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Hi, I'm currently a Junior in High School looking to get a head start on figuring out what I need to do to fly for the Army. I've been doing a bunch of research, and talking to my local national guard recruiter--she is encouraging me to enlist in the National Guard into an aviation unit and build time until I can submit a packet and become a warrant officer and pilot, etc. I've heard a lot of good things about going active duty through WOFT , "street to seat", as well. My main question is: What, from experience, seems to be the best overall route, and which one leads to more flight time? Thanks, I look forward to reading your responses! --Mike

Admittedly, as I progressed through the whole process as a sister service applicant I thought the entire time there would be a face to face interview with a "board" of people. I thought that I submitted my packet, once board ready I would receive an interview date, and then after the interview the results of that interview would be attached to my packet and sent for final review where it would be found Q-S, Q-NS, NS. Imagine my embarrassment when I emailed the Warrant Officer Recruiting team to inquire when I would receive my interview date. They seemed confused by my question but told me that everything is electronic and "once the packet is board ready no further action is required on part of the member." It was then that I learned that the interview is only for civilian applicants. I just always assumed there would be an interview for active duty applicants as well!!! Thought I'd share because I never saw ANYTHING to suggest otherwise and apparently I'm not a smart enough cookie to have figured it out myself before hand. So there ya go! Anybody else? haha

Greetings all, and thank you for this wonderful resource. There's a bit of a lengthy story, but I'll condense it to be as readable as necessary for a forum post. At 17 I joined the Army with a Ranger contract, I went through boot camp and most of infantry school. However, before completion, I was having some back pain which they discovered to be mild thoracic Scoliosis. The medical professionals thought it was caused by the gear, and consequently I was discharged because I had only been in 3 months. It was not a MEDICAL separation, it was a general "administrative" separation with a re-entry code of 3. I spent a year trying to get back in, and they wouldn't take the RE3 code / admin separation. Alternatively, I enlisted into the Navy - this took meeting with congressmen, fighting the discharge board, 6 letters of recommendation, physical therapy and building a solid medical profile, numerous waivers *none for lawful discipline*, and a lot of work. I signed on as an IT. I had been trying to go SPECWAR for years - I always thought flying, my initial dream, was out of reach because I was never an academic, nor did I possess a degree. The trial and error of my past though, has taught me that anyone is capable of anything, and I will do anything to fly for the military. At this point I've gone through 2 bootcamps, 2 tech schools (infantry school, IT school). I possess a security clearance that is valid for 4 more years, my APFT score is at about 300. I'm currently studying for the AFAST, but I'm confident I will do well on it. I don't possess a degree, but I am attending a university. Here's my biggest current hurdle - I've never personally met anyone in aviation, and I have no Army aviation POC's. I am stationed in Hawaii, so I know that there is an aviation regiment at Schofield barracks - but I don't know how to approach them without looking disrespectful. As far as the medical past goes - I passed a dive physical and have been cleared for SPECWAR and "any and all military duty" by 6 medical professionals / surgeons, 2 of which are military doctors, and 1 is a special operations doctor. BUMED is the agency that cleared me, and I think that package will help with a flight physical. The biggest question comes down to - how do I go about getting LOR from Army officers/WO's without coming off as disrespectful or aggressive? I'm only an E2, and I don't have a degree, but I know I can build a competitive package and continue to try and try again. I am extremely ambitious and motivated, and when I have my eyes set on something I will exhaust all resources to achieve my goal. Here are some quick useful facts, AFAST - Not yet taken (studying) ASVAB - 78 GT Score - 115 Degree - Computer Science (in progress) Lawful history - No lawful record military/civilian Security clearance - Active APFT - 300 Duty Station - Hawaii Pearl Harbor Conditional Release - In progress (not fully approved yet) LOR's - Currently searching for POC's Vision - Natural 20/20, no color issues If anyone has any questions that would further assist the process, I'll answer them immediately or I will search for the answer. Thank you for your time.