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Basic Officer Training (BOT) FAQ


Counselors who would like to add new questions to this section may send such requests via email to: afrsots@rs.af.mil. If the BESO counselor cannot answer a question, he/she should contact HQ AFRS. Only BESO Counselors are authorized to contact HQ AFRS).

  1. What is the minimum GPA for OTS applicants?
  2. Should I submit an application on an applicant with a low GPA and/or test scores?
  3. What advice can you provide to me to help me increase my applicant's chances of being
  4. What are the most common things that keep an applicant from getting selected?
  5.  I have an application that is almost completed. The deadline for applications is in two days. Should I submit the application early to meet the deadline or wait until the documents come in, then submit the complete application?
  6. Are minority applicants more competitive than other applicants?
  7. How many people does AFRS ship to BOT in each class?
  8. Why is the pilot selection rate low if the Air Force needs 800 - 1,000 per fiscal year?
  9. We heard that BOT has almost made goal for this year? The year just started, please explain.
  10. We are having a hard time getting Base X’s Military Treatment Facility (MTF) to perform our rated physicals in a timely manner? What can we do to speed things up?
  11. An Active Duty Air Force recruiter wants to apply to BOT. Who is the recruiter's Point Of Contact (POC)? Who completes the application?
  12. What happens if an applicant’s request for a waiver is disapproved or he/she is non-selected for BOT?
  13. When will a selectee go to BOT?
  14. Where do selectees go after BOT?
  15. What should be done if an applicant is disqualified medically for a commission?
  16. What should an applicant do if his/her BESO Counselor leaves before their BOT application is completed?
  17. What are the rules concerning Letters of Recommendation (LOR) for BOT packages?
  18. Do enlisted applicants selected for BOT attend a 6-week program instead of the full 12-week course?
  19. How does an applicant obtain a Time on Station (TOS) waiver?
  20. What should an applicant do if he/she cannot remember and/or find the location, court, or amount of a speeding ticket?
  21. Can a female apply for BOT while pregnant?
  22. What determines if an applicant’s degree is acceptable by BOT?
  23. I have a BS in Business with a 2.85 GPA, and a Masters in Bus Admin with a 4.0 GPA. Why can’t I use my Master’s GPA to qualify without a GPA waiver?

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Q: What is the minimum GPA for OTS applicants?

A:  BOT SUMMARY OF CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Program

PCSM

(Note 2)

AFOQT SCORES

GPA (Note 3)

Degree disciplines

Pilot (P)

Navigator (N)

Academic Adaptability (AA)

Verbal (V)

Quantitative (Q)

Pilot   

 (Note 1)

N/A

50 total pilot & navigator composite score with a minimum of 25 pilot score and 10 navigator score.

--

15

10

2.5

Non-specific

 

 

(Note 4)

Navigator (Note 1)

N/A

50 total pilot & navigator composite score with a minimum of 25 navigator score and 10 Pilot.

--

15

10

2.5

Air Battle Manager        

N/A

50 total pilot & navigator composite score with a minimum of 10 in both the pilot and navigator score

--

15

10

2.5

Non-tech

N/A

--

--

--

15

10

3.0

Technical

N/A

--

--

--

15

10

--

Note 5

 

Note 1: There are no AFOQT score waivers for applicants who do not meet the rated score (Pilot and Navigator) requirements listed above. 

Note 2: Effective 1 Oct 06, the Basic Attributes Test (BAT) is no longer used to calculate the PCSM score, and the new Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) is now used.  Beginning with Board 07OT01, the new TBAS-based PCSM scores will be required for ALL pilot applicants.  To retrieve the PCSM score, refer to https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/  (the PCSM website), and print the Printer Friendly Page. 

Note 3: Exception to the GPA minimum will only be considered for applicants who have a 150 or higher total composite score of the AA, Q, and V scores.   GPA qualification is based solely on Undergraduate coursework, regardless of qualifying degree.

Note 4: Qualifying degrees can be either Undergraduate (BS/BA) or Graduate (Masters, Doctorate).  However, specific AFSC qualifications dictate actual degree requirements.

Note 5: The following degrees qualify to meet a Technical panel:

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Q: Should I submit an application on an applicant with a low GPA and/or test scores?

