Questions about Officer Qualification

[Anonymous]

Ok, everyone, please be patient with this long-winded tale. I have a dilemna and that is why I am seeking advice now.

I am a 29 year old married woman with an MA in international communication, overseas work and academic experience, and fluency in four languages. I live in South Carolina and I have been having a hard time finding a job in my field. My mother and father suggested that I look into the military because we assumed that all of the branches needed interpreters and/or intelligence officers with my abilities.

Well, I went to see the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Navy was rude, the Army tried to enlist me, and the Air Force was the only one who seriously considered helping me to obtain a commission.

There is only one Air Force Officer Recruiting Station in my area, and the station has two officer recruiters. The first Air Force Officer Recruiter with whom I spoke told me that I had a good shot for a commission because of my language abilities, degrees, and grades. Then he told me that he would have to see all of my transcripts from my post-secondary educational institutions, not just from the schools from where I graduated, and that request was what started my dilemna.

I have a 3.8 GPA from my graduate program and a 3.47 from my undergrad school, which are very high GPA's, but I since I transferred from my first post-secondary institution to my degree giving institution, the undergrad school from where I graduated used my transfer points for my overall GPA, and that was why the recruiter said he needed my transcripts from the first school as well. The problem lies in the fact that my first institution, which was an acting conservatory in New York City, proved to be a terrible experience for me, and due to their funky grading system that combined acting ability (which they felt was low in my case) with studentship efforts (which were high), I received C's in most of my courses. When you put those grades into my 3.47 GPA (even though these grades are not calculated into my final GPA for my BA), I have less than a 3.0, which is the minimum to apply for a non-tech commission.

Upon seeing my first institutions grades, the first recruiter told me that he was worried that I wouldn't get a commission, and he encouraged me to also apply with the medical corps recruiter, who is located at the Officer Recruiting Station with him, because for some reason he felt that I would have a better shot with the Air Force Medical Service Corps.

I did not feel that I was really all that qualified to be a medical officer, since I do not have a degree in a medical area; although I have worked for three medical practices in administration, and I have a certification in English/Spanish medical interpretation. The medical recruiter, though, said I had a good chance, and I went ahead with the medical application.

I also decided to go ahead with the other application to be a linguist or intelligence officer, but then in July, my recruiter sort of put my application "on-hold" because he wanted to wait until I got my AFOQT scores back. He insisted that I would need to get an 80 on everything to get a commission. Well, I took the test and I made an 87 on the verbal part, a 27 on the quantitative part (I know that that score is very low), and a 52 on the Academic part. I studied really hard for the test, but the math and verbal scores reflect every standardized test score I have ever had ( for instance, on my SAT's and GRE I received a 490 in quantitative and a 700 in verbal), and so I cannot say I am surprised at the scores.

The first recruiter said that it will now be very hard for me to get a commission, and then the medical recruiter told me this past Labor Day weekend that I may not be that great a medical candidate after all, because he has another candidate who has worked in the MSC for the Army, who is now "switching jobs, and that of the two of us, she has a better shot. He went ahead and sent out my application though, despite his sudden doubts.

When he told me that I might not be such a good canidate, he also told me that his major thinks that I would make a better linguist than a medical officer, which is what I have been wanting from the beginning. When the medical recruiter told me what the major said, I said that I agreed with the major, but that the first recruiter, who covers the linguistics area, has been less than enthusiastic about me from the beginning, and that he has steered me away from applying for that type of commission with him.

Then the medical recruiter said that I should try to get a letter of recommendation from President Bush, since I know someone, who knows someone, who might be able to get one a presidential recommendation for me. He said that he and the first recruiter once had an applicant who had low AFOQT scores on everything, but he had a letter of recommendation from the president, so he got a pilot commission.

Naturally, I was very upset when the medical recruiter told me about my diminished prospects, and it was obvious to the recruiter that I was upset, so he asked me if I really wanted to be a linguistic officer, and I said, "Yes. Very much". And then he told me he would speak with his commander for me about what they would need to do to make me a linguistic officer, since the commander is a linguist and may know what to do. He also said that he and the other recruiter had never had anyone apply as a linguist before, so he didn't know what to do. He then told me that he would call me tomorrow and that I would also have to speak with the major who said that I would make a better linguist than a medical officer.

