Hey guys

[ryan1234]

all middle-English British Literature

That sounds painful

Also - when I took the ASTB all of the aviation questions verbatim were found in the Gleim Private Pilot Written Test Guide (which for civilian pilots The Gleim Guides are probably the best 'quick' study guide for all levels of written test.) The Gleim outlines everything you need to know and cuts out the BS (for aviation stuff).

 

[hipfinnsy]

So:

1)Marine Gouge
2) Atrickpay's Study Guide
3)FAA Handbook
4)Gleim Private Pilot Written Exam guide

You think this is enough to study with? I was thinking about the possibly getting the Arco or Barron's book as well, if they are worth a damn. I don't need any help with the reading sections. I'm working on the math(easy), mechanical (pretty easy), and the aviation/naval stuff (which is the most foreign to me).

Furthermore: should I be looking into the AFOQT at all? I've heard that the AF is very pretentious as far as pilots are concerned, but that the Air National Guard is worth looking into. I called the Coast Guard at one point and the guy was literally one of the biggest assholes I have ever talked to over the phone. Right now I'm feeling pretty good with the Navy. My recruiter seems like a pretty cool guy and has actually done quite a bit to keep in touch with me and make sure that the process is going a long well.

As far as LORs: right now I have two college English professors who will be writing excellent things about me. What else should I be looking for? One of my (a bit distant) cousins is an ex-naval aviator and my other cousin is an Army infantry Lieutenant (been in for 15+ years-- mustang). Should I get them to write me letters as well?

Thanks again. This site is clearly the best resource for anyone attempting to become an aviator.

-Cody

 

[Swanee]

So:

1)Marine Gouge
2) Atrickpay's Study Guide
3)FAA Handbook
4)Gleim Private Pilot Written Exam guide

You think this is enough to study with? I was thinking about the possibly getting the Arco or Barron's book as well, if they are worth a damn. I don't need any help with the reading sections. I'm working on the math(easy), mechanical (pretty easy), and the aviation/naval stuff (which is the most foreign to me).

Furthermore: should I be looking into the AFOQT at all? I've heard that the AF is very pretentious as far as pilots are concerned, but that the Air National Guard is worth looking into. I called the Coast Guard at one point and the guy was literally one of the biggest assholes I have ever talked to over the phone. Right now I'm feeling pretty good with the Navy. My recruiter seems like a pretty cool guy and has actually done quite a bit to keep in touch with me and make sure that the process is going a long well.

As far as LORs: right now I have two college English professors who will be writing excellent things about me. What else should I be looking for? One of my (a bit distant) cousins is an ex-naval aviator and my other cousin is an Army infantry Lieutenant (been in for 15+ years-- mustang). Should I get them to write me letters as well?

Thanks again. This site is clearly the best resource for anyone attempting to become an aviator.

-Cody

Every service is worth looking into. You don't quite know who you'll fit in best with...

 

[hipfinnsy]

Yeah. I actually wanted to fly in the Marines originally-- helos specifically. However, I think the recruiter was trying to give me the run-around. He said that they wouldn't have pilot slots available until next year and that they would be going to the PLC kids first. He wanted me to take a ground contract. Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he was full of shit.

 

[statesman]

Dude you can study all you want to... and studying isn't going to hurt, but consider this.

The ASTB is an aptitude test, it is not a knowledge test. So the benefit from studying gets your brain working in the areas of the test, but studying for a year is not going to drastically increase your scores.

Overall its a well designed test and achieves its goals. They dont WANT you to be able to study for the test, they want to find out what your natural aptitude is.

So what does that mean?

Study the gouge material out there, get familiar with the test format. Maybe play some flight sim games to get acquainted with the spacial questions, and then just take the test.

As for all the other stuff, I didnt even bother reading it because no one can tell you what you're chances are. I know guys who had a 3.2 who weren't selected for aviation, and I know guys who had high 2.x GPAs that did get picked for 1390 / 1370. It comes down to who you are competing against in your selection cycle, and more importantly THE NEEDS OF THE NAVY.

As to your experience with the Marines, it wouldn't surprise me. The Marine Air pipeline has plenty of people in it right now, and I know good guys who were attrited from primary for having far less trouble than I did.

 

[Danielsw25]

Dude you can study all you want to... and studying isn't going to hurt, but consider this.

