Simulator instructor applicant briefing, Q & A found here Published April 7, 2010 By 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The following link: Applicant Briefing 7 April 2010 directs viewers to a copy of PowerPoint slides addressing selection criteria for government service simulator instructor positions here. The slides were briefed during both of the two town hall meetings which took place at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 7 in the base auditorium here. A compilation of questions and answers discussed during the two meetings is posted below. The secretary of defense announced last year that the Defense Department would scale back the role of contractors in support services. As a result, the Air Force, along with other DOD activities, is reviewing existing contracts for in-sourcing opportunities--the use of DOD civilian employees to perform functions that are currently performed by contractors. The Air Education and Training Command is reviewing all contracted services as potential candidates for future in-sourcing, including, but not limited to, flight simulator training at Vance AFB. The Air Force is retaining all rights to exercise its contract options, but continues to seek the most efficient and effective use of resources consistent with congressionally mandated incentives and statutory requirements. Flight training simulator instructor jobs at Vance AFB under the DOD general schedule pay system were posted on the USA Jobs Web site, www.usajobs.gov, in January this year. Town Hall Q & A Q: When is the official turnover date? A: Oct. 1, 2010 is the projected official turnover date. Q: How many positions are available? A: There are currently 76 simulator instructor positions available, plus five supervisory positions. At this time we are interviewing approximately 90 applicants, but that number could increase by approximately 20 percent. We want to interview as many well qualified applicants as possible. Q: How many applicants are there? A: There are currently about 110 applicants. Q: What GS-level will most simulator instructors hold? A: All simulator instructors will be General Schedule-12, Step 1 employees. Q: How many GS-13 positions will be available? A: At this time we will be hiring for five GS-13 positions. Q: Do I need a flight physical to be eligible for a position? A: No. A flight physical is not necessary to be eligible for a simulator instructor position. However as with any GS position, a general physical is required. Q: Will current supervisors hold their positions and become GS-13's in the hiring process? A: Not necessarily. All applicants are allowed to apply for a GS-13 position and will be rated according to the same scale as those currently in supervisory positions who are applying. Q: Are the number of specific airframe simulator instructors needed taken in to account in the application process? For example, will you be hiring a specific number of T-6, T-1 and T-38 instructors? A: At this point no. All applicants are in the same pool. However, we will look into this possibility. Q: Am I allowed to apply for simulator instructor positions at other SUPT bases? A: Yes, you are allowed to apply at other Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training bases. This will not affect your application here at Vance AFB in any way. With that said, applicants from other bases are allowed to apply for a position at Vance AFB as well. Q: Is the hiring process at Vance AFB the same as the process at other bases? A: While the hiring processes are similar due to Air Force Personnel Center standardization, the rating criteria used here at Vance AFB is tailored to meet the specific needs of the 71st Fying Training Wing. Q: Is it possible for my application to be sent to another SUPT base? A: Not unless this action is initiated by you. There is no lateral movement of applications from one SUPT base to another. If you choose to apply at another SUPT base you will have to go through the formal channels of that SUPT base's application process. Q: Are there applicants from other bases who are "testing the waters" here at Vance AFB to gauge whether they are able to procure a job? A: Yes, we did encounter applicants from other bases who were "testing the waters" here at Vance. At this point we believe all applicants doing this have dropped their applications giving us a more accurate picture of applicant numbers. However, if applicants from other SUPT bases are serious about their application for a position at Vance AFB, they will undergo the same application process as you. Q: If my application did not receive a certification at Vance AFB but did at another SUPT base can I resubmit my application to Vance? A: No, you cannot resubmit your package due to the application deadline. In all observed cases, applications that did not receive a certification at Vance AFB and did receive a certification at another SUPT base were altered or changed in some way. Q: If my application was turned down for internal and external certification and was passed in the public certification is there any way to get my application reviewed and placed back in to internal/external certification? A: No. Once your application is turned down in any one certification it cannot be reviewed due to the application deadline. However, it does not matter whether or not you receive an internal, external, or public certification. Your application package will be rated the same no matter the certification type. Q: Is the applicant list from AFPC ranked? A: It depends on what certification it is. Internal and external applicants are not stratified out of AFPC. Public applicants are stratified out of AFPC. Q: What are the most important factors in the application package? A: The most important factor is your experience in U.S. military fixed-wing aircraft followed by your experience as a simulator supervisor or instructor. Q: Do current and past aircraft hours count in my application rating? A: Yes, all of your aircraft time counts somewhere in the application rating. However, all of your hours may not be weighted the same way in your application rating. Q: Do simulator instructor hours count in the application rating? A: Yes, simulator instructor hours do count in the application rating. However, the specific number of hours does not matter. For example, instructors with 3,000 hours will receive the same amount of points as those with 2,000 hours. Q: Why isn't the T-37 listed in SUPT instructor experience? A: We only take into account the current SUPT airframes in this rating category (T-6A Texan II, T-1A Jayhawk, T-38C Talon). However, your T-37 experience does count towards the "UPT experience" criteria. Q: Can I update my application with new hours after the application process has begun? A: Yes. At any point up to and during the interview you can contact us to update your hours. Q: Why is so much weight placed on the interview (40 percent) rather than personal experience, which better defines a qualified individual? A: You would not have been selected to undergo an interview if you were not a well-qualified applicant. We ideally want to obtain a "whole person" picture of each applicant. This is something we believe an equally weighted application and interview achieve. Q: Is there any way we can know the interview questions before our interviews? A: No. Telling you the questions would not be fair to all applicants--internal, external and public. Q: Are all applicants asked the same questions during their interviews? A: Yes. Every applicant applying for the same position will be asked the same questions. Those applying for a GS-13 position will be asked the same questions as those applying for a GS-12 position in addition to a series of supplemental questions. Q: Do I need to bring any supplemental materials to my interview? A: No, your application is set up such that we have all the information necessary to complete your package. The only exception to this is if you have additional hours not included in your application. Q: Will the panel members who determine 10 percent, 5 percent, and 5 percent of my total rating be present in my interview? A: Yes, all three panel members will be present in your interview. Q: If I have multiple applications for different positions will I go through separate interviews for each position? A: No, you will undergo one interview for all of your applications, but you will get a separate score for each application. Being qualified or disqualified in a position does not affect your application in any other position. Q: How will a job offer be sent to me and how long do I have to respond? A: All job offers will come from AFPC via e-mail. You will have two business days to respond. However, if you contact Rhonda Coleman at (580) 213-7813 and provide her with additional contact information you will be contacted by every means possible. The two business day response requirement will still apply. Q: If hired, will I be required to undergo a background check and obtain a security clearance? A: Yes, you will have to undergo a background check and receive a security clearance to hold a simulator instructor position. Q: Do I incur a service commitment should I choose to accept a position? A: Not unless you are provided additional formal training in your position. Most applicants will incur absolutely no service commitment. Q: What happens if I'm not offered a position? A: All applicants who are not hired are placed on a stratified alternate list which can be used at any time in case more positions become available. Q: Is there a timeline for applicants placed on the alternate list? A: Not at this time. The alternate list can sit indefinitely; as long as we need it. If more instructor positions become available the alternate list will be accessed and a hiring timeline will follow.