Selected, am I doing it for the right reason?

[Tesla]

If your sole motivation isn't to crush the enemies of the United States and/or support those who do, you're wrong and have no business joining the Army in any capacity. This isn't exclusive to former grunts. I know street to seaters who are absolutely motivated to help get that proverbial 19 year old ground pounder back home to Mama. My point is that you should check your motivations to ensure that altruism plays a significant role and that this isn't only for you to advance yourself in life.

 

People join the military for all kinds of different reasons. It doesn't just have to be "I want to wipe those middle eastern guys off the face of the earth" Actually this is exact opposite of what Army recruiters say to potential recruits. I know kids that have joined so they have college money, or they wanted adventure, or they wanted a stable paycheck and a bit of discipline in their lives. Don't forget that the military is not just there to wipe people off the earth. The military spends a large amount of time in humanitarian efforts and improving the lives of people all over the world. Who was there in 2011 to help with the Japanese earthquake relief efforts? The US Navy. Who's helping the relief effort in South Carolina right now? The US Army. Hell, find me a Chaplain or a medical officer with that kind of mindset.

 

If I can quote a section from "Surviving WOCS" by CW4(Retired) Jim Boroch. "Most people don't become Warrant Officers for God, Country, or the American way. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the above, but lets face it, all three fall short when the rent is due, when the kids need school supplies and you want the newest phone, or the car gives up the ghost. The reality is that most Warrant Officers do it to satisfy their basic human needs."

 

To be fair, plenty of people that join the military do it because they have a high level of patriotism, but if you couldn't pay the bills or take care of your family, odds are most people wouldn't make the military a career.

 

Take a look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, then include "Self-Transcendence" (To go beyond ones self.) Which one is the correct answer? All of them are. Again to be fair to you though, it's probably not the best idea for someone to become an Aviation Warrant just because the pay is better. In the same scope though, it's not a good idea to become an Aviation Warrant just because you want to fly. Flying is not all of the job.

 

I didn't join because my sole motivation was to kill anybody the US says is a bad guy. I joined to make a difference in the way I think I can make the biggest impact, attain discipline, get college paid for, pay the bills, have a great life, and last but NOT least support the men and women that are on the ground.

 

Edit: typos

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Great stuff in here.

 

Polar opposite of the "do all Soldiers want aviation" thread.

 

When I was nine years old i wanted to be Rambo. I enlisted in the USMC infantry when I was 18 and did some good Rambo stuff. I got out and then wanted a real CAREER and still wanted to serve: Aviation.

 

The career part is where you can be a professional AND pay the bills. It's not hoogh hoogh everyday, all day.

 

Most that serve only do a few years and get out, officers and enlisted. How many disgruntal former E3s do you see out in the civilian world? they only like the memory once they are out of the militaty.

 

Those that stay in are in good career fields and find a way to do a good job and stay revelant. There is no way to plan your career now.

 

RLOs are going to fly less over a career, no doubt. Ws do have additional duties and some staff time, but you don't see Ws aviators at ROTC, USAREC commands, or other crap like that. The time away front the cockpit is there, but not nearly as bad as when a CPT is trying to make MAJ.

 

Any of you're options are great.

 

My IP buddy has a former USMC Capt that was a Seahawk pilot as his Army UH60 Student. He's a W1 going all the way through FSXXI for the Guard.

You think that guy thought he'd be an Army W01 in the Guard 8 years ago?

[Joe_P148]

KernKamp,

 

I read a bunch of the Airwarriors users replies and I think we are all on the same page here.

 

I honestly think there isn't a flying job out there that is just about flying.

 

Even Airline pilots are leaders, they have to get on the intercom and talk to all those passengers. They are in charge of an entire airplane full of people.

 

Civilian helicopter pilots also have additional duties. Maybe not as many as we do but, regardless of your job. An employer isn't gonna just hand you the keys to a multi million dollar craft without having trust in your abilities to use assertiveness and leadership to your crew.

 

So in the other forums you said you were the shy type. Regardless of what service you go into there will be so many leadership course before you touch an aiframe that will help build your confidence in taking charge and leading.

 

This is the Military that you want to be a part of.

 

Now your choice is to determine what program you want to be in.

[Wally]

Do those schools emphasize that you are a leader of soldiers first and foremost? The Marines really push that. They will say "you are all here because you want to lead Marines." Regardless if you're a flight contract or infantry contract. Everyone nods their head but the truth is if Naval Aviation didn't exist they wouldn't have even applied. I thought that a warrant in the Army was a specialist not a jack of all trades like the MC expects it's officers to be.

