Does 15W transfer to civilian life pretty well?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 20:02:10 -0400

I leave for BCT on May 8. I go to Fort Sill then go to Fort Huachuca for AIT. I am going to be a 15W and was wondering what basic and AIT are like and what the job is like as well. Also, does it transfer to the civilian life pretty well? And I was going to try to do Green to Gold but now
I think I just want to try to be a CWO. Is this a good idea or should I try to go commissioned?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2018 12:53 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 12:53:17 -0400

A lot depends on whether you go shadow or gray eagle. Shadow is smaller and your training will only be 6 months (contract says 20wks is a lie). Shadowland will have you in the field setting up and breaking down sites quickly.

I got gray eagle, which meant I stayed at huachuca for 12 months. Gray eagle guys dont go into the field as much if at all, but expect to deploy to the middle east. The cool thing about the gray eagle is that it's weaponized, which adds a layer of complexity to the task. Whichever way you go, you can definitely find a job at general atomics, textron or the like and make good money.

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Mar 17 at 2018 3:30 PM

SSG(P) Auston Terry — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 15:30:20 -0400

If you haven't left for BCT left you don't know if you'll even be successful in the field.

There is transferability into civilian careers. Those options will likely be vastly different than they are now at the end of your first term.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2018 2:31 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 02:31:51 -0400

Anything you can do to increase your chances of going into grey eagle. Im working on putting in a mos t packet for this

Response by SGT Robert Kitcey made Apr 2 at 2018 7:36 PM

SGT Robert Kitcey — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 19:36:58 -0400

It depends on your goals. WOCS was more my style. I just wanted to do the job at the highest level and not mess with all the time consuming command duties. Those pretty much take precedence as a career progression, plus, unless things are different, g2g might get you a commission and a degree, but you could end up tagged with infantry, engineering, or whatever the needs of the army be as far as available slots in your top three preferred choices as well as how you fall in the order of merit and all that. Ask your recruiter to verify, and maybe they’ll only lie to you a little bit, but if you have the drive and the scores to back you up (APFT, a bachelors degree or some college credits and aptitude line scores) then keep an eye out for the recruiting events and apply yourself to seek your dream. Once in, don’t get pulled in by peers who try to bring you down. Be all you can be (why they ever got rid of that motto I have no idea) Also, while becoming Commissioned Officer or Technical Warant probably sounds better going in, don’t underestimate the personal value of a career progression as a professional Noncommisioned Officer. Good NCOs are the real backbone of the Army, (or so says their creed at least) and is a potentially rewarding and fulfilling service. Both your troops who depend on you but also to your whole chain of command succeed together with skilled competent NCOs to make it happen. Whatever path you choose, best of luck, and thank you for your service.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2018 6:48 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 May 2018 18:48:13 -0400

Unfortunately at Huachuca, you dont get a choice of Grey Eagle or Shadow, and its not based on performance on what platform they give you. Its all based on what the Army needs at the moment in time. However, dont think or dont let anyone tell you one is better than the other. They both have PROS and CONS. I have a buddy who was a 15E for Shadow, and now he’s on the civilian side working with Grey Eagles. When it comes to transitioning back into the civilian world after the Army, if you want to stay in the unmanned area, make sure youre networking. UAS is a small world and the more people you get to know while your in could help when it comes to job options when you get out.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2018 7:59 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 19:59:41 -0400

I'm not sure if my experience is consistent with everyone else's but i'm finding it incredibly difficult to find anything that match 15W. 15E translates in to a hell of a lot more job experience than 15W does. I can't honestly think of a worse field to transition from other than infantry. Start working towards some kind of degree now. Apply to Arizona State University, pick a major and finish it before you get out. It's your only chance of a decent job unless you have an in to an oil company or own your own drone like a DJI

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 17 at 2018 10:35 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 22:35:20 -0400

Why the hell don't you what till you see what you got into, and see if you can pass the school 1st before thinking of CWO5 or GEN?

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 1:11 AM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 01:11:30 -0400

Ill be going in soon and I’m wondering how things turned out for you and any tips for the mos you can give? Thanks

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2019 1:21 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 01:21:04 -0400

Check out Army COOL if you haven’t already. It will show the potential your MOS has in the civilian sector as well as show you what certificates and education you qualify for. Good luck to you.