Best way to submit a flight Warrant Officer packet?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 14:25:10 -0500

Hey everybody. I would absolutely love to submit a Warrant Officer packet and pursue aviation in the Army. I just got off 6 years of Active Duty and transferred to the National Guard in the state of Vermont. I'm a 68W, medic, and attached to an Engineer BN. I'm going to school full time here also for Aviation, but fixed wing aircraft. I'd rather be flying helicopters in the Army. Basically all I need for my packet is letters of recommendation from Warrant Officers for it to be complete. I spoke with a few at the neighboring Aviation BN, but they said they hardly wrote letters of recommendation for people outside of their unit. They wanted me to re-class to a new MOS and join their BN, work for them a few years and then after they wrote letters of recommendation for the other enlisted guys and gals that wanted to go Warrant, they would consider writing mine. Is this normal for the National Guard and reserve? Is there any way around this? Thanks for any and all info!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 14 at 2019 2:30 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 14:30:40 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Sounds fair to me.

Do you speak highly of someone with whom you have had minimal contact?

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Jan 14 at 2019 2:37 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 14:37:01 -0500

Two points, first and foremost, the National Guard is very much a political animal. In a National Guard aviation unit, why would they not want to grow their own so to speak? It is their school slot and training dollars going towards you. Second, why would they write you a letter or recommendation? Do they know you on a personal level? Remember it is that person’s name along with his reputation on the signature line. If you screw up, their integrity and reputation are at stake.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 6:41 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 06:41:21 -0500

It seems very normal. Every Guard and Reserve unit work differently. When I went through WOCS and then Flight School I had many friends that were N.G. and Reserve. ALL of them had been in their respective units for many years and had been highly experienced within their aviation MOS. Guard and Reserve units will oftentimes refuse to write letters of recommendation for "outsiders" because you are an unknown to them. This is their way of insuring the units funds, among other things. Other than them not knowing you and risking millions of dollars on you, they have their own people that have been working their way through their system for years and have been with the unit through hard times. These units don't PCS their SM's so people will wait years for a position to become available, they still have the same authorizations that hold the regular Army accountable (hence the working with the unit for years). If you do move Battalions you will be there with them for potentially many years before seeing a letter of recommendation, remember this is not free for just asking, you also have to be deserving and competent. If you want to fly, there are many avenues you can pursue. Part 141 flight schools are all over the country (Flight schools that accept the GI Bill). Active Duty Recruiters would be able to help you if you could get a conditional release from your current unit, Regular Army is short pilots right now (very short depending on airframe). In short if you are unwilling to reclass and move Battalions or work with an Active Recruiter with a conditional release, there really aren't too many options other than flying with a civilian flight school. Good Luck