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Highschool-to-Flightschool


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I know this program is still "around", but I imagine since the draw-down it has been cut down significantly. Basically, I want to know if I should even seriously bother with this when I compare it to just going to college and becoming an officer.

 

Little bit of information about me -

 

17. Finishing up Junior year of HS. Physically Fit. Academically successful (4.2 odd something weighted HS GPA, will have taken 5 college courses by the time I graduate; Strong ACT and SAT scores; took ASVAB the beginning of the year - scored 89% higher. Will take again in October, planning for a 95%). Nothing much to show in community service. Extra-curricular activities/sports = two years of martial arts, will make it three years by the time I graduate. Able to obtain strong LOR's - know a lot of CW3 and CW4's. Could probably pull off one from a two-star General. Both parents retired military with 20+ years each; one a major, another a CW4. High motivation to fly in the military - I want the WOFT because it's the quickest route with hard work, and allows me to maximize my time flying in the Army. If this doesn't work out - go to college, come in as an officer in aviation. (This is what my parents prefer anyways - and I'd rather not fight them on this issue unless I know that I stand a decent change - like more of a chance than getting into West Point - of getting into the program)

 

 

Scoured the internet, I know a recruiter won't go out of his way but I can still be self sufficient to put the packet through.

 

Do I continue to see this as an option, or do I drop it dead and focus on becoming a military officer instead?

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You've got nothing to lose by applying. You're correct in that your chances these days are pretty slim. Really it hasn't been a norm since Vietnam.

 

It really depends on what type of flying you want to do. If you want WOFT then put in a packet now. If you get double FQNS then either go to college or enlist and apply again in 4 yrs.

 

You college plan and going commission could very well backfire. You could find yourself getting a commission and no guarantee of a flight slot.

 

It's all about how bad you want it. When I was your age I checked into it and the recruiter just laughed at me. "We're not going to let some kid out of high school fly a multimillion dollar aircraft." Well it took me 10 more years to get the experience but I found a way.

Edited by Velocity173
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Sounds like a strong application other than the lack of college. "High School to Flight School" isn't really a thing, but civilian applicants with various levels of education, experience and aptitude are. That hasn't been cut any more than recruitment in general has been cut. You can still apply and your entire packet will be judged against the full packets of other applicants. Sometimes specific aspects of applications are judged heavier than others depending on what the Army is looking for at the moment. Lately that means college degrees have carried a lot of weight, but that doesn't mean lack of college will disqualify you. It also doesn't mean that when your application is looked at in a year or so they'll still care as much about college.

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Join the military as a reservist, use the GI Bill to pay for a four year degree in an Aviation related field, say such as flying, then try to move up into rank. Best of all of it. College degree, paid for, officer rank if applied correctly and you work hard, military benefits, and possibly retirement, and a transferable skill set when your out in the civy world.

 

Dont go cheap now son, your seem like one that has worked hard to be where you're at now..why stop short of success.

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You can definitely apply right out of high school. The biggest negative going into the Army without a college degree completed is that in order to be competitive for promotion, a degree is not so much a bonus as it is a requirement nowadays. It definitely can be a discriminator for CW3, for CW4 it's likely going to make or break you, and pretty much every CW5 getting promoted these days has a masters degree. You'll have to work that much harder to be successful as a warrant officer if you work on you degree while in th service, but if you're disciplined, it's not out of the picture.

 

For what it's worth, if you go into the Army as a aviation warrant officer, you can receive around 60 credit hours toward a bachelors degree through Embry-Riddle University Worldwide... that puts you half-way there!

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I am a former enlisted/combat vet and a senior in college and just got selected for Aviation as my branch once I get my commission here in May. I'm currently sitting at a 3.3 GPA (Straight A's the last two years since I left active duty as an enlisted man), with plenty of community service hours, top of my class at summer camp, and top of my class here at my host school.

 

My advice, if you want to go the college route. DON'T GO TO WESTPOINT. They have a much more difficult branch selection process, MUCH more difficult course material, and just a tougher experience overall.

 

To get an Aviation Branch slot you have got to be at the top of your game. I'm in the top 20% of cadets graduating this year, and they still only selected me after I promised to spend another 3 years as an active duty officer.

 

Go to another prestigious school, like Texas A&M and join the corps of Cadets, you'll get a great experience there. Also, don't do what I did. Don't party your ass off just cause you can. When I graduated high school in 2008 I went to a party school and did just that, a year and a half later I realized I needed to enlist to get my act together, so I did. Now, with a deployment under my belt and experience in the real world I know how manage myself and my friends, and more importantly how to have fun and still succeed.

 

So here's the list:

1. Go to a school with a good ROTC program, not Westpoint.

2. Party your ass off now before you get there to get it out of your system.

3. GO OUT AND LOOK for community service opportunities.

4. Play intramural sports.

5. Work your ass off to do well in school.

6. Join a guard unit that entertains cadets, and preferably join an aviation unit so you can get yourself a slot in their unit if it looks like you didn't do well enough to get an active slot.

 

Everything you do in ROTC will be looked at for your final evaluation and assession. the more extra curriculars, sports, community service type stuff you do the more points you get. So go find them.

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My suggestion is put in a active duty WOFT packet when you graduate high school.

 

As for fighting your parents, dont. But, your judgment may be considerably different when you realize that your parents won't be attending college, basic training, flight school or deployments with you. As for your chances, no amount of data or insider information will ever be able to determine your chances. Do your best and don't give up or settle for less.

