Updated: March 2010
What you need to know!
Air Force Flyers

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Basic physical requirements
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Technical vs. Non-Technical Major
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Background
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Order of Merit (how it’s calculated)
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Encouraging Statistics
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TBAS details
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Final thoughts

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Vision Standard is Primary Restriction
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Acuity, 20/70 (20/400 nav) or better, correctible to 20/20
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Normal color & depth perception
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See SSgt Fickes to double check eligibility
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Eye Surgery is an Option (LASIK or PRK)
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-8.00 diopters or better pre-op is required
If eligible, you can apply for a slot… scholarship & non-scholarship cadets, with or without a technical degree

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Recommended surgery date for four year cadets: winter break sophomore year or immediately after field training (5 th years, see below)
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4 year plan - Surgery performed NLT than Sep 1 of your JUNIOR year
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4.5 or 5 year plan – Surgery performed NLT than
Sep 1 of your SENIOR year
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FYI – It can take up to four months of various appointments until you are ready for surgery so get started early!

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To clarify, here are statistics from FY08
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Rated slots awarded: 778
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Tech 306 (39.3%)
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Non-Tech 472 (60.7%)
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Pilot only slots awarded: 525
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Tech 222 (42.3%)
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Non-Tech 303 (57.7%)
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Bottom line: Major has no influence on selection
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Pick a major that you’ll enjoy; excellence in all we do academically will be easy if you like what you’re doing
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Word of caution: Technical programs at VT are outstanding and will require a fair amount of work

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Board Meets in late Feb/early Mar
Historically 800+ Cadets Earn Aviation Jobs
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520+ Pilots
260+ CSOs (formerly Navigators)
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60+ ABMs
Process
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Be Medically/Physically Eligible
Volunteer
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Compete by Order of Merit
…HQ sets a cut-off point and everyone above the point gets picked

Quick Review of Order of Merit
(100 point maximum score)
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RSS – Unit Commander Ranking – 50%
PFA – Self explanatory – 10%
GPA – Cumulative GPA – 15%
Field Training – 10%
PCSM – Pilot Candidate Selection Method – 15%
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OM = (RSS * 5)+(PFT * 0.10)+(GPA *
3.75)+(F.T.)+(PCSM * 0.1516)

Review of Order of Merit
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50% of OM equation
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Unit commander ranking:
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Compared against those in AS class first, then against entire fiscal year class for categorization purposes
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Cadre meet after every semester to determine ranking
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Cumulative GPA - 45%
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Cumulative Military Performance Average (CMPA) – 40%
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Includes meeting standards, volunteering, participation, motivation, leadership (don’t need to be Regimental Commander)
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Cumulative Fitness Performance Average (CFPA) – 15%
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EVERY semester counts

Review of Order of Merit
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Calculation (not based on thirds)
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[5*(1-R/C) + (.5/C)] + 5 where R is rank and C is class size
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Ex: You finish 12 th in your class out of 50 cadets.
[5*(1-(12/50)) + (.5/50)] + 5 = 8.51
Plugging into OM: OM = (8.51 * 5) +(PFT *
0.10)+(GPA * 3.75)+(F.T.)+(PCSM * 0.15)

Review of Order of Merit
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10% of OM equation
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Most recent PFA is the one entered
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Spring PFA will occur after board
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Also a factor in UCR
Plugging into OM: OM = (8.51 * 5)+(95 *
0.10) +(GPA * 3.75)+(F.T.)+(PCSM * 0.15)

Review of Order of Merit
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15% of OM equation
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Cumulative GPA from Freshman year till your aviation application is submitted
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Plugging into OM: OM = (8.51 * 5)+(95 *
0.10)+(3.4 * 3.75) +(F.T.)+(PCSM * 0.15)

Review of Order of Merit
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10% of OM equation
Distinguished Graduate - 10
Superior Performer -
Top Third -
Middle Third -
Bottom Third 5
9
7
6
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Plugging into OM: OM = (8.51 * 5)+(95 *
0.10)+(3.4 * 3.75)+(7) +(PCSM * 0.15)

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Review of Order of Merit
15% of OM equation
3 parts for pilot candidates
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AFOQT Scores
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Mins - P:25 N:10 P+N:50 V:15 Q:10
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Take Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS)
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Hand-eye coordination test
Flying hours w/Certified Instructor help
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Fly with CAP
A little helps …4 logged hrs adds 8 pts

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TBAS Not Necessary
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Nav Section of AFOQT used for
CSO Candidates
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Academic Aptitude Section Used for ABM Candidates
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Plugging into OM: OM = (8.51 * 5)+(95 *
0.10)+(3.4 * 3.75)+(7)+(85 * 0.15)
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For a total of: 84.55
! Is this good enough? See next slide…

AFROTC FY 08
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791 competed
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503 selected - 64%
AFROTC FY 11
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767 competed
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491 selected - 64%
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AVG OM 74.2
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AVG GPA 3.27 – 2.85 Nav
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AVG PFA 94.4 – 90.6 Nav

Det 875 Results
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FY 06: 11 went for rated slot/12 selected (7 were pilot)
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FY07: 11/13 (7 were pilot)
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FY08: 18/21 (11 were pilot)
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FY09: 10/12 (6 were pilot)
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FY10: 19/19 (13 were pilot)
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FY11: 11/16 (4 were pilot)
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Pilot Order of Merit: High = 87.1; Low = 68.25
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Nav: Low = 54.38

TBAS Details
• Can be taken twice with 6 months time between tests (like the AFOQT). You’ll want to take it twice!
•Take at VMI During School Year
• Contact C/Noffsinger ASAP to Schedule if categorizing this spring
•First test, spring SO year. Second test, fall JR year.
Or Spring JR/Fall SR if on 4.5 or 5 year plan
•How do you know when you categorize? Spring
Junior year if 4 years, Spring Senior year if 4.5 or 5 years.

•“You” Become the Expert
• If this is your dream…
…understand how to attain it
• Check various scores that make up your OM often to make sure you are on the right track.
• Trust but verify information!!!
• Sources (links typed exactly as I have them will get you there):
• “wantscheck.com” (go to ‘pilot slot resources’ tab and click on ‘ROTC pilot slot’)
• “baseops.net/afrotc”
• “www.af.vt.edu”


Basic physical requirements

Technical vs. Non-Technical Major

Background

Order of Merit (how it’s calculated)

Encouraging Statistics

TBAS details

Final thoughts