WOFT Packet Denied First Attempt January 2013

[Grind]

Think I should lose the congressman's and keep both CW LOR's if I get the CW5

 

Yeah man, congress-peoples jobs are to say whatever the listener wants to hear, and otherwise fill the American public up with empty promises and false hope.

[aeroengineer]

1 OCT 12 - The Aviation Branch has developed a replacement for the Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test (AFAST). The new test is the Selection Instrument for Flight Training (SIFT) which will be implemented on 1 JAN 13. In order to facilitate this transition to the SIFT, 153A (Rotary Wing Aviator) will not be selected on the first FY13 Accessions Board in NOV, but will be selected in JAN 13. Starting on 18 JAN 13, all 153A applicants will be required to have a qualifying SIFT score in their packet. If a 153A packet is determined by USAREC to be "Board Ready" prior to 18 JAN 13, the AFAST score will still be accepted. Any packet having an AFAST score after 18 JAN 13 will be returned to the applicant with the instructions to take the SIFT and resubmit their packet with a SIFT score! The SIFT is an aptitude test, therefore there will not be a study guide for it!

 

So since I took mine before I think I am good

[Lindsey]

If I were you, and this was my second look, I'd be calling whoever I could at USAREC to confirm that. Because you have a lot to lose if, in fact, you do need the SIFT. And very little to lose by taking it if you study.

[Lindsey]

Think of it this way: all the other applicants in March will have a SIFT score, and to be the only guy with only an AFAST score might not look very good. Taking the SIFT would show initiative.

 

Again, that's all just my unqualified opinion.

[aeroengineer]

Can I schedule a sift by myself lol

[Lindsey]

lol i dunno can u

[Velocity173]

My sources tell me that if you pick C for every answer you can still meet the minimum passing score (40) on all SIFT versions.

[aeroengineer]

my recruiting office says MEPS is not giving the test yet

[I.am.Specialized]

He is right, MEPs is behind across the nation. The army gave them till the end of March to activate it

[aeroengineer]

So I can't take it?

[Tone83]

I scheduled mine on an Army installation through their testing center. I am not sure yet if this is allowed or if she made an exception for me. I called a post closer to me and I was told I could not take it there as a civilian.

 

I am set to take it tomorrow, I will talk to her more to see if this is something that is normal or if I'm an exception. I will let you know what she says so you can decided if you want to try and go this route.

[I.am.Specialized]

Okay here is the deal as per Army Personnel testing. You are supposed to be able to take it at any education center as a civilian, however, the base can pass something barring civilians from taking it there so you have a 50/50. Base policy overrides army testing

[Tone83]

Fort Sill testing called an cancelled on me this morning. Apparently she made a call to her higher ups to verify she could test me and they told her she can not. She didn't say if it was a base policy or not so you can try an education center near you. Hopefully you will have better luck than me.

[Blue2Green4WOFT]

I wonder if they are gonna extend the AFAST acceptance since there are still issues for people trying to take the SIFT...

[I.am.Specialized]

Negative. USAREC is standing strong on the SIFT requirement.

[Blue2Green4WOFT]

Interesting... well hopefully they get it resolved im AD Navy I just walked into the education center at Ft Meade and took my afast and will be scheduling my SIFT next week...hope it is resolved for all of the civilian applicants soon!!

[d10]

Sounds like a great time to get an application in if you can find a way to take the SIFT.

[Rob1237051]

I'm curious what the selection rate will be...A couple hundred flight slots were just cut for this FY.

[stearmann4]

Here's my recommended technique on securing an LOR from a senior WO who doesn't know you personally.

 

It's difficult for us to write a good letter for you if we have no known personal of your performance or background. So, the burden is on you to provide that for us, and convince us that we should write as powerfully worded an LOR for you as we would for an enlisted guy we've deployed to combat with.

 

I'll start with whomever said "skip the CW4, try to find a CW5" is missing the mark. There aren't a lot of CW5s out in the regular Army, and if you find one he's most likely occupying a Brigade level slot. The Guard would have them at the state aviation officer level. You may think a CW4 isn't high enough, but he knows and can introduce you to a CW5 if you're convinced that's what you need to be selected. A well written letter from a credible CW4 will make more money for you then an average letter from a CW5. Plus, we at the 160th are intimate with the process as we send a lot of enlisted guys to the WOC board each year. You may interview with a CW3

or CW4, and we'll write the letter, but it will be signed by one of our CW5's and on his letter head, if we really want you to be selected. We have one company that has seven (yes-7) CW5s, and the rest of the BNs have at least 3-5, so it's not hard to get an LOR from one here. You may have 1 or two W5s in a Brigade.

 

Nobody goes out the door without an LOR, but we all know whether we wrote a letter that will get you QS, or one to get you happily on your way without hurting your feelings. Now, to get the LOR that will get you selected... After you've contacted your CWO of choice, make an appointment that suits his schedule. Make sure one week out you mail him a folder with your professional, civilian-style resume along with existing LORs and a copy of your current Class 1 flight physical if you have one. This gives us time to read over your background, qualifcations, and we can feel some sort of familiarization with you during the actual interview. It also allows us to ask some educuated questions.

