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Prior Service Seat to Street Advice Wanted


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Hi Everyone!

 

I'm finally at the point where I can submit a packet for WOFT. It's been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember! Unfortunately, up until last week I was not a US citizen, so no recruiter could help me out. It was a multi year process, but finally done.

 

Over the years I've been doing everything I can to make my packet attractive, and for the most part I think I've done a pretty good job, but there is always room for improvement.

 

What Im really looking for is someone who can help me polish things up. I'd be happy to do the same in return and share my experiences throughout the process. In that spirit, Ive added information that Ive found helpful at the end of the post to help out

 

Keeping with tradition, here are my "forum stats"

 

Age: 34

GT: 114 (Not sure if retake is required, from prior Navy Enlistment)

SIFT: 60-70 (Only practice tests)

Flight Time: Approx. 550

Pilot Ratings:Helicopter (Commercial)

Multi Engine fixed wing (Commercial w/Instrument)

Single Engine fixed wing (Private)

 

Education:Approx. 60 credits

Physical:Maintained 1st Class (civilian) since 2007- I have no doubt

medical will pass Within AR 600-9 Table B-1 standards

Military:4 years Navy E-4, 2 deployments (DD 988 USS Thorn, Assault Craft Unit 4)

Military Decorations/Awards:Flag Letter of Commendation

National Defense Service Medal

Combat Action Ribbon

Good Conduct Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2)

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS)

Military EVALS: All favorable with great recommendations

Military Discharge: Honorable (R1)

Military Clearances: Secret (Expired, but eligible)

Professional Certificates: Private Security Consultant -License # 00370026(Applies to all below)

Private Security Company Manager

Electronic Access Control

Alarm Sales

Alarm Installation

Private Investigator (Unaffiliated)

Community Involvement: Director, Chamber of Commerce

 

I know that I require an age waiver (turned 34 in April) but from what I have read I believe it will get approved. The only reason I waited this long was that my citizenship process took years, which made me ineligible to apply eariler.

 

I also put my time to good use (IMO) during the wait. While waiting for my citizenship I obtained commercial ratings for both fixed wing and helicopter, built leadership and management skills (at one point responsible for 70+ employees), served the community by volunteering, and staying in what I consider the best shape Ive been in since the Navy.

 

With the exception of SIFT, a photo, my LORs (didn't pursue since they expire quickly) and the medical, I have all the other documents ready and am in the process of transferring them to the required format.

 

Id love to hear form anyone who is currently in the process of applying, or has applied in the past couple of years and is willing to give some advice, share experiences, proof read, or anything else that might be helpful.

 

Im also very willing to share my experiences, both in aviation in general, or specific to WOFT with anyone whos hit a road bock. Ive been actively working on this for a long time, so I might be able to help someone else not make the same mistakes I've made

 

Here are some of the resources I used in my journey:

All links were checked prior to posting and work as of today. I am purposely linking to pages and not files (or uploading files directly) as I want to make sure I dont step on toes in the forum.

 

The biggest asset was the US Army WO Recruiting site:

 

Main Site http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/index.shtml

 

Core Requirements http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOapplicant_info.shtml

 

Eligibility and Warrant Officer Brief: http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOEligibility.shtml

The link to the brief fin in part 1

 

 

MOS Page http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/prerequ/WO153A.shtml

 

Board Schedule http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOgeninfo_boardschedule.shtml

 

Download page http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOpdownload_forms.shtml

The download page has pretty much everything you need to fill out for your packet. The most helpful to me were the "Warrent Officer Sample Packet" and the "Common Application Errors" pdf

 

FAQ Page http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOgeninfo_faq.shtml

The FAQ page answered so many of my questions (as well as lots of the ones people posted in the forum. Also, they are very clear that this should be your first stop before asking their team.

 

Speaking of team, here is the contact lists page. Ive also broken down the POCs below. Make sure you follow these guidelines. We are essentially applying for a very professional position, and not following their guidelines might be taken as unprofessional.

Formatting is from source.

 

Please follow these guidelines in the order they are listed:

  1. Review this entire site as it contains answers and guidance to most questions or concerns.
  2. Read the FAQs.
  3. Refer to our briefing schedule page to identify which recruiter to contact about a particular briefing.
  4. Contact a specific recruiter in your region via email.
  5. Contact a specific recruiter in your region telephonically.
  6. Contact a recruiter outside of your region via email.
  7. Contact a recruiter outside of your region telephonically.

