Jan 2014 WOFT Board

[TriViper]

Skyreaper - I got word from my recruiter, who got word from the Battalion, who I believe (I think) got word from a POC at USAREC.

[skyreaper]

Good deal, that matches my experience. I called a different regional WO recruiter earlier, second to talk to so far. Both have said they only deal w AD apps. I pressed this one a little more w a few questions and he said "there is no way my recruiter could miss it being at the board bc of the computer system they use to track it, so as long as everything needed is done like the flight phys, and my recruiter is telling me im good, then youre good". Bueller would prob disagree.

[ShaneWey]

Ya, the problem is that some recruiters (i.e. mine) may just tell you something to get you to quit bothering them. Not saying this is status quo but it can happen. He told me I was good in Dec., I called him this week to double check (I had a bad feeling), turns out they didn't have the flight physical paperwork for my packet. I was wondering if he was ever planning on telling me or if he was just going to let me miss the board.

 

Here's to hoping BTN is more efficient.

[TriViper]

Things always come up with my recruiters. So many times I thought I was "good", then I'd have to stop by and sign another form they overlooked. I must have made 6-8 trips which could have easily been avoided.

 

This time I'm actually good though. After my recruiter said I was "board ready", I called the Battalion myself and spoke with the NCO that handles my packet. He's no slouch and confirmed I'm good to go.

[skyreaper]

Well I personally met with the NCO guy at my Batallion and went through my entire packet with him, had to clarify a few things like flight time, but was told it was complete and did the interview that same day which completed my packet. I've checked verbally and in writing at least 4-5 times with my recruiter. Surely there won't be a complication on this.

[I3uller]

Haha I love that I'm a nightmare example for the forums now. My problem wasn't my recruiters or even the majority of battalion, it was just the NCOIC at battalion that was supposed to send up my packet. He was an E-7 with some..."colorful" history and was being force retired. I guess he was pissed off about it and decided not to do his job and tell everyone that he was. So my recruiters and battalion all got the good to go from a guy that was lying to them. Unfortunate but it eventually worked out.

 

Sorry to hear you haven't been able to get confirmation from USAREC itself Reaper, but if you've talked directly to the NCOIC for packet forwarding at battalion I would think you're pretty good. I know the feeling, you're all probably less nervous about being selected and mostly nervous about just being put on the board. There should really be something in place like there is for AD where a simple social input can show you your status but alas, ce'st la vie. You've got to play the game. Good luck to everyone.

[TriViper]

From reading posts the past few months, it seems a lot of the civilian applicants have CW3/4/5 LORs. How in the heck did ya'll get these? Where these CW's people you've known for a while?

[ShaneWey]

Guest Stearman wrote a good piece in the WOFT-a view from the top thread, and Lindsey gave good advice on that in Warrant Officer Flight Training thread (I believe). They are both pinned.

 

I don't know anyone in the military. What I ended up doing was just calling up the closest aviation unit and asking if there was a WO willing to offer some insight on what it's like to be a WO pilot for the Army. Believe it or not, I had two WOs willing to chat and we ended up talking for over an hour each. They gave me their cell phone numbers and were willing to meet me for lunch. They were more than happy to help in any way possible. After a few conversations and a face-to-face they felt I would be a good addition to the community and offered to write an LOR if necessary.

 

Since we're less than a week away from the board, I wouldn't worry about LORs. It might be a good addition if you get FQNS though. Honestly for me, it was much more about getting first hand knowledge and picking the brain of some guys who have my dream career. The LOR was a good bonus

[smalltownguy]

Just like the most the other post about LORs state, just find a unit and give them a ring. It reminds me of an old joke that people constantly say, kind of a cliche really, and that is "how do you know there is a pilot in the room?.... They'll tell ya!" Pilots, a large portion of them anyway, love talking about their jobs as pilots... more so to someone knowledgable that actually cares and not the same stupid questions that people use to make small talk.

 

Good luck to all on this board! Hope to work as military aviation professionals with you all one day. I plan on being right behind you in the training pipeline!

[KMKarlinski]

From reading posts the past few months, it seems a lot of the civilian applicants have CW3/4/5 LORs. How in the heck did ya'll get these? Where these CW's people you've known for a while?