My plan of action is to tell the major that I also feel that I would be a better linguist or intelligence officer, although I have no doubt that I would do well in medical administration. But, I am going to ask the major what I should do about obtaining a commission in what I really want to do because my recruiters, I feel, have really been giving me the run-around, and making me forget my original reason for joining the Air Force in the first place.

So, my questions are as follows:

Am I doing the right thing by speaking with the major about my dilemna, and is there anyone else, in your opinion, with whom I should speak?

And, do any of you think I have a shot at a commission in intelligence or linguistics, despite the low quantitative score and the grades from the acting conservatory?

And, do you have any other advice for me regarding what I should be expecting from my recruiters?

And, are my recruiters right about the recommendation? Do I need a letter from the President to get a commission now? My father, who is a retired Air Force Major and flight surgeon, is furious about that suggestion, because he says that if I do that, I will have "Political Influence" marked in my dosset for my entire military career, and that it would hinder me in the long run.

I would appreciate any advice you can give me.

Thank you.

P.S. The medical officer also put my GPA from my masters degree down as a 3.4 on the application, even though it is a 3.8. When I pointed this out and complained about it, he said it had something to do with the quality points being calucated different in the military and he was very vague about it. I am going to speak with the major about this too. Do any of you know why he would change my GPA like that?

npruitt75@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

Hello, I just retired from being an OTS recruiter, I can give you my opinion but it may not make you happy. The non-tech issue has been a sore topic for the last two years because the authorizations are balanced upon how well ROTC and the Academy are doing, well, they are doing very well, therefore, limited opportunities for Non-techs, making the program VERY competitve. Your AFOQT scores do not fit in the average "selection" scores. They were correct in referring you to the next program which would be MSC. However, you have to be competitive for that too. You can still apply for both programs, but because of competition, don't get overly excited about getting selected. I, as a recruiter, could NEVER promise a non-tech an Intel job. Very popular job with the ROTC and Academy folks, so I would tell my recruits to open up to more possiblilities, meaning, take the needs of the Air Force. You have until the age of 34 to apply for a commission, I am predicting the tables will turn and we will be actively recruiting non-techs again. Remember, even though you are not competitive to the recruiter's eyes, legally, you can still apply. They just know, based on experience, and trend analysis, who is more likely to be selected. Go down to the bottom where your questions are and you will see my answers based on my experiences as a recruiter.

P.S. I don't think you are getting the run around. It seems to me they are communicating with you very well, you just don't like what they have to say. It's just a tough time right now. Hang in there. Retake the AFOQT if you can. You have two tests in a lifetime, with a 6 month waiting period between the two.

