News

Unsponsored pilot applicants have better opportunity to join Reserve

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Getting a pilot slot in the Air Force Reserve for someone with no prior military background has gotten a tad easier.  Just ask Reily Finnelly, an unsponsored applicant who will be heading off to Officer Training School in May, with follow-on to Undergraduate Pilot Training in September.

Typically, those seeking a pilot position in the Air Force Reserve would have to find a squadron willing to sponsor them through OTS and UPT.  Hard to do if you're not already tied into the military culture.

Now however, Air Force Reserve Command is conducting Undergraduate Flight Training boards for unsponsored applicants; this UFT board includes pilots, combat systems officers (navigators), and air battle managers.

"The AFRC board is accepting pilot packages from unsponsored people who are otherwise qualified, meaning they are under the age of 29, they have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college, their Air Force Qualification Test and Test of Basic Aviation Skills scores are competitive, and they are physically qualified and can pass the Flying Class 1 physical,"said Master Sgt. Yvette Larson, 446th Airlift Wing Officer Accessions Recruiter.

"If an applicant is selected by the board, AFRC will send them to OTS and UPT.  While in training they will be looking for a flying squadron to sponsor them, meaning they belong to that squadron and fly for them after training," Larson explains.  "If they do not find a squadron during the course of their training, then the AFRC board will assign the member to a unit in need of pilots.

"The way it used to be is we could submit them unsponsored, but before they could go to OTS and UPT, they had to start interviewing with squadrons and hope to find one to sponsor them.  If a squadron sponsors an applicant, that squadron would send them to training.  Now AFRC has simplified the process for the applicant," said Larson.
Simpler yes, but by no means a cake walk.  To secure a pilot slot still requires a lot of persistence, handshaking, and baby holding.

Finnelly started her journey to the Air Force Reserve back in the Fall of 2013.

"You definitely have to work for it," said the Washington State University graduate. "I first contacted Sergeant Larson in August 2013 and have been in contact with the squadrons (at McChord Field) for a little bit over a year.  You have to stay motivated through the whole process."

Finnelly would come out to McChord Field on a frequent basis and introduce herself around to people in the three Reserve C-17 flying squadrons. 

"They (squadron leadership) really like to get to know people they are considering sponsoring," said Larson. 

Although Finnelly's pilot application went in as unsponsored, her schmoozing helped convince the 97th Airlift Squadron here to snatch her up after the AFRC UPT board approved her package.

Finnelly has her private pilot's license and currently works for Kenmore Air in Seattle as a dispatcher.  Although she does not come from a family with a history of military service, flying is in the family's blood.

"I have two uncles who fly for American and my grandpa flew for Northwest, so it kind of runs in my family.  It wasn't until the summer after my junior year in college that I got my private pilot's license. After I started working at Kenmore Air I figured out I wanted to make a career out of it," said the 24-year-old.

Finnelly's mother Laurie and sister Janie, where on hand March 25 when Finnelly took the oath of office. 

"It's very exciting," said Laurie. "We're thrilled for her. Once she decided the Air Force was a great possibility for her, I was surprised at her stick-to-itiveness and the fact that she made it happen.  We were told that it would be a very difficult process and she would be very lucky if she got in."

Not only did she get in, but Finnelly received multiple interview offers.

"As soon as her package was accepted by the AFRC UPT board in January, she had offers to interview from Dover (AFB, Delaware), Duke Field (Air Reserve Base, Florida) and March (Air Reserve Base, California).  So she quickly got three squadrons that called expressing interest in her joining them," said Larson.  "Reily is local; her heart is to fly here at McChord, but she was willing to fly anywhere to serve her country.  So it's really nice that she was able to have the 97th AS sponsor her after she was selected by the AFRC board."

Larson says AFRC will hold another UPT board considering unsponsored pilot candidates in June and November.

If you are or someone you know is interested in becoming an Air Force Reserve pilot, contact Larson at  253-330-7489 or e-mail her at Yvette.larson@us.af.mil.