 

You are a leader of soldiers, first, foremost and always, even as a Vietnam era warrant officer pilot.

I always had crew who relied on me for sound command decisions. Later, I had entire missions to lead. We always had extra duties, even in country. An aviation company is a big outfit with lots of soldiers and officers, and lots to do. Everybody has to do it.

You wanna know what really embarrassed me? Pulling officer of the guard, in country, with BCT level infantry training, and knowing that the guys outside the wire were hard-effing core, determined and competent enough to kill professional infantry in battle. And me, Mr Basic Combat Training, I had to handle something between a squad and a platoon in potentially for real combat.

I hate the idea of being a RLO warrant, but the Army is doing it right, just as the Marines have always done- you're a warfighter, first, last and always, and that means you don't pick and choose: You do or die.

[napoleonpp]

In the Marines I would be a Marine and then a pilot, I would have to learn how to lead a platoon of Marines in combat, I would do B billets like forward air controller and maybe a tour as an officer selection officer. In the Army I would be a pilot for my whole career and not have to lead troops and get promoted out of the cockpit. Right?

As a Warrant Officer that is fairly accurate, with my experience. Like everyone has said earlier, you will be swamped with additional duties among other things on top of flying. I've heard of Warrant Officers filling in as Platoon Leaders, although Ive never witnessed it and not sure how common that is.

[zaurus]

Kernkamp150

 

It's great in having options.

 

Concerning Marine OCS, they have a built in failure rate of 25%. Depending why you unsuccessfully completed Marine OCS, you are barred in entering another service commissioning program. No one likes to feel they were the second choice. No idea on the WOFT program due to their different requirements, ie no college degree.

 

Your chances of a helicopter selection: 5% USAF, 40% Navy, 75% USMC, 95% Army. Pick your poison.

 

If you think ship board life suits you, I would recommend Navy. Besides I feel you are going in that direction anyway. Don't worry about giving up your WOFT slot, you would make someone else dream come true.

[eagle5]

KernKamp,

 

 

 

I honestly think there isn't a flying job out there that is just about flying.

 

 

Tuna boat pilot, maybe? I don't know that's just a guess, but I hear they're not part of the boat's crew, so if you're not a mechanic, what else could there be to do?

 

Anyway, I'd go Navy, because if one day I could no longer fly, I'd rather be a sailor than a soldier. See the world, with a girl in every port!

[Luofynerd]

As a Warrant Officer that is fairly accurate, with my experience. Like everyone has said earlier, you will be swamped with additional duties among other things on top of flying. I've heard of Warrant Officers filling in as Platoon Leaders, although Ive never witnessed it and not sure how common that is.

In my unit it's actually pretty common, hell my QC oic is a cw3 and he regularly fills in as company commander. Dude even initiates article 15s lol. As far as PL that same Cw3 was my senior rater on my first NCOER as my PL before we were both transferred to delta.

[JHESS68]

KernKamp: you're getting some great advice, but I'll make this very simple. It's a lot harder to fly Navy and if you pass it up, you're window of opportunity may be gone forever, especially with their age limit being 27/28. You can always fly helicopters even in the civilian world. You may never get a crack at flying F-18's; to my knowledge there are no civilians hiring "fast mover" pilots. If you become a Naval Aviator and don't like it, the door is still open for WOFT down the road especially with their age limit being much higher. As a former A-10 AF guy (retired now) and grunt myself, I can tell you it's much harder to transition from Army to Navy, then vice versa.

 

In some branches, you'll fly more. Some have more emphasis on leadership, etc. I wouldn't let the little nuances fog your decision process. I'm just an "old fart" now so maybe my perspective is different, but personally, I'd walk through the door that once closed may never open again.

[stearmann4]

As a Warrant Officer that is fairly accurate, with my experience. Like everyone has said earlier, you will be swamped with additional duties among other things on top of flying. I've heard of Warrant Officers filling in as Platoon Leaders, although Ive never witnessed it and not sure how common that is.

Well...I'm taking command of a company next spring, so it's more common than you think. The WO progression model is aligning with that of the RLOs.

 

Mike-

[apacheguy]

Well...I'm taking command of a company next spring, so it's more common than you think. The WO progression model is aligning with that of the RLOs.

 

Mike-

 

MTOE unit or TDA unit?

[stearmann4]

TDA, West Point.