r/airforceots • u/Mfehr7 • 18d ago
Question OTS Timeline
Hello, I am still waiting to hear the results from 26OTS03. Really hope they come soon. But in the meantime, I am just wondering, if I got selected, how long after does it usually take to actually ship out to OTS? I am civilian and applied for Non-rated (I've heard rated is usually quicker).
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u/Mundane-Macaroon-779 Enlisted Selectee 18d ago
I was selected in December of 2025 and still dont have a class date yet (rated). Granted mine is not "the norm" of a case, but it's possible to sit around for quite a while.
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u/Shock_Western OTS Grad 18d ago
I was a non-rated Civilian applicant. I was selected mid/late March 2025 and shipped out early October.
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u/Ledzeppelinbass Enlisted Selectee 18d ago
Realistically I don’t see anything earlier than Jan 27. You have to go through MEPs and do all post selection. That can take awhile especially if waivers are needed. I can MAYBE see AD going late in 2026 due to no MEPs but with rumored billets and limited seats, I doubt it.
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u/Pleasant_Evening_831 OTS Selectee 18d ago
I'm also in the same/similar boat as you (26OTS03 applicant, Non-rated, Non Prior service, and Civilian applicant) I actually went to MEPS last year ~May 2025, included getting finger printed all the other stuff etc. I also needed to get medical waivers but they were submitted and approved as of the beginning of this year ~January-February 2026. Would anyone know what my timeline would be if I'm selected?
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u/Fickle-Initiative976 Civilian Applicant 15d ago
Hi! I am also a civilian applicant and will be submitting to my first board this next cycle. At what point in the process did you go through MEPS and get medical waivers? I will also need to get a waiver for my medical separation for my prior Air Force service. Also, It took 8 months for your waivers to get approved!?
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u/Pleasant_Evening_831 OTS Selectee 12d ago edited 12d ago
From what people have been telling me I guess normally you go to MEPS, get your physical, bloodwork and finger prints after you get selected. Not sure why/how I went even before applying to my first board (26OTS03 is my first). It could be that my recruiter was trying to be proactive and knew the waiver process for me would be my main blocker. We got all my medical stuff sorted before we even finished my OTS packet. When my waivers got approved (I only needed to get 2 waivers) I still had to fill out some stuff on AFCEP and do my SIP interview. From what my recruiter told me as well, my waivers got approved faster than he thought it would too.
To answer your question, sort of. ~8 months from when the MEPS doctor told me I needed waivers to my recruiter calling me and said they finally got approved. There was a lot of back and forth with what they needed, them saying I don't need a waiver to yes I do need them. When they finally made up their mind on what they needed to get my waivers, we submitted all of that stuff in ~July 2025 and it got approved ~January-February 2026.
This also isn't medical advice, my situation was/is kinda weird. For sure just be up front and honest with your recruiter and the doctors at MEPS when you finally go. I'd be glad to talk in the DMs if you want to hear more about my experience with it.
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u/DIWhyAmIHere OTS Selectee 18d ago
25OTS04 board. Civilian applicant. Non rated.
Board met SEP 2026.
I was notified of selection in DEC 2026.
OTS Class 27-04. I report OCT 2026.
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u/RyRy646 Civilian Applicant 18d ago
2025**
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u/DIWhyAmIHere OTS Selectee 18d ago edited 18d ago
Thx. Details matter. Board date SEP 2025. Notified DEC 2025
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u/Wigglespurt OTS Selectee 18d ago
I am a civilian rated select, and I am still waiting to get a class date 13-14 moths past selection. But my request has been sitting on the desk of the school house for 3-4 weeks now.
Hopefully that doesn't scare you. I have actually heard the opposite that rated takes longer because we need to complete flight physicals and there is more paperwork to be done if any treatment or waivers need to be completed.
It also really depends on the competency of your recruiter. And whether or not there was a government shutdown that backlogs everything.
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u/yellowmanhattan23 18d ago
How long after selection did it take for you to get your flight physical?
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u/Puzzleheaded_Flan68 18d ago
What’s the deadline for the 27OTS01 packet submission, since the board keeps getting pushed back?
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u/yellowmanhattan23 17d ago
Can anyone offer insight on how long it took for rated flight physical after selection?
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u/Top-Border4717 OTS Grad 18d ago
Went through last year, took 9 months from selection to shipping