WOFT MEPS Question

[fuzzynumbskull]

Hi, I am a 21 year old female civilian who would like to join the Army as a Warrant Officer (Aviation, specifically helicopters). I have 45 units of general eduation credit at a community college. My ASVAB score was an 86 and all of my aptitudes were 100+. I have no medical issues except for insomnia, which I have treated for 2 years with a mild sleep medication prescribed by my psychiatrist. I'm working my very hardest to get off of this medication, nearly everyone in my family has the same issue.

 

My recruiter (specifically the station sergeant) has been trying to rush me into enlisting, originally as a 15P (Aviation Operations Specialist) then as a 15R. My brother is a former navy firefighter and has put me in touch with two people who currently work in Army aviation. One was a Warrant Officer who went into the Army as a warrant Officer.

 

I've been arguing with my recruiter about going in as a Warrant Officer. They believe I need some form of a waiver and to go through MEPS. I do not believe they have been straightforward with me as to what MEPS really is. My brother tells me that MEPS is where you take your oath of enlistment, but my recruiter says you meet with a counselor afterwards and take it then. Quite frankly, I do not believe my recruiter. I was hoping you could answer this question for me.

 

I do not want to go into the army unless I am going in as a warrant officer. Do I go to MEPS now or not?

[BOATFIXERGUY]

MEPS is the place where you get your physical, meet with the councelors (salesmen/women) to select your field/job, and give your oath to defend this great country. Lots goes on there.

 

What your recruiter is trying to do is get you to commit to a job and get you to MEPS... DO NOT fall for that. MEPS is like your worst used car lot. The pressure comes at you from every direction to sign up now, "and you can do _____ later." Ya right!

 

The military has had contracts for a reason for the last three decades....

 

If they lie and you have a contract, you can get out if they don't honor their words. Otherwise, you belong to them.

 

Be careful and get what YOU want in writing. There is no pressure on you to sign up, only them to get you to sign up.

[NorCalHeliKid]

Be careful and get what YOU want in writing. There is no pressure on you to sign up, only them to get you to sign up.

 

Yup, exactly right. It is a pain in the back side trying to get what YOU want out of a recruiter. Most of them are interested in signing sheer numbers and sending you off. MEPS is your last stop before he gets paid and you get screwed into some job that you didnt want...

[Ryan S]

I don't know how big of a city you live in, but I would go find another recruiter. Go to a different office. And definitely do not go to MEPS until the recruiter is on board with what you want. Once the recruiter decides that he is going to try to put you into the WOFT program, you will probably have to go to MEPS to take the AFAST. I had to take the AFAST and the ASVAB at MEPS. But you have to set your terms and be confident and strong in your decision. It took me two different recruiting offices in two different states to find one that would help me.

 

Always remember (like boatfixerguy said) that you are the buyer and they are the seller. If they don't have what you want at their store than go to a different store. Don't waste your time or money on something that you don't want.

[ErOk_OnE]

I completely agree with what has been mentioned here. I would also add that the recruiter should have your packet started in some way even before you go to MEPS to take your AFAST. What i mean is that your he/she should be following a checklist of all the things that need to go into your packet

 

Also, realize that the folks at MEPS are the "closers". They are the guys and gals that close the deals for recruiters. LOL.

 

It took me 2 years but i leave for school this August. You can do it.

 

Dont let anyone tell you that you cant, if your qualified to do so.

[fuzzynumbskull]

I completely agree with what has been mentioned here. I would also add that the recruiter should have your packet started in some way even before you go to MEPS to take your AFAST. What i mean is that your he/she should be following a checklist of all the things that need to go into your packet

 

Also, realize that the folks at MEPS are the "closers". They are the guys and gals that close the deals for recruiters. LOL.

 

It took me 2 years but i leave for school this August. You can do it.

 

Dont let anyone tell you that you cant, if your qualified to do so.

 

 

hmm ok. the military.com forum people told me to go... This is really starting to get confusing and irritating. I think I ought to find a new recruiter.

[NorCalHeliKid]

hmm ok. the military.com forum people told me to go... This is really starting to get confusing and irritating. I think I ought to find a new recruiter.

 

I went through a few before I found a good one. There is nothing confusing about getting what you want. You should check out a few of the websites for WO's if you have not already.

 

How to Become a WO

 

Army WO Recruiting

 

Dont give up!!!

[Mymm]

I went through a few before I found a good one. There is nothing confusing about getting what you want. You should check out a few of the websites for WO's if you have not already.

 

How to Become a WO

 

Army WO Recruiting

 

Dont give up!!!

 

 

I totally agree. I had to know more about becoming a warrant than my recruiter did, I was the first person that was serious about it I guess.

 

You will get told all sorts of BS to just get you onboard in the Army. I told my recruiter right off that if I couldn't fly, I simply wasn't interested, period. Read all your paperwork, the MOS for a Warrant Officer is a 90W, Aviation Warrant should be 153A you should also get paperwork that will send you to Ft. Rucker for Warrant training.

