What are my chances of getting into Army WOFT?

Gavin Morris — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:01:11 -0400

I am currently beginning my senior year in high school and have started to talk with an army recruiter. My dream is to be a pilot but the recruiters keep trying to talk me into enlist and later be a pilot. But I think I have a decent shot at getting in. I am going to leave some info about me in the comments. Leave your thoughts and suggestions please

Response by Gavin Morris made Aug 5 at 2021 11:02 AM

Gavin Morris — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:02:03 -0400

Age: 17
Education: (when I graduate)
High school diploma
Associates degree in science
4.07 Weighted GPA
3.32 Unweighted
Work expirience:
Associate trainer/ Team lead 7 months
Possible LOR's:
Former Army warrant officer
Current Army warrant officer
Current coast guard officer
Guidance counselor
My boss

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 11:14 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:14:30 -0400

There is a program...and I am trying to find more specifics about it....called the Street to Seat (or High School to Flight School) program. Normally, these folks will enlist, attend Basic Training then go right to Warrant Officer Candidate School then onto Basic Rotary Aviation training. As soon as I can find more, I will re-post.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 11:17 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:17:47 -0400

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html#:~:text=Flight%20School%20is%20a%20six,high%20school%20to%20flight%20school%22.

PAGE NOT FOUND

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 11:24 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:24:30 -0400

Several here on RP would know, but times and requirements change.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 5 at 2021 11:28 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:28:40 -0400

If you want to fly then apply to be a pilot. If you want to enlist instead go for it. But you need to understand that recruiters are in the sales business. Their job is to talk people into enlisting. If you want to be a pilot then follow your goal but don't think that buying apples because you want oranges will be the best way to go about things.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Aug 5 at 2021 11:45 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:45:23 -0400

Gavin Morris I respect your dream of being a pilot. I had that dream when I was in High School. At the time (1965), the best way for me to achieve that dream was to join the Air Force and go to pilot training. That required a bachelors degree, so I went to college and graduated in 1969. I took ROTC in College, earned my commission as a 2d Lt and secured a pilot training slot. I graduated form Air Force pilot training in 1970. Had a great 22-year Air Force career.

The Army does have a High School to flight school program. Look for it on the Army web page. Also, the requirements to be a flight warrant officer are spelled out on the Army web page. MSG Private RallyPoint Member provided a link. The Navy and Air Force have similar requirements to be a pilot. In general you'll have to pass a flight physical and score high on the entrance test. Air Force requires a bachelors degree to become an officer and pilot. The Navy may also.

DO NOT ENLIST right away. Recruiters may push you in this direction, because they are trying to meet their recruiting goals. There is no guarantee of any kind that you will be allowed to apply for Army Flight Warrant Officer training after you enlist. If your chain of command does not support your application, then you won't get anywhere with it. Also, if you are injured during training or operations it might disqualify you for flight training. If you do choose to enlist, determine that you will serve only the time required to complete your contract and secure VA benefits. While on active duty take full advantage of tuition assistance programs and work on your bachelors degree. After you ETS, complete your degree using VA benefits. Then talk to recruiters from Army, Air Force, and Navy about flight school as an officer.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 11:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:56:25 -0400

If you meet the requirements your chances are VERY good. Press your recruiter more for it. It will be more work for him, but he or his station commander should have a path for you. Alternatively, and to follow up, check the GoArmy website for a contact that deals specifically with WOFT recruits.
Now all that being said, if you dont meet the requirements, you will need to fix those issues, get a waiver or find a new dream. I wish you the best of luck!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 12:46 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 12:46:51 -0400

Gavin. It's been a minute since I went to flight school and I was already in for a few years before I was accepted however it is my understanding that what you are trying to do is still possible. It is more work for the recruiter so they naturally want to steer you to an enlisted position that has shortages. If your primary goal is to fly then 'high school to flight school' for the Army is your best option because your contract is to be an aviator and as long as you graduate basic training and Warrant Officer Candidate School you will continue to rotor wing flight training. If you cannot get into that program I would then consider college ROTC in the Army or Navy (not the Air Force) with the knowledge that you are not guaranteed a flight slot upon graduation. I don't have actual numbers but I say to not do Air Force ROTC because most Cadets want to be pilots while that statement is not true for Army Cadets and Navy Midshipmen. Aviation is certainly popular in the Army but infantry seems to be the most competitive to get into for new officers.

Response by CW3 Chuck Eastman made Aug 5 at 2021 3:17 PM

CW3 Chuck Eastman — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:17:09 -0400

Gavin, many posts have already mentioned it, but high school to flight school is the program that your recruiter needs to help you with. My big question for you is, how much civilian flight experience do you have? I'm not saying it's a requirement that will prevent you from applying, but all the high school to flight school folks that I trained with, or served with had a decent amount of training and flight certifications before WOFT. Now, as long as you think you're capable of passing a Class 1 flight physical, you could enlist, go to basic training with your flight packet ready to go. Get to your first unit, bust your butt and prove yourself for a little while, then pull the trigger on the WOFT packet. There are some associated risks (i.e. - you don't pass your flight physical and are stuck on your enlistment contract), but the likelihood of getting accepted are much greater. Hope this helps, and DM me if you have any other questions regarding WOFT. Good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 3:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:17:24 -0400

My little brother successfully applied for this program earlier this year (he graduates BCT next week and then heads to WOCS after that). It's a highly selective process but you ABSOLUTELY can get in straight out of high school. That said, a lot will depend on your ASVAB Scores and SIFT Score. Additionally you're going to want to be able to demonstrate you're in excellent physical shape and if you don't already have a flight background, you're going to need a well written mission statement and some excellent letters of recommendation. I helped my brother navigate this process and it took 8 recruiters from 5 different offices before we found one who actually cooperated in assembling and submitting the packet rather than trying to pressure him into an enlistment instead. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the process and depending on where in the country you're located can direct you to a solid recruiter who will help you submit a packet. Shoot me a PM!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 5:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:20:02 -0400

Put in your street to seat packet, but you're not competitive against your civilian peers with degrees unless you have a pilots license.

Look at it from the perspective of the board members reviewing 1500 packets. You "really want to be a pilot" like every single person in the board. You don't have a degree, they do. You don't have a pilot license or experience, they do. But, gosh... You have a dream and lots of hope.

The way selection boards work in the Army is that you get a number rating against your peers. You are rated first to last with a number called an Order of Merit List. What determine where you sit in that list is a mystery and at the discretion of the voting board members.

Let's say 500 people apply this board, and the Army says they will accept 50 people this board, #1-#50 will be selected.

I'm not saying don't apply, just don't be heartbroken if you are beaten out by people with more experience and education than you. Sure, lots of people made it through years before, but the Army needed more people in previous years. So, don't rely on anecdotal experience to determine if you're good to go

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2021 1:23 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 01:23:52 -0400

Like others have said there is a street to seat program and I know people that have successfully been selected that route. I would highly advise that if you have no desire to do anything else in the Army other than fly that you do not enlist. Do not let a recruiter talk you into enlisting or make it seem as if it were easier once you are already in. There are too many factors that go into the process. The last thing you or the Army needs is for you to be stuck doing a job for x amount of years that you do not enjoy. I would find a recruiter that is willing to work with you and then do your absolute best to make sure your packet is as competitive as possible.