 

POC Page (In-Serivice) http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOgeninfo_faq.shtml

 

Here are the recruiters by Region:

 

North Eastern Region:

(CT, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV, DC, Central/South America)

CW4 Gause (Located on Ft. Bragg) Cell: 785-215-7602

SFC Arendt (Located on Ft. Bragg) Cell: 910-261-6397

 

National Capital Region:

(DC, DE, MD, and Northern VA)

CW2 Lawson (Located on Joint Base Meyer - Henderson Hall) Cell: 202-689-9188

 

Southern Region and Europe:

(AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia)

CW3 Williams (Located on Ft. Benning) Cell: 706-313-1231

SSG James Shapiro (Located on Ft. Benning) Cell: 254-548-5531

 

Central Region:

(AR, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD, TN, TX, WI)

CW4 Sanchez (Located on Ft. Campbell) Cell: 931-250-2159

 

Southwestern Region:

(AZ, CA, NV, NM, UT, TX)

CW3 Perez(Located on Ft. Hood) Cell: 254-733-2326

 

Western Region and Pacific:

(AK, CO, HI, ID, MT, OR, UT, WY, Pacific)

CW4 London(Located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Cell : 808-371-9691

SSG Jon P. McCoy (Located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Cell: 253-888-1933

 

Point of Contact for Street to Seat for All Applicants:

SFC Perry is the WOFT POC at USAREC Fort Knox SFC Perry, Jimmy C.

HQ USAREC G-3, Special Programs and Boards SORB (A) Operations Liaison Team

Email: jimmy.c.perry2.mil@mail.mil

Office: 502-626-3104

 

Go Army Current and Prior Service Applicants https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html

 

Current and Proposed WO Briefings http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOgeninfo_briefingsched.shtml

 

Military Flight Tests https://militaryflighttests.com/sift-test/

This page provides some sample tests, as well as their recommendations on study guides.

 

More Practice Tests: https://www.triviumtestprep.com/sift-practice-test/

I know the URL has SIFT in it, but this page gives you a chance to work on all the sections individually. No need to redo 100 simple shape questions..

 

About the Training Process: http://www.rucker.army.mil/newcomers/students/

I found this page very helpful because it lists all the courses you must complete and lists additional requirements. For instance, I didnt know applicants needed to pass (survive) SERE school.

 

Another forum: http://community.armystudyguide.com/groupee/forums/a/frm/f/7681093521

Not to take anything away from this forum, but there is some helpful info on that site as well

 

I also have the following PDFs which I can upload if approved:

 

SIFT FAQ

SIFT Prep 1

SIFT Prep 2

WOFT Packet QC SOP Guide (USAREC Special Programs and Boards WOFT Packet Submission)- MUST READ! Contains Board Score Sheets

Warrant Office Flight Training Pathways Brief

Warrant Officer Application Checklist

Application for Appointment

Sample Application and Guide

Common Application Mistakes

Warrant Officer Resume

Letter of Recommendation Template

Application for Active Duty

Moral Waiver Template

Age Waiver Template

Tattoo Exception to Policy Request

Statement of Understanding

SF-86 Template

Military Flight Aptitude Tests Information

AFPT Standards AR 600-9

 

Well, that about does it As I come across more information, Ill post it here.

 

 

My Questions to you:

 

1) Does anyone have experience with an age waiver?

2) Anyone prior service gone through the process, and did you need to retake the ASVAB?

3) Anyone have a local recruiter they would recommend in either the San Antonio Texas area, or the Washington DC area?

4) Anyone willing to proofread/give advice on my packet?

5) Anyone know of an active duty CW pilot that would be willing to meet and give an LOR, after an interview?

6) Anyone have any resources that have helped you through the process?

7) Anyone want to share and good/bad/indifferent experiences with he process, or pitfalls/hurdles you have faced?

8) Anyone have stats on number of open positions/selection percentages for the last year?

 

If it does not violate forum rules, Im always happy to share contact info, chat by phone/email/LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

 

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2. You wont need to retake the ASVAB, MEPS/recruiter will take your original scores and convert to Army.

