Posted on Mar 2, 2016
When did you feel like it was time to put in a WOCS packet?
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My goal is to be an expert in my field (InfoSec) and believe commissioning to a Warrant Officer will best suit myself and the Army. When did you feel like it was time to start the process? This question can expand to OCS as well.
Posted in these groups: 
Warrant Officers
Mentorship
Officer
OCS
Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS)
Warrant Officers Mentorship Officer OCS Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS)
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 10
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sitting in a foxhole, covered in mud, soaking wet, freezing my ass off when a Kiowa Warrior flew over us at about 50 feet. at that point, I thought to myself, there has to be a better way to make a living. I did 8 years as a ground pounder and 16 flying. best career decision I ever made.
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I put my packet in after 3 years as an E5 in a squad leader role and completion of BLC. I did not attend ALC and got a waiver approved after I made E6. After 2 years as a warrant, I feel like I should have waited until after ALC or SLC.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Sir, I'm in the same boat you were (more or less) and am now considering turning in a packer for Warrant Officer. I have 3 years TIG as a SGT serving as a Squad Leader and Instructor at a TRADOC unit. I have BLC under my belt but have not attended ALC yet. My limited understanding is that ALC involves a lot of writing and research (35 series). Why do you think ALC would have benefited you? Would having an undergraduate degree make a difference too?
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CW2 (Join to see)
That writing and research experience will only help you at WOCS. A degree will help you no matter where you go, but it's not a requirement for WOCS. It's not about what they teach you, its more about you experiencing every aspect of being a 15W so that you can draw on that experience to lead others along the path behind you. My PSG has attended ALC and SLC, but I can't relate to his experiences there. My other soldiers ask me what happens at those schools, and I can't answer them. I'm not saying that I can't do this job without ALC or SLC, but that I can do this job better if I had attended all the courses available to 15Ws as a 15W, rather than playing catch up as a 150U.
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SPC(P) (Join to see), to be honest with you, I didn't want to be a Warrant Officer, I wanted to make 1SG and then CSM one day and I most likely would have given the fact that I made SFC under 9 years. I had a senior CW4 at the time talk to me about considering the switch because he observed me in my element either managing my motor pool first hand or when I briefed at BDE and Corps level readiness meetings and I always had my stuff together. After a few mentorship sessions and introductions to other influential Chief Warrant Officers, I weighed the pros and cons and I decided to make a change that would benefit my family and I the most for the future and that's why I became a Warrant Officer. Do I still miss being a NCO, yes of course and I will never forget where I came from either, that's a major part of the reason why I am a successful Warrant Officer now.
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I wait till I knew that I won't be able to do my job any more, my next step was 1SG, I apresiate the hard work and dedication they put in, but I wasn't ready to let go, so becoming a warrant officer, provide me with, the leadership I need and still work in my field
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As a mechanic, I was fforced into BS positions like orderly room NCOIC and HHC platoon sergeant. I got tired of doing oddball jobs which I didnt get full credit for. Warrant was my calling!!!
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CW3 Stephen Mantie
I spent 12 years as a mechanic before applying. I made SFC then applied a year later. It was perfect time due to the 2 time non select rule.
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When I had completed all of the fields of training in my mos and wasn't happy where I was with my career.
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For WOCS there are very specific prerequisites you have to meet just to qualify. One of the major show stoppers is the time you've spent in certain positions in your specific MOS. Some are waiverable
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
I know the MOS I'm striving to get (170A) requires me to be an E-5 and what have you. I know for Aviation, they can pick straight out of High School (probably not as common now compared to the height of the wars).
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
Cut me off there... Some are not. The only definite way around this is applying for flight. There are fewer requirements because there is not enlisted pipeline MOSs.
For OCS... Get your degree. You're no longer eligible without one. If you already have one then I would apply ASAP. The TIS limits are always fluctuating. The sooner you get in the better. The show stopper here is the degree. If you have it, you're done with the hardest part of the process and I'd recommend applying yesterday.
For OCS... Get your degree. You're no longer eligible without one. If you already have one then I would apply ASAP. The TIS limits are always fluctuating. The sooner you get in the better. The show stopper here is the degree. If you have it, you're done with the hardest part of the process and I'd recommend applying yesterday.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
CPT(P) (Join to see) - I only have my associates right now, and will eventually get my BSIT, but it's not a top priority for me now (New home, MOS and Civilian Job). Thank you though Sir
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CW3(P) Derrick Robinson
I became an E-5 then got my feet wet for about 4 years to get some leadership expeience. I was also getting up in age so figured strike while the iron is hot and never looked back
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MSG Anthony Makar
At least one year, the more leadership experience you can gain the better when you get get pinned as a W.O. It will pay off for you more than what you think.
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CW4 (Join to see)
SGT (E-5) these days are more likely to get accepted into WOCS as flight Warrant Officer depending on how well they do on the flight test. As for technical Warrant Officers, most MOS's don't make exceptions for SGT's because of their lack of technical knowledge and their lack of documented leadership positions. For example in my MOS (915A) the prerequisites are at least 5 years maintenance supervisory time documented on your NCOER, and that is highly successful supervisory time. It's highly unlikely for SGT's to get picked in my job, can it happen......it's possible, does it happen often.....no. Most of the time it's SFC's or high speed SSG's. I can only speak on my MOS, every MOS has different requirements and different numbers to fill.
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CW3(P) Derrick Robinson
Experience is vital in any job. I was told young " keep your ears open and your mouth shut"
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In regards to applying to OCS - as soon as i knew I was going to complete my bachelors, I began researching the Navy's OCS program. When I was told I would not be competitive for a Navy OCS slot (due to not having an engineering degree, I didn't graduate from a "named" school...and it was 2005/6 when the Navy was downsizing), and I'd be more suitable for a Limited Duty Officer (LDO) slot - which is essentially an extension of the Warrant program in the Navy, but they fall under the O scale vs W scale. As a LDO, you are not tracked to take command and like a Warrant, you're essentially locked into your specialty field for the rest of your career. I wanted to venture out and expand my skillset - so a friend, who had went Army OCS (he was a prior Army SSG), convinced me to look into the Army OCS program and apply...and I did. I finished my bachelors and graduated in May 2006, and in the end of August 2006, I was on my way to Fort Benning, Ga to attend OCS.
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