What is life like as an aviation warrant officer?

2018-08-24T23:12:03-04:00

I am former air force and about to complete my degree soon. I've been looking into the possibility of WOFT but I have a few questions if someone is able to answer.

1. How is the quality of life? Do you live on base or off base?
2. How is family life, with a wife and kid, do you get to spend a lot of time home?
3. How is the current ops tempo? Frequent deployments?
4. When you are not flying, is it enjoyable?
5. Do you plan on retiring or getting out?
6. In relation to the above, are there any transferable skills to use once you are out for a civilian career? (other than flying)
7. What time are you released during the work week? (obviously this will vary, but on avg)
8. Are you required to do PT with your unit or are you allowed to PT on your own time?
9. What are your living conditions like when deployed? Do you fly often?
10. This is more of a personal question, but would you recommend this program or to stay on the civilian side? This will vary, but I am just trying to get your overall opinion your total quality of life.
11. Have your peers generally re-enlisted or separated?
I am looking forward to continue my service and thankful for any and all answers. Thanks.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2018 12:24 AM

2018-08-25T00:24:45-04:00

I would suggest you look up all Chief Warrant officers that you see on rallypoint look up their bio and if they're Aviation add them to your distribution list even if they are retired. This may help you get a better answer sooner.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:17 AM

2018-08-25T04:17:48-04:00

I realize you asked what seem sensible questions...however, it'd help considerably to know more explicit stuff, specifically, are you speaking of an assocs or a Bach, also, what specific major, whether it's a STEM field or nor, your specific STEM coursework by exact title, grades, GPAs, motivations, objectives, goals...next, have you had any aviation exposure of any kind, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), JROTC, ROTC, Navy Sea Cadets, etc, in high school or undergrad...specifically, gliders/sailplanes, sport pilot, private pilot, instrument rating, multiengine, fixed wing, rotary wing...did you build model aircraft as a kid, incl radio control, whether fixed wing or rotary wing drone? Are you engineering? Comp sci (CS)? Some related field at all? Not that your being STEM or with aviation exposure is essential, I've read many stories on here and off, that prior exposure often is viewed as an interference, that hose who are non-STEM frequently do better at flight training than STEM Graf's, so iue read material both ways...do you want career service? Are you from a military family? What exposure to the services have your family, friends, or relatives had? What other services have you looked at? What other branches of Army if Amy? Have you tried for flight in other services? Would you consider nav/WSO slots in other services if you couldn't get aviator/pilot to start? I'd been Army ROTC then went USAF OTS, I'd looked at going Navy for NFO, their ewuiv of USWF nav/WSO, I've also read of many who go nav/NFO/WSO first then transition over to aviator/pilot afterward...I did the aeromed eval for Navy for NFO while USAF, I was passed, I could never interservice though....for some weird reasons, uncorrected vision for USF nav/WSO was 20/100, I was 20/200, which Navy accepted, which made zero sense to me, as I would've expected Navy to have been tighter than USAF due to carrier landings, hough the reverse was evidently the case ...next, what is you vision? Astigmatism? Any color blindness at all? Night blindness? I'm assuming not, obviously, just asking...next, have you watched videos on YouTube about Army WOCS...I've seen them, I know the exist, many of them...WOCS is a very rough program, also, I've read of instances where occasionally, not all the time, those in such training programs, those who finish it are in fact kept, and shifted to enlisted spots, I did know of an ROTC student who'd wanted law, who'd been kept, though he hadn't finished, as he was needed, though tat was years ago, I'm not saying that to dissuade you, merely that it occasionally happens...next, USCG and NOAA Commissioned Corps have their own rotary wing programs, the NOAA BOTC, their OCS is at USMMA Kings Point, I saw it when my brother was a student there, I commissioned him when he finished, I'd seen it walking around the grounds, they have a 5 year enlistment for flight...the other services, Navy and USAF also use rotary wing, obviously, though I've also read that, as a rule, learning flight for rotary wing is easiest to go rotary wing first, then transition to fixed wing, not the other way around, I'm not entirely sure if that's true, I've gathered the reactions are conditioned to use of a collective for rotary wing, which is quite different from fixed wing airfoil control, that going from fixed to rotary wing can be harder, I'm just saying I've heard that....how are have you gone in submitting for Army? Are you already approved for WOCS? How well did you do on Army flight eval exams? Have you tried other service aptitude exams including for flight? Anything non flight? Those are the kinds of things that knowing would help to be able to suggest things to you, do a detailed bio sketch so far as possible, remember, on here, the more you relate, the more can be suggested, often, what questions seem relevant to you aren't necessarily the most pertinent, honest...do you want helicopter for combat arms specifically? Aeromedevac? Do you ultimately want test pilot which does exist for rotary wing, I assure you? What masters would you want, for the simple reason that you're gonna be reqf from day one to get a masters done ASAP, if you go warrant or commissioned, in all svcs, regardless of branch, that I can most def assure you...are you prior enlisted at all yourself? How much exposure to service life have you had personally, I realize I asked that before? Elaborate, I have an interest in such career/educ questions, try to be as detailed as possible, as I'd suggested, OK? I hope that at least provoked some thought and was of at least some possible use...I'd be most interested as I'd said, to hear more, no rush, if you'd ever care to chat further, of be interested...oh, also, what type of civilian work have you done? STEM related? Non STEM? In school? Out of school? Ull time? Part time? What are your hobbies? Reading interests? Sport? Martial arts if any? All that is quite germane...I wasn't prior enlisted, had I been, it would have immensely helped me...you need to understand also, that you need to think lon term, not solely what you want to start...if you go warrant, would you want to commission later on? Would you be satosfied with going managerial after sevl years, as you'd have to, regardless of warrant or commissioned, honest...also, look at USAF AFIT or Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), there are Wikipedia pages on them, all warrants and commissioned can apply, USAF also let's senior USAF NCOs go to AFIT, I've seen a YouTube video on that also...trust !e, the days when a Bach suffices for career are long, long gone, honest, you'd have to do !asters, promise, I was reqd, you would be also...we had a family friend who'd been Army enlisted, he got Army WOCS while in, he went Army rotary wing for sevl years, then finished his Bach in aviation at E!bry Riddle, them, At!y released him as USCG picked him up as commissioned, he finished as an O-3, to finish out his 20 years, I'm unsure if he was OCS, or OIS direct commission, an indoc school as he'd been Army warrant when USCG picked him up, I merely relate the story as I thought you might find it of interest, as I knew it had in fact been done...as I'd said, I'd be most eager to hear more, whenever convenient, once again, hope was of interest and/or use, many thanks...I'd seen !any UPT/UNT groups at USAF OTS when I was there, they all trained separately, their discipline was more serious than ours, they also wore flight suits to class all day as well, both pilot and nav trainees, just figured I'd !mention that as well, hough being nonrated, I and others in the program generally didn't interact with them much day to day, as a rule....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:21 AM

