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WOFT? 36, 4yrs prior svc, rated RW instrument & commercial


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Hoping I can get some guidance and/or suggestions... I am interested in submitting a WOFT package for the 153A MOS... Wanted to see if I could get some feedback on the following points mentioned below...

 

Just turned 36 and have 4 years prior service in Navy with Honorable Discharge as E-4... Discharged in 1995... I have read on the Army recruiting WO website that 33 is the max, however, waivers are approved on occassion and can take prior service into consideration if over 33...

 

I had Lasik performed in 2004... Vision is 20/20 and 20/40 (when eye is dry)... Just have a slight case of dry eye in one eye after every showering... Restasis (prescipton eye drops) has this under control... It is not severe dry eye, just slight enough that I notice it and want both eyes at 20/20 at all times... Can this be an issue with the flight physical???

 

I smoked pot once in my lifetime about 8 years ago... I am a bad liar and prefer speaking the truth when the time comes... Can this be a deal breaker for either the Board of the security clearance needed??? When I say once, I mean it... Once!!! LOL

 

I took my ASVAB when I was in high school in 1990... Is the score on this still valid??? I just looked it up in my files and am embarrassed to divulge the score... Let's just say it's above the minimum of 50... Just to confirm, the score I'm looking at is the "AFQT" score for the ASVAB... Is that correct??? Can this test be taken again to get a better score??? I can't believe some of the areas I scored low in... Guess I was just young, dumb and full of _____...

 

RW commercial and instrument ratings with just under 200 hrs in a Schweizer... I see on the Army website that formal education and FAA ratings have more weight than experiences and career paths... I just have my high school diploma and Navy... After Navy, worked in corp. America for 4 years and worked my way up to manage quite alot for a 25 year old... Most recently self employed for the past 8 years... Any chance my employment background, FAA ratings and prior service are enough??? Once again, I know the Board looks at the entire WO package and I have nothing to loose but try... Just curious how I may stand again a younger, more educated person...

 

Any suggestion on some do's and don't for the "Why do you want to be an Army Aviator" essay???

 

I would appreciate anything info you may have to offer and hope to someday return the favor to someone else down the road...

 

Thanks...

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The age waiver approval for active duty is something like 1% last I heard, and selection of fully qualified (non-current enlisted) packets is something around 15% best I can tell. But, people get selected every couple months.

 

On the guard side, we can do age waivers a lot easier, but 35 is about the limit we want to work with. That's because the appliation process from start to WOCS is generally 12-18mos if you already have basic & AIT done. Then Rucker is two years. Then AQC & RL progression... you're talking about getting a fully qualified pilot at 40. Too much of that is hard on the unit's long term manning.

 

If it was me though, I wouldn't take no for an answer from anyone. I'd put in my packet & keep working the issue till I couldn't anymore.

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  • 1 month later...
...

If it was me though, I wouldn't take no for an answer from anyone. I'd put in my packet & keep working the issue till I couldn't anymore.

 

i agree...put your packet in..you wont know unless its in. Most people psyche themselves out before even submitting their packet...don't be "that guy".

 

If you want it go for it. As far as Mother Rucker...I'm here now. its about 18-24 months on avg. your experience is looked at during the board of course and the fact that you have flight experience is a plus especially at the flight line.

 

as far as the essay...sorry can't help you there...one of the restrictions is that no help is allowed...be yourself be honest as to way you want to be an Army Aviator.

 

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

p.s.

we got a guy, guard guy, here that i went through wocs with who is 38 he's in flight school with me, another from Hawaii thats 38, another woc was 42 he was a walking warrant, another who was 40...my suggestion..is go for it.

Edited by ErOk_OnE
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dnall,

 

I was just recently hired on as a full timer in NY, and I talked with our SAO last week about some guys we have waiting to go... 3 of which require the age waiver... He stated that the CG down at Rucker just put out a memo stating the age will be changing again, and that NY will no longer accept anyone over the age of 29. Sucks, but we are getting to that point again. Not sure how your state or others are handling it.

 

Sam,

 

I agree with dnall. We are not the authorities on here, only advice-givers. If you never put your packet in, your answer will be a certain NO. Best of luck.