6. This thread, all the people on it, and really any pilot you come across. We all have very different backgrounds and it's good to get some different perspectives.

7. The application process sucks. Most recruiters don't know how to do a WOFT packet, and even if they do, it's quite a bit of extra work for them and doesn't count any extra than if they put in a cook. It will be on you to learn the process and guide them through the steps as best you can. The key to success is to be prompt and professional whenever interacting with anyone between you and your goal (recruiters, meps, flight docs, etc) and to be persistent. Call them and constantly ask for updates (within reason, don't call twice a day).

8. Selection rates for street to seat have almost always been higher than from active duty applicants. You seem to have a strong packet. Make sure you score high on the PFT because they like that stuff.

Sorry I couldn't help you with any of your other questions. PM me if you need anything else.

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Ill be happy to proof read your packet or help you tweak your essay. Im no English major but in always happy to help.

 

How long ago did you get out? Are you still on inactive reserve time? If so you will need a DD368 for conditional release.

 

Most straight civilians have been a 100% acceptance rate of their packet finally made it to the board. But I see that having to do with being prescreened by the battalion board.

 

Two ways for a complete outsider to get a cw recommendation is call your local base/reserve station and cold call a pilot. Every pilot knows the process because thats what everyone had to do to become a pilot themselves. And every pilot who Ive talked to has been more than willing to help or point me in the right direction.

 

Second way is to call FT Rucker and ask for assistance as well. I talked to CW Villanida and he was nice enough to point me in the right direction. Again every pilot Ive talked to was helpful and didnt have a keeper of the badge mentality that Ive had at every school Ive been to in the Marines.

 

End of the day its all about reaching out and making friends.

 

Lastly... me being a Marine and all.....

 

How did you get a CAR in the navy lol

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2. You wont need to retake the ASVAB, MEPS/recruiter will take your original scores and convert to Army.

6. This thread, all the people on it, and really any pilot you come across. We all have very different backgrounds and it's good to get some different perspectives.

7. The application process sucks. Most recruiters don't know how to do a WOFT packet, and even if they do, it's quite a bit of extra work for them and doesn't count any extra than if they put in a cook. It will be on you to learn the process and guide them through the steps as best you can. The key to success is to be prompt and professional whenever interacting with anyone between you and your goal (recruiters, meps, flight docs, etc) and to be persistent. Call them and constantly ask for updates (within reason, don't call twice a day).

8. Selection rates for street to seat have almost always been higher than from active duty applicants. You seem to have a strong packet. Make sure you score high on the PFT because they like that stuff.

 

Sorry I couldn't help you with any of your other questions. PM me if you need anything else.

Thanks for the reply! I get what you mean about the recruiters, and I guess from their point of view that makes sense. I think I got lucky because the guy Im working with has been great. He was also very honest and told me the same thing about some of the recruiters out there. Im doing my best to have everything done, with the exception of the things like medical where a recruiter is required.

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Ill be happy to proof read your packet or help you tweak your essay. Im no English major but in always happy to help.

 

How long ago did you get out? Are you still on inactive reserve time? If so you will need a DD368 for conditional release.

 

Most straight civilians have been a 100% acceptance rate of their packet finally made it to the board. But I see that having to do with being prescreened by the battalion board.

 

Two ways for a complete outsider to get a cw recommendation is call your local base/reserve station and cold call a pilot. Every pilot knows the process because thats what everyone had to do to become a pilot themselves. And every pilot who Ive talked to has been more than willing to help or point me in the right direction.

 

Second way is to call FT Rucker and ask for assistance as well. I talked to CW Villanida and he was nice enough to point me in the right direction. Again every pilot Ive talked to was helpful and didnt have a keeper of the badge mentality that Ive had at every school Ive been to in the Marines.

 

End of the day its all about reaching out and making friends.

 

Lastly... me being a Marine and all.....

 

How did you get a CAR in the navy lol

I really appreciate the offer! I should have things copied into the right format in the next week or so. Ive just been writing and making changes in word docs since I wasnt sure when Id get my citizenship, but I know how the military is about changing lol.

 

I got out in 06, so not on reserves anymore. Im glad to hear that the Army pilots are helpful. That 'keeper of the badge' mentality was one of the things I encountered more often than not in competitive programs.

 

As for the CAR, well I hung out with a lot of Marines ;)

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