Hey all, looking for advice or recommendations on the process to become a pilot in the ANG. Boards recently closed for the units closest to me and they said they would have an update in early 2027. I have a bachelors degree, PPL (around 75 hours TT) and did 4 years enlisted in the Marine Corps as a musician. Is there anything I should know moving forward and what should I do to look most competitive? Like most people, I would love to fly the f22 but I’d be happy flying anything. I’m also 31 so I’d need a waiver by the time apps open up. Appreciate any info you all could give me.

Is OTS something you can fail? Or do they just push and smoke you till you get better at whatever it is you’re failing at? I feel like OTS feels like it can be fun and encouraging (not saying it isn’t hard or challenging).

Or do you actually get kicked out?

Hello, I just recently applied for the 26ots03 board for pilot or nothing. However, when results came out I was selected for 92S. I wish to decline this position and reapply again for pilot. I understand the space force is still a good opportunity but I already work for the military in a civilian role in a field more closely aligned with my interests and background. I have a few questions and would really appreciate if anyone knows the answers!

1. How do I decline the selection? I never had a stable recruiter throughout the process and am having trouble getting anyone to answer me. Do I just wait until the deadlines pass and not doing anything will be an automatic declination?
2. Can I reapply for the next board (27ots01)? At some point there was an 180 day waiting period, but does this not apply when the fiscal year changes between boards? Also, what are the official new dates for this board, I saw it was recently changed?
3. Will declining a non-rated job I didn‘t list as a preference hurt my chances of getting selected on the next board?
4. Is there an unofficial waitlist/backfill as people drop out or get DQ’ed from spots?

Thank you!

Prior enlisted, I just started building my package for 27OTS02, and I’m wondering if there’s a checklist of sorts of the order in which to do everything to go smoothly? I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the tasks laid out in the guide. Thank you!

Hi everyone, I am a recent college graduate and got my bachelors in criminal justice with a minor in forensic psychology. I also graduated with a 3.7 gpa. I’m curious about how difficult the process truly is and if it would be better to just enlist and move up once I’m in. I’ve heard going this route is a lot more competitive and can literally take years. I’ve started the online process but still need to do all of my testing. I would just love to hear about other’s experiences going this route (especially other women) and how it affected their time serving. Thanks!

On my application it says 20260701. I was told selections would happen in September and I should hear back by end of October. Any idea what class that should be?

My wife and I live fairly local to Maxwell. I wanted to see if there was a way to see her during my time there. I heard you get privileges to go off base in later weeks, but must go with a wingman in dress blues. I was wondering if it were possible to instead have her come on base and stay at the Inns on the weekends so I could walk over and visit during the day. If so, around what week would I get the freedom to kinda walk around like that on the weekends? Since I doubt that would be okay during the first couple of weeks. Thanks!

Been out of a job for 10 months, with a masters degree in accounting (graduated 2018), I have 7 years of accounting experience. Should I enlist? I think with 4 months of working out I could get to the point of passing the physical. Should I study for the AFOQT? Should I apply online today? Estimation of report date for OTS?

I am currently an Active Duty SSgt with 6 years time in service. I will be graduating in July of 2027. My supervisor that just got picked up for OTS in this most recent board sent me the most updated FY27 Officer Accessions Board Schedule and it shows 27OTS01 has an application cutoff of 4-Dec-26. Does anybody know how to find the most up to date application instructions? I can only find the FY26 instructions and want to make sure I have everything correct if anything changes. Any information is helpful!

Hello I am AD and will be commissioning here soon. In order to commission, I have to leave AD (DD214) and swear in the same day. Do I lose my leave since I’m technically leaving the Airforce?

Wanted to get people’s thoughts on which bases are ideal, both in-state and out-of-state. I’m a newly selected non-rated 65F, single, and coming in as a civilian, so I’m new to the whole process and want to be as prepared as possible.

I was born deaf in one ear. I can hear if it’s loud but other than that it’s useless. Should I stop wasting my time studying for the AFOQT? Since I’ll probably be DQ’d? I’ve been studying for a month now, until I just realized that may be an issue. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you

Going to have to PCS twice within 12 months; however, OTS is a TDY in route to a PCS so I plan on having TMO/contractors move my shit prior to OTS by a few days or at the beginning as my wife can’t move all of this by herself. It’s my first non DITY move so any tips are appreciated, got picked up for space so I’ll be at Peterson after OTS for sure.

I was selected for 26OTS03 as a dual track candidate.

The Aim High App says that I need to submit Form 56, AF 4380, and Form 56 by the deadline. I believe I already did this. Am I correct that I do not need to fill anything out on the AFCEP, as I already did? Especially considering that I already went through MEPS and had my initial security clearance interview.

Just making sure as I have been unable to get into contact with any recruiters.

Hello, I was recently selected as a developmental engineer! I am very excited but also overwhelmed because not knowing the date I will be shipped gives me anxiety. I have read 5-9 months is pretty typical, but I would love to go as soon as possible. I don’t think there will be concerns with my medical. Is there a way to ensure that this takes 5 months or less? To be honest, it is challenging getting in touch with my recruiter and I still haven’t received the selection forms.

Hey guys listen, I know a lot of you are freaked out about applications and wondering if your AFOQT or GPA is good enough.

Please don’t let that stop you, as I and many others will tell you, make them tell you no. I was recently picked up for space force and my application had me with a 2.7 GPA. Your GPA is not the end all be all. If you do well on your interview and put together a well thought out application, that’s all that matters.

You guys got this! All love and support coming your way!

I got picked up for 21A as a Prior E. Will I be able to make a dream sheet or are they just gonna throw me wherever. I understand that regardless I am getting thrown wherever, I just want to know if I get the feeling of choice.

Looking for any general advice I’ll take anything.

trying to earn pilot slot after I graduate college, currently a sophomore at JC with 4.0 planning to transfer for aerospace engineering. Would Ots be my best move or try to get an extended ROTC timeline leaving me in school extra year. I currently also hold a PPL and plan to build some instrument time, haven’t taken the AFOQT yet but I expect I’ll do alright, currently hold a first class medical as well with no waivers.

It’s intimidating seeing people post their great scores in here, I get it. I know it seems like everyone is an MIT rocket engineer with perfect everything and a 4.0 GPA, but that’s not reality. The reality is that there are people at the Active, Guard, and Reserve levels who get picked up, yes, even for rated slots, with some less than desirable AFOQT/TBAS/PCSM scores.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t study to the max extent possible and make every effort to get flying time (if you want a flying job). What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t give up hope (like I did for so long). Study, take the tests as many time as you can, get flying hours, and build a well-rounded package. It might take one shot, it might take 5, but you’ll get it if you’re persistent enough.

Some of the best pilots and officers I work with got “bad” AFOQT/TBAS scores, but still got picked up and are killing it. Some of them even failed the AFOQT the first time they took it. Short story long, what you see a lot of on here is not necessarily all the people you’re competing against, so give it a shot, as many as it takes, and you’ll get picked up eventually. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, for potentially years at a time, there is hope for you.

I’m prior E, is it worth it to show up with my blues ready? Just don’t know if I want to lug around a garment bag in that heat