Dropped From Navy OCS, Applying For Army Guard WOFT

[regamuffin8916]

Good Afternoon.

I’m a recent candidate who was attrited from Navy OCS (contracted as Student Naval Aviator/SNA) due to reasons beyond my control.

Months after my separation, I am now due to meet up with a recruiting sergeant (and, possibly, the Warrant Officer Strength Manager/WOSM) in my nearby National Guard recruiting office (same location where the local helicopter battalion is stationed).

Despite getting the boot from Navy OCS (I’m also a prior service Aviation Electrician from a long time ago, hence my quest to try to come back to the Navy), I never gave up my ultimate goal of earning my commission (even if it’s just as a Warrant Officer now) as well as becoming a military aviator (even if it’s in the capacity of flying Helo’s as a “state reserves pilot” in the Army National Guard now).

I am also currently 30 years old and due to turn 31 late this year. I know my time is running out because of age requirements.

That being said, can anyone please chime in with essential tips on vying for ARNG given my current SITREP? I’ll be willing to provide more details as best as I could in this thread.

Greatly appreciated in advance.

[walkerman180]

“Just as a Warrant Officer...” “even if it’s...” go fly somewhere else. If this is how you think of the Warrant Officer corps you’re intending to join and what you think of the job you’re applying for, then we don’t want you, and it sounds like you don’t want it either. 

[zaurus]

Why are you deciding on the Guard route vs active duty? I assume your Navy SNA contract was for active duty.

Which Navy aircraft was your preference?

By the way, what is the commitment for SNA and SNFO since the Army's is a 10 yr ADSO after winging as of 1 Oct 20? 

[nil5038]

As a former naval officer who turned down the opportunity to redesignate in a job as an O, other than a pilot, I agree with walkerman.
 

However, Idt you’d abandon your plan because of our opinion. So I’ll just offer some friendly advice.

 

any branch’s flight school is going to take dedication and hard work to get through despite how smart you are. Going through navy flight school I had Harvard big shots who had to grind just as hard as me. Ironically, the flight surgeon in my class...an MD....had the lowest grades in the class. If you’re not motivated because this is a “step down” from where you almost were then you’ll struggle. Army aviation and the warrant officer Corp has a lot to proud of. I’d suggest either you re-evaluate If This is something you want, and if it is, dig deep to figure out why you’re motivated to do it. See the army’s aviation history if need be. Me personally, if I’m at a bar with a SWO naval officer and a Vietnam warrant pilot, all due respect to all uniforms, my credit card is going to the pilot and my ass is going to the seat next to him.
 

Naval aviation loves treating their helo pilots like the red headed step child. So unfortunately I get why you think “even if it’s a helo.” You need to understand an army helo pilot and a navy one are different breeds. One drops off crates And submarine tracking equipment, the other drops off seal teams, 70 mm rockets and picks up the nearly dead. And furthermore, the navy is the only branch that feels this way. At AF UPT, helos are rare slots and amongst the first to go sometimes, and CG and marine helo pilots also see a sh*t ton of action. That last bit was just for your edification.

 

edit: I hope I was clear when I said I understand why he thinks that. Understanding it doesn’t mean agreeing with it.

[nil5038]

FYI the MD really did struggle. We were told someone failed our first aero test. Jokingly, we all looked at the marines, then busted out laughing when the 50 year old medical doctor O-4 stood up to take his pink sheet (record of failure pretty much). 

[nil5038]

47 minutes ago, zaurus said:

Why are you deciding on the Guard route vs active duty? I assume your Navy SNA contract was for active duty.

Which Navy aircraft was your preference?

By the way, what is the commitment for SNA and SNFO since the Army's is a 10 yr ADSO after winging as of 1 Oct 20? 

It’s either 6 years for the NFO And 8 for the pilot, or 8 years for the nfo and 10 for the pilot.........can’t remember for sh*t which is it. Just remember it’s +2 for the pilot.

[nil5038]

And yea the navy doesn’t do Reserve unrated pilot contracts.

[zaurus]

Thanks there, nil5038

[SBuzzkill]

11 hours ago, walkerman180 said:

“Just as a Warrant Officer...” “even if it’s...” go fly somewhere else. If this is how you think of the Warrant Officer corps you’re intending to join and what you think of the job you’re applying for, then we don’t want you, and it sounds like you don’t want it either. 

I see you got the same impression as me.  LoL