How to best find the right Warrant Officer for a letter of recommendation, if none are in my unit? I'm in the process of putting together a warrant officer packet. Everything is going according to plan except for one part. I'm having difficulty on earning a letter of recommendation from a CW3-5 how would I go about this or even make the connection between the infantry and aviation world. Everyone keeps telling me to walk down to the aviation side of post and start asking asking for letters. Any advice?

How to best find the right Warrant Officer for a letter of recommendation, if none are in my unit?

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Posted 12 y ago

Indeed... I would go over to the Aviation Side of post and find one.. However, WE AS TECH WARRANT OFFICER's are all about finding THE ANSWER... On the off chance that we don't already know THE ANSWER ;-)  I am new to this site but here is what I just did... 1) I used the advance search option and look for a CW3.  2) Select the Post for FT HOOD. The Aviation Warrant Officers are all 150 series (150,151,152,153...etc...) I came up with: CW3 Joseph BeauchampCW3 Michael TaylorCW3 Joshua NutterCW3 Thomas Hamiltonand CW3 Matthew Metcalf They are all Aviators. Once you find someone on this site, send them an E-mail. you can also change the rank and find CW4's and maybe even CW5's that are already on this site.

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SGM Omer Dalton

>1 y

Ok what good is a letter of recommendation from a warrant who 1) does not know you; 2) does not know your proficiency in your skill. Well the warrant could take the time to talk to applicant’s raters, subordinates, and chain of command. But I am not sure this would be sufficient information to formulate a letter of recommendation. Worked for and with several warrants over my 22 years of service and later as a DA civilian. Never really saw a bad one but to be sure some stood way above others.

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CSM Stuart C. O'Black

Posted 12 y ago

First if you are in a BCT then you should have a BAO in your Brigade HQs. They are the Brigade Aviation Officer who is the liaison for operations between the BCT and the CAB. If your Brigade does not have one then you need to make a connection with the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the CAB that is on your post. I know some Officers who want to have a chance to sit down with a NCO before recommending them. Bring your personnel files with you in case they want to review it. Also, going to outlook and sending an introductory e-mail as suggested works.

All else fails do exactly what everyone is telling you - head over to the airfield and seek out help. Again, going to the BDE HQs and setting up an appointment with the Command Chief Warrant Officer is about the best letter of recommendation you can get. There are also other CW5s at the brigade level.

Good Luck and study for the tests. Ensure your records are squared away and if you don't get selected the first time keep trying. I have seen several selected later.

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SGT (Join to see)

12 y

Thank you for the information SGM, I'll look towards that route as it seams more professional than just asking for letters.

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MSG (Join to see)

12 y

Solid advice SGM!!

SGT Mohammad, I would do exactly what SGM said. Message me, and I'll shoot you some info! I'm in the Air Cavalry Brigade on Ft. hood!

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SGT (Join to see)

12 y

Defiantly! Its not letting me message you for some reason. I'm new to the site still so I'm trying to figure my way around it.

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CW2 Kameron Read

Posted >1 y ago

I responded to a similar question on rallypoint earlier. Most of the responses on here are great suggestions. Only thing that I think is missing is that you MUST complete your application and resume first. It shows those leaders who will write your letter of recommendation that you mean business and that you aren't just talking about making the change. It also provides that senior warrant officer or commanding officer a summary of your experiences and shows how well you communicate in writing. Do everything you can for yourself, get the DA photo, physical, transcripts, etc out of the way. Check the WO recruiting website often, you might even benefit from attending a WO recruiting briefing on your post, the recruiter might be able to point you in the right direction as far as finding senior WOs for you.

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SSG Laureano Pabon

Posted 12 y ago

SGT is your going to Flight School then yes go to the airfield, where all your aviators are. warrant Officers in my point of view are excellent listeners and very helpful.

However, if your going to be a warrant officer for ATC, then the tower would perhaps be a good choice. Air Traffic Controllers are some of the greatest people you will ever want to talk too, so great that the FAA took Army ATC to help with the ATC Strike during the Ragan administration. Today there are WO for ATC, now if you have another field you want to go to WOC school for, then in your base you can still talk to both Pilots and ATC WO.