A: Maybe. Counselors should proceed carefully when GPA and AFOQT scores are low, because chances of selection decrease. To be potentially competitive, an applicant must have exceptional strengths in work experience, leadership, and communications skills, along with other leadership traits. For GPA waiver consideration, the applicant must have an AFOQT composite score of at least 150. The AFOQT composite score is the total score comprised from summing the AA, V, and Q sub-composite AFOQT scores.
 

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Q: What advice can you provide to me to help me increase my applicant's chances of being selected?

A: Applications should be typed flawlessly with an emphasis on leadership/management. Profile should be complete and list as much as possible about the applicant. Item 22 of AF IMT 56 should be filled up as much as possible and should address the objective for officership, rated duty, if applicable, and address any negative factors. If possible, a Major or higher should perform the interview. If an officer in the grade of Captain or below performs the interview, you should obtain the squadron commander's endorsement, if possible. Use verbiage such as outstanding, superior, excellent, average, below average, the absolute best, my number one, etc.... There is no doubt that the AF IMT 56 is the most critical document in an application.

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Q: What are the most common things that keep an applicant from getting selected?

A: Some of the most common reasons for non-selection are weak writing styles and a lack of bullets on the AF IMT 56 interview. Interviewing officers often "cut and paste" bullets from previous applications and overlook the change in the name or pronoun. Also, an interviewing officer will sometimes use the same bullets on several applications. Poorly written OTS profiles and reference letters, along with unanswered questions, cause a board member to be concerned, which often lowers a board score. Use the AF IMT 56 continuation section to explain anything unusual within the application (i.e. missing EPR, low GPA, law violations, etc.). Include applicant initials at the end of each statement listed on the AF IMT 56 continuation sheet.
 

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Q: I have an application that is almost completed. The deadline for applications is in two days. Should I submit the application early to meet the deadline or wait until the documents come in, then submit the complete application?

A: This is a common question. Hold the application. Do not send the application until it is complete.

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Q: Are minority applicants more competitive than other applicants?

A: Absolutely not. It is against the Equal Employment Opportunity Act to base the selection process on race, ethnic origin, religion, or sex. Board members do not consider these factors.

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Q: How many people does AFRS ship to BOT in each class?

A: Currently, between 60 and 65 per class.

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Q: Why is the pilot selection rate low if the Air Force needs 800 - 1,000 per fiscal year?

A: AFRS selects only 100 - 120 pilots every year. The majority of pilots come from USAFA and AFROTC.

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Q: We heard that BOT has almost made goal for this year? The year just started, please explain.

A: Selections are made approximately six months in advance of the expected shipping timeframe. Therefore, in order to fill the first three to four BOT classes, selections for a fiscal year actually begin as early as January of the year preceding the fiscal year in question.

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Q: We are having a hard time getting Base X’s Military Treatment Facility (MTF) to perform our rated physicals in a timely manner? What can we do to speed things up?

A: This is another common question and the cause of a lot of frustration in the field. If the OIC or NCOIC of Flight Medicine isn't assisting you, use your chain of command. The chain of command, starting from lowest to highest is the OIC, Flight Medicine, the Aerospace Medicine CC (usually a Colonel), the Medical Group CC (usually a Colonel), and finally the Hospital CC. Contrary to popular belief, base hospitals do not work for HQ AETC/SGPS. Instead they work for the base commander, then ultimately the MAJCOM commander. The SG has assured RSOCL that each hospital has established procedures in place. The SG also has told us, if there are errors on the physical (missed the DAT/HIV/depth perception/etc), or if physicals are taking an excessive amount of time to be completed, there is either a training or competency problem at that facility that should be brought to the attention of one of the individuals listed above (in the chain of command).
 

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Q: An Active Duty Air Force recruiter wants to apply to BOT. Who is the recruiter's Point Of Contact (POC)? Who completes the application?

A: The POC is the nearest base education office counselor.

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Q: What happens if an applicant’s request for a waiver is disapproved or he/she is non-selected for BOT?

A: Once a waiver has been disapproved or an applicant has been notified of a BOT final board non-selection, he/she must wait a minimum of six months to reapply. Applicants must complete a new application to reapply to BOT. Old applications are maintained in HQ AFRS “dead files” for one year.

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Q: When will a selectee go to BOT?

A: Once an application is audited and qualified, and all physical requirements are met, selects will be assigned to the next available class date based on his/her date of availability and AFSC (usually 6 -9 months from selection).

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Q: Where do selectees go after BOT?

