Inspiring pilot needs some advice.

[Maverick7]

Hi, my name is Travis Hill and I'm currently 17 and a junior in high school. I am inspiring to become an army aviator through the WOFT program. I have talked to a National Guard recruiter and he explained a way that I could sign for a aviation maintenance MOS (also what I'm planning on getting a bachelor in) work my way up to flight school while going to college also. Originally I thought this program may take too long, but I'm considering it now more heavily. Before I had planned on Attempting to take the high school to flight school route but when I saw a thread on here about all the members that got accepted with all their info, I realized my chances were slim. I currently have 3.8 hours in rotor craft and am continuing to take lessons. In school I have between a 2.5 and a 3.0 gpa. I have a clean record. I just wanted to put some of my info to see if one of you guys could compare to me.

 

Which would be the better route for me? I haven't had any luck talking to current army aviators so this is the best place that I could ask some questions.

 

Many thanks,

 

Travis Hill

[akscott60]

Aspiring pilot, perhaps?

 

Anyway, if you want WOFT, apply. Do not let others dissuade you. If it doesn't work, try something else.

[skyreaper]

First off, Travis, I recommend not using your full name on message boards. To your inquiry as an aspiring pilot, I will preface with this is my opinion based on experience thus far; The best route depends on the resources at your disposal. If you are able to build flight time, acquire pilot certifications and ratings, as well as graduate from college with a four year degree as a civilian, I would say that has historically been an effective method for WOFT selection. If not, going in at 18, getting a degree for free and possibly flight time works equally as well (if not better) than the former. Your recruiter is going to get you to enlist in your current state, that's pretty cut and dry. But, it's great you are thinking about this already, now all you need to do is devise a plan that will produce actionable results while navigating your way through the ever changing current events.... and don't get into trouble.

[2ndGen]

If you want to be a Army pilot, go to UND (University of North Dakota) and major in something flying rotorcraft, get selected for WOFT, bypass a major chunk of flying training.

 

Seriously, go to college, read this entire forum, and pay attention, don't get involved with the law, and don't let the what you want now, be more important than the what you want in the future. Good luck.

[Maverick7]

Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry about the misspelled word lol, I typed this in a hurry on my phone. And Skyreaper, my plan so far is join the National Guard, go to boot camp this summer (junior year summer). I plan on signing for an aviation maintenance MOS. The next year I will go to AIT when I graduate high school and continue on to college to major in aviation maintenance. Then I will work my way up to crew chief and apply for the WOFT program. The thing is I seriously doubt myself at making high school to flight school, the way I'm looking at it is I could join the guard now and save myself some time by going to boot camp in the summer. What do you guys think?

[smalltownguy]

Sounds like a great plan. However, I say if you have the GT score of over 110 on the ASVAB then you should consider taking the SIFT and applying to WOFT. They can't turn you down if you don't even apply. I considered WOFT right out of high school but pleased my parents by going to college instead. I have no regrets, but thinking to myself that I potentially missed a shot at being an apache pilot at 19 slightly irritates me. I ended up doing the route 2ndGen discussed but instead of that UND nonsense I went to Embry-Riddle. In the end, this was probably the best decision because Daytona Beach made for one EPIC college experience and I probably wasn't mature enough at the time, regardless of what I thought, to be all I could be in flight school. One last thing, make sure you enjoy the MOS you choose because you could be doing it for awhile (not guarantee you will make warrant even after enlisting). Good luck in your decision buddy, stay positive and keep that goal in sight!!!

[rotornut67]

It sounds like a good plan. Just be absolutely positive that you are getting what YOU want from the recruiter. It's your life and your career so take charge of it from the beginning. Don't let him pressure you to take an MOS that you don't want while he "promises" that you can change later. I've seen it done before and probably so has everyone else on this forum with prior military experience. Hang in there and go after what you want.

[Maverick7]

Thanks for the great advice!

[2ndGen]

My biggest piece of advice is if you want to me an officer, at least apply there first. (Former 11C), no regrets but I missed opportunities and lost wages over time.