 

Ask questions, lots of them. If it seems fishy it might be, dont buy the old "enlist now as a xxxx and you can put in your packet in 6 months and your all but guarenteed a flight spot!" that's crap. (For some people this will help them actually get accepted into the Warrant program since it's pretty competitive and this could be a whole nother post with pages of peoples input, for your scenario it just shouldn't apply)

 

You do need to go to meps. We all did and it's an interesting day for sure. I don't think I really signed much of anything there though, I came from the Airforce so I had a conditional release from my current command but the station didn't care. They just need to do the physical to see if you qualify for the Army in general, the flight physical is a bit more indepth and you'll probably have to do that somewhere other than meps, I had to drive 9 hours to Ft. Carson...twice.

 

I guess this got a lot longer than I had planned. Read what your signing, if anything at this point and don't be afraid of MEPS.

 

As I tell anyone, if I can be of help PM me and I'll get you my phone # if you want to talk that way, I'm currently at Ft. Rucker in training so most of this is still fairly fresh.

[ErOk_OnE]

Mymm is completely correct. You'll have to go to MEPS...just read what your signing. Take your time reading it...and don't be rushed. If you want to fly...don't fall for the enlist as this and later you'll put in a packet.

 

You'll be fine...don't get frustrated.

 

Mymm had to drive 9 hours to another base twice--thats dedication.

 

 

I had to fly from mainland Japan to Okinawa twice. It's gonna take some sacrifice and learning about a process that isn't so streamlined yet. Keep posting your questions here and you'll be fine.

[FLHooker]

Erok,

 

Q... Did you go take your Class 1W physical prior to going to MEPS?? That would answer her question. I'm fairly certain that the issue will require a waiver. I had a buddy in flight school who they thought had sleep apnea (sp??). Anyway, they talked about medically discharging him, he pushed the issue, went to a specialist, found out for sure that he did not. My point is... Tell them that you want to see a specialist, they should allow for this, because it's a professional opinion.

 

 

Good luck, don't give up,

 

 

CHAD

[ErOk_OnE]

Erok,

 

Q... Did you go take your Class 1W physical prior to going to MEPS?? That would answer her question. I'm fairly certain that the issue will require a waiver. I had a buddy in flight school who they thought had sleep apnea (sp??). Anyway, they talked about medically discharging him, he pushed the issue, went to a specialist, found out for sure that he did not. My point is... Tell them that you want to see a specialist, they should allow for this, because it's a professional opinion.

 

 

Good luck, don't give up,

 

 

CHAD

 

My MEPS is a bit different. Because i am in Japan, my recruiter does everything. But yes before i "technically" went to meps i had my flight physical done. But again, because im here, it may be a bit different stateside.

 

Off subject--i'm looking for a website that has video of WO in action, for this war. Anyone know of such a website. if not...lets get one started...

[fuzzynumbskull]

So here's an update. My recruiter's station sergeant asked for a note from my doctor saying person has been on meds, is not currently on them now, has no problems functioning, etc. on a letterhead. Delivered that. Next day, I get a call from my recruiter, "you need to come out, we have some news." It's 90+ degree weather and my car has no AC. I tell him I'll come by later, he says come by before noon. So I head over from the gym, all sweaty and disgusting and pasty-white (yes, I don't get much sun on me) and my recruiter's not there. The station sergeant (who I could tell was either really bad or really good news for me from the beginning) tells me:

 

Your waiver was denied. Usually it takes 5-6 days for it go through. I got a call in an hour. You should become a 15R and apply inside the army.

 

So, I'm sitting here thinking "You know. I just ran three miles and did weights for half an hour and drove through the 90 degree weather and LA traffic for this? He can kiss my pasty white butt."

 

So I said to him, "That's nice. I'm going to go home and do some thinking. You have a nice day." And I left.

 

Went out yesterday to Fort Irwin and visited some real live WOs. They told me to come up with names, dates and places, call USAREC and report the sergeant and light up the fire because what the sergeant did was VERY unethical. I'm still disputing whether this would be a good option. I'm going to make some calls and find a REAL recruiter.

 

Also- what's the deal with LASIK and flying? Can you come in without Lasik and get it while in?

Edited June 26, 2008 by fuzzynumbskull

[Krazy4379]

my recruiter told me *mind you this is 2005* that as far as your medical history goes what you don't tell them they won't know.

 

I was in your same situation. I didn't push the issue enough to get them to submit my packet or much less build a packet to apply for WOFT. I fell for exactly what they're trying to get you to do and join later on from within. I enlisted as a 15T (UH60 Chief) because i was told that once you get into a flight platoon you can go on all kinds of maintenance check rides and many of the times the pilots will let you take control. THAT WAS A LIFE LESSON LEARNED THE HARD WAY. ONLY sign up for what you want, don't fall for the recruiters BS (i mean yes, you can apply to go WO within, but you may not like it once your in and you're stuck)

 

Also mind you that BCT isn't actually 9 weeks *2005* it's 10 weeks or more depending on how long they keep you in reception. *we had a hold over that was there for 6 weeks just waiting to get taken to their BCT unit because they were waiting on a waiver*.

 

If you want to be a rotary wing pilot in the Army then dedicate yourself ONLY to that. i will tell you this you will need some very good letters of reference, and stand out from the thousands of other candidates you'll be up against.

 

If you're joining because you want to fly you may also want to rethink that route...the military isn't for everybody. After BCT and just getting into AIT at Ft. Eustis VA i went to the doctor and long story short i was chapter'd out due to medical conditions.

 

So i'm just gonna pay for myself to get my PPL in a rotary wing aircraft.

 

Good Luck and stick to your guns.