|
|
|
Counselors who would like to add new questions to this section may send such requests via email to: afrsots@rs.af.mil. If the BESO counselor cannot answer a question, he/she should contact HQ AFRS. Only BESO Counselors are authorized to contact HQ AFRS).
|
Program |
PCSM (Note 2) |
AFOQT SCORES |
GPA (Note 3) |
Degree disciplines |
||||
Pilot (P) |
Navigator (N) |
Academic Adaptability (AA) |
Verbal (V) |
Quantitative (Q) |
||||
Pilot(Note 1) |
N/A |
-- |
15 |
10 |
2.5 |
Non-specific
(Note 4) |
||
|
Navigator (Note 1) |
N/A |
-- |
15 |
10 |
||||
|
Air Battle Manager |
N/A |
-- |
15 |
10 |
2.5 |
|||
|
Non-tech |
N/A |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15 |
10 |
3.0 |
|
|
Technical |
N/A |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15 |
10 |
-- |
Note 5 |
Note 1: There are no AFOQT score waivers for applicants who do not meet the rated score (Pilot and Navigator) requirements listed above.
Note 2: Effective 1 Oct 06, the Basic Attributes Test (BAT) is no longer used to calculate the PCSM score, and the new Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) is now used. Beginning with Board 07OT01, the new TBAS-based PCSM scores will be required for ALL pilot applicants. To retrieve the PCSM score, refer to https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/ (the PCSM website), and print the Printer Friendly Page.
Note 3: Exception to the GPA minimum will only be considered for applicants who have a 150 or higher total composite score of the AA, Q, and V scores. GPA qualification is based solely on Undergraduate coursework, regardless of qualifying degree.
Note 4: Qualifying degrees can be either Undergraduate (BS/BA) or Graduate (Masters, Doctorate). However, specific AFSC qualifications dictate actual degree requirements.
Note 5: The following degrees qualify to meet a Technical panel:
Q: Should I submit an application on an applicant with a
low GPA and/or test scores?
A: Maybe. Counselors should proceed carefully when GPA and AFOQT scores
are low, because chances of selection decrease. To be potentially competitive,
an applicant must have exceptional strengths in work experience, leadership, and
communications skills, along with other leadership traits. For GPA waiver
consideration, the applicant must have an AFOQT composite score of at least 150.
The AFOQT composite score is the total score comprised from summing the AA, V,
and Q sub-composite AFOQT scores.
Q: What advice can you provide to me to help me increase
my applicant's chances of being selected?
A: Applications should be typed flawlessly with an emphasis on
leadership/management. Profile should be complete and list as much as possible
about the applicant. Item 22 of AF IMT 56 should be filled up as much as
possible and should address the objective for officership, rated duty, if
applicable, and address any negative factors. If possible, a Major or higher
should perform the interview. If an officer in the grade of Captain or below
performs the interview, you should obtain the squadron commander's endorsement,
if possible. Use verbiage such as outstanding, superior, excellent, average,
below average, the absolute best, my number one, etc.... There is no doubt that
the AF IMT 56 is the most critical document in an application.
Q: What are the most common things that keep an applicant
from getting selected?
A: Some of the most common reasons for non-selection are weak writing
styles and a lack of bullets on the AF IMT 56 interview. Interviewing officers
often "cut and paste" bullets from previous applications and overlook the change
in the name or pronoun. Also, an interviewing officer will sometimes use the
same bullets on several applications. Poorly written OTS profiles and reference
letters, along with unanswered questions, cause a board member to be concerned,
which often lowers a board score. Use the AF IMT 56 continuation section to
explain anything unusual within the application (i.e. missing EPR, low GPA, law
violations, etc.). Include applicant initials at the end of each statement
listed on the AF IMT 56 continuation sheet.
Q: I have an application that is almost completed. The
deadline for applications is in two days. Should I submit the application early
to meet the deadline or wait until the documents come in, then submit the
complete application?
A: This is a common question. Hold the application. Do not send the
application until it is complete.
Q: Are minority applicants more competitive than other
applicants?
A: Absolutely not. It is against the Equal Employment Opportunity Act to
base the selection process on race, ethnic origin, religion, or sex. Board
members do not consider these factors.
Q: How many people does AFRS ship to BOT in each class?
A: Currently, between 60 and 65 per class.
Q: Why is the pilot selection rate low if the Air Force needs
800 - 1,000 per fiscal year?
A: AFRS selects only 100 - 120 pilots every year. The majority of pilots
come from USAFA and AFROTC.
Q: We heard that BOT has almost made goal for this year? The
year just started, please explain.
A: Selections are made approximately six months in advance of the
expected shipping timeframe. Therefore, in order to fill the first three to four
BOT classes, selections for a fiscal year actually begin as early as January of
the year preceding the fiscal year in question.
Q: We are having a hard time getting Base X’s Military
Treatment Facility (MTF) to perform our rated physicals in a timely manner? What
can we do to speed things up?
A: This is another common question and the cause of a lot of frustration
in the field. If the OIC or NCOIC of Flight Medicine isn't assisting you, use
your chain of command. The chain of command, starting from lowest to highest is
the OIC, Flight Medicine, the Aerospace Medicine CC (usually a Colonel), the
Medical Group CC (usually a Colonel), and finally the Hospital CC. Contrary to
popular belief, base hospitals do not work for HQ AETC/SGPS. Instead they work
for the base commander, then ultimately the MAJCOM commander. The SG has assured
RSOCL that each hospital has established procedures in place. The SG also has
told us, if there are errors on the physical (missed the DAT/HIV/depth
perception/etc), or if physicals are taking an excessive amount of time to be
completed, there is either a training or competency problem at that facility
that should be brought to the attention of one of the individuals listed above
(in the chain of command).
