Denied "Aviation Proponent Waiver" should I enlist as helo mechanic?

[rogersndr]

Age: 26
GT: 126
SIFT: 73
APFT: 276
Military: None
Education: Bachelors of Science in Aviation Systems Management
Flight Time: 46 hours in Cessna
LOR: Air Force pilot, National Guard Heli Pilot, Army Heli Pilot, Past Flight Instructor, College Aviation Professor
Physical: stamped, no waiver
Waivers: I needed a waiver for having a fine over $250. That was a Class B Misdemeanor, $500 fine, and 2 years unsupervised probation for "Approaching Wildlife". AKA was in Yellowstone and got charged by a bear and myself and two friends were charged for getting chased by a bear.

So I applied for WOFT and needed to get a waiver for this incident. I was denied the waiver which has a 1 year wait to reapply for the waiver. I did go straight to the Marine Corps OCS route to fly. They had no problem with the "criminal history" and I didn't need a waiver. THOUGH they wanted to "double check" my vision from my Army Flight Physical so I had my eyes rechecked and BARELY but did fail on refraction. So with that I would have to of course get Lasik and reapply in 6 months. I'm of course on a time constraint since I am 26 with a birthday in April.

I'm just asking opinions if maybe it would be best to just go in now as an E-4 with my degree to be a Helo mechanic to reapply from within the Army. What do you think my chances would be to be picked up?

P.S: Also I don't know how much of a difference it makes on being accepted but I also have (years ago) 2 minor speeding tickets, 1 no proof of insurance, 1 no registration, 1 no proof of ownership, and 1 dismissed "Deer Violations (dismissed) (was hunting with a guy that didn't have a tag though I did being completely legal but was issued a citation that was dismissed and never went to court.)

[Gramps]

As others on here have said, you know you want to fly and should take the most direct route possible. Right now, that's getting Lasik yesterday and reapplying to the Marine Corps OCS route in six months. If that doesn't work, you can also look at the Air Force OTS route to fly as you'll have a little more time with them (submit application before turning 28 1/2) and also reapply for the WOFT Aviation Proponent Waiver, perhaps with some more weight behind it (i.e., include a letter of support from a General). If you go in now as a Helo mechanic to reapply from within the Army, you would still eventually need this same waiver, correct? Considering the number of active duty WO applicants compared to slots available, they don't even need to grant any waivers, so it's possible your chances of getting the waiver from within would be worse than they would be as a civilian. Also, even though your stats are very competitive, you might have to spend a few years gaining comparable experience to other selectees first before being selected from within.

[rogersndr]

Yes exactly, that's my thinking, just whatever is the most direct route. Of course the recruiter is the one telling me to join as a helo mechanic. I would become a certified helo mechanic which would make my packet look even better. Than also joining and keeping a clean record and showing I'm able to be disciplined will show the Army that I am more deserving of the waiver. (which from what the recruiter said, I believe I would still need if I joined)
I just figured Mechanic is not a BAD option, but is it the most direct...

Just comparing the Army with the Marines or any other branch I consider that the Army has WAY more helicopter platforms, so would be the one branch that is the most likely to snag a slot.

[Gotch86]

Just my two cents but if you're 26 you can't fly for the Marines/Navy, you can certainly still join though you won't be a pilot. I'm not positive about the Air Force but I'm pretty sure the age cutoff is 28 for pilots.

 

Also, what about being an E-4 because you have your degree? Is that a thing now?

[Gramps]

Yeah, your chances of getting a helicopter slot in the Army and Marines are good, and they might even be good in the Air Force since most of their people are looking to fly fixed wing. If that's the route you end up going, it could be tricky, but I've heard the training squadron commanders can sometimes trade slots to somewhat accommodate what their classes are listing on their dream sheets (i.e., they could help you get a helicopter, even if one wasn't supposed to be going to your class, if they like you enough to want to help you out).

[Tradewinds]

 

Also, what about being an E-4 because you have your degree? Is that a thing now?

 

Yes that is a thing.

[rogersndr]

Just my two cents but if you're 26 you can't fly for the Marines/Navy, you can certainly still join though you won't be a pilot. I'm not positive about the Air Force but I'm pretty sure the age cutoff is 28 for pilots.

 

Also, what about being an E-4 because you have your degree? Is that a thing now?

Actually you have to commission by the time you turn 27 so I would have until 05/2017 to be accepted here in October through the Navy OCS board then to go to OCS and commission. I've scored pretty good on the Navy ASTB with a 8,8,7 I just am waiting to get official approval from the Navy to apply to the Navy OCS board. Like I said the Marines denied me on refraction but the Navy recruiser says there's a good chance I could get accepted to the Navy Pilot program instead.

 

Where I'm sitting is figuring out what to do if that doesn't workout. Plus getting Lasik, waiting 6 months, and getting inot Marine Corps OCS might just not be possible from now until 05/2017 (birthday).

[rogersndr]

Yeah, your chances of getting a helicopter slot in the Army and Marines are good, and they might even be good in the Air Force since most of their people are looking to fly fixed wing. If that's the route you end up going, it could be tricky, but I've heard the training squadron commanders can sometimes trade slots to somewhat accommodate what their classes are listing on their dream sheets (i.e., they could help you get a helicopter, even if one wasn't supposed to be going to your class, if they like you enough to want to help you out).

That is another option though the Air Force recruiter I did talk to said off the top of his head didn't think I'd get accepted due to my "criminal history". Suppose it wouldn't hurt to check out again if everything else doesn't pan out.

[Flylo Ren]

Well this doesn't sound good for me. Crap. Did they give a reason for denying the waiver?

[itsbigfootguys]

To be honest, I would do something in the next year or so to make yourself stand out and get a letter of recommendation to accompany that waiver request and request it again. There are guys in the WO corps with waivers for worse, and not just when they were desperate for pilots in the surge. As mentioned above, see if you can get a General Officer to write you one.

 

The most important part of the moral waiver is how you have changed/learned in the time since the incident. While I agree it sounds like the fine is BS, arguing the validity of the crime/fine is not what they are looking for. What lessons did you learn from the incident, how have you applied them in your day to day life, what have you done since then that re-defines your character and makes you a good candidate to be an officer in the Army?

 

Yes - I had to apply for a waiver. lol