually a pilot can feel free to debunk everything I typed. I won't take it personally.

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oldguardbum User is Offline

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05 Aug 2008 08:21 PM	�
All valid points, Bravodelta. Heck, I know "traditional guardsmen" who fly as much if not more than many active duty pilots, but mostly because they desire to fly that often. Bravodelta has a pretty good grasp on what it will take to be successful as a guard pilot. A great gig, but you do have to want it bad and sacrifices will have to be made.

Gfisherx1 User is Offline

Ruble
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30 Dec 2008 08:32 PM	�
My base commander just had a sit down with the whole maintenance group a couple weeks ago and he broke down our flying schedule. There are minumums to be met just to stay current on ratings, however, they fly as much as possible to keep up proficiency. Our pilots fly at least 8 sorties a month, in addition to drill weekends. On another note, we also have an alert facility that we support. We fly more than most to help keep our pilots safer when they're woken up at 0300 from a dead sleep to scramble on anything from Cuban Mig-29s to a lost tourist. When our UPT pilots come back, they have a mandatory 2 years on orders to develop a level of proficiency the Flight Evals consider adequate. I would say they fly 10-15 sorties a month, maintenance permitting.

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