Posted on Jan 10, 2016
What is the best route to become a military pilot? Warrant or 2LT? Which branch?
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My daughter is wanting to join the military. She wants to fly She has 126 semester hrs on a Corporate Communications Degree . What route is better, Warrant or 2LT?? Air Force, Army, USMC, Navy or CG
Posted in these groups: 
Pilot
Helicopters
Aviation
15A: Aviation Officer
153A: Rotary Wing Aviator (Aircraft Nonspecific)
Pilot Helicopters Aviation 15A: Aviation Officer 153A: Rotary Wing Aviator (Aircraft Nonspecific)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
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SSG (Join to see) And this dependent, on what they want out of their experience. Warrant officers were really cool, and too, the MAC people. A little less stressed out. IMHO.
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Go Army! Drop a Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) packet at your local recruiter and if your daughter gets selected, flight school is her path. If she doesn't get selected she isn't stuck in an MOS and military commitment wishing she could fly. Then continue to improve her WOFT packet and submit it again. In the Army, Warrant Officer Aviators fly for their career, whereas Commissioned Aviators start to go into leadership positions (not much flying) around the rank of Captain. I researched the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Merchant Marines, before I decided to drop a WOFT packet with the Army. Haven't regretted it yet.
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SSG (Join to see)
That is what we are doing thanks to the advice I received here.. RP is a great resource for just about anything Military related.. She tok the Flight Aptitude Test on the Computer and got a 71.. This old Grunt/MP was very proud of his off spring this week. They told her she could be a fight crewmen ..she said Do they get to fly or just ride.. they said ride.. she said NOPE.. I hear the Navy calling down the hall, What else you got... LOL
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
The problem with Army recruiters is that a good majority of them either don't know that the WOFT program even exists, or don't want to do the work for it because it doesn't count toward their quota... although I've heard the quota thing has changed recently. Even still a lot of recruiters are not aware of the WOFT program and the fact that individuals can go "street to seat". You need to tell the specifically that's what you want and the recruiter can't say no, if she meets the criteria then they put together a Warrant packet for her and she either gets selected or not by the board... not the recruiter.
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You'll probably get the responses you need. I am a warrant in flight school right now. If you have any questions I can help with send me a message.
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SSG (Join to see)
What did you do prior or to prepare you packet.. Letters of recommendation,, Classes .. etc.. anything that we can do to make her stand out.. She is all ready an All State Star Athlete in track and field..
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Is she smart? At the top of her class? There is a lot of competition to be a pilot, at least in the Army. What would her career goals be? Does she want her career focused on flying or does she want to eventually be a commander? Does she want to go Active duty or Guard?
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SSG (Join to see)
She want to fly ..do her 20 or more then retired flying life flight,, Active or Guard.. wherever she can go to fly..That is all she wants to do. 3.8 GPA, Deans list last 4 yrs. National Honor Society, and offered and application for MENSA ..yes she is smart. A very fast learner, borderline photographic memory, can read a book and tell you pretty much word for word and page number, paragraph.. so, YES, she is smart.
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All depends on what she feels she would want to fly. I want to say every branch has rotary although the Air Force doesn't have Warrant Officers so she'd have to go for a full commission for us. Army does offer Warrant Officer Aviation positions to non-prior service, not sure about the other branches. For fixed wing although the Army does have fixed wing she'd be better off in one of the others. Marines, Navy and Air Force all have fighters so at that point it just becomes which ever branch she would prefer. If she'd rather fly larger jets the Air Force has far more than the rest in that regard. The Air Force also has a large need for Drone Pilots at the moment if that's something she'd be interested in. I think I remember reading something at one point that said that drone pilots do their few years on drones and then usually move to manned aircraft so it wouldn't be a horrible route to take.
Again it depends on what she wants to fly but there are plenty of different opportunities out there from every branch.
Again it depends on what she wants to fly but there are plenty of different opportunities out there from every branch.
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SSG (Join to see)
There are rumors (just that, nothing more, so please don't read too much into what I'm about to say) that the Air Force my POSSIBLY bring back Warrant Officers to fly RPA's (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) or drones. The AF has decided to start training enlisted RPA pilots, and there is some talk about making those pilots Warrant Officers.
However, it sounds like your girl wants to "really" fly, as in a real cockpit physically flying the plane and not remotely piloting a plane?
There are rumors (just that, nothing more, so please don't read too much into what I'm about to say) that the Air Force my POSSIBLY bring back Warrant Officers to fly RPA's (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) or drones. The AF has decided to start training enlisted RPA pilots, and there is some talk about making those pilots Warrant Officers.
However, it sounds like your girl wants to "really" fly, as in a real cockpit physically flying the plane and not remotely piloting a plane?
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SSG (Join to see)
I have been hearing the AF Warrant coming back for 15 yrs. now.. Hope it does happen..
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PO1 John Miller
SSG (Join to see)
The Air Force would need old Squids like me to train them on Warrant Officer recognition, LOL. I work for the Air National Guard. Ironically for a unit that flies RPA's.
The Air Force would need old Squids like me to train them on Warrant Officer recognition, LOL. I work for the Air National Guard. Ironically for a unit that flies RPA's.
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Basic Cadet (Join to see)
My son wants to only fly fixed wing. He does not want to be a fighter pilot. He has done 4 years Jr. AFROTC and has his private and instruments license. He has been accepted into Embry Riddle and we are trying to determine whether he should go to school first or enlist. He may not be the best in academics; however, he is keen and passionate about his career. Now we just need the path. Recommendations?
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How close is she to graduation? She will need a degree to become a 2LT in order to fly in the USAF.
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SSG (Join to see)
She has half of a semester or 9 hours left. She is in her 5th year.. She is going for her B Bachelors in Corporate Communications. Is on the Deans list, National Honor Society
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Capt Seid Waddell
SSG (Join to see), I knew what specialty I would be assigned when I went to OTS, but that was 49 years ago; it is probably different today. If she wants to be a pilot the recruiter should be able to tell her if she qualifies and if slots are open.
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Warrant Officer is the best rank in the military. Earning the rank means you are a recognized specialist in a field. The WO Corp is the most well trained specialized Officers in all the services. Army, Navy, Marines, (sorry, Air Force! You don't have any. How unfortunate). I have been a Warrant since 1983 and am still flying. I would not have gone any other way. Commissioned officers will fly in line units, with the majority of their time up to the rank of O3. After that, mostly staff jobs with a lot less flying.
Flying is a WO's job for his career plus career tracks like Aviation Safety Officer, Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, and others.
Flying is a WO's job for his career plus career tracks like Aviation Safety Officer, Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, and others.
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