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SSG Laureano Pabon

12 y

Oh and one more thing, even though a tower is pretty high and you need a reason to get in, tell them your planning to go to flight school and you want to see what the tower looks like. ATC Controllers and pilots get alone very well. I bet that even if you told a pilot that you would like to ride with them, they will even let you. Good luck in flight school. if when the points come, and during your training you go to Goldberg Stage field think of me I was a tower operator their. :)

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SFC Rocky Gannon

Posted 12 y ago

SGT M

I would go down and talk to some SR NCO's and CWO's make it like a board or interview. Sell yourself to them on why you want to be a aviator, they know you need the letter most of them had to get them. Just be confident and go talk to them.

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SGT (Join to see)

12 y

Ok. Thanks for the input. I'll try and head down there and see what I can do.

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Thank you guys for all the information. My unit has been very vague with everything due to it being an infantry company haha but this is all very help full thanks so much.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Another option, instead of just a WO, is to get a letter from a Brigade Commander who is also an Aviator. This can be a long shot but I wanted to share this since it hasn't been put out yet. Also look into what airframe you would like to fly. If you don't know that is not a problem. Ask any crew chief about their airframe and they will tout their particular Airframes performance over the others for hours. I have been told by my Pilots that if you know a little about the aircraft you want to fly they are more willing to write letters of recommendation. If you plan on walking the flight line to look for aviators I would suggest going to the PC (production control) office first to find the WOs. That is usually where you will find the senior pilots and maintenance test pilots. These guys know everyone on the flight line and can be a great resource.

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SFC (Join to see)

>1 y

Solid advice for sure, but we both know he would rather be Attack :D

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MSG (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Don't ask for a letter. Ask for an interview. I wouldn't walk the flight line either, I would look for them in their company/battalion areas. Is there a shopette in their AO? Subway? Go have lunch there and I'm sure you will find someone to strike up a conversation with. If you bump into a CW2, tell him about your packet progress and that your looking to ask someone if they are interested in interviewing, I guarantee he has CW3 coworkers. I couldn't track down a WO Pilot to save my life. I bumped into an LT who is a pilot and told him I was seeking a WO for an interview and he was nice enough to take me to his company and introduce me to his platoon of WO's. Almost every single one of them was an 11B or 11C prior to becoming an Aviator, and not only did they all offer to do the interview and letter, but they sent my info to a CW5 who called me the same day and said he would interview me. They told me the CW5 letter would look better than a CW3's (Rank) and I'm pretty sure they did this because they are former Infantry. My big recommendation is that you have as much of your packet, if not all of it completed before you ask a WO for an interview. That's simple proof that you are not only proactive but serious about your packet, and that's what the senior WO's want to see. Good luck!

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SGT (Join to see)

12 y

Thanks for all this info I really appriciate it man.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

If I was still at Ft. Hood I would introduce you to some of my pilots. The best thing to do IMO is to go down to HAAF, and walk into one of the Battalion AOs. Most Pilots are more than willing to help with letters. Ask for an interview and let them get to know you a bit. If you already have a letter from your Company commander that would help since they arent going to know you or what you have accomplished, and definitely bring your resume as WO1 Read stated. Show that you are serious so he knows hes not wasting his time and just a suggestion....look for an Apache Pilot....

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WO1 (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I'll tell you what I told one of my Soldier's who asked for me to "hook him up" with a Warrant Officer for a letter. "If you wanna be a Warrant Officer, grow some you know what and go talk to a #^$&@ Warrant Officer".

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SPC(P) Nathan Stewart

Posted >1 y ago

I really want to go to WOCS, but I was told I can't get a waiver for my LOD knee injury because it's not combat related. It's looking like I'm going to be on a permanent profile, if it wasn't for my knee I might be able to get an age waiver for aviation but it would be extremely difficult. I considered with my knee issue going the Transportation Warrant route but was told that the Guard is kicking back guys with waivers. Is there any way that I could get a waiver to attend WOCS or am I totally screwed.

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CPT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

SGT Abbas,

based on your question you are considering a flight Warrant Officer career. I would suggest to get in touch with a flight Senior Warrant Officer which is a CW4/CW5. We have in our Division an Aviation unit, the 166th Aviation brigade, call the S1 officer and get ask for the Senior Warrant Officer's email address.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

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