USAR WOFT questions.

[tgiovan]

Hello,

 

I was hoping someone can help clarify a few things that my recruiter has been telling me regrading WOFT vs OCS. First off, he is telling me that there is no such thing as a "street to seat" WOFT spot in the USAR as those are only allotted for AD guys. He wants me to enlist as a medic ( I am a Firefighter / Paramedic as a civilian) in the unit, then I will get a chance at the WOFT spot once enlisted. Additionally, I was told that there is a possibility for a "street to seat" track through OCS which would not require prior enlistment or signing up for a different MOS. Is this true? I was under the impression that WOFT spots are "possible" without prior enlistment. This worries me because I have several friends who were "guaranteed" flight spots, but once enlisted were stuck in a non flying job for years and in two cases, indefinitely.

 

Also, I was told that if for some reason I am medically DQ'd during training and not qualified for flight school I will still be required to fulfill a 3 year obligation. If this is true, will it still be at the unit that sponsored me or will I then be at the mercy of the Army and put where needed?

 

Lastly, if I am selected and DQ'd during my class 1 flight physical for some reason will I then still be required to fulfill a non flying contract?

 

As a disclamer, I have nothing against serving in any capacity however, I am a little older and can't uproot my family. Also, If for some reason I am DQ'd I want to be able to pursue different aviation avenues which will be nearly impossible if I am working my fire service job, as well as placed in a non flying position in the USAR.

 

Any clarification on these items will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Hello,

 

I was hoping someone can help clarify a few things that my recruiter has been telling me regrading WOFT vs OCS. First off, he is telling me that there is no such thing as a "street to seat" WOFT spot in the USAR as those are only allotted for AD guys. --TRUTH, IT IS EXTREMELY RARE IN THE GUARD AS WELL--He wants me to enlist as a medic ( I am a Firefighter / Paramedic as a civilian) in the unit, then I will get a chance at the WOFT spot once enlisted. Additionally, I was told that there is a possibility for a "street to seat" track through OCS which would not require prior enlistment or signing up for a different MOS. Is this true?--OCS IS NOT WOFT, YOU BE APPLYING AS AN OFFICER AND WILL NEED TO BE ACCEPTED TO AN AVIATION UNIT-- I was under the impression that WOFT spots are "possible" without prior enlistment. This worries me because I have several friends who were "guaranteed" flight spots, but once enlisted were stuck in a non flying job for years and in two cases, indefinitely. --THEY WERE MISLEAD--

 

Also, I was told that if for some reason I am medically DQ'd during training and not qualified for flight school I will still be required to fulfill a 3 year obligation. If this is true, will it still be at the unit that sponsored me or will I then be at the mercy of the Army and put where needed? --DEPENDS ON WHERE IN TRAINING YOU ARE, IF ENLISTED, WOFT, OR OCS--

 

Lastly, if I am selected and DQ'd during my class 1 flight physical for some reason will I then still be required to fulfill a non flying contract? --PHYSICAL IS DONE BEFORE SELECTION--

 

As a disclamer, I have nothing against serving in any capacity however, I am a little older and can't uproot my family. Also, If for some reason I am DQ'd I want to be able to pursue different aviation avenues which will be nearly impossible if I am working my fire service job, as well as placed in a non flying position in the USAR. --KIND OF A WEIRD STATEMENT--

 

Any clarification on these items will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

"Guaranteed" at the chance to -start- training when coming off the street can be through active WOFT or NG/USAR OCS though a flight board and letter of acceptance to a aviation unit. You will have a paragraph and line number in that unit as a platoon leader and pilot.

[A-aron]

I am also curious about NG/USAR. I had heard that it was possible to street to seat NG in some states, but not most. So to go the USAR route would one have to find a unit first, and have them sponsor you? All my previous research has been into WOFT which there is a great deal of info here on it. I am currently applying for various federal law enforcement jobs and if I could also apply to fly in the Reserves I would not have to make the choice of either military aviation or federal law enforcement.

[Brian101193]

Hello,

 

I was hoping someone can help clarify a few things that my recruiter has been telling me regrading WOFT vs OCS. First off, he is telling me that there is no such thing as a "street to seat" WOFT spot in the USAR as those are only allotted for AD guys. He wants me to enlist as a medic ( I am a Firefighter / Paramedic as a civilian) in the unit, then I will get a chance at the WOFT spot once enlisted. Additionally, I was told that there is a possibility for a "street to seat" track through OCS which would not require prior enlistment or signing up for a different MOS. Is this true? I was under the impression that WOFT spots are "possible" without prior enlistment. This worries me because I have several friends who were "guaranteed" flight spots, but once enlisted were stuck in a non flying job for years and in two cases, indefinitely.

 

Also, I was told that if for some reason I am medically DQ'd during training and not qualified for flight school I will still be required to fulfill a 3 year obligation. If this is true, will it still be at the unit that sponsored me or will I then be at the mercy of the Army and put where needed?

 

Lastly, if I am selected and DQ'd during my class 1 flight physical for some reason will I then still be required to fulfill a non flying contract?

 

As a disclamer, I have nothing against serving in any capacity however, I am a little older and can't uproot my family. Also, If for some reason I am DQ'd I want to be able to pursue different aviation avenues which will be nearly impossible if I am working my fire service job, as well as placed in a non flying position in the USAR.

 

Any clarification on these items will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

The street to seat program does exist, you can 100% apply as a civilian with no military background. That being said, most of the people selected on the civilian side either have a degree or are prior service. Before you apply to the program you have to take a class 1 physical, so if you are DQ'd there, you are under no obligation to serve anything.

 

I'm not sure what happens if you go through basic and WOCS and then fail the class 1 when you are about to begin flight school.

 

You said you were older, how old exactly?

[tgiovan]

Thank your for the replies. Brian, I am 28 and will turn 29 July of 16, so not that old, but getting close enough to maxing out that I need to make sure I take all the right steps. I do have a 4 year degree, and will take go the OCS route if needed. However, all the info I have been getting through networking with folks at several units points towards WOFT as a best option for me personally. With that said, I don't think I will be able to enlist in hopes of a WOFT spot a year or so down that road, so OCS may be my only option.

[Brian101193]

I believe the cutoff date only apply to when you actually board. So you could definitely complete the process within a full calendar year and board before the cutoff date.

 

But as Tached said, the USAR is a very small subset of Army Aviation. You would almost certainly have a better shot of getting it if you went active. That being said, there are a few Guard WOFT applicants on this forum.

[Yamer]

Guard has a much better shot than reserve just due to there being multiple states versus only a few for reserve.