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- Mar 5, 2012
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Hello, I've come across info on how jobs are to be selected for the class of 2016 and thought that this info might be useful for the members of this forum. It is a pretty basic overview, so feel free to PM me or post questions here and I'll do my best to get them answered.
Keep in mind that as an applicant your current goal should be to get that appointment! Don't get too hung up on these details, especially because they might be defunct when 2020 rolls around.
The AFSC selections take place in the fall of your senior year at the Academy and are split up into two categories. The first is for cadets who desire a RATED AFSC and the second is for NON-RATED. The rated AFSCs include Pilot, RPA, Combat Systems and Air Battle Manager. If a cadet wants to go rated then they obviously must be medically qualified. They can input preferences for a particular rated career field but could be chosen for ANY of the four based on the needs of the Air Force. It's an all in policy but there is a disproportionate amount of Pilot slots, which is naturally the most sought after rated AFSC. Applicants (USAFA and ROTC together) are racked an stacked based off of PCSM scores for pilot slots. Google PCSM for more info.
If you want to go non-rated, then you give your AFSC preferences for no less than 6 jobs (preferably more). It's pretty much a dream sheet. You can add comments to this preference sheet (if you speak a different language) as rationale for why you should be picked for a particular job. There are also a number of jobs which require specific degrees such as Civil Engineering, Developmental Engineering, Scientist, and Finance (which only requires specific accounting courses) and are reviewed by the respective academic department heads to make sure the cadet is actually qualified. Once all the preferences are in, an algorithm is run at AF Personnel Center (Big Blue) to optimize the selection. It is a combined model, so Academy and ROTC cadets are thrown into the same mix. The selection model runs off of a list of priorities:
1) Meet Air Force TARGETS for all AFSCs
2) Maximize number of DESIRED degree-AFSC matches
3) Balance AFSCs to reflect AF priorities
4) Maximize Cadet PREFERENCES
Lastly are the boarded AFSCs which include OSI, Medical Service Corp, Biomedical Science Corps, Special Tactics Officer, Combat Rescue officer and Air Liaison Officer. You apply to these outside of the preference sheet and are notified of selection (or attend a selection program). But you will have been slotted for a rated or non-rated AFSC by this time from which you must request release to pursue a boarded AFSC (mostly granted).
There are also slots for cadets to continue to graduate school immediately following USAFA.
Keep in mind that as an applicant your current goal should be to get that appointment! Don't get too hung up on these details, especially because they might be defunct when 2020 rolls around.
The AFSC selections take place in the fall of your senior year at the Academy and are split up into two categories. The first is for cadets who desire a RATED AFSC and the second is for NON-RATED. The rated AFSCs include Pilot, RPA, Combat Systems and Air Battle Manager. If a cadet wants to go rated then they obviously must be medically qualified. They can input preferences for a particular rated career field but could be chosen for ANY of the four based on the needs of the Air Force. It's an all in policy but there is a disproportionate amount of Pilot slots, which is naturally the most sought after rated AFSC. Applicants (USAFA and ROTC together) are racked an stacked based off of PCSM scores for pilot slots. Google PCSM for more info.
If you want to go non-rated, then you give your AFSC preferences for no less than 6 jobs (preferably more). It's pretty much a dream sheet. You can add comments to this preference sheet (if you speak a different language) as rationale for why you should be picked for a particular job. There are also a number of jobs which require specific degrees such as Civil Engineering, Developmental Engineering, Scientist, and Finance (which only requires specific accounting courses) and are reviewed by the respective academic department heads to make sure the cadet is actually qualified. Once all the preferences are in, an algorithm is run at AF Personnel Center (Big Blue) to optimize the selection. It is a combined model, so Academy and ROTC cadets are thrown into the same mix. The selection model runs off of a list of priorities:
1) Meet Air Force TARGETS for all AFSCs
2) Maximize number of DESIRED degree-AFSC matches
3) Balance AFSCs to reflect AF priorities
4) Maximize Cadet PREFERENCES
Lastly are the boarded AFSCs which include OSI, Medical Service Corp, Biomedical Science Corps, Special Tactics Officer, Combat Rescue officer and Air Liaison Officer. You apply to these outside of the preference sheet and are notified of selection (or attend a selection program). But you will have been slotted for a rated or non-rated AFSC by this time from which you must request release to pursue a boarded AFSC (mostly granted).
There are also slots for cadets to continue to graduate school immediately following USAFA.