 

 

CHAD

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  • 3 weeks later...
dnall,

 

I was just recently hired on as a full timer in NY, and I talked with our SAO last week about some guys we have waiting to go... 3 of which require the age waiver... He stated that the CG down at Rucker just put out a memo stating the age will be changing again, and that NY will no longer accept anyone over the age of 29. Sucks, but we are getting to that point again. Not sure how your state or others are handling it

 

Chad,

 

I think they're jumping the gun on that one. It's not policy & not about to be policy soon. It's just a recommendation letter from an AV GO. It's about ten items. I'll try to look for that article when I'm back in the office next week. Point being though, nothing is changing any time soon, and even if it were, that would not translate to NGB/DA's stance on guard age waivers. If your SAO wants to set that policy then that's his call, but I hope it has something to do with your current manning rather than just the rum-int.

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Dnall,

 

I would agree that they are jumping the gun. I know that we are having issues with guys applying that are even over the age of 33 right now. Our SAO has already said, from now on, nobody over the age of 29. I'm kinda hoping he changes his mind if the AV GO doesn't go through with it all. We'll see soon.

 

 

CHAD

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  • 2 weeks later...

You have three issues that you've spelled out that will be sticky for your application process. Add to all the previous discussion that they are not allowing packets to "ride" after two times being Fully Qualified-Not Selected (FQ-NS). You now have to wait another year to reapply if you don't make it, so if you are going to apply, make it a good shot. The odds are against everyone.

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I'll try to look for that article when I'm back in the office next week. Point being though, nothing is changing any time soon, and even if it were, that would not translate to NGB/DA's stance on guard age waivers.

 

I'm also a frequenter of military.com's WOFT discussion board and the following was posted on there recently

 

 

For those of you who have not heard of or seen the Apr/May 09 issue of Army Aviation magazine, an article by the Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch CW5 Reichard outlined the following:

 

"Although the regulatory prerequisites remain the same, I recommended some changes to the minimum selection criteria, which the aviation branch chief has approved.

MG Barclay signed a memorandum changing the requirements to:

- 29 years of age or less.

- 8 years active federal service (AFS) or less.

- A minimum GT score of 110.

- A minimum AFAST score of 110.

- Strong letters of recommendation"

 

For those of you that wish to read the article in its entirety, use this link below:

http://www.quad-a.org/magazine.htm

And then click on the link to the article by CW5 Reichard titled "Future of Army Aviation Warrant Officers"

 

I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THESE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT. Additionally, being active duty, I have no idea how this will affect the Guard selections. However, I've seen time and time again that most things in the Army are waiverable. I posted this reply so that all those current and potential applicants reading this forum can get a jump start on ensuring their packets are as competitive as possible.

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Hey Sam - just wondering if you have made any progress or found out anything? I'm in almost the same boat as you, just turned 36 (six years service) and want to enter the NG for aviator.

 

I think I will have a harder time than you with the waivers since I would not only have to overcome the age issue but also an RE-3 from one of my enlistments. I have hon discharge from NG, an hon from active duty but then also an OTH from active. The RE-3 would not be an issue for the NG but I would think I would need a waiver for WO.

 

I have a 134 GT score, 20/20 vision, private pilot with instrument rating (currently working on Commercial), class 1 flight medical and physically fit. My father just retired from the NG as a Lt. Colonel so I should be able to get recommendations no problem.

 

Even though I will have a hard time with the waivers I am going to try anyway but I would like to know if you have made any progress.

 

BTW- badz - yes FAS does mean active army (or whatever) service

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  • 2 months later...
"- 8 years active federal service (AFS) or less"

 

Hey Bad,

The average person enlisted is signed up for 4/4.. Being 4 active 4 inactive. Warrants enlist for a longer term, think 6/4?? Some reason 10 years comes to mind but maybe thats officers only? So, I am reading this they don't want someone that can retire before they recoupe the monies invested into training them to be a pilot.

 

Fields other than Rotary Wing Aviator have these min requirements:

 

Applicants applying for other warrant officer fields

must have an appointment physical qualifying them,

a GT score of 110 or higher, and be between the ages

18 and 46.

 

I think this is another part to the no more than 8 years active service. To eliminate a career enlisted/warrant from cross training into rotary. All just speculation on my part though..

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It isn't really geared towards eliminating losing anything, except losing a trained aviation warrant too early. If the warrant has more than 8 years of active service, they retire before you ever get the chance to build a CW5 out of them. The Army's goal is to access as many highly qualified individuals, so that when the promotion process whittles them down, you end up with (hopefully) the best quality of officer at that grade. In practice, it ends up being the best quality of whoever hasn't left by then.

Edited by Linc
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