A: Assignments are determined by AFPC. Once HQ AFRS has made a BOT class assignment, the individual’s file is forwarded to AFPC for assignment action. AFPC will send a message to the individual’s MPF with assignment instructions, no later than 60 days prior to his/her report date, Not everyone will know where his or her next duty station will be prior to attending BOT. Some selectees will be required to attend technical training and will be told during the tech training where their next assignment will be. The individual’s selected AFSC is the determining factor.

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Q: What should be done if an applicant is disqualified medically for a commission?

A: Applicant is ineligible to apply for commissioning if they are unable to get a qualifying AF FM 422 (refer to paragraph 12.11.

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Q: What should an applicant do if his/her BESO Counselor leaves before their BOT application is completed?

A: The BESO is the point of contact. They normally have more than one counselor at each base, or have contingency plans for such circumstances. Direct all questions through that office.

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Q: What are the rules concerning Letters of Recommendation (LOR) for BOT packages?

A: Only one LOR may be used for an Active Duty applicant; however, it is optional. Someone in the applicant’s current chain of command who is no higher than his/her organization’s senior rater (usually the wing commander) must sign the LOR (no endorsements allowed on letter).

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Q: Do enlisted applicants selected for BOT attend a 6-week program instead of the full 12-week course?

A: No.

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Q: How does an applicant obtain a Time on Station (TOS) waiver?

A: The request is forwarded to HQ AFPC, Officer Accession (OA) office for coordination with the appropriate functional manager. Granting TOS waivers are based ultimately on the needs of the AF. Several factors are considered including: Enlisted manning, Cost of unfulfilled initial enlisted bonus and service reenlistment bonus commitments, etc. When finalized, the waiver is returned to HQ AFRS for final processing.

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Q: What should an applicant do if he/she cannot remember and/or find the location, court, or amount of a speeding ticket?

A: Supply all information to the best of his/her ability (see AF FM 56, Item 15).

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Q: Can a female apply for BOT while pregnant?

A: No. All applicants must be physically qualified at the time of application IAW AFI 48-123. Pregnancy is a medically disqualifying factor until after the member is cleared of her pregnancy profile and can provide a current AF Form 422 qualifying her for continued enlistment and commissioning.

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Q: What determines if an applicant’s degree is acceptable by BOT?

A: A degree qualifies for non-rated and rated if the degree is from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher learning. The best place to check is in the current edition of the Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education (AIPE), published by the American Council on Education (ACE) or on the ACE website. If the degree granting institution is not listed in AIPE, the BESO Counselor should be consulted for further guidance for assistance.

Application for AF engineering specialties requires a degree that is also accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Inc. Refer to: http://www.abet.org/ to determine if a degree is ABET accredited.

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Q: I have a BS in Business with a 2.85 GPA, and a Masters in Bus Admin with a 4.0 GPA. Why can’t I use my Master’s GPA to qualify without a GPA waiver?

A: Fairness and an equal playing field. The one common denominator between ALL BOT applicants is undergraduate coursework. Even those that don’t finish their Bachelor’s, and instead move on directly to their Master’s, still have at least two years of Undergrad courses taken. This is enough to generate a valid overall GPA, and all applicants must qualify with the same GPA requirements (undergrad).

GPA’s generally are better in Graduate work than they were in Undergrad studies. While a qualifying degree may be a Masters Degree in Business, it is the undergraduate coursework that will give us a much clearer picture on an applicant’s learning potential.

So, regardless of what the Master’s Degree GPA is, the undergrad coursework will comprise the GPA that must exceed the requirements of the Matrix:

Program

PCSM

(Note 2)

AFOQT SCORES

GPA (Note 3)

Degree disciplines

Pilot (P)

Navigator (N)

Academic Adaptability (AA)

Verbal (V)

Quantitative (Q)

Pilot   

 (Note 1)

N/A

50 total pilot & navigator composite score with a minimum of 25 pilot score and 10 navigator score.

--

15

10

2.5

Non-specific

 

 

(Note 4)

Navigator (Note 1)

N/A

50 total pilot & navigator composite score with a minimum of 25 navigator score and 10 Pilot.

--

15

10

2.5

Air Battle Manager        

N/A

50 total pilot & navigator composite score with a minimum of 10 in both the pilot and navigator score

--

15

10

2.5

Non-tech

N/A

--

--

--

15

10

3.0

Technical

N/A

--

--

--

15

10

--

Note 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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Page last modified on: 21 October 2009

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Revised: 10/21/09.