Background Info:

I'm AFROTC and will commission May 3rd, 2009 as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer stationed to Charleston AFB, SC.  I purposely did not categorize because I know that I want to apply to the 169th FW in Eastover, SC; I'd rather fly with them or not fly at all so I can stay there for a long time.  I'm a South Carolina guy at heart and boy did I luck out getting Charleston.  The UPT selection board at McEntire I believe is probably going to be around May 1st, 2009 (the deadline for packet submission based on 2008's date), so it seems like I would be cutting it pretty close to submit a packet and get the paperwork processed before I commission two days after the deadline for packet submission.  These are my scores so far in case anyone's wondering:

GPA:  2.92/ PFA:  85/ 100-120 Flight Hours/ Have PPL/ AFOQT Pilot 93, Nav 69, Ac Apt 44, Verbal 32, Quant 58/ Field Training Top Third/ Medical is Potential Pilot Qualified

Question:

I plan to submit a packet every board that comes up because I know there is a great possibility it may take a few tries.  My proximity at Charleston will really help make that process easier for me, but should I wait until I get established at Charleston for the first year to avoid complete and udder paperwork chaos with the coincidental timing of my commissioning?  Or, would it just be handled as a regular Palace Chase before I would go to A/C Maintenance Officer school?  I'm going to school in Florida, so visiting McEntire is limited to my holidays when I travel back to my hometown of Greenville, SC.

Also, if I was or wasn't already commissioned and went to the Guard, how would my situation be handled in regards to attending the Academy of Military Science?

I'm looking for advice on how to handle my time crunch to get a packet in and reviewed before I go to ASBC.  How would you handle it?

I was just introduced to this site a few days ago and I'm thoroughly impressed and stoked (go figure my user name) about going Guard.  If I'm asking questions that have already been answered that I didn't find in my search I apologize.  Thanks in advance though.

Okay, I'm SOOOOOOO confused now.  I tried the Point of Contact on this website to contact someone from the 169th FW in hopes to discuss me visiting McEntire JNGB to learn more and the email didn't work, so I went to GOANG.com to speak with an advisor to get some contact information for a recruiter there.  He wouldn't let me have any information!  Am I not allowed to visit the base and speak with someone just because I am in ROTC?  I am enlisted due to my scholarship so I have a military ID.  How do I go about trying to setup a time and date to visit the base if it's a possibility? 

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This is the conversation:

A national ANG chat operator will be with you momentarily.
Welcome to ANG Chat. You are now chatting with '*******'
*****: Good Morning, I'm retired Chief Master Sergeant *********...Welcome to the Air National Guard Chat!     How can I help you?
Evan: Hi, I'm currently enrolled in ROTC and will commission soon, but am interested in going to the 169thFW at McEntire, SC
*****: We do not commission through ROTC
Evan: is there a point of contact for someone that I can get a hold of to ask about the possibility of me visiting the base to learn more about ANG at McEntire?
*****: You are committed to the service you are in ROTC for
Evan: I understand about the commissioning, however I would like to learn more about Palace Chase to keep my options open in the future. My cadre have told me that I may be able to switch over after like a year or so in active duty
******: After you are on active duty you need to talk with your MPF after you have served 1/2 your commitment
*******: There is nothing we can do for you now
******: Palace Chase is a USAF Program to transfer to the Air National Guard prior to your Date Of Separation.  To qualify, to apply, you have to have completed at least  1/2 of your initial enlistment and if you are located overseas you must be  within 6 months of your DEROS. If your DEROS is the same as you DOS, you can apply up to 1 year from your DEROS. You are required to serve twice the time you have remaining on your enlistment in the ANG.
Evan: Right, but I don't really want to wait 2 years and then research it. I want to be prepared and know what I want to do before that 1/2 commitment is up.
******: You can't
Evan: so I'm not allowed to get information?
*****: It is a USAF program...you have to wait until you are in to talk with them about it
*****: Talk to them after you are in
Evan: Okay, thanks anyways
******: good luck

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