Ok, everyone, please be patient with this long-winded tale. I have a dilemna


: and that is why I am seeking advice now.
:
: I am a 29 year old married woman with an MA in international communication,
: overseas work and academic experience, and fluency in four languages. I
: live in South Carolina and I have been having a hard time finding a job in
: my field. My mother and father suggested that I look into the military
: because we assumed that all of the branches needed interpreters and/or
: intelligence officers with my abilities.
:
: Well, I went to see the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Navy was rude, the
: Army tried to enlist me, and the Air Force was the only one who seriously
: considered helping me to obtain a commission.
:
: There is only one Air Force Officer Recruiting Station in my area, and the
: station has two officer recruiters. The first Air Force Officer Recruiter
: with whom I spoke told me that I had a good shot for a commission because
: of my language abilities, degrees, and grades. Then he told me that he
: would have to see all of my transcripts from my post-secondary educational
: institutions, not just from the schools from where I graduated, and that
: request was what started my dilemna.
:
: I have a 3.8 GPA from my graduate program and a 3.47 from my undergrad
: school, which are very high GPA's, but I since I transferred from my first
: post-secondary institution to my degree giving institution, the undergrad
: school from where I graduated used my transfer points for my overall GPA,
: and that was why the recruiter said he needed my transcripts from the
: first school as well. The problem lies in the fact that my first
: institution, which was an acting conservatory in New York City, proved to
: be a terrible experience for me, and due to their funky grading system
: that combined acting ability (which they felt was low in my case) with
: studentship efforts (which were high), I received C's in most of my
: courses. When you put those grades into my 3.47 GPA (even though these
: grades are not calculated into my final GPA for my BA), I have less than a
: 3.0, which is the minimum to apply for a non-tech commission.
:
: Upon seeing my first institutions grades, the first recruiter told me that he
: was worried that I wouldn't get a commission, and he encouraged me to also
: apply with the medical corps recruiter, who is located at the Officer
: Recruiting Station with him, because for some reason he felt that I would
: have a better shot with the Air Force Medical Service Corps.
:
: I did not feel that I was really all that qualified to be a medical officer,
: since I do not have a degree in a medical area; although I have worked for
: three medical practices in administration, and I have a certification in
: English/Spanish medical interpretation. The medical recruiter, though,
: said I had a good chance, and I went ahead with the medical application.
:
: I also decided to go ahead with the other application to be a linguist or
: intelligence officer, but then in July, my recruiter sort of put my
: application "on-hold" because he wanted to wait until I got my
: AFOQT scores back. He insisted that I would need to get an 80 on
: everything to get a commission. Well, I took the test and I made an 87 on
: the verbal part, a 27 on the quantitative part (I know that that score is
: very low), and a 52 on the Academic part. I studied really hard for the
: test, but the math and verbal scores reflect every standardized test score
: I have ever had ( for instance, on my SAT's and GRE I received a 490 in
: quantitative and a 700 in verbal), and so I cannot say I am surprised at
: the scores.
:
: The first recruiter said that it will now be very hard for me to get a
: commission, and then the medical recruiter told me this past Labor Day
: weekend that I may not be that great a medical candidate after all,
: because he has another candidate who has worked in the MSC for the Army,
: who is now "switching jobs, and that of the two of us, she has a
: better shot. He went ahead and sent out my application though, despite his
: sudden doubts.
:
: When he told me that I might not be such a good canidate, he also told me
: that his major thinks that I would make a better linguist than a medical
: officer, which is what I have been wanting from the beginning. When the
: medical recruiter told me what the major said, I said that I agreed with
: the major, but that the first recruiter, who covers the linguistics area,
: has been less than enthusiastic about me from the beginning, and that he
: has steered me away from applying for that type of commission with him.
:
: Then the medical recruiter said that I should try to get a letter of
: recommendation from President Bush, since I know someone, who knows
: someone, who might be able to get one a presidential recommendation for
: me. He said that he and the first recruiter once had an applicant who had
: low AFOQT scores on everything, but he had a letter of recommendation from
: the president, so he got a pilot commission.
:
: Naturally, I was very upset when the medical recruiter told me about my
: diminished prospects, and it was obvious to the recruiter that I was
: upset, so he asked me if I really wanted to be a linguistic officer, and I
: said, "Yes. Very much". And then he told me he would speak with
: his commander for me about what they would need to do to make me a
: linguistic officer, since the commander is a linguist and may know what to
: do. He also said that he and the other recruiter had never had anyone
: apply as a linguist before, so he didn't know what to do. He then told me
: that he would call me tomorrow and that I would also have to speak with
: the major who said that I would make a better linguist than a medical
: officer.
:
: My plan of action is to tell the major that I also feel that I would be a
: better linguist or intelligence officer, although I have no doubt that I
: would do well in medical administration. But, I am going to ask the major
: what I should do about obtaining a commission in what I really want to do
: because my recruiters, I feel, have really been giving me the run-around,
: and making me forget my original reason for joining the Air Force in the
: first place.
:
: So, my questions are as follows: Am I doing the right thing by speaking with
: the major about my dilemna, and is there anyone else, in your opinion,
: with whom I should speak? You are using the chain of command, I just don't know how much they can help you.
:
: And, do any of you think I have a shot at a commission in intelligence or
: linguistics, despite the low quantitative score and the grades from the
: acting conservatory? Any applicant I had, must be willing to take whatever job they can get because Intel jobs were hard to get. You can certainly put it down on your application, but you could get selected with a totally different job. I had plenty of applicants willing to do anything to get into the Air Force as an Officer FIRST! Then worry about the job later. It's just the way it is right now.
:
: And, do you have any other advice for me regarding what I should be expecting
: from my recruiters? It seems to me they are doing their best. Recruiters are stressed out over trying to put doctors, dentists, and nurses in. This is a taxing job, no excuse for not helping you out, but it is hard to be the only recruiter in the state (sometimes) working so many issues at once. It seems to me they are trying.
:
: And, are my recruiters right about the recommendation? Do I need a letter
: from the President to get a commission now? I NEVER suggest a letter of recommendation from politicians!!! Your father is right! HQ smells them like a rat and don't like seeing them. You want letters from people that you have worked for, college professors, whatnot, people that know about your leadership abilities, responsibilities, etc...


