AFROTC Pilot Slot Chances

bb2405

5-Year Member
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Mar 17, 2011
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I am wondering if someone can give me insight as to whether I am competitive or not for a pilot slot?

AFOQT Pilot: 87
AFOQT Quantitative: 66
PCSM: 96
CGPA: 2.67 - Meteorology Major
 
I am wondering if someone can give me insight as to whether I am competitive or not for a pilot slot?

AFOQT Pilot: 87
AFOQT Quantitative: 66
PCSM: 96
CGPA: 2.67 - Meteorology Major
I think it's a personal opinion because no one is a pro at knowing what's competitive and accepted. From looking at these numbers, I would think you are competitive. I've seen pilot selects with lower numbers being selected. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't stop improving these numbers.

"Never settle with where you're at; always aim to be better than you were yesterday."
 
I am guessing you have a ton of flying hours with a 87 AFOQT and a 96 PCSM. So yes, its competitive, however your GPA is extremely low, lower than the "average" selects.
 
It's been a long time since I've been on here so I haven't had a chance to look around and see if this was posted yet, but here are this year's rated stats.
 

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It was posted earlier because most posters were shocked by the low % of pilot slots given out this year, basically @45%. It will be interesting in the end how many will be picked up from the alternate list.

I agree with zero you must have a lot of flight hours for that high of a PCSM

As others have stated already nobody can give you a true answer, because nobody here sits on the board and if they did they would not say anything anyway.

The other reason why is because nobody knows the pool size and how many pilot slots will drop. 2 years ago they had a much higher rate than last year. Next year can be a repeat of last year, or it could be as high as 95% like it was a few years back.

Personally, I think a lot will be determined with what appears to be more OCS slots being selected by Big Blue. They predict to select over 500 applicants for FY16. The rated board meets 2x a year for OCS, July and January. So you maybe able to get a glimpse of chances if you find out how many are being picked up for OCS.
~ Math wise, figure @550 will go Pilot out of USAFA. Last year 400 were picked up from ROTC. UPT between the 4 bases push through @1100 students a year, and that is with max size classes, on top of @ 6-9 month wait time before starting the course. Thus, if you see OCS numbers bump up, and USAFA remaining the same, than the only place to reduce numbers would be out of ROTC.

I think your cgpa is low, but not unheard of for selection. However, remember how the % works for selection. Your PCSM being so high will offset the low cgpa. There will be you CoCs ranking added in, your SFT ranking and your PFA. The higher those are,the better your chances will be. Bottom 1/3rd for CoC can be the real make or break, or a low SFT ranking and PFA combined can be the make break too.

In other words, even with your original post, that was just a small amount of the score. It would be impo wrong for anyone to say anything either way no matter what, based on the little amount you have supplied.

Good luck, I hope you get a slot, but remember their needs come first.
 
Thanks for the response everyone. Currently I have 95 hours so that definitely helped me out. I am going to work my butt off at SFT and hope to get that slot in February!
 
Thanks for the response everyone. Currently I have 95 hours so that definitely helped me out. I am going to work my butt off at SFT and hope to get that slot in February

You have yet to attend SFT?
 
Well selected for SFT with a 2.67 cgpa says a lot.
 
I am will, I believe it is probably near 90% now, with the addition of 200 more slots.

However, that being said, 2.67 is a very low cgpa. Sorry bb2405, but that is the real truth. I don't know what college you attend, and for some colleges meteorology is not a tech major, which makes it even lower.

I say this not to create fear for you, but let's assume you get UPT. 95 hour as is not a PPL, so you will attend IFS. IFS and UPT are academics before they let you in any aircraft. DS arrived at IFS on Wed., the first exam (bold) was Friday. 3 failed the exam out of 28. They were allowed to retake on Monday. 2 of the 3 failed again. Washed out before ever getting in a plane. The 3rd passed, but the next exam was Tuesday. They had 1 night to study compared to the other 25 that had the entire weekend. They busted the next test. They never got up in an airplane either.

Yes, flight hours can help, but academics is a huge issue too. As I stated earlier, I don't know what college you attend. 2.67 may be average or above average academically for your major, but if it is not than understand college will be much easier than a pilot path.

If you have not had the chance please click on Raimius's signature (blue link).. First few pages of his blog are USAFA, but, later on he goes into IFS and UPT.