[KMKarlinski]

Sorry meant to have my reply too. Doing this from my phone.

 

For me I was simply fortunate. I happened to meet someone at the gym who's brother flew a Blackhawk and is still in the military. I asked if he might be willing to talk with me about flying, and after correspondence via email he put me in contact with a CW5 friend.

[rwfoxjr]

I got the two CW5 LORs for my packet the old fashioned way. Looked up their names and where they were located, constructed a letter explaining my background, qualifications, and thoughts on what I wanted to do in the future, put a stamp on it and threw it in the mail. Within two weeks both had emailed me as well as called me willing to answer any questions I had on the process. After getting to know them a bit through talking on the phone as well as email, both offered to put together LORs for me.

 

Like everyone has said on this forum, you'd be surprised as how willing most of them are to lend a helping hand. They were all in this same position at one time as well!

[skyreaper]

One more thing I just thought about concerning my packet; On my DA Form 61, I know that my recruiter checked Active Duty, I reviewed it with him and immediately brought it to his attention and told him I thought it should be checked Reserve. I even showed him the guide posted on the USAREC website. He told me he uses a guide he put together for OCS/WOFT apps and has done this many times, complemented me on my packet and assured me everything is correct.

 

Is he correct about the DA61 form, checking AD instead of Reserves?

[2ndGen]

Every single non-guard WO1 that wears Army green is in the Reserves. He's wrong unless something has changed on the application process. You're applying for a reserve appointment.

[I3uller]

It actually has recently changed. I looked into it and told my recruiter to put reserves and apparently it's recently changed and they want it AD. Mine was checked AD for the November board and everything was good. I know Lindsey's was checked AD too.

[TriViper]

I thought in order to be guaranteed to fly, you have to go the Active Duty route? Are you guys aiming for the Reserves?

[I3uller]

I thought in order to be guaranteed to fly, you have to go the Active Duty route? Are you guys aiming for the Reserves?

A WO1 is a sort of probationary reserve appointment. It's a little weird but you aren't actually an active duty Warrant until you reach CW2. You're on active status as a W1 but you aren't technically in the AD Army. I'm sure someone has a better explanation.

[TriViper]

Ok, so it's a formality of some sort. Do applicants have the option of switching to the Army Reserves if selected though?

[2ndGen]

As a WO1 you are paid out of reserve money that has been budgeted for that. You are serving in an active duty position. Think about it as being appointed (which all WO1s are) in the reserves and being mobilized to Ft. Rucker for WOCS and flight school, and your first PCS. Then you are offered a commission to Chief Warrant Officer two in the U.S. Army (that you can turn down if you want). Once you accept that Commission, you are now serving on active duty.

[2ndGen]

Ok, so it's a formality of some sort. Do applicants have the option of switching to the Army Reserves if selected though?

 

No.

[ShaneWey]

As a WO1 you are paid out of reserve money that has been budgeted for that. You are serving in an active duty position. Think about it as being appointed (which all WO1s are) in the reserves and being mobilized to Ft. Rucker for WOCS and flight school, and your first PCS. Then you are offered a commission to Chief Warrant Officer two in the U.S. Army (that you can turn down if you want). Once you accept that Commission, you are now serving on active duty.

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if one were to turn down the CW2 commission (although I don't know why anyone would)? Also, does this mean your 6yr AD obligation starts whenever you get a CW2 commission? I always thought it was after you were pinned your wings, even if you're still a WO1

[2ndGen]

I don't know for sure, but I would imagine that you would either owe a high % of your training costs, or revert to an enlisted MOS. I didn't even know that you could do this until the CW5 that interviewed me made me aware. Didn't have the huevos to ask what would happen if I didn't accept.

[ShaneWey]

Haha! Ya, I really can't imagine why anyone would turn it down...just thought it was strange that it's even an option.

[nomdeplumme]

Off topic. Just came back from MEPs for physical and I need a medical waiver for having +3.50 diopter in one eye, the max allowed is +3.0. Any experience or background knowledge would be greatly appreciated!!

[nomdeplumme]

I.E. Likelyhood waiver is approved.....