My father, who is a retired : Air Force Major and flight surgeon, is furious about that suggestion,
: because he says that if I do that, I will have "Political
: Influence" marked in my dosset for my entire military career, and
: that it would hinder me in the long run. TRUE, TRUE, TRUE!! Listen to your dad!
:
: I would appreciate any advice you can give me.

Remember, you have till the age of 34, I know you are really needing a job right now, but hang in there, retake the AFOQT and get better scores. If you do better go ahead and apply. Even though the recruiter feels you are not competitive, you can still apply.

Check with the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard: Why? Because we reserve seats for them in OTS! So if you get selected for them, go to OTS, do some time with them, you can cross over to active at a later point, DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE AIR FORCE!!

The GPA thing I have always have a beef with in recruiting, we count every bad grade even though you retook the class. I never got an explanation as to why we do this. I think it is unfair but what can you do.

MSC: I was never an MSC recruiter so I am not totally schooled on that program.
:
: Thank you.
:
: P.S. The medical officer also put my GPA from my masters degree down as a 3.4
: on the application, even though it is a 3.8. When I pointed this out and
: complained about it, he said it had something to do with the quality
: points being calucated different in the military and he was very vague
: about it. I am going to speak with the major about this too. Do any of you
: know why he would change my GPA like that?

annette.lucas@rs.af.mil

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Annette, for responding, and giving it to me straight. I spoke with my recruiters today and I told them I just really wanted to apply as a linguistic officer, and they said that that kind of application has to be sent in February and that the board meets in April. I am confused about what they told me because I thought it was what you said Annette: that I apply to OTS, and I put down my preferences and then the Air Force picks where I go. Is there a separate board for intel? Also, once I am in one job, can I, indeed, cross over to another job like intel?

I like your suggestion for the Air National Guard and the Reserves. I am going to speak with them this week. Do you take the ASVAB or the AFOQT to be in the Reserves or the Air National Guard? And I am going to definitely take the AFOQT over, and maybe apply later.

Thanks again.


