Commissioning Guide Requirements for Commissioning · Must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen · Must be commissioned before the age of 35 · Must meet medical and fitness requirements (after selection must have a commissioning physical) · Must possess a baccalaureate or higher degree · Must obtain a minimum scores on the Air Force Officers Qualification Test (AFOQT) reference AFI 36-2005, table 3.21 or ANGE 36-2005, table 3.4, see the attached information · Must attend and graduate from the Academy of Military Science (AMS) NOTE: HQ'S ANG determines the class you attend - Professional officer appointees are exempt from AMS, but will attend Commissioned Officer Training (COT) within 18 months of appointment - Aeronautical (rated/flying) positions have additional requirements, reference ANGI 36-2005, table A5.1 column 2. Application Package Application Package requirements are listed in the job announcement. At a minimum the package will include a cover letter or letter of intent, resume, AFOQT Scores and college transcripts. For flight training positions include a copy of a current private pilot license and Pilot Candidate Selection Method (PSCM) scores. Selection Process Submit your application package as stated in the announcement. After the announcement closes, your application is reviewed for the required criteria, and if meeting the criteria your application package will be forwarded to the selecting official. Selection Board The selecting official will set the interview board, notify those to meet the board of the day, time, place and appropriate dress. You will be interviewed and informed when the decision of selection or non-selection will be made. What you can do now to prepare: · Get to know the position that you are interested in · Prepare yourself for the AFOQT prior to taking · Take the e AFOQT (recommended no earlier than a college junior) · Work on your resume · Get involved with special projects and network · Work on developing skills with, but not limited to, problem solving, communication, decision making, stress management You are selected and will attend the Academy of Military Science (AMS) AMS is a rigorous six-week training course at McGee Tyson ANG Base, Knoxville TN. It is a combination of academic, military, physical and leadership training. Force Development will assist you with requirements and question. Students reporting to AMS MUST meet physical standards. Those that fail to meet standards upon arrival at AMS will be returned home. Service Commitments Pilots - 10 years Upon completion of pilot training All others - 7 years Upon completion of AMS Air Force Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT) Facts · Similar to a college entrance exam · 12 subtests · Takes about 3 1/2 few hours to complete · Subtests are timed separately · Administered by appointment with the Military Support Flight. · Test can only be taken twice. A waiver for additional testing can be requested with justification, but approval is NOT guaranteed · If you need to re-take the test you must wait 6 months · AFOQT scores never expire Tips · If you're planning to pursue a commission in the future, prepare for and take the test · 180th MSF administers in the morning, most are more alert in the morning · Take the test shortly after you finish college · Check out your local bookstore's test review section for commercial AFOQT test preparation guides. Also any SAT review material may be useful as you prepare for the Verbal and Quantitative (Math) sections. · An AFOQT information pamphlet is available from the MSF upon request Scheduling Contact MSgt Zuelzke DSN: 580-4015 or Commercial 419-868-4015 with questions or to schedule a test. Tests are given the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 0630 hrs. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Frequently Asked Questions & Answers The following questions and answers address some of the common questions asked by AFOQT examinees. This information is releasable to the public. If a customer still has questions or concerns after reading this information, contact the AFPC Military Testing Office (HQ AFPC/DPPPWT). The AFPC Military Testing Office is OPR for administration and scoring of the AFOQT. How the test results are used, minimum standards, etc are the responsibility of the accession source to which the examinee is applying (AFROTC, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, OTS, etc) 1. I tested using the R version of the AFOQT in the 2000 - 2001 time frame. I now want to see my scores? What do I need to do? Contact HQ AFPC/DPPPWT using AFPC.Testing@randolph.af.mil or DSN 665-4221. 2. I tested in the fall of 1997. When I try to retrieve my scores from the website the screen reads, "The test center you have entered is NOT the same one as in the database." How do I find my scores? If you tested PRIOR TO September of 1998, enter TCO number 1007 as your TCO number. In August of 1998, a system change forced the migration of all AFOQT results to this TCO account. If your scores still do not come up, contact AFPC/DPPPWT at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/testing. 3. What does the AFOQT test measure and how many parts are there? The AFOQT measures aptitudes and is used to select candidates for officer commissioning programs and specific commissioned officer training programs. The test has 12 subtests. Subtest scores are combined to generate one or more of the five composite scores. These composites are used to help predict success in certain types of Air Force training programs. The 12 subtests are: · Verbal Analogies (VA) · Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) · Word Knowledge (WK) · Math Knowledge (MK) · Instrument Comprehension (IC) · Block Counting (BC) · Table Reading (TR) · Aviation Information (AI) · General Science (GS) · Rotate Blocks (RS) · Hidden Figures (HF) · Self-Description Inventory (SDI) 4. How are scores determined? Answer: The scores are reported in five composite areas: · Pilot · Navigator · Academic Aptitude · Verbal · Quantitative These are the only scores which are reported. AFPC/DPPPWT does not combine or total the five composite areas. Each of the five composite areas is reported independently with a percentile score for each composite. Each composite score is determined using a combination of some of the 12 subtests: The Pilot score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly on the following subtests: · Arithmetic Reasoning · Math Knowledge · Instrument Comprehension · Table Reading · Aviation Information The Navigator score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly on the following subtests: · Verbal Analogies · Arithmetic Reasoning · Math Knowledge · Block Counting · Table Reading · General Science The Academic Aptitude score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly on the following subtests: · Verbal Analogies · Word Knowledge · Arithmetic Reasoning · Math Knowledge The Verbal score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly on the following subtests: · Verbal Analogies · Word Knowledge The Quantitative score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly on the following subtests: · Arithmetic Reasoning · Math Knowledge 5. Since I'm not applying to pilot or navigator training do I have to take the complete test? I prefer to only take the first half of the test because the other subtests are a waste of my time. All examinees must complete all 12 subtests. There may be a future requirement to use some or all subtest scores in the composite scores listed above. Failure to complete a portion of the test could affect your score down the road. Additionally, if the examinee fails to complete one or more subtests it will still count as a valid test administration. Examinees will not be authorized an additional test administration at a later time because they declined to complete some subtests. 