Q: An Active Duty Air Force recruiter wants to apply to BOT.
Who is the recruiter's Point Of Contact (POC)? Who completes the
application?
A: The POC is the nearest base education office counselor.
Q: What happens if an applicant’s request for a waiver is
disapproved or he/she is non-selected for BOT?
A: Once a waiver has been disapproved or an applicant has been notified
of a BOT final board non-selection, he/she must wait a minimum of six months to
reapply. Applicants must complete a new application to reapply to BOT. Old
applications are maintained in HQ AFRS “dead files” for one year.
Q: When will a selectee go to BOT?
A: Once an application is audited and qualified, and all physical
requirements are met, selects will be assigned to the next available class date
based on his/her date of availability and AFSC (usually 6 -9 months from
selection).
Q: Where do selectees go after BOT?
A: Assignments are determined by AFPC. Once HQ AFRS has made a BOT class
assignment, the individual’s file is forwarded to AFPC for assignment action.
AFPC will send a message to the individual’s MPF with assignment instructions,
no later than 60 days prior to his/her report date, Not everyone will know where
his or her next duty station will be prior to attending BOT. Some selectees will
be required to attend technical training and will be told during the tech
training where their next assignment will be. The individual’s selected AFSC is
the determining factor.
Q: What should be done if an applicant is disqualified
medically for a commission?
A: Applicant is ineligible to apply for commissioning if they are unable
to get a qualifying AF FM 422 (refer to paragraph 12.11.
Q: What should an applicant do if his/her BESO Counselor
leaves before their BOT application is completed?
A: The BESO is the point of contact. They normally have more than one
counselor at each base, or have contingency plans for such circumstances. Direct
all questions through that office.
Q: What are the rules concerning Letters of Recommendation
(LOR) for BOT packages?
A: Only one LOR may be used for an Active Duty applicant; however, it is
optional. Someone in the applicant’s current chain of command who is no higher
than his/her organization’s senior rater (usually the wing commander) must sign
the LOR (no endorsements allowed on letter).
Q: How does an applicant obtain a Time on Station (TOS)
waiver?
A: The request is forwarded to HQ AFPC, Officer Accession (OA) office for
coordination with the appropriate functional manager. Granting TOS waivers are
based ultimately on the needs of the AF. Several factors are considered
including: Enlisted manning, Cost of unfulfilled initial enlisted bonus and
service reenlistment bonus commitments, etc. When finalized, the waiver is
returned to HQ AFRS for final processing.
Q: What should an applicant do if he/she cannot remember
and/or find the location, court, or amount of a speeding ticket?
A: Supply all information to the best of his/her ability (see AF FM 56,
Item 15).
Q: Can a female apply for BOT while pregnant?
A: No. All applicants must be physically qualified at the time of
application IAW AFI 48-123. Pregnancy is a medically disqualifying factor until
after the member is cleared of her pregnancy profile and can provide a current
AF Form 422 qualifying her for continued enlistment and commissioning.
Q: What determines if an applicant’s degree is acceptable by
BOT?
A: A degree qualifies for non-rated and rated if the degree is from a
regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher learning. The best
place to check is in the current edition of the Accredited Institutions of
Postsecondary Education (AIPE), published by the American Council on Education
(ACE) or on the ACE website. If the degree granting institution is not listed in
AIPE, the BESO Counselor should be consulted for further guidance for
assistance.
Application for AF engineering specialties requires a degree that is also
accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Inc.
Refer to: http://www.abet.org/ to determine
if a degree is ABET accredited.
Q: I have a BS in Business with a 2.85 GPA, and a Masters in
Bus Admin with a 4.0 GPA. Why can’t I use my Master’s GPA to qualify without a
GPA waiver?
A: Fairness and an equal playing field. The one common denominator
between ALL BOT applicants is undergraduate coursework. Even those that don’t
finish their Bachelor’s, and instead move on directly to their Master’s, still
have at least two years of Undergrad courses taken. This is enough to generate a
valid overall GPA, and all applicants must qualify with the same GPA
requirements (undergrad).
GPA’s generally are better in Graduate work than they were in Undergrad studies.
While a qualifying degree may be a Masters Degree in Business, it is the
undergraduate coursework that will give us a much clearer picture on an
applicant’s learning potential.
So, regardless of what the Master’s Degree GPA is, the undergrad coursework will
comprise the GPA that must exceed the requirements of the Matrix:
|
Program |
PCSM (Note 2) |
AFOQT SCORES |
GPA (Note 3) |
Degree disciplines |
||||
Pilot (P) |
Navigator (N) |
Academic Adaptability (AA) |
Verbal (V) |
Quantitative (Q) |
||||
Pilot(Note 1) |
N/A |
-- |
15 |
10 |
2.5 |
Non-specific
(Note 4) |
||
|
Navigator (Note 1) |
N/A |
-- |
15 |
10 |
||||
|
Air Battle Manager |
N/A |
-- |
15 |
10 |
2.5 |
|||
|
Non-tech |
N/A |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15 |
10 |
3.0 |
|
|
Technical |
N/A |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15 |
10 |
-- |
Note 5 |
Page last modified on: 21 October 2009
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Revised: 10/21/09.