Jump to content

WOFT Duration


Recommended Posts

Hey, everybody

 

Little over a half month away from shipping now and was curious how slow/fast everybody is getting through Fort Rucker. Is the army trying to expedite everybody because of the shortage, or is the larger amount of recruits creating more bubbles?

 

Also was wondering if anybody has graduated bct in early December (I ship October 1st to Fort Jackson) and didn't start WOCS until January 3rd. Should I expect to be able to come home between that time, just during Christmas Exodus, or not at all?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You'll rake plenty of leaves and dirt in WOCS and do a lot of other similar details while in hold at B Co. WO1s are the privates at Rucker.

 

You should be given the option to take leave over the holiday and go home.

 

Rucker will vary between 1-2 years depending on course selections, bubbles and if you get recycled in any phase of training.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I shipped last year on September 26th. Arrived at Fort Rucker on December 5th and hung out until December 19th when we left for block leave. Returned on January 2nd and started WOCS.

 

Fort Rucker Block leave is again from December 19th to January 2nd this year. So you can plan to be going home for that period. If you come up to Rucker you will be give the rank of snowbird. Its literally a white square velcro. You will be tasked with helping the fall clean up for two days give or take and other than that youll show up to report and prove you are still alive at 9 and 1300 then maybe random details or hang out till you leave. Our drills at Benning basically forced us to buy tickets before we left and said they had to be out of Pensacola and we would have a bus to drive us down. Neither of those facts were true. We could fly out of where ever and the bus was only for the AIT kids. So we were in charge of finding our own way around. Also idk if its still the same but we found out that they dont care what snowbirds do and we could put in a leave packet to go home before the actual block leave started. So dont plan on that but know its not out of the question.

 

As far as timing goes. We were given a whole brief on how the bubbles are gone and we will fly through flight school. Then I ended up doing honors detail for 3 months before Primary. So yes, the Army is trying to streamline it but I dont think it will ever quite work like they want. Like I said I shipped on September 26th and I am hoping for the 60Ms which would put me graduating sometime in May/June/July. So about 2 years is average right now. Most guys who came with me from basic are in the same boat +/- a month.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I shipped last year on September 26th. Arrived at Fort Rucker on December 5th and hung out until December 19th when we left for block leave. Returned on January 2nd and started WOCS.

 

Fort Rucker Block leave is again from December 19th to January 2nd this year. So you can plan to be going home for that period. If you come up to Rucker you will be give the rank of snowbird. Its literally a white square velcro. You will be tasked with helping the fall clean up for two days give or take and other than that youll show up to report and prove you are still alive at 9 and 1300 then maybe random details or hang out till you leave. Our drills at Benning basically forced us to buy tickets before we left and said they had to be out of Pensacola and we would have a bus to drive us down. Neither of those facts were true. We could fly out of where ever and the bus was only for the AIT kids. So we were in charge of finding our own way around. Also idk if its still the same but we found out that they dont care what snowbirds do and we could put in a leave packet to go home before the actual block leave started. So dont plan on that but know its not out of the question.

 

As far as timing goes. We were given a whole brief on how the bubbles are gone and we will fly through flight school. Then I ended up doing honors detail for 3 months before Primary. So yes, the Army is trying to streamline it but I dont think it will ever quite work like they want. Like I said I shipped on September 26th and I am hoping for the 60Ms which would put me graduating sometime in May/June/July. So about 2 years is average right now. Most guys who came with me from basic are in the same boat +/- a month.

Exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is it true/still true the Guard guys get bumped ahead of the line in bubbles?

 

Mike

From what I’ve seen it’s somewhat hit or miss. People claim they are but most guard folks come through at about the same rate. With some outliers 80% of my WOCS class is in a 3/4 class window. The bubbles don’t feel as long bc most of em go home for a month or two instead of sitting around at honors like the Active folks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is the same true for Reservists?

 

As far as I know yes. Your unit may be able to work something but it just seems the reserves and guard have more of an idea as to when they will start opposed to active where we showed up to honors one day and they ran through a list then said "everyone we didn't call needs to report to Bco to start flight school."

 

Honestly, we havent been able to find any method to the madness. From my wocs class some people went back to back WOCs WOBC SERE Primary and are already on TD 70 of 110. (think those two were national guard) Then some went a few weeks then went through. Then most of us waited 3 weeks, did wobc, waited 2 weeks did sere, waited a month or so and started primary. (mix of all of the above.) then some went home and are just now starting primary (guard and reserve)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems some Guard units bring you home some keep you down there. Anyone heard crazy stories of SERE being in the middle or at the end in rare cases?

 

Mike

You talking middle or end of the entirety of flight school? I’ve heard rumors of it mainly from back in the day testing stuff. Not the only variation is before or after WOBC-A. You need it completed before you can begin primary. Don’t want to get you all trained up and then get hurt or not pass for whatever reason.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems some Guard units bring you home some keep you down there. Anyone heard crazy stories of SERE being in the middle or at the end in rare cases?

 

Mike

I knew a couple people who that happened to. Due to one reason or another they went through primary first all the way up until selection and then went to SERE and selected afterwards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guard generally gets pushed through first. I started Primary five days after SERE. Only three my WOBC class got a date that early, all guard or reserve. Most active duty I went through WOCS with, like Gideon, are two or three months behind me.

 

We were told that they may start sending folks straight to SERE after WOCS if WOBC and primary dates get backed up.

 

And Ive seen the rare person who finished primary then has to do SERE before advanced selection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Starting the new fiscal year, they plan to schedule SERE the day after completing WOBC-A which is a Saturday, and primary classes will all start on a monday (I actually heard them say they wanted them to start the monday immediately after SERE but we'll see, I doubt it).

 

Also, flying on saturday's is definitely happening (it's already happened for classes way behind due to weather). We were told that every DONSA during weekdays will be made up that saturday to keep on track.

 

Everyone I went through WOCS and whatnot with will be out of here in right around 18 months. I also had about a month or 2 of waiting around on hold and I'll be done right at 18 months. So if these changes actually take place I imagine it'll be quicker.

 

And Dunker has been removed, but that really was never an issue to get done quickly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...