USAF enlisted flyer to 153A

DC-10 · April 11, 2014

Good afternoon gents,

A little about myself; been active duty for close to 6 years now, worked as aircraft weapons maintenance on the F-16 and A-10 overseas and stateside, and I'm now currently stationed at McGuire AFB as a Flight Engineer on board the KC-10. I love the job, I fly and travel a lot but the days of the FE are numbered. Heard about this program from a coworker who was thinking of applying for it back in 2008 but he was close to retirement and was just promoted to evaluator so he wasn't going anywhere.

Stumbled upon this forum about a week ago and I've been lurking ever since trying to find info on making the swap from active Air Force to warrant officer. I found the warrant officer recruitment page with all the packet info but I was curious, since I'm already an active flyer, do I need to accomplish sere/water survival again with the Army or would my current training suffice? Also, wanted to get the chance to sit down with an army aviator and pick their brain for a while but I don't believe I've seen any out here in New Jersey since this base is primarily mobility. I was thinking about heading to a recruiter with the checklist but I wasn't too sure what do after that. I'm currently deployed but I'll be home soon and I'd like to get the ball rolling on this, any tips would be greatly appreciated!

-Mike

akscott60 · April 11, 2014

Good question on Dunker. I dont know if you have to again. Its easy enough. If you attended at SERE-C and have a certificate, you should not have to again.

DC-10 · April 11, 2014

It'd be nice to not have to go through them again, at least SERE anyways haha. Water survival was pretty fun even though I did it in the middle of winter..

Any prior Air Force guys roaming the forums who've made the swap?

cwil7280 · April 12, 2014

Air National Guard. Everyone during my out processing said "You're going to regret joining the Army." And then after they ask why I did it and I explain what my job will be they say, "Oh.. Well that makes sense."

Talon64 · April 13, 2014

Air National Guard. Everyone during my out processing said "You're going to regret joining the Army." And then after they ask why I did it and I explain what my job will be they say, "Oh.. Well that makes sense."

Same here

DC-10 · April 13, 2014

I haven't talked to my supervision yet but I imagine they'll be supportive (Unlike when I retrained from maintenance). Looking forward to getting home so I can get this started..

Like I mentioned previously, you guys have any suggestions/tips/things I should look out for when making the swap from blue to green?

cwil7280 · April 13, 2014

Since you're active duty, are you applying for WOFT as a civilian, or military? I applied as a civilian applicant, but I don't know if that was because I am guard, or Air Force. I know that AF has to go back to basic training again, so I'm curious of what your application status will be.

Talon64 · April 13, 2014

Whats your afsc in air force now? If you're security forces then you don't have to do BCT. I will be skipping BCT, thankfully.

When you ask for leadership support, have something to show that you know what you're doing, you have a plan (worst case best case scenarios), and do as much of the work yourself.

My leadership wanted to know how competitive i would be. I showed transcripts pt scores and medical/security clearances on the spot.

They asked what my plan was if I got selected but didn't make it. Would I survive out of the military.

When it came to ask for their LOR, I had it pre written and all they did was make it their own by adding their two cents.

cwil7280 · April 13, 2014

Security forces doesn't need BCT huh? Is that because of their combat related tech school? I went through the Army's CST course at Ft. Dix, but they aren't accepting any of that credit to get out of BCT.

Talon64 · April 13, 2014

Ya I would assume that's the case. It's 3 months long and we teach weapons, combatives, deadly force, military law, combat operations such as MOUT, CQB/CQC, small unit tactics, nuc/non nuc convoys, etc.

cwil7280 · April 13, 2014

Well lucky you haha I'm telling myself that I'm happy about BCT. I think it will help with my run, and get me back into the military mentality rather than the guard/civilian mentality.

Talon64 · April 13, 2014

What's your rank? I'm pretty sure it'll be easier than it would be for someone who's never been. We get prior service come to our tech school all the time and we don't always give them the brunt of the BS. From what I've heard, it's similar @BCT

cwil7280 · April 13, 2014

I'm an E-4. So I won't have the benefit of being an NCO, and I'm 22 so I'll blend right in with the young recruits. If prior service gets it a little easier then that's great, but honestly, if they make it completely miserable then WOCS won't be as bad by comparison. Hopefully.

Talon64 · April 13, 2014

That's a good mentally.

DC-10 · April 14, 2014

To answer your questions, Currently in a flying AFSC, 1A1X1, Flight Engineer. Applicant status will be as Active Duty military most likely, and I'm an E-5 SSgt (NCO). Pretty soon I'll be at about 1000 flying hours w/45 combat sorties (Fixed wing) and I should have my 4 year degree complete in about a year or so. Hopefully all that along with my previous aircraft maintenance experience makes me look good to the board.

Talon64 · April 15, 2014

Well it seems you got a good handle on your application. Seems pretty solid to me.

Airman_gone_soldier · April 23, 2014

I was 6yrs prior active Air Force as a Boom Operator on the KC135R/T. I was looking into submitting a packet while I was in, but later decided to finish out my contract and pursue WOFT while enlisted in the national guard. Well here I am again, submitting for Active Duty, the CA national guard has too many selectees and not enough training slots, It would be 18 months before I would go to school. If I remember right, all you need to do is apply on vMPF for a conditional release. Its on the terms of being accepted into a commissioning program. Essentially its working 2 programs at once, Blue to Green (which is common) and WOFT. Unfortunately BCT will have to be completed, I went back to basic after 6yrs AD.. it was very easy a second time provided you don't get too caught up in the children growing up... haha. SERE-C I heard I will not have to repeat. However, if it comes down to it, I would gladly go again if its between flying or not, certainly not a deal breaker in my mind, more of a nicety. Hope this helps, and Good luck!

lee122485 · May 1, 2014

Sooo I seem to be having a little trouble dealing with the local recruiters. Just a reattack on who the **** I am, since I rarely visit, I'm active duty Air Force who was accepted on the Jan board. Anyways, back to the situation, I went to them with the Notification of transfer into the Army and expected that to be sufficient on how to process me. Well, unfortunately, I was mistaken. I've been working with them for over a month now and I might be finally making progress, but they're basically making me create a whole packet again like I'm coming in street to seat. I have to fill out an sf86 form and everything. even though I've shown them I already have a clearance.

sorry to bore you guys, but now to the real question.

The Active duty Air Force guys that were accepted in Jan, what did you have to do with the recruiter? Specifics please!

I guess my main concern is to not mess up my clearance, and that to be the reason that I cant start in Oct.

jeepster32 · May 6, 2014

Sooo I seem to be having a little trouble dealing with the local recruiters. Just a reattack on who the **** I am, since I rarely visit, I'm active duty Air Force who was accepted on the Jan board. Anyways, back to the situation, I went to them with the Notification of transfer into the Army and expected that to be sufficient on how to process me. Well, unfortunately, I was mistaken. I've been working with them for over a month now and I might be finally making progress, but they're basically making me create a whole packet again like I'm coming in street to seat. I have to fill out an sf86 form and everything. even though I've shown them I already have a clearance.
sorry to bore you guys, but now to the real question.
The Active duty Air Force guys that were accepted in Jan, what did you have to do with the recruiter? Specifics please!
I guess my main concern is to not mess up my clearance, and that to be the reason that I cant start in Oct.

I'm having to do the SF86 again as well even though I hold a clearance. It's apparently just a formality, and the investigators won't really look into it because the Air Force already did the work...just so the army has the paperwork as well.