Air National Guard Units | SF50 Pilot

Position Overview

This is a National Guard Title 32 Excepted Service position (GS-2181-13) with the Illinois 126th National Guard. The Airplane Pilot is responsible for piloting unit-equipped aircraft and performing administrative tasks in support of the Air Operations program.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Pilot advanced, single or multi-engine military aircraft on tactical and non-tactical missions using precision instrument flight techniques.
• Execute flight procedures and standard maneuvers across all weather conditions.
• Conduct comprehensive flight preparation, including route planning, weather analysis, fuel requirement calculations, weight and balance verification, and crew briefings.
• Ensure operational safety by adhering to flight manuals, coordinating with ground control, and performing emergency corrective actions.
• Complete post-flight requirements, including maintenance coordination, logbook documentation, and flight reports.
• Serve as the Air Commander’s representative in the Supervisor of Flying (SOF) capacity.
• Design technical aircrew training plans and develop unit deliberate planning for national and base taskings.
• Administer flying, explosive, and ground safety programs in compliance with Air Force, ANG, and OSHA directives.

Qualifications and Eligibility

Mandatory Requirements

• Must be a member of the Illinois National Guard in the military grade of O4 or below.
• Must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Must possess Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications or equivalent military aviation school certifications.
• Must have graduated from USAF or USN Undergraduate Flying Training (UFT).
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Must meet USAF medical standards for military pilots.

Professional Experience

• General Experience: Minimum of one year of on-the-job experience in the grade or comparable military rank immediately below the next higher level of GS-12.
• Specialized Experience: At least two years of experience in civilian or military aviation programs, demonstrating proficiency in piloting, instructing, mission planning, and safety program management.
• Time-In-Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level to qualify for this GS-13 position.

Conditions of Employment

• Must wear the prescribed military uniform.
• Compliance with the Lautenberg Amendment (Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment) is required.
• Subject to drug testing and potential background investigation.
• May be required to work irregular, overtime, evening, weekend, or holiday hours.
• Requires potential travel by military or commercial air.
• Mandatory participation in direct deposit.
• Male applicants born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• A trial period may be required.

Application Requirements

Applicants must provide official college transcripts and proof of aviation certifications. Resumes must clearly detail experience in the applicant’s own words, including dates (months/years) and the specific nature of duties performed to demonstrate alignment with the general and specialized experience requirements.