I suggest that cadets, lurkers and parents desiring Pilot read his blog I am a Mom of a pilot. It is not an exxageration. It is reality. You will live everyday 18 hours for 15-22 months.
~ You will go to work at 6 a.m.come home make dinner, play Xbox while eating dinner. Once done you will chair fly for hours. Saturday is your day of rest. Sunday is the start again until the end of the day on Friday.
~~ DS started UPT 4/1. Winged 4/23. Airframe school 7/15. Reported to his Op base 2/1....22 months.

During those @2 years we spoke weekly for 5-10 minutes on the weekend. If he called on a weekday, our 1st thought was...what is wrong?

Again, here's the problem with your CHANCE ME post....what is your PFA score, what is your CoC ranking, and also the unanswered question...what will be your SFT ranking.

PCSM and cgpa are small parts of the equation when you start adding in CoC, SFT and PFA. Currently that high PCSM offsets the low cgpa.
 
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I have my PPL and it's a critical tech major according to the Air Force from what I've read. Also I attend a tough school where engineering gpas are usually around 2.7-2.9
 
Than you seem good to go. Where is your fear...top 1/3rd CoC, high PFA, you are close to cgpa at your school, have a PPL, etc?

Nobody can answer this question. If you want someone to say YES, you are going to get it, than heck, I will say it.

Does it make it true or fact? No.

Honestly, the AF can say we need more ABM or RPAs and that is where you will go.

You need to just wait.

Are you scholarship? OBTW a critical major may equate to a lower chance for selection. IOWS they won't allow you to go to UPT because they need you as a meteorology major.
~ Service before self.
 
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#2 grad at USAFA a physics major that year got....wait for it...physicist after putting pilot as his #1 choice. AF always before self
 
fencer brings up a point.

I don't know where meteorology stands currently regarding critical manning. A few years back it was a critical manning issue. It is also part of the equation and the Service before Self aspect when it comes down to getting selected.

I would suggest that even with a PPL, keep flying and try to find a plane to rent that is similar to what they fly at Pueblo. IOWS, not the typical Cessna or Piper that you flew for your PPL.
 
GPA is 10% of your rated app... really not that big of a deal.

Dependent upon your commander, some will look at your GPA and use that when they are doing their commander's ranking. Though, some will evaluate based off your leadership and other characteristics -- hope for the ladder.
 
How is 1/10th not a big deal? Lol. There are larger portions, but they all matter significantly for a reason.
 
How is 1/10th not a big deal? Lol. There are larger portions, but they all matter significantly for a reason.

I agree 1000%. That 10% can mean the make or break between a pilot slot and a RPA or CSO slot.

Just like the scholarship, SA appointment process or SFT selection...don't leave any points on the table.

Dependent upon your commander, some will look at your GPA and use that when they are doing their commander's ranking. Though, some will evaluate based off your leadership and other characteristics -- hope for the ladder.

There are many units that it is a combination of both. At DSs it was cgpa, AND leadership, plus, AFOQT/TBAS/PPL hours. Just my opinion. but I think it also matters what the career field the CoC comes from prior to their assignment. A rated CoC may see it differently as far as ranking goes than a non-rated.
~ IE The cadets' AFOQT, TBAS and PCSM score may place them higher, even if they have a lower cgpa compared to another cadet. They may believe that those scores are a predictor of success at UPT, and not care about their college gpa.


Back on topic, I would advise bb2405 to talk to their unit, especially if meteorology is classified as a critical manning AFSC. If it is considered critical, than very few with that major will be released for a rated slot. Everything everyone here posts is anecdotal. Nobody sits on the board. Anyone that does sit on a board will be silent.

Finally, my pet peeve is posters forget that a lot has to do with the candidate pool. Last years stats may not be the same for this upcoming year. Big Blue can only send so many every year through the UPT pipeline.
~ Use SFT 2014 rate as an example compared to SFT 2015. The amount of cadets attending SFT did not change...@1900/2000 cadets, but the % rate was dramatically different. 14 was less than 60%, 15 was over 90%. Same amount, but 15 had less cadets fighting for a lot than 14.

FYI, the AF can send @1100-1200 students a year through UPT (LAFB, CAFB, VAFB, and ENJJPT). The classes include:
USAFA
AFROTC
OCS
Guard
International students

USAFA send @500+, last year AFROTC selected 391.

I would also suggest that when you talk to your CoC discuss how you will submit your list for rated. If your Cadre is not rated, you may want to lurk on other forums for advice.
~ Getting a pilot slot is easy. @90% get a slot typically. Getting winged...not so much. The washout rate is 25% for IFS, and than from there another 25% will bust UPT.
 
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