mexipilot84

Well actually had an enlisted person I knew when I was in Korea, she went through WOFT after I left Korea and somehow saved herself from going to the sandbox because she was buddy buddy with the commander in my old unit. So basically it's like she went to training for a year and came back to the same unit as a WO. In many respects the army is who you know, if you can become buddy with your branch manager then believe me theres possibilities of good things to happen. I personally would recommend going to Honduras, Japan or Korea. Definitely beats being stateside, simply because it's extra pay and a chance to see cool things.

Some guys have done 3 tours in a 6 year WO term, but thats pretty much almost everybody. Unless you got some hookup just remember this line "for the needs of the army"

Clue32

I've got to echo what Mexipilot said. It all depends on where you get assigned. If you head to one of the divisions you will likely deploy within two years of completing flight training, and then will deploy at least once more before the end of your six year commitment. However, you could swing Hondo or Korea for a little stabalization, but if you have family you would still be away from them. There also is the option to go to Fort Rucker and instruct, but if you don't have some "down range" time you likely won't get it.

DA is intensively managing individual assignments and making sure that those who haven't deployed or haven't deployed in a while are being sent to the units next on the list to go. Those that have a lot of deployments (2, 3, or 4) are being given the opportunity to a traditional non deploying assignment or are going to a unit that will be stabilized for over a year.

Then there are guys that get one of those "good" assignments directly out of flight school. I had a WO1 show up to a VIP company directly out of flight school and he spent three years living the good life in Germany not deploying. He likely could have extended for another three and never deployed over his six year commitment, but he went to the 82nd Airborne by choice.

As for me, I went FW right out of flight school to a VIP / Theater Support Battalion and spent three years eating free lunches in Bosnia or paying for cheep suflaki or gouloush in Pristina once or three times a week but almost always coming home to sleep in my own bed every night. I volunteered to go to OEF in 2005 but was told no. I have been commissioned for 7 years and have spent 20 days in Afghanistan and 17 hours in Iraq, and I'm not going back any time soon.

cargo hopeful

hey clue32, check your PM

Clue32

For the bennefit of every one here I wanted to answere a question about how to get fixed wing as an Army Aviator. This is the FW101 version.

Branch Officer (2LT - LTC)
1. 2LT's are getting Fixed Wing directly out of flight school. Because all aviators are doing "Flight School 21" that means picking up an advanced aircraft (UH-60), completing full RW flight school, officer basic course (BOLC phase whatever), and then going to the FW course.
2. Completing your first RW tour as a LT / Junior CPT, requesting to go to the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course, and competing with the other aviators for a select number of FW transitions is not currently an option. This stopped a few months ago.
3. As an aviator, competing to be a Foreign Area Officer and getting assigned to one of the few embassys with C-12's.
4. Get selected for a mixed rotary wing / fixed wing battalion command and transition to fixed wing.

Warrant Officers
You can not get fixed wing out of flight school. You must compete later in your career. All fixed wing pilots get boarded and it is competitive. Each board may have different requirements but generally you must wait to compete on the board during your PCS year (this means at least one three year rotary wing assignment). I have seen mid range CW2s to senior CW4s and every thing in between get selected. Doesen't matter if you track safety, tacops, maintenance, or stands as the entire range is looked at. Just because you had a life as a maintenance officer in the RW world doesn't mean you can't be a FW instructor pilot.