Should I push my WOCS report date back?

2015-10-15T12:17:53-04:00

I have been selected to attend the Warrant Officer Candidate School. However, I have been told by both my recruiter and the WOCS website that if I show up with an expired physical, I could potentially be dropped from the course. Simultaneously, I am being told by the Warrant Officer Branch Manager that I have already been selected with my current physical and will get a new one when I arrive.

I just PCS'd to FT Drum and already have a report date in February. I am beyond excited to go to this school, but I don't want to risk showing up with expired documentation and being dropped.

Should I try to defer my orders for a few months to get everything squared away? Or should I just get my family ready to move after just unpacking?

Thank you for any replies.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 12:27 PM

2015-10-15T12:27:14-04:00

My advice for you is to, qet another physical at Fort Drum and stick to your class day, update your physical should not be that hard, qet your family ready for the travel, you won't regret it

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 12:30 PM

2015-10-15T12:30:18-04:00

If I were you I would get my physical updated before you go. First if the website says to do it then do it, second the branch manage is not actually at the school so while he can give you advice, unless you talk to one of the TAC Officers and they tell you otherwise you should follow the website. I went through WOCS last Oct-Dec and do not remember doing any medical related things, other than people being allowed to go to sick call. Plus if you go there needing extra stuff that will give you less time for training and that is not a good thing. I hope this helps, congratulations and good luck.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 15 at 2015 3:06 PM

2015-10-15T15:06:04-04:00

Call your branch manager and discuss your concerns about the physical.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 8:45 PM

2015-10-15T20:45:56-04:00

I agree with the previous pieces of advice, I recommend you get another physical to ensure you have no issues once your come to Rucker that could possibly affect your family. You want to keep all the heat away from yourself as much as you can. You will get enough spotlight while in WOCS unfortunately. Congratulations on your selection and best of luck.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Oct 15 at 2015 11:52 PM

2015-10-15T23:52:24-04:00

DO NOT go to WOCS expecting to be able to get a physical there – not gonna happen. Personally, I don’t believe they would keep you from graduating because of an expired physical, HOWEVER, stranger things have happened. It’s OCT, I would try and get a physical done before arrival. I would also call the Warrant Officer Career Center [login to see] or the training company [login to see] and ask them. As someone else mentioned, if you report with orders in your hand, they are not in the business of checking your medical records, they are in the business of getting you through the school. Best of luck to you!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 9:28 AM

2015-10-16T09:28:48-04:00

WOCS changes daily. You do need a current physical. Get it at Drum. Make sure it says Captor 2 commissioning physical. I know when I went through you couldn't attend with an expired physical or security clearance.

Response by CW4 Keith Dolliver made Oct 17 at 2015 5:44 AM

2015-10-17T05:44:52-04:00

Does your current physical take you through your WOCS graduation date? If so, I would say don't worry about it. If you have time to do another physical before you report, then all the better, but you will be required to take a physical after you graduate WOCS before you can start flight school anyway. (Ref AR 40-501, Para 6-7 & 6-8).

I know I was worried about the same thing when I went through, that my physical wouldn't carry me through flight school. I got a new physical done in the Aug before my Sept WOCS date and then I ended up doing a new physical right after WOCS before I could start flight school anyway. The safest answer is call the school house to put your mind at ease, but if you're going as an aviator then this is a PCS for you, not a TDY (like your Tech brothers), so worst case is you'll be a hold under and recycled into another class until you complete the physical.

If you still want to push back your date you need to submit a 4187 signed by your doctor stating the medical reason why you need deferment and then that will go through your chain to the same Officer Accessions Branch that you're already talking with to be approved (which it sounds like it won't be). https://www.hrc.army.mil/OPMD/Warrant%20Officer%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions

Response by CW3 Eric W. S. made Oct 20 at 2015 12:45 PM

2015-10-20T12:45:15-04:00

DO NOT change your class date, you may never get another opportunity. If you luck out and do get another date, your name will be known prior to your arrival...

As stated previously, your branch manager is only a point of reference. Utilize the information you have on the Warrant Officer Career College website. This is part of the training and rationale of WOC school, utilize your resources.

Get your physical done at Drum. Prepare your family for the move.

I was selected for WOCS while on PCS leave. I followed through with the orders and would not change one thing, despite my gaining unit's displeasure at losing an NCO within weeks of arrival. You need to do what is best for you and the Army, not Drum.

Response by CW5 James Thompson made Oct 20 at 2015 1:40 PM

2015-10-20T13:40:28-04:00

Get the physical before you go to WOCS. There is no time in the POI at WOCS for physicals. It's October surely you can get a physical completed before departing for the candidate school in February.

Response by CW2 Keith Williams made Oct 20 at 2015 1:49 PM

2015-10-20T13:49:24-04:00

Show up with this issue resolved!! You don't want to be that "candidate" with paperwork issues. Navigating Tac Alley isn't fun on your first day lol. Cangrats and good luck!!