The ASTB is an aptitude test, it is not a knowledge test. So the benefit from studying gets your brain working in the areas of the test, but studying for a year is not going to drastically increase your scores.

Overall its a well designed test and achieves its goals. They dont WANT you to be able to study for the test, they want to find out what your natural aptitude is.

So what does that mean?

Study the gouge material out there, get familiar with the test format. Maybe play some flight sim games to get acquainted with the spacial questions, and then just take the test.

As for all the other stuff, I didnt even bother reading it because no one can tell you what you're chances are. I know guys who had a 3.2 who weren't selected for aviation, and I know guys who had high 2.x GPAs that did get picked for 1390 / 1370. It comes down to who you are competing against in your selection cycle, and more importantly THE NEEDS OF THE NAVY.

As to your experience with the Marines, it wouldn't surprise me. The Marine Air pipeline has plenty of people in it right now, and I know good guys who were attrited from primary for having far less trouble than I did.

Disagree with you that studying isn't going to help. I do think that there is a certain point that you are getting significantly diminishing returns, but a good amount of research and studying will help a great deal.

For instance, two questions that I missed for sure were: What is the squak code for a plane emergency (7600?)? and What is the designator for a carrier group (CVN)? Neither of these questions are ones that you would expect a correct answer to without a good amount of prior knowledge - essentially, studying. Another, What is the correct "call sign" for the Sidewinder missle? (AIM) is something I knew from video games only which does somewhat support your claim.

I would actually suggest that the areas that are going to be "common knowledge" are the things many suggest studying. For instance, the picture references where you determine which way the aircraft is bound based upon various images of the aircraft and the other where you do the same based on the view out the front windshield. You can't really do much to prepare for those.

Make notecards for simple questions like the squak codes, Navy history and other things. Review them every now and then, but once a day is better than seven times once a week for retention. My suggestion.

 

[statesman]

The 'pro-knowledge' questions, sure you're going to need to study that material if you're not already familiar with it. But that accounts for a very small portion of your overall score.

The Mechanical aptitude / math portions are not weighed the same as the pro-knowledge last I heard. So guys that did poorly on the mechanical but aced the pro-knowledge were still getting low scores, and those that did well on mechanical and struggled with the pro-knowledge didnt do too poorly.

Notice I never said dont study. I simply said take into consideration that studying your ass off for this test is not going to help you blow it out of the water.

You mentioned a point of diminishing returns. That point is reached pretty quickly with this test.

 

[Swanee]

Yeah. I actually wanted to fly in the Marines originally-- helos specifically. However, I think the recruiter was trying to give me the run-around. He said that they wouldn't have pilot slots available until next year and that they would be going to the PLC kids first. He wanted me to take a ground contract. Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he was full of shit.

He wasn't full of shit. If he had slots to fill why would he turn down potential candidates to fill those slots?

 

[nativeofsandieg]

He wasn't full of shit. If he had slots to fill why would he turn down potential candidates to fill those slots?

Exactly the same reason why Navy recruiters try to push people into Surface Warfare...

 

[ryan1234]

but that the Air National Guard is worth looking into.

They only take the coolest.

 

[A4sForever]

They only take the coolest.

ANG?? The coolest ???

Not if they are members of the HANG ... then they are a bunch of shitty-stick, can't fly to save their ass losers.

I'm on record for their numerous inflight boneheaded-ness approaching HNL and on the runways/ramps @ HNL/Hickam .... but:

I had the pleasure of witnessing one HANG F-15 driver get dumped by some airline stewardess-chickee @ the Hale Koa Barefoot Bar in Waikiki ... right in front of me, God, & Country. She'd been talking to me for no apparent reason ... he showed up looking for her ... a short verbal hissy-fit ensued between them .... resulting in him getting publicly dumped (for some previous crime) ... and then he left in a huff. What a fucking loser -- he almost cried.

For the record; she left, too ... after I'd bought her a drink to assuage her tears ... which solved a lot of 'problems'.

You just gotta' love the Territory ... !!!

 

[ryan1234]

ANG?? The coolest ???

Believe it Bruddah!

 

[twobecrazy]

the Hale Koa Barefoot Bar in Waikiki ...

Great place for a pre-flight... I lived almost directly across the street to the Hale Koa and the Hilton Hawaiian Village... I miss those days!!! It also seems as if I heard that story before as well... Those DAMN Navy flight crews picking them up and putting them down!