:
: Ok, everyone, please be patient with this long-winded tale. I have a dilemna
: and that is why I am seeking advice now.
:
: I am a 29 year old married woman with an MA in international communication,
: overseas work and academic experience, and fluency in four languages. I
: live in South Carolina and I have been having a hard time finding a job in
: my field. My mother and father suggested that I look into the military
: because we assumed that all of the branches needed interpreters and/or
: intelligence officers with my abilities.
:
: Well, I went to see the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Navy was rude, the
: Army tried to enlist me, and the Air Force was the only one who seriously
: considered helping me to obtain a commission.
:
: There is only one Air Force Officer Recruiting Station in my area, and the
: station has two officer recruiters. The first Air Force Officer Recruiter
: with whom I spoke told me that I had a good shot for a commission because
: of my language abilities, degrees, and grades. Then he told me that he
: would have to see all of my transcripts from my post-secondary educational
: institutions, not just from the schools from where I graduated, and that
: request was what started my dilemna.
:
: I have a 3.8 GPA from my graduate program and a 3.47 from my undergrad
: school, which are very high GPA's, but I since I transferred from my first
: post-secondary institution to my degree giving institution, the undergrad
: school from where I graduated used my transfer points for my overall GPA,
: and that was why the recruiter said he needed my transcripts from the
: first school as well. The problem lies in the fact that my first
: institution, which was an acting conservatory in New York City, proved to
: be a terrible experience for me, and due to their funky grading system
: that combined acting ability (which they felt was low in my case) with
: studentship efforts (which were high), I received C's in most of my
: courses. When you put those grades into my 3.47 GPA (even though these
: grades are not calculated into my final GPA for my BA), I have less than a
: 3.0, which is the minimum to apply for a non-tech commission.
:
: Upon seeing my first institutions grades, the first recruiter told me that he
: was worried that I wouldn't get a commission, and he encouraged me to also
: apply with the medical corps recruiter, who is located at the Officer
: Recruiting Station with him, because for some reason he felt that I would
: have a better shot with the Air Force Medical Service Corps.
:
: I did not feel that I was really all that qualified to be a medical officer,
: since I do not have a degree in a medical area; although I have worked for
: three medical practices in administration, and I have a certification in
: English/Spanish medical interpretation. The medical recruiter, though,
: said I had a good chance, and I went ahead with the medical application.
:
: I also decided to go ahead with the other application to be a linguist or
: intelligence officer, but then in July, my recruiter sort of put my
: application "on-hold" because he wanted to wait until I got my
: AFOQT scores back. He insisted that I would need to get an 80 on
: everything to get a commission. Well, I took the test and I made an 87 on
: the verbal part, a 27 on the quantitative part (I know that that score is
: very low), and a 52 on the Academic part. I studied really hard for the
: test, but the math and verbal scores reflect every standardized test score
: I have ever had ( for instance, on my SAT's and GRE I received a 490 in
: quantitative and a 700 in verbal), and so I cannot say I am surprised at
: the scores.
:
: The first recruiter said that it will now be very hard for me to get a
: commission, and then the medical recruiter told me this past Labor Day
: weekend that I may not be that great a medical candidate after all,
: because he has another candidate who has worked in the MSC for the Army,
: who is now "switching jobs, and that of the two of us, she has a
: better shot. He went ahead and sent out my application though, despite his
: sudden doubts.
:
: When he told me that I might not be such a good canidate, he also told me
: that his major thinks that I would make a better linguist than a medical
: officer, which is what I have been wanting from the beginning. When the
: medical recruiter told me what the major said, I said that I agreed with
: the major, but that the first recruiter, who covers the linguistics area,
: has been less than enthusiastic about me from the beginning, and that he
: has steered me away from applying for that type of commission with him.
:
: Then the medical recruiter said that I should try to get a letter of
: recommendation from President Bush, since I know someone, who knows
: someone, who might be able to get one a presidential recommendation for
: me. He said that he and the first recruiter once had an applicant who had
: low AFOQT scores on everything, but he had a letter of recommendation from
: the president, so he got a pilot commission.
:
: Naturally, I was very upset when the medical recruiter told me about my
: diminished prospects, and it was obvious to the recruiter that I was
: upset, so he asked me if I really wanted to be a linguistic officer, and I
: said, "Yes. Very much". And then he told me he would speak with
: his commander for me about what they would need to do to make me a
: linguistic officer, since the commander is a linguist and may know what to
: do. He also said that he and the other recruiter had never had anyone
: apply as a linguist before, so he didn't know what to do. He then told me
: that he would call me tomorrow and that I would also have to speak with
: the major who said that I would make a better linguist than a medical
: officer.
:
: My plan of action is to tell the major that I also feel that I would be a
: better linguist or intelligence officer, although I have no doubt that I
: would do well in medical administration. But, I am going to ask the major
: what I should do about obtaining a commission in what I really want to do
: because my recruiters, I feel, have really been giving me the run-around,
: and making me forget my original reason for joining the Air Force in the
: first place.
:
: So, my questions are as follows: Am I doing the right thing by speaking with
: the major about my dilemna, and is there anyone else, in your opinion,
: with whom I should speak?
:
: And, do any of you think I have a shot at a commission in intelligence or
: linguistics, despite the low quantitative score and the grades from the
: acting conservatory?
:
: And, do you have any other advice for me regarding what I should be expecting
: from my recruiters?
:
: And, are my recruiters right about the recommendation? Do I need a letter
: from the President to get a commission now? My father, who is a retired
: Air Force Major and flight surgeon, is furious about that suggestion,
: because he says that if I do that, I will have "Political
: Influence" marked in my dosset for my entire military career, and
: that it would hinder me in the long run.
:
: I would appreciate any advice you can give me.
:
: Thank you.
:
: P.S. The medical officer also put my GPA from my masters degree down as a 3.4
: on the application, even though it is a 3.8. When I pointed this out and
: complained about it, he said it had something to do with the quality
: points being calucated different in the military and he was very vague
: about it. I am going to speak with the major about this too. Do any of you
: know why he would change my GPA like that?