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 2:10 PM

2015-10-20T14:10:30-04:00

Like all the others have said, have your physical re-done at your new duty station and show up with a current and complete physical to your current class date. You have more than two months to get everything squared away at this point, should be easily accomplished. Good luck in the course and I hope you have a good class.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-10-20T14:56:38-04:00

Get yourself another physical ASAP and go to the course. If you show up to the course without a valid physical they will just send you back to your duty location unless you are there to be a pilot and PCSd as part of the process. This also goes for height and weight as well, day one you will weigh in and if you are over, you go home. If you PCS there you will just be in "snowbird" status till your physical is completed. If you are in limbo you will pull daily CQ, be a runner for the staff at 1st WOC watching others attend the course and move on to bigger and better things while you wait. If you are a Tech then you will arrive, and be sent back home wasting time, and money. You are about to become a Warrant Officer and you really need to be on top of your paperwork. This is your career, you need to take it by the horns and run with it. They are not there to hold your hand, so get it done before you go and report in the best physical shape you possibly can!

Response by CW4 D. Jason Cardona made Oct 20 at 2015 3:02 PM

2015-10-20T15:02:03-04:00

Dude, just go. You'll be fine. No one cares that you have an out of date physical. If you have been boarded and selected; you're fine. Do the DL, and keep your report date.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 8:07 PM

2015-10-20T20:07:31-04:00

Get a new physical. You don't wanna get dropped for something like that.

Response by CW4 Brad Thompson made Oct 20 at 2015 9:34 PM

2015-10-20T21:34:25-04:00

Call/contact the Warrant Officer Career College directly. The WOCS Director's lines are [login to see] (DSN) 558-9210. Ask the question and get the answer from the source. Make sure you arrive with a good APFT card as you will be taking a PT Test within the first few days of arrival. This test is a no "BS" test so make sure you can do the minimum +10 of pushups and situps. Know for certain that you can make your run time with no questions as there are no re-tests and you will be dropped if you can't pass that test. CW4 (retired) Brad Thompson

Response by CW4 Don Cummings made Oct 21 at 2015 12:04 PM

2015-10-21T12:04:17-04:00

Gor for it, don't delay, If you can get the DA manager to email you those the information he told you and take it with you to the school. Yes, you will get a full physical when you get there. Good luck and Kick ass

Response by CW4 Don Cummings made Oct 21 at 2015 12:07 PM

2015-10-21T12:07:14-04:00

If you can get another physical that would be dandy. I would try to explain to the Doc hiimself what the dealio is and how you think they may be setting you up for failure. He may just run blood test and look at your old physical (plus an ekg). no worries...

Response by CW4 Jimmy Gomez made Oct 21 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-10-21T13:00:34-04:00

It takes around 2 weeks to get a physical completed (if you're healthy). Unless you have a lot of problems you can get it done before you report to school. Don't change your class date. You will regret it!

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-10-21T13:00:58-04:00

Get the physical done and go to your class date. No reason you can't get it done. When it comes to school dates, one thing you never want to do, especially as a Chief, is pass one up. Trust me, when it comes to your Staff Course and Senior Staff Course, those can take a year out to get.

Don't pass up your date, get the physical, get in school, and pin that WO1!

Response by CW5 Thomas McLaughlin made Oct 21 at 2015 2:33 PM

2015-10-21T14:33:08-04:00

Why chance it?
It should not be a problem to get a new physical at Ft. Drum - you have plenty of time.

Tom McLaughlin
CW5, MI, ret.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-10-21T15:05:27-04:00

The physical only takes a day. Get it done and report on time. If you show up with an expired PHA, they will get you in for it I am sure.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 3:49 PM

2015-10-21T15:49:40-04:00

20 years as a Warrant Officer tells me that you need to show up for your class date. If a physical is the issue, just get another one. Sounds like you have until February and that's plenty of time for you to see your doctor for a physical. If this is for flight, then everyone takes a brand new flight physical at Fort Rucker before beginning the program. Either way, let the Army move you to Rucker and do the course. Many times simply being there can make all the difference.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 3:56 PM

2015-10-21T15:56:11-04:00

Just show up at Fort Rucker a couple days early and go to Lyster. You'll have your physical conpleted by the end of the day you start it. DO NOT PUSH YOUR REPORT DATE!

Response by CW3 Carson Raker made Oct 21 at 2015 4:28 PM

2015-10-21T16:28:12-04:00

If you're in the 2 year window you'll be fine, I'm not a flight Warrant so I couldn't tell what to expect as another physical later on. I don't recall that ever being issue when I went through (Physical). I was at least a year out after being selected and completing my physical. Get it done.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 4:39 PM

2015-10-21T16:39:55-04:00

I would get squared away prior to arrival. Warrant Officers are dot the I's, cross the T's. Attention to detail. If this isn't done, they very well my get pushed back.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 5:40 PM

2015-10-21T17:40:15-04:00

Contacting the WO Career Center or 1st WOCS is probably the best option. Candidate school is a DA selection, you may not be able to defer it for administrative reasons. Also, if you will be at Mother Rucker for WOBC, they may put you through WOCS with the understanding that you will renew your physical before entering the basic course. I am not an aviator, so I recognize that my opinion is largely conjecture, but good luck regardless.