6. What is a percentile score and what does it mean? A percentile score indicates how an individual's test performance compares to a normative reference group. A normative reference group consists of a group of examinees with demographic and aptitude characteristics representative of those who are taking the test. The number of test questions answered correctly by an examinee is compared to the scores of those in the normative reference group and the results are reported on a 1 to 99 scale. For example, an individual with a percentile score of 50 has a score equal to or better than 50% of those in the normative reference group, an individual with a percentile score of 75 has a score equal to or better than 75% of those in the normative reference group, etc. Research studies have shown that scores are predictive of performance in commissioning programs and specialized training programs such as pilot and navigator training. Selection boards then use these scores in combination with other factors to determine who will be selected. 7. How long does it take to score an answer sheet after it arrives at AFPC/DPPPWT? We typically score AFOQTs one or two times a week. The biggest delay in test scoring is the mailing time for AFOQT answer sheets to reach AFPC for scoring. We require answer sheets to be mailed within 1 duty day of test administration. It's extremely important for examinees to schedule testing far enough in advance of any application deadline to ensure results are available by the deadline. 8. How can someone obtain a copy of his or her scores? There are two ways for individuals who do not have an official copy of their scores to obtain them: A. Go to the AFPC testing web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/testing/ and print out the scores. B. Air Force TCO test sites are authorized to generate a source document using the official scores from the web 9. How good are my AFOQT scores? Scores are reported as percentiles ranging from 1 to 99. Each accession source has established minimum scores required to compete for selection. For specifics on how competitive your particular scores will be in the selection process contact the commissioning source to which you are applying. 10. We all know that a board reviews the scores. Does the board make selections based on who has the highest score or as long as you have the minimum score do you then compete based on other factors? AFPC/DPPPWT is not the OPR for these issues. Your best bet for clarification is to speak directly to the accession source through which you are applying. Some of the governing regulations include: · AFI 36-2005, Appointment in Commission Grades and Designation and Assignment in Professional Categories -- Reserve of the Air Force and United States Air Force (Temporary) · AFI 36-2013, Officer Training School (OTS) Enlisted Airman Commissioning Programs · AETCI 36-2002, Recruiting Procedures for the Air Force · AFROTC 45-13, AFROTC Weighted Professional Officer Course Selection System · AFRESI 36-2602, Application Procedures for Undergraduate Pilot Training, Undergraduate Helicopter Training, and Navigator Training · NGR (AF) 36-2, Appointment of Officers in Air National Guard 11. What is the passing percentile for each category? HQ AFPC/DPPPWT does not establish minimum requirements. Each commissioning source determines the minimum scores needed to be eligible to apply. The AFOQT score is just one of many factors considered in the selection process. The qualifications of the other applicants meeting a particular board also influence who is selected. 12. I've heard the combination of a person's score must be 100 or better. Is this true? HQ AFPC/DPPPWT does not establish standards. You must talk with the commissioning source you are working with or check the governing regulation to obtain the specifics. 13. What happens when it's crunch time and the board is right around the corner? We do our best to score the AFOQT tests as soon as possible. As a minimum we score tests once a week. We make every effort to get the results to the board in a timely manner. The best approach is to eliminate crunch time by planning to test well in advance of board deadlines. 14. Can applicants go through the board without scores? No. Having test scores is a requirement to compete for a line officer commission. 15. How long does it take to get my scores from AFPC? The location administering the test is required by AFI 36-2605, Air Force Military Personnel Testing System, to mail the answer sheets within 1 duty day of administration. It usually takes 7-10 days before the answer sheets are in-hand for scoring. Then the amount of time since we completed the last scoring run and getting the scores loaded into the database adds a few more days. As soon as the scores are loaded they can be obtained via the web at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/testing. 16. How do you compute a BAT or PCSM score? AETC/PCSM Program Manager, DSN 487-4529 (Commercial [210] 652-4529, computes the scores using a complex algorithm combining AFOQT Pilot and Basic Attributes Test (BAT) scores with flying hours to come up with a model score which predicts success in flying training programs. 17. How many times can I take the AFOQT? An individual can take the AFOQT two (2) times with a minimum interval of 6 months between test administrations. Waivers to take the test a third time are granted to individuals who have completed significant training since the previous administration IF the training impacts the skills being measured by the test (college-level math and English courses, private pilot's license, etc). If you inquire on a score and see blanks in the area where the scores should be, it's usually because the person took the test a third time without authorization. 18. What if I'm already enlisted, what are some tips to crossover to the officer corps. Link to Guide and Forms