Zach7177

So I guess my question for you 64, and btw appreciate your service. Would you do it over again if you could?

Gundriver64

The military? Wouldn't change it for the world!

OuterMarker

Spot on! It has gotten way beyond ridiculous.

USMCFLYR

Exactly.

In line with the civilian/corporate world.

Taco280AI

What is a Warrant and an Aviation officer? Warrants are officers. Can be field warrants or aviation warrants. There are also commissioned officers, some happen to go the aviation route.

Commissioned vs Warrant...

Warrants don't just fly, I wish that were the case. They get stuck with a lot of additional duties to the point that your additional duties are what you do in reality, and sometimes you'll go fly if you're lucky. In the long run, warrants will have more flight time compared to commissioned.

Commissioned gets more money, but more desk work and death by PowerPoint.

Can you get a C12 down the road? No. You can get it at Rucker and only at Rucker since it is now a selection, just like 60s or 64s. Your fixed wing time doesn't mean anything, airframe selection is based off the OML. The higher you rank in your class based off academics, checkrides, PT test, etc... the higher you are on the OML. Top of class gets first pick, bottom of class gets whatever is left.

Definite advantage, you can apply to be an aviation warrant straight through your recruiter without having to commit to the Army. Street to seat is one of the names they call it. If you go commissioned, you may or may not get aviation, who knows.

The Army needs pilots, if that's what you want go for it

Gundriver64

Yes, you can still get the fixed-wing course down the road. The AQC will still be offered as a process. However, with an initial course being offered there will be less chance of doing so. It's still needs of the Army FIRST, merit qualifications second.

Taco280AI

Not from what we were briefed at some WOPD and told through emails. Didn't even care who we were or what we've been doing. Flat out told if you're not FW, you won't be and that it is only a selection at Rucker. And those who go FW will be for their career.



However, the Army will always change their minds as they please so who really knows.

Gundriver64

True. Wasn't long ago I was at CAE. They said FWMEQC would roll on for all three compos.

Voski

Don't fly Army. Go ANG/USAF Reserve. You'll think me later.

Source: I am a 1,500 hour Army instructor pilot leaving the service for the airlines.

GeorgeAmthor

I graduated college in 1996 and (due to then President Clinton’s downsizing of the military) lost my Marine Corps flight slot. I enlisted in the Army as an E-4 (because I had a 4 year degree) under the college loan repayment program (LRP). This program was only for enlisted soldiers at that time. I was able to pay off all of my student loans in three years. I got Air Traffic Control (93C) as my MOS. I earned my FAA Control Tower Certificate. (Similar to earning an FAA Commercial Pilot License, the green FAA cards are identical.) Being an Air Traffic Control (Both Radar and Non Radar) made me a much better pilot because I learned so much about what happens “behind the scenes.”

As soon as my student loans were paid off, I applied and was accepted to Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS). I ranked high in my class and earned the CH47 slot to Fort Campbell, KY. (My first choice)
At that time, the CH47 was the only helicopter that was being flown commercially in the private sector that weighed more than 12,500 lbs. So, I was able to get an FAA Type Rating on it.

Every decision that I made, career wise, was to make my resume better for when I got out. I was wounded in combat on January 28th, 2002.

My military career was cut short, but because of my military training, I was able to find work quickly. I recommend the Warrant Officer Corps over becoming a Commissioned Officer especially since you will have a 4 year degree. You will most likely get promoted quicker than your peers because of your degree (All commissioned officers have 4 year degrees or higher. Not all Warrant Officers have 4 year degrees. So, this will work to your advantage.)

There are less politics involved when getting promoted to CW2 and CW3. It starts to get a little political when trying to make CW4 and CW5.

A lot of the Chinook pilots ended up in the fixed wing program. My guess is that CH47’s, at that time were “Corps Assets” meaning that they were assigned at the Division Level (Normally rubbing elbows with high ranking decision makers.)

One last thing. If I were you, I would build more fixed wing time on the weekends. Every Army base that I was assigned to always had a skydive drop zone that needed fixed wing pilots. So, when I was enlisted, I worked in the ATC tower during the week and flew skydivers on the weekends. When I became a Warrant Officer, I flew Chinooks during the week and skydivers on the weekends.

I was able to build a ton of flight time this way. Being a helicopter pilot makes you a much better airplane pilot because you have to learn how to use your feet. Most airplane drivers that have never flown a helicopter have “sloppy feet”. Especially, during an engine failure. Helicopter pilots have no problems with fixed wing engine failures.

If I had to do it all over again. I would do nothing different. I loved serving my country as a US Army Aviation Warrant Officer. I made many life long friends. The hardest part of being a soldier is when someone that you have become so close to doesn’t make it home from battle. I have lost so many dear friends this way. I will never forget them... ever.

Best of luck.