Response by CW2 Brett Evens made Oct 21 at 2015 5:43 PM

2015-10-21T17:43:01-04:00

Don't push your date back. Too many variables. Do everything you can to update physical prior to arrival obviously, however you can get a new one at Rucker when you arrive.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 5:55 PM

2015-10-21T17:55:54-04:00

I would get another physical completed. As long as your physical doesn't expire prior to you wocs date your good.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 21 at 2015 5:56 PM

2015-10-21T17:56:10-04:00

I'm confused...can you not get a physical like...tomorrow?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 7:42 PM

2015-10-21T19:42:12-04:00

When I went to WOCS they dropped 3 candidates from my class because their physical were due to expire prior to the class end date. Those candidates were able to schedule a physical there; however, they had no control of when they could get it done. They gave us 72hrs to meet all requirements and at the end of the 72 hrs those who didn't meet the requirement were sent home that same day! If your physical takes you through your class date, then you are fine; however, I strongly recommend that you keep your class date but update your physical ASAP!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 9:32 PM

2015-10-21T21:32:52-04:00

SSG P,
Please call me tomorrow to discuss. [login to see] .
Chief Hernandez

Response by CW4 Paul Shetler made Oct 21 at 2015 10:54 PM

2015-10-21T22:54:40-04:00

The situation is a lot simpler than you are making it. Take a Physical and have it put in your records. Hand carry a hard copy as proof. Have fun and Congratulations on being selected.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 11:03 PM

2015-10-21T23:03:18-04:00

If your report date is February you have time to get a updated physical. Go ahead and schedule a phyiscal before your report date so you are current.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 11:05 PM

2015-10-21T23:05:34-04:00

Do not push back your report date. You have a seat, keep it. Schedule a physical and have your records updated.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 7:54 AM

2015-10-22T07:54:21-04:00

What or is thereally a thru date for your physical? And your not going to have the time during WOCS to get one updated, now if your there as a flight Warrant then you more than likely going to be able to get an updated physical while your in flight school. But as far as I can remember, the physical that you took should carry you through until your next one is due.

Response by CW4 Jeff Buss made Oct 22 at 2015 11:15 AM

2015-10-22T11:15:38-04:00

Ask the Branch Manager to give you his response in writing if you don't have it already and schedule a physical. His word will pull a lot of weight if he's wrong.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-10-22T15:05:56-04:00

February is a long way off. Get another physical now and hand carry it and the email correspondence from your career manager. If anyone questions the date of your physical, simply show them the instructions of your career manager, then produce the new physical and explain you got a new one just in case. Once you have been excepted into the program you belong to your WO branch and proponent, not your recruiter, but it is wise to cover you bases, just in case.

Response by CW5 Christopher Dodd made Oct 23 at 2015 7:51 AM

2015-10-23T07:51:04-04:00

SSG Moore - Which branch accepted you application? If you go to Fort Rucker with an expired physical, they'll process you for a new one, that may delay your start by one or two classes, dependent on your arrival. The point is, you're accepted, go with that. I commanded 1st WOC Level 1 in the Warrant Officer Education System (WOCS) from Dec 1999 to Dec 2001, we had WOCs come to the to the holding company (HHC) with expired or expiring physicals during WOCS or WOBC, HHC personnel just scheduled the WOC for a new physical before starting WOCS.

Don't let something like an expired/expiring physical (if you passed it the first time you'll pass it again) keep you from achieving your personal and professional goals.

Good Luck in your future endeavors.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 10:46 AM

2015-10-23T10:46:02-04:00

Congratulations on being select to a small core of professionals in Army. Call the WOC school and get a response directly from them and get their name for later reference. I will ask you this, why can't you just get another APFT done to just make sure? Regardless of that you will take another APFT at school within the first week and the expectation will be a 70% passing per event instead of the 60%. Don't go there with easy reasons for them to pick on you. Remember this will be like basic training all over again so think back when you were at basic and what you would do different now with what you know. This will be physically and mentally challenging but very much doable. At the end trust me that it's all worth it and rewarding. Meet the challenge and good luck. Welcome to the brotherhood of the Rising Eagle!

Response by SSG Delanda Hunt made Oct 23 at 2015 11:37 PM

2015-10-23T23:37:50-04:00

call the school and talk with someone with some brain cells

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-12-01T10:29:55-05:00

Do as stated below: get a new one before going or you will not make it past Inprocessing.

Response by CW5 James Dent made May 18 at 2019 8:39 PM

2019-05-18T20:39:13-04:00

Never, never turn down a military school. You only really have to have a first class physical prior to WOCS graduation. Good luck. Never look back

Response by CSM Rick Mathis made Jan 26 at 2020 7:10 PM

2020-01-26T19:10:03-05:00