wanting to join

[tehehodi]

I'm thinking about joining the army and going the WOFT route. Can anybody tell me how to go about this route and what I should do. I see it as I would need to pick a MOS and I would choose one in relation to aviation say a mechanic or something similar. I mean, does it go from Enlist - BCT - AIT - WOCS - Flight school?

[Lindsey]

Basically, no. You can enlist, but you don't have to in order to go to flight school. You can apply directly for WOFT (Warrant Officer Flight Training). I'll answer more and go into greater detail in the chat right now.

[tehehodi]

Thanks for all the info lindsey. Just trying to figure out how others have done it without going to college beforehand and being enlisted and working their way up.

[FLHooker]

Lindsey/tehehodi,

 

partially correct. If you go through the 'street to seat program' You actually DO enlist with the WOCS option (MOS is 09W). However, you don't go to AIT. College is not required to be a Warrant Officer in the Army.

 

it would be BCT - WOCS - Flight School

 

 

CHAD

Edited October 6, 2009 by FLHooker

[Lindsey]

Lindsey/tehehodi,

 

partially correct. If you go through the 'street to seat program' You actually DO enlist with the WOCS option (MOS is 09W). However, you don't go to AIT. College is not required to be a Warrant Officer in the Army.

 

it would be BCT - WOCS - Flight School

 

 

CHAD

 

Right. I meant you don't need to enlist in the sense that you don't have to serve 2-4 years in another MOS before you can go to WOCS/WOFT.

[wopilot]

Lindsey/tehehodi,

 

partially correct. If you go through the 'street to seat program' You actually DO enlist with the WOCS option (MOS is 09W). However, you don't go to AIT. College is not required to be a Warrant Officer in the Army.

 

it would be BCT - WOCS - Flight School

 

 

CHAD

 

 

College is not required. BUT is weighed very heavily on high school to flight school guys. Even by enrolling in a semester, and taking 6 hours shows your willingness to learn and advance yourself professionally.

[meyerflyr]

Here is how I did it 24 years ago, (been ret. 9yrs now). Went in enlisted E-1 MOS 67V Observation Helicopter Repairer. That MOS is now 15S (OH-58D type helicopter). I worked on OH-58A/C, but back then you worked on what ever helicopter your unit had, so the 1st few years I worked on UH-1H's. Then I changed MOS's to 93-B Aeroscout Observer (fancy name for an enlisted co-pilot). That MOS has gone away. I did that for a couple of years and told myself that the guy sitting next to me was making more money and we were doing the same job..... So I put in for flight school, The rest is history. Got to fly UH-1, AH-1, OH-58 A/C/D's. Now in the civilian world I'm an A&P/IA Com. pilot Rotorcraft/ASEL with tailwheel endorsment, also have a CDL w/tanker/Hazmat so I can move a fuel tuck if needed. When I was active duty though I didn't sit on my butt after work, I mixed it up at the local FBO, college etc.

Good Luck

[tehehodi]

Thanks for clearing some things up guys! I do have a semester of college but that didn't go so well as I was young and really still into partying. I take it you have to be accepted to WOFT before you take the Basic - WOCS - Flight School? Should I start compiling a packet? Do I wait til after basic to do so? I was thinking of testing high enough and doing all the tests, get in enlisted with a MOS UH-60 repairer 15T and gaining references and LORs while serving. I'm sorry if none of this makes sense. I don't know the lingo as much as I'm still learning. I'm just trying to find a route that fits best for me and I thought I'd ask you guys. I have more in mind and I would like to chat either via PM or Facebook? I just don't want to put my personal business all out on this forum for the world to see if you guys catch my drift.

[ErOk_OnE]

believe it or not the hardest part of the entire process is the application process. you came to the right place for advice though...you'll find countless discussions on what you have to do.

 

Everyone has answered you correctly...no college isn't necessary, but it helps. Prior service as an enlisted service member isn't required either...although some recruiters might make you think otherwise.

 

if they tell you that you cant come in "street to seat" then find a different recruiter. and if they have a problem with that, then have them contact any of the warrants here or on the recruiting website.(we'll set em straight)

 

speaking of which...chk out the warrant officer recruiting website (google it). it has a lot of info that you can start diggin through.

 

like i mentioned earlier...the application portion and board portion of this process is typically the longest and toughest. Not cause its difficult, but it requires you to follow through on tasks and have the where-with-all to see it through to the finish.

 

good luck!

Edited October 6, 2009 by ErOk_OnE

[tehehodi]

Here is how I did it 24 years ago, (been ret. 9yrs now). Went in enlisted E-1 MOS 67V Observation Helicopter Repairer. That MOS is now 15S (OH-58D type helicopter). I worked on OH-58A/C, but back then you worked on what ever helicopter your unit had, so the 1st few years I worked on UH-1H's. Then I changed MOS's to 93-B Aeroscout Observer (fancy name for an enlisted co-pilot). That MOS has gone away. I did that for a couple of years and told myself that the guy sitting next to me was making more money and we were doing the same job..... So I put in for flight school, The rest is history. Got to fly UH-1, AH-1, OH-58 A/C/D's. Now in the civilian world I'm an A&P/IA Com. pilot Rotorcraft/ASEL with tailwheel endorsment, also have a CDL w/tanker/Hazmat so I can move a fuel tuck if needed. When I was active duty though I didn't sit on my butt after work, I mixed it up at the local FBO, college etc.

Good Luck

 

 

I want to go this route because I want to learn more about the actual aircraft and work around them and also get references and talk with the pilot themselves. I also don't have any money to go any other route. I come from a family that is all military besides my parents. My brother is a marine, my sister was army national guard and my brother in law is in the army national guard. I'm not saying Army is the only way. But I see it as a life long experience and know that it will teach me what I can use throughout my whole life. Also, if I can't make it to flight training,(not having doubts) but it would give me the experience of working on aircrafts for maybe the civilian jobs. I know my number goal is to fly, but I know that I will love anything I do as long as I work around airplanes or helos. The only downfall to this is ending up in the sandbox.

[Lindsey]

Tehehodi,

 

Please feel free to PM me if you have more questions. Have you looked at all the websites I gave you (WO Recruiting Command, forums.goarmy.com, military.com, cavhooah.com, kiowapilots.com, etc)? Let me know if you want more links. While I can't give you firsthand experience, as I'm technically in the same stage of the process as you are, I can give you websites, contacts, and other things that I have so far found useful.

 

If you have any specific questions, I'll try to point you towards a person or resource that is likely to have your answer.

 

Also, the Army Aviators on here are an absolutely fantastic resource. I've talked to several of them via PMs, and they have been helpful beyond all belief. Thanks guys.

 

Keep in touch, tehehodi.

 

- Lindsey

[IWannaFly]

tehehodi,

It looks like everything everyone else has told you on here is correct. I just wanted to add my two cents. You definitely do NOT have to be enlisted first to apply. I'm in flight school now and a good portion of my class is "street-to-seat." That said, I was enlisted prior to applying and I think it benefited me in that I really understood the Army's structure, how units work, and where my rank would fit in the whole scheme of things. You will learn a lot through the application process. In addition, I would spend a little extra time trying to learn about the Army and Army life (both to better prepare you and to make sure it's what you want to do). I would definitely encourage you to apply now (I would have joined "street-to-seat" if I could have). IF that doesn't work out, you can always either enlist or wait and try again later.

 

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

Blake