How'd you rank your preferences? I know a few people with private pilot's licences and everything who got RPA because they put both pilot and RPA as high interest when they applied.
My preferences were pilot high, CSO medium, and ABM/RPA low. In hindsight I wish I did not put CSO medium as I now realize I have no interest in going CSO...my temporary AFSC is Space Ops which I would be more interested in. I am hoping that putting CSO medium did not cause the boards to put me CSO (maybe there was a high demand for CSOs this year?). At the same time, I do not know why they did not select me for my highest interest as I had the scores for it. I honestly do not know how they really factor in interest levels, as I have friends who got pilot slots who put both CSO "medium" and CSO (and everything besides pilot) "low"
How did you do on the NAV section on the AFOQT? Maybe you did so well the boards decided to take you as a CSO instead of Pilot. I am not sure if this is correct thinking, but it could have played a role. I hope everything works out and you end up getting a pilot slot, it sounds like you earned one with your scores.
Nav was 59, pilot 72. There is speculation that since I put medium as CSO I was slotted as CSO. I really wish I did not put medium for that position. I can remain on the alternate list for pilot but I do not know if I need to accept or deny my CSO slot. I’ve heard that if I dent my CSO slot, I will be removed from the pilot alternate list and can never apply for a pilot slot again. On the other hand, if I accept CSO and do not get bumped up to pilot I will be stuck in a position I do not want to do. Really is a rock and a hard place situation.
I dont know how it works, but I would assume you put pilot first. For whatever reason they didnt offer you pilot so they went to your next choice which was CSO. Regardless of what how you ranked them they would have given you the next job on the list. I guess if you had put low next all of the rest, they could have gone with CSO, RPA or ABM. Since you put them in low on your list, i would imagine you wouldnt have been happy if they given you those either. I dont think they would have thought to themselves, "this guy only wants pilot and since we arent going to give it to him, lets not give him a rated job". When you applied for a rated position, your open yourself to any rated position. By the way, there is no law that says you have to take CSO . I think the problem is that they will never allow you to get another rated position.