Due to the hiring pause detailed in the memorandum below, we are not currently accepting pilot rush visits.

MEMORANDUM FOR UPT CANDIDATES                                     4 JUN 2024

FROM: 157 FS/CC

SUBJECT: Cancelation of 2024 UPT Board

1. I regret to announce that the 157th Fighter Squadron is no longer able to conduct a UPT

Selection Board in 2024.

2. The capacity for the USAF’s Air Education and Training Command to train new Fighter

Pilots took a very unexpected turn this week. 169th Fighter Wing leadership received an email

this week outlining problems with the T-38 and delays in the delivery and production in the T-7.

The number of UPT class dates available to Air National Guard fighter units has been cut

dramatically. The South Carolina Air National Guard currently has three individuals who have

been selected to attend pilot training, and none of those three will be able to conduct training

starting in Fiscal Year 2025. It would be irresponsible to conduct a hiring board in 2024 when

the likely start date for training would be 2027 at the very earliest.

3. I know that many of you have already made significant financial and time commitments for

this board. That is not lost on me, nor is it lost on those of us involved in the hiring process.

This is a development that is affecting the entire Air National Guard enterprise and not just South

Carolina. We appreciate the investments you have made in this process, and we hope that the

situation will be remedied soon.

4. If and when training capacity problems abate, we intend to resume having UPT boards. Watch

the 169th Fighter Wing website (https://www.169fw.ang.af.mil) for updates. I encourage anyone

with their heart set on being a Fighter Pilot to explore other avenues, and I wish you the best of

luck.

TAYLOR A. BLEVINS, Lt Col, SCANG

Commander, 157FS