2018-08-25T04:21:00-04:00

http://www.uscg.org/Forum/aft/31225.aspx

Read this....

31225.aspx

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:24 AM

2018-08-25T04:24:17-04:00

https://www.omao.noaa.gov/

And this...remember, it's not about what you want...it:s about who wants you, trust !e, been there, done that (BTDT), my next younger brother was offered USN flight at NAS Pensacola, he passed on it, it often nags at him....

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations |

Learn about the NOAA Diving Program, which trains, certifies, and equips personnel to safely support underwater missions

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:24 AM

2018-08-25T04:24:47-04:00

He was the one who went USMMA then USNR commissioned....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:25 AM

2018-08-25T04:25:37-04:00

Also, have you looked at USMC flight for rotary wing st all? I'm unsure if they use warrant or commissioned, just a thought....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:27 AM

2018-08-25T04:27:16-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology

This is on AFIT, all services for all warrants and commissioned can apply, though you'd have to wait a couple of tours for a realistic chance....

Air Force Institute of Technology - Wikipedia

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education for the United States Armed Forces and is part of the United States Air Force. It is located in Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton. AFIT is a component of the Air University and Air Education and Training Command.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:28 AM

2018-08-25T04:28:20-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Postgraduate_School

This is on NPS, same thing....

Naval Postgraduate School - Wikipedia

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a graduate school operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees. Established in 1909, the school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the National Academies' National Research Council research associateship program.[3]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:29 AM

2018-08-25T04:29:38-04:00

https://www.amazon.com/Rotary-Wing-Flight-FAA-Handbooks/dp/ [login to see]

Read this....

Rotary Wing Flight (FAA Handbooks series): U.S. Army, Nicholas Ean: 9781560271185: Amazon.com:...

Rotary Wing Flight (FAA Handbooks series) [U.S. Army, Nicholas Ean] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Helicopter aerodynamics, common flight techniques, normal field operations, and precautionary measures and critical conditions are discussed. This is U.S. Army handbook FM 1-51.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:30 AM

2018-08-25T04:30:59-04:00

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2016/02/25/test-pilot-program-opens-for-experienced-army-aviators/

You'll want to read this, I assure you....