 

No anonymous user on the Internet should be a determining factor on your life choices.

 

You have nothing to lose by submitting a packet and if flying is what you want to do, you'll be set going this route.

 

If you go to flight school at 18 or 19 you will literally be setting your life up for success. You will be able to branch of into so many different things by the time your 25. By the time you make W3 you should be Young enough that you could have the opportunity to transfer to the airforce, navy or coast guard or stay in the Army. Yes, warrant officers have transfered into the navy and transitioned to F-18s. Those opportunities are available if you want them.

 

If you choose to go to college that's good too.

 

In the end there's no better decision than Another. You will still have the opportunity to go to college while on active duty.

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Walkerman makes some good points but I'd game the ROTC system a bit more if you go that route. You can apply to North Dakota U which has a special aviation program with the army. I didn't go there but I knew some ossifers who did and it seemed really cool for folks who know they want to fly and want to go the army route. Apply for an ROTC scholarship while in high school. Apply to North Dakota for the rotary wing pilot degree. Pass your flight physical and you're good to go. Meanwhile, in high school, also apply for WOFT. Odds are you'll get one of them. Definitely avoid West Point like Walkerman said. You don't want to waste your college years getting up early, staying sober, and being isolated from young women. Or maybe you do, if that's your bag.

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I am pretty sure WOFT is NOT short of success....

I never implied that. Pretty presumptuous to say so. Why take away from encouraging a path of success with a negative statement like that?

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We had a kid that was supposed to be in our WOCS class get accepted into the woft program at 17. He failed his push ups at WOCS and was given multiple opportunities to pass his pt test and class up. Last I heard he couldn't pass his pt test and was sent away to be an infantryman as a PFC. Talk about pissing away the golden ticket.

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We had a kid that was supposed to be in our WOCS class get accepted into the woft program at 17. He failed his push ups at WOCS and was given multiple opportunities to pass his pt test and class up. Last I heard he couldn't pass his pt test and was sent away to be an infantryman as a PFC. Talk about pissing away the golden ticket.

 

Is this what happens if you wash out of the program? In that guys case it was clearly his fault but what if you finish WOCS and then fail the physical or something along those lines?

 

Just curious...asking for a friend :rolleyes:

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Is this what happens if you wash out of the program? In that guys case it was clearly his fault but what if you finish WOCS and then fail the physical or something along those lines?

 

Just curious...asking for a friend :rolleyes:

If you don't pass your flight physical after wocs it will depend on you previous military experience. If you are eligible for another warrant Mos you may be able to reclass if you aren't eligible for a warrant Mos you may be sent to the enlisted ranks and sent to AIT. You might also be able to get out of the Army if your physical condition does not meet the Army's standard.

 

If you fail a PT test, you get two chances to pass then the boot.

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We had a kid that was supposed to be in our WOCS class get accepted into the woft program at 17. He failed his push ups at WOCS and was given multiple opportunities to pass his pt test and class up. Last I heard he couldn't pass his pt test and was sent away to be an infantryman as a PFC. Talk about pissing away the golden ticket.

Correct. Same kid failed initial APFT for our class after sitting on hold for months. I recall speaking with him while on CDO. SMH

Edited by Marine4WOFT
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I know this program is still "around", but I imagine since the draw-down it has been cut down significantly. Basically, I want to know if I should even seriously bother with this when I compare it to just going to college and becoming an officer.

 

Little bit of information about me -

 

17. Finishing up Junior year of HS. Physically Fit. Academically successful (4.2 odd something weighted HS GPA, will have taken 5 college courses by the time I graduate; Strong ACT and SAT scores; took ASVAB the beginning of the year - scored 89% higher. Will take again in October, planning for a 95%). Nothing much to show in community service. Extra-curricular activities/sports = two years of martial arts, will make it three years by the time I graduate. Able to obtain strong LOR's - know a lot of CW3 and CW4's. Could probably pull off one from a two-star General. Both parents retired military with 20+ years each; one a major, another a CW4. High motivation to fly in the military - I want the WOFT because it's the quickest route with hard work, and allows me to maximize my time flying in the Army. If this doesn't work out - go to college, come in as an officer in aviation. (This is what my parents prefer anyways - and I'd rather not fight them on this issue unless I know that I stand a decent change - like more of a chance than getting into West Point - of getting into the program)

 

 

Scoured the internet, I know a recruiter won't go out of his way but I can still be self sufficient to put the packet through.

 

Do I continue to see this as an option, or do I drop it dead and focus on becoming a military officer instead?

Had a few "street to seat" guys in my WOCS class but only one true "High School to Flight School" dude. Though he got a lot of crap and still does to this day for being so young, I can speak for most who know him and say that we are all rather impressed with his level of maturity and ambition for only being 19.

 

From what I recall him telling us was that he was an Eagle Scout, had some good LOR's, participated in sports and was good at PT. Right time right place. AD Army was looking for someone to invest in long term and he fit the bill.

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I'm an 18 year old senior that's putting my packet in for the May board. My advice for you is to partake in every sport you can your senior year.

 

Do cross country, swim, tennis, whatever. Also do some community work.

 

your grades are higher then mine, (My weakest link) but I've done four years of debate, forensics, tennis and swimming. I am and was the captain of three of them. Plus I am a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

 

Those LoR's are good, but make sure you spend time with them so they can get to know you personally.

 

Also, test scores are important, but if there is a lack of communication then you are done before you even started. Don't give up!

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