Flight Warrant Officer Packet guidance

You're on the right track. Flight physical is scheduled the same way as any other physical - through your local TMC. They'll book you with a (the) surgeon or flight nurse and the surgeon will sign off on your thing. It's nothing serious, but expect the full 9, spread cheeks treatment.

The biggest thing is getting your 3 letters of recommendation, and you will not get those without having a professional looking packet, especially as a PV2 - appearance is everything. While the packet is 100% digital, what worked for me was completing it digitally, then making hard copies of it all, tabbed and organized in a binder. That way, I had a physical copy of my packet for my letter writers to review - a small way to show initiative and that this is really something you want to do. You will have to get your senior CW4/CW5 WO letter any way you can (it must be from your duty station). Most Warrants are very receptive, however also bear in mind that the buck stops here. Do not be surprised if you are flat refused by one - but don't let that stop you from asking others. Persistence is key. Once you have a senior WO letter, you will add that to your packet to show your Company Commander you have completed that step, and the final step is taking the WO and CO letters and submitting the otherwise complete packet through your chain of command to the BN Commander. It helps immensely if either your XO or Commander personally brings your packet to your BN Commander. He/She will most likely want to interview you, and a time will be set aside for that. Normal things apply, proper customs/courtesies, proper haircut, proper haircut, proper haircut, be humble, and be honest.

Often, if you aren't in a flight unit you will have to go to an air cav unit, or your local airfield to find a senior flight warrant. Take their words of wisdom seriously. The Commander and BN Commander may have never written a WO letter of recommendation before, which is why the WO letter is the first one you must retrieve. It is a good template for them to start from. I had been in the army so long that I wrote my own LORs for review and submitted them as 'suggestions'. My senior WO changed his a bit, but the other two were almost word for word as I wrote them. No one knows you and your accomplishments better then you. Don't be afraid to approach a WO1 or CW2/3 in your chain of command and seek their help. They will be able to advocate for you and show you the light, and what right looks like, even if they cannot write a letter for you.

Also most installations have frequent warrant officer recruitment briefings, if you have not attended one you should. I would imagine that this is a common hiccup in the process, and the recruiters should be able to assist you.

PV2 Eric Stephenson send me a message I may have warrant officer or two that may be able to help you. Also tell me where you are in the process if your packet.

Where are you in the process right now? Is your GT over 110? Have you already taken the SIFT? Do you already have a security clearance? Have you already completed your flight physical? If the answer to any of these questions is "no" then you're probably not even ready to worry about your LOR's yet. Many parts of the packet of recency requirements; eg. 18 months for your flight physical, 12 months for Letters of Recommendation. There's no sense in getting your letters of recommendation now if your security clearance and your physical aren't complete yet. Realistically, these should be the last piece of your packet after you ensure you have completed everything that is within your control.

Realize that because of your rank and little time in service your testing scores are going to be even more important since the board and the individuals writing your LORs don't have an a service record to base your performance on. Don't rush to complete them, study to make sure you do your best!

First thing I would do is direct you to the Warrant Officer Recruiting website. If this is a serious path you want to pursue, that website will be your "bible" (no sacrilege intended) over the next few months while you're assembling your packet. Check out the website, http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/index.shtml and make sure you qualify for everything. If you don't meet all the prerequisites at the moment, then complete them in a logical order; ie. "Don't put the cart before the horse".

In general, the next best advice I can give you is that you want to convey attention to detail, show ambition, and self reliance. Your packet should be 95% complete by the time you go for your SWO Letter of Recommendation. Their LOR should be the last piece of the puzzle. Have your PL look over your packet before you take it to the SWO writing your LOR. Ensure that it is free of spelling or grammatical errors. Realize that more than likely whomever the SWO is that is writing your LOR will not know you and this will be their first impression of you. You don't want something as silly as a grammatical error casting doubt on their recommendation of you. Also, you should already have your Company and Battalion Commanders' Letters of Recommendation in the packet for the SWO's review. As I said, they will most likely not know you so whether or not they choose to endorse your packet will be almost entirely based off of a couple of interviews, how you present yourself, and your Chain of Command's recommendations. By you showing up with a packet that is already complete (just missing the SWO LOR) you are showing that initiative that every officer wants to see and every Commander wants in their subordinate officers.

As far as your actual question goes, when it does come time to find a SWO to write you a LOR, just be ambitious. If you're on Ft. Bragg it shouldn't be too hard to find an aviator. Head to one of the Aviation Battalion HQs and look for the Battalion Senior Warrant Officer (they should have an office in the Command Group area)... or if you see any pilot warrant officers walking around post, ask them if they have a minute to talk. Explain what you're trying to do and I'm sure they would be willing to give you the number of their SWO or SP or take down your info and make an appointment for you to see them. You only need a letter from a CW3 or higher, but realistically in aviation there are so many warrants that you should really try to get a letter from at least a CW4.

Realize that this can sometimes be a long arduous path, and a little bit of a pain. Make no mistake though, that is the intent. This IS the first step in weeding out unfit candidates. A soldier that doesn't have the drive to complete this first step is not the kind of officer that deserves to be in the Warrant Officer cohort.

All that being said though, this is a path that I do not regret taking for a minute. I count myself lucky to be able to call myself a Warrant Officer. Best of luck to you. If you have any more questions feel free to send me a message and I'll help you out the best I can.

I thought you had to be at least an E5 to apply for WO school?

A lot of the other Warrants and NCO's have had a lot of good insight to this question. I saw you had all your packet completed minus the letters of recomendation. I would start out getting character references from your Commander/1SG/SGM etc. I would then talk to your career counselor or head over to the 82nd CAB and see about setting up a meeting with the CCWO (Command Chief Warrant Officer) Chances are he will be a master army aviator with tons of experience to help you with your letters. Before you meet with him though you need to ensure everything is set. Resume good no errors, ERB 100% exact, DA photo good, weapons/pt etc.

PV2 (Join to see) Send me a private message with your questions and I'll answer them the best I can!

If I were you I would take the time to have as much of your packetcompleted as possible, & ensure that you meet all the preprerequisites. Then search for a current aviator to request a LOR, this will show that you intend to follow through. I know several that have told me they had to go to different posts on multiple occasions to meet, & interview with the warrant before getting a LOR. Be patient but persistent, & good luck.

http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/occasions OEligibility.shtml

My son’s first look for the WOFT selection board is next month (May 2021). This will be my son’s first look. Stats and thoughts are welcome to be shared! ☕️☕️
 

Here are my son’s stats:

Street to Seat / High School to Flight School

AGE: 17

ASVAB GT: 110

SIFT: 53

OPAT: Heavy

EDUCATION: Graduates High School Next Month, 3.10 GPA

FLIGHT: 78.8 hours, 19.6 hours solo/PIC, Airplane Single Engine Land (ASEL) Private Pilot’s License

BOARD: May 2021

LORS: Aviation O-8, Aviation CW5, Aviation CW4, Aviation CW4, JROTC Instructor (Retired Artillery CW4), Michigan County Sheriff that has known my son and our family for 50 years

OTHER INFO: 120 hours of volunteer service between three separate civic organizations, 3 Years JROTC

PHYSICAL: Class 1A Physical, stamped