 

The day of your interview, show up in business attire, (dress uniform equivalent) with copies of your resume and LORs in separate folders for each WO that will be sitting at the able with you. Be at the appointed place at least 20 minutes ahead of time. If you are a civilian, make it easy for us to imagine you in a Class A uniform, you just happen to be wearing a suit today (i.e. grooming, shave, posture, etc) Once the interview starts, be prepared to color every response you're asked with how you can strengthen the WO Corps and the Army. "I've always wanted to fly" while true isn't the required response.

 

Sound like an over the top PITA? Yep, but every civilian candidate I've sent this to has showed up to our unit, smoked the interview and walked out with a great LOR that got him selected. One outstanding candidate even sent professional thank you cards after the interview which confirmed that we made the correct choice. All are now WO1s/CW2s towards the end of flight school. If you haven't guessed it, there's a certain amount of gamesmanship involved just like any other job interview.

 

How easy you make it for the interviewing WO(s) is directly proportionate to the quality of the LOR you will receive. I wish I could take credit for this technique myself, but the bulk of the guidance comes directly from corporate and military academy interview guides I read many years ago. There are no guarantees, but as I've stated before, these are but a few of the things that are fully in your control.

 

Mike-

[aeroengineer]

In regards to the SIFT here is what I found out for taking it. Try contacting University that have army ROTC. Most should be willing to let you take the SIFT. I take it next week.

[aeroengineer]

Here's my recommended technique on securing an LOR from a senior WO who doesn't know you personally.

 

It's difficult for us to write a good letter for you if we have no known personal of your performance or background. So, the burden is on you to provide that for us, and convince us that we should write as powerfully worded an LOR for you as we would for an enlisted guy we've deployed to combat with.

 

I'll start with whomever said "skip the CW4, try to find a CW5" is missing the mark. There aren't a lot of CW5s out in the regular Army, and if you find one he's most likely occupying a Brigade level slot. The Guard would have them at the state aviation officer level. You may think a CW4 isn't high enough, but he knows and can introduce you to a CW5 if you're convinced that's what you need to be selected. A well written letter from a credible CW4 will make more money for you then an average letter from a CW5. Plus, we at the 160th are intimate with the process as we send a lot of enlisted guys to the WOC board each year. You may interview with a CW3

or CW4, and we'll write the letter, but it will be signed by one of our CW5's and on his letter head, if we really want you to be selected. We have one company that has seven (yes-7) CW5s, and the rest of the BNs have at least 3-5, so it's not hard to get an LOR from one here. You may have 1 or two W5s in a Brigade.

 

Nobody goes out the door without an LOR, but we all know whether we wrote a letter that will get you QS, or one to get you happily on your way without hurting your feelings. Now, to get the LOR that will get you selected... After you've contacted your CWO of choice, make an appointment that suits his schedule. Make sure one week out you mail him a folder with your professional, civilian-style resume along with existing LORs and a copy of your current Class 1 flight physical if you have one. This gives us time to read over your background, qualifcations, and we can feel some sort of familiarization with you during the actual interview. It also allows us to ask some educuated questions.

 

The day of your interview, show up in business attire, (dress uniform equivalent) with copies of your resume and LORs in separate folders for each WO that will be sitting at the able with you. Be at the appointed place at least 20 minutes ahead of time. If you are a civilian, make it easy for us to imagine you in a Class A uniform, you just happen to be wearing a suit today (i.e. grooming, shave, posture, etc) Once the interview starts, be prepared to color every response you're asked with how you can strengthen the WO Corps and the Army. "I've always wanted to fly" while true isn't the required response.

 

Sound like an over the top PITA? Yep, but every civilian candidate I've sent this to has showed up to our unit, smoked the interview and walked out with a great LOR that got him selected. One outstanding candidate even sent professional thank you cards after the interview which confirmed that we made the correct choice. All are now WO1s/CW2s towards the end of flight school. If you haven't guessed it, there's a certain amount of gamesmanship involved just like any other job interview.

 

How easy you make it for the interviewing WO(s) is directly proportionate to the quality of the LOR you will receive. I wish I could take credit for this technique myself, but the bulk of the guidance comes directly from corporate and military academy interview guides I read many years ago. There are no guarantees, but as I've stated before, these are but a few of the things that are fully in your control.

 

Mike-

 

Wow thanks for the info. I did not even think to send my packet documents before I went. Thanks again.

[UnitedWeStand111]

Thank you for that Sir. I used some of those tips to get hired at my last civilian job.

[SemperGumby]

When I submitted my packet, I had 5 LORs. One from my old Platoon Commander and Company Commander (Marine CPT and MAJ respectively, at the time when I requested an LOR), the President and Vice President of the company I worked for, and a college professor who is also a retired Army COL. I didn't have any LORs from Warrant Officers but the ones I had was enough to get me through. I tried to secure an LOR from someone from a nearby unit but by the time my packet was complete, they were getting ready to deploy and got pretty busy and it fell through.

 

Don't forget that the LORs are part of a packet and if the rest of your packet is as strong as the LORs you have, then you should be good to go. But since this is a competitive board, some leg-work in securing an LOR from an Aviation Warrant Officer may be enough to edge you out. On the other hand, if you can't get one, it's not the end of the world.

 

Despite a sub-par PFT score and a moral waver, I eventually got FQ-S on the second look a day after my birthday. I know times are different now than a year ago but that should just motivate you to be that much better. G'luck.

[aeroengineer]

Anyone close to Lima Ohio wanna review my packet stuff

[Optamix]

You can email it to me and I'll look over it, timothy.andrew.moore@gmail.com