AFOQT

vamom

vamom

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Messages
413
Good evening. Our son just took the AFOQT last weekend and received his scores today. They are 98,98.96,94,91 in order. While these are obviously strong scores, I would like to know what the other components are that these are considered with when it comes to competing for rated and non-rates slots. Also, how heavily rated is the AFOQT ? He is aware that he may take it once more but does not feel that he will given these scores. Just looking for some info on all of this. New ground for me as a parent. (son is a tech engineering major and junior at a SMC) with GPA above 3.0
 
The AFOQT will be used for EA selection, and then again for his AFSC selection boards. If I recall correctly it is 20% of the score for EA.

They are great scores.
 
Pima, I know I should know this....can you remind me what EA is? sorry "cringe"..... wait wait....would that be Enrollment Allocation? If so, how does that factor in. It's been a while since my immersion lessons a few years ago! :) thank you so much!
 
Yes EA is Enrollment or aka SFT. They will use a scoring system. If my memory is correct it is as follows:
50% CoC's rec. ----ranking within the det.
20% AFOQT
15% cgpa
15% PFA.

They will than rack and stack all of the scores for the boarded candidates. If they determine to send 2250 cadets out of 2600. 1-2250 will go to SFT.
~~~ Class dates, i.e. Max 1 or Max 6 has no bearing on how they racked and stacked, so don't think because they got Max 6, they must have been the bottom of the barrel. It is more about scheduling. I.E. some schools don't end until Memorial Day weekend, thus they can't go to Max 1, and some kids will start their junior yr. before the end of Max 6, so they can't go at that time.
 
Son is a junior, so he went to SFT this summer. Given that, what weight does the score play in the next step, which I assume is comissioning? Thanks again and I'm sorry if you have answered this before, which I'm sure you have!
 
The next step for him will either be this winter (Feb/Mar) if he is going to go for a rated board. If he is going non-rated he will not meet a board until his 400 fall semester.
~ Caveat if he is commission 2015. I know he is an engineer, and sometimes it is a 5 yr program.

I can't remember the new PCSM 2.0 for rated exactly, (too tired to look up PCSM 2.0) However, he will also take the TBAS. The PCSM score also takes into account how many pilot flight hours he has logged. They must submit their flight log as proof. They have really placed an emphasis on those hours.
~ When you hear about waiving IFS, it is because they have a PPL. IFS = Initial Flight Screening. This is where they go (Pueblo) before attending UPT/UNT. If they bust there, they will not go to UPT/UNT.

That is why they are placing an emphasis on flight hours.
~ If I recall you said he wanted rated. If he is selected for UPT, come June/July he will be sent to Wright Pat for 3 days (or they did prior to this budget crisis). It is an intense physical...seriously 8-4 for 2 full days...EKGs, dental, ears, eyes, etc.
~ He will also be required at the same time to fill out his TS clearance paperwork; this is when a govt agent calls/visits each of his personal references. Just a cranium up, so he can tell the references to expect at least a phone call that can last @30 mins. Bullet has done this 5 times (they last for 5 yrs). His last one was 6 months ago, and my Mom (his MIL) was a reference. They showed up at her house in NJ. Another ref. was his crew mate, living in NC., they showed up at his house.
Just saying it is not to be taken lightly. It is not something to freak out about either, but when you are asking someone to take 30-45 minutes out of their life, and a govt agent will be contacting, it is best to let them know 1st before you put their name down.

I will let non-rated cadets/grads discuss the break down for that path, but basically it comes down to point scale again. A strong AFOQT, with every other aspect being strong too, will give them a better chance to get their 1st pick AFSC.
 
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Thank you Pima. That is very helpful. One more question....what if the candidate has very few or zero flight hours? Do they get auto x'd from earning a pilot slot?
 
NO.

PCSM 2.0 just started and many of the cadets have no or little flight hours. They don't expect 100% of UPT cadets to have a PPL, hence why it is not a requirement to attend IFS, but a waiver so they don't have to attend IFS.

Think of it like we talk about how tech cadets get an edge for cgpa due to their major (3.0/3.1) compared to non-tech(3.3/3.4). It is an edge, but not mandatory.
 
Once again, thank you so much for helping me to understand a world that I completely unfamiliar with. I'm sure that our son knows these things, but sometimes I like to do a little research on my own so as not to look too "out of the loop" LOL! Will keep you posted Pima, you've been with me on this journey for three years now! God Bless You and thank you for always caring enough to share your wealth of knowledge. :smile:
 
Not a problem. I would suggest that you google AFROTC PCSM 2.0 There are informational sites to explain it in great detail, on the breakdown, especially the flight hr breakdown. I.E. it is not PPL or nothing to get some points. It is by hr.

As a Mom that had a son and many of his friends attend IFS, I would suggest as a birthday, Xmas/hanukkah, graduation gift to research flight schools in your area and get them some flight hrs. DS did not have his PPL, but he had Solo'd, and was close to a PPL.
~~~~ They literally hit the ground running. DS reported in on Wed. Class on Thurs. 1st Test on Friday. 2nd on Tuesday. Flying Wed. Test Thurs. Flight Fri.

The more comfortable they are in an aircraft, the more relaxed he will be at IFS. IFS, at least for his class was not like SFT. They all come in on the same day, but the faster you complete the material, the sooner you graduate and go back to your base. There is no graduation ceremony.
~~ Cadet Smith bust a flight, they have to re-do it, but if Cadet Jones passes they get to move onto their next flight, regardless of how Cadet Smith is doing in the airframe.
~ The only thing they all know entering is you will be done by X date. They basically will bust them out of IFS in an insanely short period. Bust a test 2x, and the fat lady is starting to sing. Bust the same flight 3X and she finished singing.

How they exit out of there also sets them up mentally for the beginning of UPT. If they start off shaky at IFS, it is hard emotionally and mentally to get over the fact as others are heading back home to your UPT base where you now will do this for a yr. Their stats as an IFS student will follow them to their UPT base.
~ Main reason cadets with a PPL take the waiver, because the only thing that truly can come out of it is risking busting IFS and never making it to UPT.
 
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vamom,

Those scores are very, very good. The first two are pilot and nav sections which have a lot of spatial relation questions. If he does that well on those sections, he has the ability to do well flying. No guarantees, but he has the basics to work with in the future. His scores are very close to what my son's were and he has done fine. My son did not have his PPL before UPT. Good luck!

Stealth_81
 
Thank you Stealth and Pima! Our son has one flight hour under his belt....that is it (don't mock me but I bought it on a Groupon). I will surely take your advice, Pima, about the flight hours. Thanks again everyone. This site has such awesome and expert advice. Truly invaluable!
 
Anyone that has ever paid for even one flight hour would not mock you! I think for our DS it was @175 an hr.
 
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