Test pilot program opens for experienced Army aviators

Applications are being accepted from qualified aviators for one of the most demanding training regimens in the military, the Army Experimental Test Pilot Program.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:35 AM

2018-08-25T04:35:26-04:00

https://work.chron.com/become-marine-corps-helicopter-pilot-26834.html

This looked of interest....

How to Become a Marine Corps Helicopter Pilot

To become a Marine Corps helicopter pilot, you need to be a commissioned officer. Although you may get an aviation slot when you apply for a commission, this doesn't guarantee you will become a helicopter pilot. You must meet a range of criteria to qualify for the flight program and pass various training programs. ...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:37 AM

2018-08-25T04:37:31-04:00

https://www.mca-marines.org/tags/warrant-officer-pilot

Apparently, ISMC did have aviation warrants, I can't tell from this if re still do, they may have gone commissioned only, though I know Army has commissioned rotary wing, I did see stuff on that....

warrant officer pilot | Marine Corps Association

We believe every Marine is a leader. You stand by Marines each step of their Marine Corps journey by giving them the resources they need for professional development.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:38 AM

2018-08-25T04:38:59-04:00

http://www.ocsfpumdation.org

Trust me, look through that as well, it doesn't cover Army WOCS, and not OIS programs for direct commission either, like NOAA, however, you'd find the other OCS programs, for all services, of interest, I think....

www.ocsfpumdation.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:39 AM

2018-08-25T04:39:13-04:00

Their form page is also quite good, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:40 AM

2018-08-25T04:40:34-04:00

Here's the thing...I'm suggesting all that to try to expand your horizons, not shrink them, I realize you want Army, however, please do trust !e, it's very necessary in service life, when applying for programs, to have the broadest possible viewpoint, of found, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:42 AM

2018-08-25T04:42:18-04:00

https://www.amazon.com/Army-Officers-Guide-Robert-Dalessandro/dp/ [login to see]

Trust !e, get this and read it...it applies WS mucf to warrant as commissioned, when I went USWF, I read that one, I assure you, honest....

Amazon.com: Army Officer's Guide (0011557014549): Robert J. Dr Dalessandro: Books

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 25 at 2018 4:42 AM

2018-08-25T04:42:34-04:00

Sorry, USAF, typo....

Response by CW4 Anthoney Lowry made Aug 27 at 2018 12:06 PM

2018-08-27T12:06:48-04:00

1. How is the quality of life? Do you live on base or off base?
Its the Army so the quality of life is far below what the USAF has shown you
Officers get BAH so you would live off base

2. How is family life, with a wife and kid, do you get to spend a lot of time home?
No. 12 hour days, week ends, holidays, year long deployments, 30 day trainings to wonderful places like Ft. Irwin, Ft. Polk

3. How is the current ops tempo? Frequent deployments?
I retired 4 years ago, not sure of the current optempo

4. When you are not flying, is it enjoyable?
No. if you are not flying you are sitting in a class room getting EO training, sexual harassment training, human trafficking training, etc. flying will a part of your army life. All that other crap will be the majority of what you do. As a young aviator in a unit that does not deploy, you will be lucky to get 200 hours of flight time a year

5. Do you plan on retiring or getting out?
Already retired after 24+ years

6. In relation to the above, are there any transferable skills to use once you are out for a civilian career? (other than flying)
Plenty; safety, maintenance, dedication that most civilians lack,

7. What time are you released during the work week? (obviously this will vary, but on avg)
Depends. Many times I was the last guy in the company after a night of flying, just me and the crew chief left to close put away the aircraft and lock the doors just to come in 10 hours later and do it all over again. Other times you leave around 1:00ish if there is nothing going on

8. Are you required to do PT with your unit or are you allowed to PT on your own time?
Depends on the guy in charge.

9. What are your living conditions like when deployed? Do you fly often?
Sleeping in tents with dirt floors with 10 other guys, old Iraqi buildings with camel spiders the size of your hand. Trailers with or with out a room mate. flight time varies, iraq 2004 i logged more than 1000 hours of combat time in 12 months, Bosnia in 2000 around 250 hours imminent danger in 8 months. just depends on the when, where and airframe you fly

10. This is more of a personal question, but would you recommend this program or to stay on the civilian side? This will vary, but I am just trying to get your overall opinion your total quality of life.
Hell yes, best decision of my career

11. Have your peers generally re-enlisted or separated?
Most end up retiring at some point