What are my options to enter active duty Army aviation as an ARNG 2LT?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 20:12:43 -0400

Army National Guard has treated me pretty well for six years, so I've decided that I want to make a full-time career out of the military. Specifically, I'm aiming for Army aviation. But so far, I haven't had much success looking for answers. Particularly I'm wondering what my path from the ordnance corps to aviation would be. Is a second BOLC an option? Would it have to be Captain's Career Course? Does CCC even take LT's that haven't done flight school yet? Could I get such a transfer guaranteed in writing before going active, or would it be a "needs of the Army" gamble?

I'm also trying to contrast all of this with Marine aviation. Marines claim to be the only branch that can guarantee an aviation slot in writing...so far, it seems that way. I'd rather stay Army, but if Army can't guarantee me anything...

Other items of note: I've already done my flight physical and the SIFT test, all greens. I've been in six years, and it's been two since I finished OCS, so I'm pretty sure my service obligation to the Guard is up.

Response by SSG William Jones made Oct 10 at 2018 12:59 AM

SSG William Jones — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 00:59:22 -0400

That's a great question.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2018 10:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 10:27:55 -0400

If you could manage to drop your flight packet with the Guard, that almost becomes a fulltime job. You could probably just about live off of being a "Guard Bum" with just drill and AFTPs.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2018 10:50 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 10:50:25 -0400

Kerby,
I am a Guard 15A currently at flight school. I highly recommend staying with the National Guard and pursuing aviation. Compared to the active duty side, getting a flight spot in the guard is a fairly smooth process, especially that you have already taken the SIFT and done your physical. Here are some options I see for you:
1. As a LT pre CCC you can keep your commission and branch transfer into aviation (if accepted by your NG state). For example, in my class we have a 1LT who is pre CCC and a branch transfer from the Infantry. We also have several Captains attending flight school who are also pre CCC. Timing is the key. The longer you wait to get accepted the more trouble you could get yourself into. Your State Army Aviation Officer (SAAO) would be the POC for this. With regards to BOLC, you will be a BOLC bypass since you already graduated the ordnance course, but you will still attend SERE-C prior to starting Common Core (the first part of flight school).
2. Have you considered applying for aviation as a Warrant. Again, I can't speak for the AD side, but in my experience with the NG it is fairly common for O-1s to O-3s to revert to W1/CW2. My friend and I went to the board together (she was already a 2LT MP and I was still a ROTC cadet) and she was accepted and offered to revert to W1 to expedite her process of getting down to flight school. I suggest contacting your state's aviation office about that process.

If this is something you truly want, I would be in contact everyday with your SAAO inquiring about the branch transfer process or the option of reverting to W1. My state usually holds 4 interview boards a fiscal year, so the next one may be coming up for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck,
Luke

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2018 11:06 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 11:06:31 -0400

Well, I placed some phone calls myself, and got some answers. I'm posting them here for anyone else interested.

I should start by noting that I got all of these answers from the CPT in charge of the Aviation Commissioned Officer Assignments. You can find those contacts, along with the contacts for any other basic branch, on the HRC website:
http://www.hrc.army.mil
You'll need to login via your CAC, but surely you've already bought a CAC reader by now, right?

The path is somewhat complicated, and far from guaranteed. So if you're looking for guaranteed aviation, you either take a big pay cut and go Warrant, OR you go Marines. Army won't guarantee their basic branch commissioned officers anything beyond "needs of the Army". (Which we all already knew, honestly.)

But if you're still okay with taking chances, this is the path:
First, you gotta see if your basic branch is currently participating in the "Call to Active Duty" program. For me, I'd have to check if Ordnance is taking Guardsmen. I know when I went through BOLC a couple years ago, they were. Of course, this is gonna require you to get a conditional release from the Guard, which will probably take months, and has to go all the way up to your state AG.
Second, now that you're in the Regular Army, you've gotta see if your "year group" is the group that is being accepted for branch transfers into Captain's Career Course. If you're outside the year group, you're inescapably SOL. For me, hope I like logistics!
Third, if you're in the right year group, you somehow have to wiggle your way over to Aviation. Remember, the whole reason your branch is participating in this "call to active duty" program is because they NEED YOU. Just like you had to get away from a Guard that's all about retention, now you have to get away from a Regular Army branch that brought you in specifically because they're understaffed.
Fourth, gotta pass all those flight prereqs. Y'know, the physical, the SIFT, the board, etc.
If you manage to pull off ALL of this...And my info is correct...You'll be on your way to Ft Rucker for CCC.

Again, if you don't trust this butterbar's info, just go straight to the source. Look it up some phone numbers on the HRC website.

HRC Homepage

Toll-Free: 1-888-ARMY-HRC (1-888-276-9472) DSN: 983-9500 AskHRC

Response by LTC Silviu Bora made Oct 25 at 2018 7:38 PM

LTC Silviu Bora — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 19:38:13 -0400

Aviation is a good choice says a retired aviator and Ltc

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Nov 17 at 2018 4:51 AM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 04:51:28 -0500

Can you already fly? If yes then odds are much better.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2019 2:45 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 14:45:41 -0500

Every branch except the army guarantees flight spots before you go to OCS or OTS in the AFs case