Applying to OTS
2009-03-19 16:14:00
The application process to the United States Air Force Officer Training School is an extremely involved process; with different steps depending on if you are already in the Air Force or not; and what Air Force job you want to have. This is a quick overview of how to get the process started, in case you are completely clueless.
If you are active duty already; then you simply need to get your bachelor's degree knocked out and then talk with your education office (for Air Force) or to an Air Force Recruiter (if you are part of another branch.) There are a lot of nitty-gritty details, which is why you actually need to talk with a education counselor / recruiter.
If you aren't in the military, then go find a recruiter. If you're in College or High School and are serious about becoming an officer, talk to a ROTC counselor to find out about the scholarships available to you - you may be able to bypass the OTS thing altogether and come in to Air Force a different way; while at the same time getting money for school. You can start by visiting http://www.af.com/ to read up on joining the Air Force.
Once you have talked to a counselor / recruiter and have determined that OTS is indeed the right commissioning source for you; the application process involves completing your Bachelor's degree from an accredited school, taking the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), completing the Air Force Form 56, and completing a resume of sorts that is described in the application guide your recruiter / education counselor will give you. A more detailed description of the forms required can be found on the Holm Center website - http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/BOT/botapply.asp.
Keywords: Air Force Officer Training School, Application, AFOQT, AFROTC, United States Air Force
2009-03-19 16:14:00
The application process to the United States Air Force Officer Training School is an extremely involved process; with different steps depending on if you are already in the Air Force or not; and what Air Force job you want to have. This is a quick overview of how to get the process started, in case you are completely clueless.
If you are active duty already; then you simply need to get your bachelor's degree knocked out and then talk with your education office (for Air Force) or to an Air Force Recruiter (if you are part of another branch.) There are a lot of nitty-gritty details, which is why you actually need to talk with a education counselor / recruiter.
If you aren't in the military, then go find a recruiter. If you're in College or High School and are serious about becoming an officer, talk to a ROTC counselor to find out about the scholarships available to you - you may be able to bypass the OTS thing altogether and come in to Air Force a different way; while at the same time getting money for school. You can start by visiting http://www.af.com/ to read up on joining the Air Force.
Once you have talked to a counselor / recruiter and have determined that OTS is indeed the right commissioning source for you; the application process involves completing your Bachelor's degree from an accredited school, taking the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), completing the Air Force Form 56, and completing a resume of sorts that is described in the application guide your recruiter / education counselor will give you. A more detailed description of the forms required can be found on the Holm Center website - http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/BOT/botapply.asp.
Keywords: Air Force Officer Training School, Application, AFOQT, AFROTC, United States Air Force
My Application to OTS
2009-03-19 16:13:31
Now that I have described how to apply to OTS; I'll describe my background / experience applying to OTS.
My Background
I am a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, and have been in the Air Force for 6 and a half years. I went to Basic Training three weeks after I graduated High School; 3 months before turning 18. Being Active Duty meant that the process was different for me than civilians applying; but I'd encourage you to read on because you have to do everything I did, just through a different intermediary.
I wanted to be a pilot, which along with Air Battle Managers and Electronic Systems Officers (formerly known as Navigators) is a rated position, which has a slightly different board process. The medical, legal, and chaplain careers are different altogether, and if you are interested in one of those fields I encourage you to find another resource - a good place to start is www.airforce.com; or www.afrotc.com if you are in college / high school right now.
My Experience Applying to OTS
To start, I enlisted in the Air Force with the intention of getting my degree as quickly as possible and then becoming an officer (preferably a Pilot.) God threw me a curve in that he brought my amazing wife, Meghan, into my life at my first duty station, so it took me 6 years to complete my Bachelor's; simply because I didn't seriously begin my degree until the spring of 2006. Once I did begin school, I finished my degree in 30 months, thanks to the amount of college credit my Air Force Tech School gave me.
Once I was within a year of my degree, I seriously started the commissioning process. A big thing to know - regardless of whether or not you are in the military - is that you can apply up to a year before your graduation date; you simply need to have your school's registrar confirm that you are due to graduate by the date you give the OTS board. Had I known that, I would have started sooner. After talking with my education counselor, I signed up to take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT). I bought a few study books from Amazon, and went over them for about a month before taking the test. I received the results to my test in 3 days - I took a paper version - and was happy with scoring 89 on Pilot, 86 on Navigator, 94 on Academic Aptitude, 92 on Verbal, and 88 on Quantitative. I took the TBAS a few months later, and got an 89 on my PCSM. You really can't talk about either test - but what you can find on the Air Force sites talking about each test is good enough. WantsCheck.com has a great resource on the TBAS. If you are not applying for the rated board, you don't have to take the TBAS, so that is one less hurdle you have to jump.
There will be more to come - its late and I'll put more up later.
Keywords: Air Force Officer Training School, Application, AFOQT, United States Air Force
2009-03-19 16:13:31
Now that I have described how to apply to OTS; I'll describe my background / experience applying to OTS.
My Background
I am a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, and have been in the Air Force for 6 and a half years. I went to Basic Training three weeks after I graduated High School; 3 months before turning 18. Being Active Duty meant that the process was different for me than civilians applying; but I'd encourage you to read on because you have to do everything I did, just through a different intermediary.
I wanted to be a pilot, which along with Air Battle Managers and Electronic Systems Officers (formerly known as Navigators) is a rated position, which has a slightly different board process. The medical, legal, and chaplain careers are different altogether, and if you are interested in one of those fields I encourage you to find another resource - a good place to start is www.airforce.com; or www.afrotc.com if you are in college / high school right now.
My Experience Applying to OTS
To start, I enlisted in the Air Force with the intention of getting my degree as quickly as possible and then becoming an officer (preferably a Pilot.) God threw me a curve in that he brought my amazing wife, Meghan, into my life at my first duty station, so it took me 6 years to complete my Bachelor's; simply because I didn't seriously begin my degree until the spring of 2006. Once I did begin school, I finished my degree in 30 months, thanks to the amount of college credit my Air Force Tech School gave me.
Once I was within a year of my degree, I seriously started the commissioning process. A big thing to know - regardless of whether or not you are in the military - is that you can apply up to a year before your graduation date; you simply need to have your school's registrar confirm that you are due to graduate by the date you give the OTS board. Had I known that, I would have started sooner. After talking with my education counselor, I signed up to take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT). I bought a few study books from Amazon, and went over them for about a month before taking the test. I received the results to my test in 3 days - I took a paper version - and was happy with scoring 89 on Pilot, 86 on Navigator, 94 on Academic Aptitude, 92 on Verbal, and 88 on Quantitative. I took the TBAS a few months later, and got an 89 on my PCSM. You really can't talk about either test - but what you can find on the Air Force sites talking about each test is good enough. WantsCheck.com has a great resource on the TBAS. If you are not applying for the rated board, you don't have to take the TBAS, so that is one less hurdle you have to jump.
There will be more to come - its late and I'll put more up later.
Keywords: Air Force Officer Training School, Application, AFOQT, United States Air Force