So here's a problem I've concocted for myself...

walkerman180 · February 16, 2016

Everyone always says, "don't fall in love with one air-frame or another prior to selection because it's such a crap shoot..."

I told myself I wouldn't do it.

I did it.

I really want Chinooks.

I've been asking around for pointers for trying to max my OML score (starting common core next month), and have heard from just about everyone that getting first in your class almost has more to do with luck of the draw than actual merit.

All that aside, I'm asking for advice/pointers in regards to what I can do to max everything from my checkrides to my written tests. I've heard horror stories from guys who got the shaft on check ride scores because their IP put them down for an 80, so despite flying a 95 on checkride day, they earned an 87. Any ways to avoid the pitfalls of our evaluation system?

Any ideas out there? Other than 'forget about getting Chinooks cause it's not gonna happen' ?

Tradewinds · February 16, 2016

The biggest issue is that there will not always be a 47 available during selection.

napoleonpp · February 16, 2016

As said lots of times there's never a 47 available, and if there is then it's maybe one. However all you can do is do your best on your checkrides, academic test and max your PT test. Yeah checkrides can suck. In Primary I was able to tell the IPs about Aeromed, Fundamentals of Flight and anything else word for word out of the book. Id get back from an awesome flight and somebody I know didn't know his oral and would say they had a bad or decent flight would get a way better grade then me. It's definitely up to the IPs, so all you can do is do your best on all the above.

I rocked most of my checkrides, academic tests and just did decent on my PT test. I ended up being like 3rd or 4th out of all the Warrants. If you get Blackhawk or Apache, just fly the hell out of it and love every second of it. Then after awhile put your 160th packet in and try and fly the MH-47

akscott60 · February 16, 2016

Well, I joined the Army to fly Kiowas. From day one. So I understand your conundrum.

Control the things you can. PT. Academics (100% on every test, or damn near). Oral knowledge and 5&9s.

And hope you are a good pilot.

Even then there might not be a 47 slot. Like what was said above, TF160 is always looking for 47 drivers.

Edited February 16, 2016 by akscott60

cwil7280 · February 16, 2016

Like everyone has already said, make sure you do well on the things you can control. Academic tests are very competitive and not worth a lot on OML individually, but collectively, they add up. It wasn't uncommon in my class for the lowest test score to be a 96% between the active warrants, with most people scoring 100%.

The PT test can give you a pretty good leg up on your peers. When I took it I think it was only worth like 2.5% of overall OML so the difference between a passing PT score and a 300 was negligible in the overall OML. However, I've heard rumor that it has either been recently changed, or is going to be changed to be worth a total of 15% of OML, which is a huge chunk. I don't know how true that is though, I've just heard rumor.

As for your check rides, they are partially out of your control. You could fly the exact same with two separate IPs and one would give you a 94 and the other an 89, so to an extent, it's luck of the draw.

But here's my advice to help with check rides; know everything you can even if it's not testable on the oral portion. Seriously, know an impressive amount of information, not just a couple snippets of random knowledge. Then, use that information to impress your IP. Be very careful though as this can backfire very quickly. You must be subtle and tactful with how you share your knowledge with your IP. You cannot just blurt out how much you know because he knows more than you and will destroy you in a knowledge battle. Just kinda slip it into conversation, like during pre-flight, "this is the flux capacitor, right? The part that controls the plasma reactor?" He will be impressed and not even know it. Hopefully this will translate to your overall score. Also, don't rat yourself out while flying. If you notice that you're 100' high on a traffic pattern, just fix it and keep your mouth shut. There's a 50% chance that the IP is day dreaming about strippers and cheerios and doesn't even notice that you're a little high, until you tell him. When he asks you at the end where you think you can improve on flying, say something minute, and sound sincere about it. "well, jeepers sir, I was hoping you didn't notice, but my heading was sometimes off as far as 3 degrees! I've definitely improved, but I'm still working on it."

The bottom line on check ride is to be confident, knowledgeable, and don't tell on yourself. A lot of the IP scoring is how they feel about you as a potential "Army Aviator", which includes a lot more than just being a good pilot.

Joe_P148 · February 16, 2016

Those text scores are 96-100% because they are very easy and the material is spoon fed to you.

As for IPs and check rides, it all depends on who your check pilot is you cant study everything it just depends on how the IP feels you did. Cwil is right though, don't verbalize your mistakes or allow them to snowball your checkride.

You may be lucky enough to get a 47 in your selection.

Do your best and if you don't get the 47 be happy with what you do get.

Everything happens for a reason.

napoleonpp · February 16, 2016

Just remember you won't have to worry about getting stuck in a 58

I kid, I kid

Creep0321 · February 16, 2016

The PT test can give you a pretty good leg up on your peers. When I took it I think it was only worth like 2.5% of overall OML so the difference between a passing PT score and a 300 was negligible in the overall OML. However, I've heard rumor that it has either been recently changed, or is going to be changed to be worth a total of 15% of OML, which is a huge chunk. I don't know how true that is though, I've just heard rumor.

They recently changed it to like 1.6 %... so equal to about 1 test.

ACP · February 16, 2016

I selected 47s not too long ago and I can tell you this: Get 100s on the academic tests.

I was 2nd in my class and the individual who was #1 beat me on academic tests. I averaged mayebe 96ish and he scored 100s nearly every test but I scored maybe 4 points higher on every checkride and he smoked me in the OML.

The academics add up in the long run and check rides are too subjective.

MuffinMan · February 16, 2016

Just remember you won't have to worry about getting stuck in a 58

I kid, I kid

I found out during my flight physical I was disqualified from flying the 58 because my sitting height is 3cm too tall.

Apparently they have not yet updated that change

walkerman180 · February 16, 2016

I selected 47s not too long ago and I can tell you this: Get 100s on the academic tests.

I was 2nd in my class and the individual who was #1 beat me on academic tests. I averaged mayebe 96ish and he scored 100s nearly every test but I scored maybe 4 points higher on every checkride and he smoked me in the OML.

The academics add up in the long run and check rides are too subjective.

Whats up Pipes? Finally got on here eh? haha