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Quick question for you all:

How well can your report date to IERW be predicted when you sign your contract? Do they schedule you for a specific IERW start date when you sign a 153A contract? What if that starting class gets pushed back or cancelled? Does that happen? I'm about to turn 32 early next year and I want to make sure I'll be in a flight school seat by my 32nd birthday. I'm trying to avoid getting hosed, since as far as I know age waivers aren't granted anymore once you turn 32.

 

To put it in context, I'm a ARNG street to seat civilian WOFT applicant. My packet's done, SIFT passed, flight physical stamped, and I'm going to be boarded soon. If they pick me up, from what I've been told so far, they'll expect me to sign a 153A contract. I just want to be sure that when I sign that contract I won't find out later that I'm hosed on timing and forced to do an enlisted MOS. I know that if I flunk out of flight school I'd have to do an enlisted MOS and that would be on me.

 

Thanks!

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From USAREC


  • Age Requirements: For 153A, 33rd birthday or less prior to their packet being boarded.

Basically as long as you are selected before 33 you don't need a waiver.



You won't get a set date for IERW until after WOCS. When you sign your contract it will only have dates for BCT and WOCS. Since you're applying through the NG you'll either stay at Rucker after WOCS and go straight through IERW, or go back home for a few months until there's a slot for you to go straight through. Either way you'll likely have a few small bubbles (1-2 weeks) between each phase.



I'm active duty so my timeline looks a little different because the bubbles are counted in months. I was selected at 31, went to basic at 32, began IERW just before turning 33 and am still in flight school at 34.

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I ask because some states, like mine, actually have a lower age requirement than the active duty age of 33.

Also, NG does things differently with regards to signing a 153A contract or not. Good news is that unless you fail a part of flight school, from BCT all the way through getting your wings, they aren't going to force you into anything you don't agree to. If you're packet gets accepted, you're good to go.

 

As far as timelines go, you'll go to BCT, then WOCS, but then it differs from active duty. Traditionally NG goes to WOCS on a TDY status, returns home, then will PCS back to Rucker when a flight school seat is available. It might be different for you being street to seat but be prepared to complete WOCS and then return home. Sometimes there isn't always a flight seat available for the Guard when you graduate. My seat was 7 days later but a buddy of mine returned 9 months later. Just depends.

 

Make sure you work with your state's Warrant Officer Strength Manager so your packet is polished and clean and ready for the board. They will also know the age requirement question.

Feel free to ask anything else that might come up.

Edited by Yamer
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Great info Yamer, thanks! I'm hoping I don't have to wait 9 months for a FS seat, but who knows. They told me yesterday that they're going to try and start me at FS next summer so I have to knock out Basic/WOCS/etc. between now and then.

 

There does seem to be some confusion between my WOSM and some other people about the age requirement. It seems that some references say your first day of FS has to be before your 33rd birthday, but other references say your packet just has to be approved by the state board before your 33rd birthday. My WOSM thinks it's the former but someone on my board said it's the latter so he's going to check into it.

 

Any idea if it's possible to get TDY orders to FS? My wife and son will be staying in NY because she works full time as a finance lawyer and relocating to Ft. Rucker, Alabama would essentially mean giving up her career. It'd be nice to get NY BAH during flight school to help her with expenses while I'm training, if at all possible.

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Probably not, but never say never. The Army does whatever they want sometimes but I can tell you that generally, schools that are longer than 6 months, have to be PCS orders.

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