npruitt75@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

Hi! I am still in recruiting as their secretary. I know, the next selection board is actually in November for Non-Techs: The recruiter has to get everything done by 28 Sep. He/She would have to get you physicalled and AFOQT retaken ASAP. You put in the application with the recruiter, on the application you put down 3 jobs you are willing to do, 1. Intel, 2. XXXX, 3. XXX. The board will get the applications from all over the country and review them. They will select a certain amount of people based on the needs of the Air Force. After the selection is made, THEN they classify you into an Air Force Specialty Code, e.g., Intel, Service, etc... YOU MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE WHATEVER JOB THEY GIVE YOU OR YOU WON'T BE CONSIDERED A GOOD APPLICANT. "FLEXIBILITY IS THE KEY TO AIRPOWER". After you have been notified about your selection and specialty code, you will be put on a waiting list for OTS. Towards the end of OTS, you will then get your assignment to a base.

To reclass into another job, you have to serve your first committment with your original job. 4 year commitment. At the third year mark, you need to talk to the personnel folks and tell them you want to reclass. Three things could happen. 1. They cannot let you leave your original job because of manning shortages, 2. They have a critical career field they need you in and will put you there, or 3. You will end up separating on your own accord (finishing your commitment). It is indeed possible to cross over to another career field, HOWEVER, there is no way someone can GUARANTEE that to you. It is a risk you have to take.

You gotta remember what the Air Force is giving YOU! $$$ for Grad degree, housing allowance, salary, medical, dental, travel, job security, etc... All we ask is for people to be committed to the Air Force FIRST.

We will work with you throughout your career to make you happy, but sometimes, quite frankly, it just cannot happen because the needs of the Air Force MUST come first.

My advice to you is to make yourself MORE competitive RETAKE THE AFOQT, so the recruiter can feel confident about your chances of getting selected. You may not meet the next board, but we will always have those, just give yourself the BEST chance you can. I was straight with my folks and would always have them retest to bring up those scores.

If you go Reserves or Guard, you shouldn't apply for active at the same time.

They will give you the AFOQT also. NO ASVAB for officers.

Good luck to you!!

Thank you, Annette, for responding, and giving it to me straight. I spoke


: with my recruiters today and I told them I just really wanted to apply as
: a linguistic officer, and they said that that kind of application has to
: be sent in February and that the board meets in April. I am confused about
: what they told me because I thought it was what you said Annette: that I
: apply to OTS, and I put down my preferences and then the Air Force picks
: where I go. Is there a separate board for intel? Also, once I am in one
: job, can I, indeed, cross over to another job like intel?
:
: I like your suggestion for the Air National Guard and the Reserves. I am
: going to speak with them this week. Do you take the ASVAB or the AFOQT to
: be in the Reserves or the Air National Guard? And I am going to definitely
: take the AFOQT over, and maybe apply later.
:
: Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Dear Annette:

Thank you again for answering my questions. I agree about re-taking the test. My recruiter, though, now says that I wouldn't make it in time for the March boards. I am going to meet with him next Tuesday to discuss not worrying about the boards and just getting a better application. Do you know how long recommendation letters are good for? I already have several of mine. Also, I took the test on August 3rd of this year. Would I be able to take the test and have the scores back by the time the March board's applications are due? My recruiter says that I would not be able to, but I just wanted to double-check.

