Leave ROTC for Flight Warrant Officer for Aviation?

Cadet PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:48:49 -0500

I am a current MS1 in Army ROTC at an SMC and I want to fly. I know the Army has the high school to flight school program where you can become a flight warrant officer straight from being a civillian. Warrant Officers seem to get more flying hours than regular Officers. Would it be worth looking into leaving ROTC and going to WOFT. I do not have a scholarship and I am not contracted. I do not hate my life at the SMC I just really want to fly Army. Thanks in advance for your advice, all comments are appreciated.

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Dec 5 at 2019 11:52 AM

SGT Javier Silva — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:52:36 -0500

Since you are not obligated by anything, you can definitely look into it. Go talk to a WO recruiter.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2019 11:55 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:55:45 -0500

Good luck with high school to flight school if you don’t have flying experience. Officers are leaders first. Warrants are technicians so they mostly bitch and fly.

If you are an MS1 do you not have any college? This is really only a choice if you have a warrant contract. Otherwise, keep plugging along as you are till one comes your way. Good luck.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Dec 5 at 2019 11:58 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:58:37 -0500

Before making any hasty decisions, consider a few factors. While you may have intense desire to fly, you also need to have robust profile for consideration.

1. Medical qualification. You must meet health standard, especially eyesight, in order to go into aviation. While many serve in uniform, some are not eligible based on specific deficiencies.

2. Physical fitness. Most uniformed personnel must be able to pass ACFT including pilots. You need to have strong score to be considered competitive

3. Mental qualification. You must have strong ASVAB score with particular focus on GT sub-score. Although some can do well on exam without college, you will be considered weak if numbers are not competitive.

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html

Flight Warrant Officers

If you have dreamed of becoming a helicopter or fixed-wing pilot, the Army can help you turn that dream into a reality. Warrant Officers fly some of the most exciting, technologically advanced aircraft in the world.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Dec 5 at 2019 12:39 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:39:16 -0500

I wanted to fly as well. I grew up on Top Gun (don't judge). I went to a high school that trained us as private pilots. Had my PPL when I left school. Ended up driving ships for the Navy. Had an absolute blast and never looked back, never had regrets. My point is, there are many different paths. Go for your dreams, but realize that where ever you end up can be the best place if you let it.

Response by MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP made Dec 5 at 2019 12:39 PM

MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:39:42 -0500

Well, there is a gamble involved. If you finish ROTC and don’t get accepted to Aviation Branch or you don’t pass flight school, at least you have a bachelors degree and you’re still an officer.

If you go warrant and fail flight school, you’ll be an enlisted guy filling a “needs of the Army’” slot without a bachelors degree.

Serving as an enlisted solder can be fun - I had a blast - but the pay is low and all the trash details suck.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2019 12:55 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:55:48 -0500

I think you'll find this article helpful. I've shared it many times.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

How do I choose an Army Branch?: A Framework | RallyPoint

The purpose of this article is to address one of the biggest Rally Point questions among Army ROTC Cadets: I am a with a major in , which branch should I choose? One of my goals is to help you filter through what you will get back. After all, don’t we all turn to the nameless, faceless internet trolls to determine our future? The immediate challenge is that the people responding are well intentioned but generally don’t know you from Adam....

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 5 at 2019 1:49 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:49:39 -0500

You could since you have no contractual obligations. But don’t get tunnel vision on this affair. Flight WO is extremely competitive so before you decide to go that way (high school to flight school) make sure you have all of the requirements and that you are extremely competitive. I had the honor/privilege of commanding the WO Recruiting team (in-service) and had plenty of opportunities to talk with the Aviation WO Proponent Office. Hence why I tell you to make sure you have a superb packet before making a decision.

Best of lucks on your future endeavors!

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Dec 5 at 2019 6:13 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 18:13:49 -0500

I am a retired aviation officer. I flew UH-1 and OH-58 for about 20 years. So, you know, I'm speaking from the point of view of an commissioned officer (O4) aviator. If I had to do it all over again I would be a warrant officer and fly my tail off. After flight school I kept getting desk job after desk job. After 20 years of being an aviator I only have about 1000 hours of flight time. It's true, my experience is on the end of the spectrum, the end closest to zero flight time, but it happens to a lot of commissioned aviators. Go warrant and fly your tail off.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 10:46 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 10:46:36 -0500

Maybe theres an option to switch from commissioned to warrant later on. Idk, if anyone out there know about it.

Response by LTC George Sucher made Jan 3 at 2020 11:28 AM

LTC George Sucher — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 11:28:38 -0500

I prized all of my ROTC duties and at the time successfully completed the ROTC Flight Program that led to my selection to attend the U.S. Army OFWAC (Officer Fixed-Wing Aviation Course) following completion of Infantry Officer Basic Course. Following flight school I flew over 1000+ Hours as a Fixed-wing Aviator in 1 year. I later completed a Rotary-Wing Transition Course as a Reserve Officer and continued my flight status for another 8 years. I sustained my Reserve service with various assignments until I retired as an LTC.
My advice is to look at the long-term option whereby you can attain both aviation and status as a Commissioned Officer.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2020 9:01 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 09:01:32 -0500

I think there is some great advice here but I would like to raise on point that I haven't seen yet. Yes, you will definitely fly more as a warrant officer but you will never get to be a decision maker in your units (in the aircraft yes). If you want to lead then you need to stay the course. You can "revert to warrant officer as a junior "commissioned" (for clarity purposes only) officer. My best friend and I were both previous NCOs who were LTs together. As a CPT he reverted to the warrant ranks because he wanted to fly. He was and maintenance pilot and instructor pilot but ended up coming back to the "commissioned" side for numerous reasons. Getting to make that switch twice is about impossible so don't think of that as a viable course of action. Do you want you think is best for you. But if any of your motivations stem from want to lead and be responsible for Soldiers then warrant might not be it despite the extra flying hours. If you want to join to serve by flying helicopters then warrant may be your best option. If you aren't sure you can branch as an AV LT and revert and/or look to fly in special operations. Even as an officer you'll fly a lot more than the average aviation officer.