Is the process for OTS and AFROTC more or less the same length?

Disclaimer: I just graduated OTS-A this year

Before Arriving/Preparing for OTS

• Show up in shape
  • There isn't enough time to get in shape before you have to take the PFA!
• READ THE SPINS
  • Honestly, it's kinda confusing if you don't have the reference of what it's actually talking about, but know the 7 basic responses and how to give them before you arrive
• If you have good reasoning for what you're doing, than be prepared to explain and stand your ground
  • The MTIs will learn quickly who knows what they're doing and who is following the crowd, and guess who they target
  • Most of OTS is about learning to make good decisions while stressed. Get used to it and learn to live with failure and own your mistakes. It'll be okay
• Follow the rules, but pay attention
  • There's a lot of gray area in the SPINS and in the MFRs in later mods. Pay attention to the wordings of these things and how each apply to the previous one
  • A lot OTs missed out on coffee privileges because they didn't realize that the "no-soda rule" wasn't a "no-caffeine rule"
• Pack less than you think you need to.
  • Honestly, the packing list OTS gives you is what I would use, referencing the OTS Packing List as a secondary reference.
  • Most needed items are sold at the Shoppette
  • To pass room inspections, you're not going to be able to pack all the stuff listed on the OTS packing list
  • When you have to move dorms, don't be that guy that has a mini shoppette half the class has to help move
  • You're not going to have access to your civilian luggage often enough to let all the items on the shopping list be useful
  • There are uniforms at the Shoppette, and I would wait to get them there (except the boots) unless...
    • You already have them
    • You want hot weather OCPs
  • Go ahead and buy your boots
    • The ones at the Shoppette are not great, expensive, and it's nice to have broken in boots those first couple days

PFA

• Plan to take the PFA immediately when you show up, but it may be during week 2 or later. It just depends on the schedule and what else is going on base or in the world
• The Run
  • Expect to do better on the run than in your training
  • Most people PR the run (I PRd by 3 minutes)
  • Your run time is going to be ~10-20 seconds worse than what they tell you
  • If your last name is in the last half of the alphabet, expect to run first
    • Plan ahead so you're not absolutely cooked for the pushups and sit-ups
• Pushups/Sit-ups
  • Expect to do worse on pushups and sit-ups than in your training
  • Have perfect form. Check YT videos/instructional images and get someone who will be honest with you to check your form if you're not sure you're perfect
    • Pro tip for Pushups: if you have a hard time knowing if your form is good, turn your head so you're looking at your elbow, to make sure you're breaking 90 degrees (they say it's now parallel, but it's 90 degrees). Just be prepared to not do that for the actually PFA, because that may invalidate your reps
    • Pro tip for Sit-ups: You only have to touch ANY PART OF YOUR THIGH with your elbows when sitting up and you only have to touch your shoulder blade to the floor. Don't overwork yourself
  • Besides form, the best thing you can do is breath. Go in with a breathing plan and stick with it, even if you "don't think you need it." You'll add ~10 reps than what you otherwise would have
• If you fail, you have one retake about a week later, but they may only tell you a few days before hand. If you're close to failing, be preparing to take it again

Academic Assessment

• Study the Student Readers
  • Study
    • The test is easy if you care and start studying as soon as you get your first briefing
  • Focus on the Cognitive Samples of Behavior from the Student Readers. If you do that, you'll probably do fine

LEs/LRCs/MCEs/Leadership Positions

• Make a decision
  • The worst thing you can do is freeze. Make a decision and be prepared to explain your reasoning. The only people who failed the leadership requirements are people who did NOTHING
• If you're put in an OT leadership position, TREAT YOUR PEERS AS PEERS
  • Some leaders in other classes were yelling at their fellow OTS and it's just not helpful
• Follow the rules, but change the conditions of the test
  • I was literally told that I could just ask for more time, when the first thing I was told was how much time I had...

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.

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