Thank you.

Nicole

Hi! I am still in recruiting as their secretary. I know, the next selection


: board is actually in November for Non-Techs: The recruiter has to get
: everything done by 28 Sep. He/She would have to get you physicalled and
: AFOQT retaken ASAP. You put in the application with the recruiter, on the
: application you put down 3 jobs you are willing to do, 1. Intel, 2. XXXX,
: 3. XXX. The board will get the applications from all over the country and
: review them. They will select a certain amount of people based on the
: needs of the Air Force. After the selection is made, THEN they classify
: you into an Air Force Specialty Code, e.g., Intel, Service, etc... YOU
: MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE WHATEVER JOB THEY GIVE YOU OR YOU WON'T BE
: CONSIDERED A GOOD APPLICANT. "FLEXIBILITY IS THE KEY TO
: AIRPOWER". After you have been notified about your selection and
: specialty code, you will be put on a waiting list for OTS. Towards the end
: of OTS, you will then get your assignment to a base.
:
: To reclass into another job, you have to serve your first committment with
: your original job. 4 year commitment. At the third year mark, you need to
: talk to the personnel folks and tell them you want to reclass. Three
: things could happen. 1. They cannot let you leave your original job
: because of manning shortages, 2. They have a critical career field they
: need you in and will put you there, or 3. You will end up separating on
: your own accord (finishing your commitment). It is indeed possible to
: cross over to another career field, HOWEVER, there is no way someone can
: GUARANTEE that to you. It is a risk you have to take.
:
: You gotta remember what the Air Force is giving YOU! $$$ for Grad degree,
: housing allowance, salary, medical, dental, travel, job security, etc...
: All we ask is for people to be committed to the Air Force FIRST.
:
: We will work with you throughout your career to make you happy, but
: sometimes, quite frankly, it just cannot happen because the needs of the
: Air Force MUST come first.
:
: My advice to you is to make yourself MORE competitive RETAKE THE AFOQT, so
: the recruiter can feel confident about your chances of getting selected.
: You may not meet the next board, but we will always have those, just give
: yourself the BEST chance you can. I was straight with my folks and would
: always have them retest to bring up those scores.
:
: If you go Reserves or Guard, you shouldn't apply for active at the same time.
:
: They will give you the AFOQT also. NO ASVAB for officers.
:
: Good luck to you!!
:
: Thank you, Annette, for responding, and giving it to me straight. I spoke


npruitt75@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

He/she is correct, the suspense date is 8 Feb. I didn't like letters of recommendations older than three months. You want you application to be fresh and full of good information. I would get them redone or updated. This is your application, and how your application looks reflects heavily on you. So make it your very best one! Looks like you won't make the board in March, so you will have to be VERY patient and wait for the one after that which is not set yet.

Good Luck to you

"Good Things Happen to Those Who Wait"

Dear Annette: Thank you again for answering my questions. I agree about


: re-taking the test. My recruiter, though, now says that I wouldn't make it
: in time for the March boards. I am going to meet with him next Tuesday to
: discuss not worrying about the boards and just getting a better
: application. Do you know how long recommendation letters are good for? I
: already have several of mine. Also, I took the test on August 3rd of this
: year. Would I be able to take the test and have the scores back by the
: time the March board's applications are due? My recruiter says that I
: would not be able to, but I just wanted to double-check.
:
: Thank you.
:
: Nicole
:
: Hi! I am still in recruiting as their secretary. I know, the next selection