BDCP Application

[FelixTheGreat]

Hey, I was hoping to get some help with a BDCP app I planning to submit this summer. I am starting to pull my stats together and want to present the best package possible. Currently I am 2 years from graduating college, current GPA is about 3.0, I am working towards my CFI license so I can start racking up flight hours. I have some 3 letters of recommendation lined up; 1 from an FAA examiner towards my flying ability, 1 from a professor for academic ability, and 1 from my employer as a character witness. I don't have any community service time or extra-curricular activities, my schedule keeps me kind of busy.

Do any of you have any advice to what I can do to polish up my application. Last time I talked to an officer recruiter he told me to get lost with a 3.0 gpa, I had a tough first year of college. I am trying to scrap anything I can get before the end of the summer so any advice would mean the world to me.

 

[TheBubba]

Firstly, the recruiter that told you to get lost is full of it. Apply. The worst they could do is say no, and if they do, resubmit. As long as you've shown a trend of improvement since freshman year, you'll be fine. The LOR's are good too...

Here's my advice to you: Make yourself stand out. Ask yourself this: What have I done that I can put on my resume that will make me stand out (in a good way) from every other Tom, Dick and Harry that's submitted an application? When you figure out the answer, that's how you can polish up your resume.

Also, if you've done it and its positive, put it down. If you are a certified underwater basket-weaving instructor, put it down. Get where I'm goin? Don't leave anything good about yourself (or that you've done) out.

Hope it helps and good luck.

 

[FelixTheGreat]

Its good to hear a reassuring thought. I all can seem to find are people who are trying to sell me on their sour grapes or people who think I am wasting my life by not staying on the civilian side of things.

 

[fighterpfeif]

Maybe something to reassure you more.

The recuriter I am talking with came up to our school and another in IL, which both have aviation programs (mine is the University of Dubuque and the other was Southern Illinois University Carbondale). It seems that he is trying to find more students that have prior flight experience above a PPL and who are enrolled in a aviation major, the rationale being that the customary engineering majors who are sent down to flight training are washing out. The engineering majors are having a tougher time, while aviation majors are able to get right with the program (note: this is what I heard and it might be total sh!t, but take it for what it is worth, hope?).

I assume Dmitri you are at Denver Metro and in their flight program. So having a major that is focused on aviation might help you. What I am really trying to say is have hope. A 3.0 GPA might be a sore point that the boards see, but maybe prior academic flight experience could offset that because your chance of washout is lower. Just apply and also develop a package more to the liking of your recuriter.

 

[TheBubba]

Maybe something to reassure you more.

The recuriter at the Des Moines NORS came up to our school and another in IL, which both have aviation programs (mine is the University of Dubuque and the other was Southern Illinois University Carbondale). It seems that he is trying to find more students that have prior flight experience above a PPL and who are enrolled in a aviation major, the rationale being that the customary engineering majors who are sent down to flight training are washing out. The engineering majors are having a tougher time, while aviation majors are able to get right with the program (note: this is what I heard and it might be total sh!t, but take it for what it is worth, hope?).

Total sh*t. The civilian and Navy methods to flying and learning how to fly are completely different. People with PPLs wash out too. The flight program is designed so that an underwater basket-weaving major who's only experience with airplanes is seeing them fly over his house can earn his wings.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

I am working towards my CFI license so I can start racking up flight hours.

[THREADJACK]I reccomend reading The Savvy Flight Instructor, by Gregory Brown. Hopefully, it will change your outlook on the CFI experience.[/THREADJACK]

 

[FelixTheGreat]

Thanks for all you help guys. It good to know that someone, somewhere managed to become a Naval Officer and be happy with there decision, contrary to the thoughts of every pilot in Centennial CO.

I am not to caught up with being a CFI, i really want to just start building time and transistion into multi's. Besides, I have to pay forward all the good things that my instructor did for me and get the license for my degree. I still think signing off on students to solo is the scariest thing in the world.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

It's still worth the read if you're going to be a flight instructor for even one student.

 

[nugget81]

I still think signing off on students to solo is the scariest thing in the world.

What? You don't think it's fun to put your ticket on the line for someone who has less than 1/8 the experience you do? Come on......

Seriously, I know several guys who are going into the military while many of our friends are staying in the civilian world. Everyone has their own reasons for pursuing a particular avenue. Just make sure that the choice you make is yours, not someone else's.

And like it was said before - apply! The worst that could happen is the selection board says no and then you'd have to apply again. I know one guy who applied 3 or 4 times before he got selected. Point of the story - you can't win if you don't play!

BTW - Savvy Flight Instructor is a good read. It should be mandatory for all CFI's....

 

[FelixTheGreat]

I'll check that book out tomorrow as so as finals wrap up. Thanks for all the help guys, it's nice to know that someone went to the military and had a good time in flight training, contrary to what most of the other civilian pilots have been spoon feeding me.