Which MOS provides the best opportunities and pay in the civilian sector (15T, 15E, or 15W)?

Gary Henson — Fri, 12 May 2017 00:17:31 -0400

I'm a civilian and I ultimately want to be an army warrant helicopter pilot but someone in army aviation told me I won't be able to get in until 2019 even if I'm accepted. I figured Id choose one of these and try to get some valuable skills and become a warrant once I'm already in instead of waiting for 2 yrs. I've heard as 15E you can make good money in civil sector but not sure about other mos's

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 12:23 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 00:23:10 -0400

Gary,
First and foremost i think its great you are reaching out into the ranks to make an educated decision. You wouldnt believe how many people ive met in my career that say they wish they would have done it. My first question is what would be the reasoning you cant do it till 2019? Is it an age thing?

Response by Gary Henson made May 12 at 2017 12:43 AM

Gary Henson — Fri, 12 May 2017 00:43:29 -0400

Thank you sir. And I don't believe so, the man told me that all of the flight seats are booked for 2018. Im not sure if this is true or not. Im about to be 26 btw. I have requested more information about WOFT from a recruiter but he hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 12:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 00:54:45 -0400

If your long term goal is to be an Aviator, then I recommend you go with 15W. It will introduce you to a lot of what you will learn at flight school. Also keep an eye out for 15C. Aviation branch is awarding a new MOS to MQ-1C Gray Eagle operators, and RQ-7 Shadow operators will remain 15Ws. Your choice (or lack thereof) platform won't really matter for you in the long run, but being an operator will give you a jump start on the way to becoming an aviator.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 8:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 08:42:07 -0400

Army pilots come from all career fields. If you came in as a 15T (Black Hawk), 15U (Chinook), or 15R (Apache), or really any other 15 series maintenance MOS, you'd get a working knowledge of the systems of an airframe which is pretty important. That would also boost your opportunity to become a Maintenance Test Pilot at some point in your career. If you enlisted as a 15T or 15U and worked your way into a flight company as a crew chief (15T) or flight engineer (15U) that would give you that much more knowledge of an airframe going into flight school. 15P (Flight Operations) wouldn't be bad either because it would give you some experience in the administrative side of aviation.

If you're looking at the Guard, the UH-72 Lakota is also an option. Most, if not all, states have them. It requires the 15T MOS and they'll send you to get your A&P License.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 9:23 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 09:23:13 -0400

15E is my current mos I'm in ait currently 15E has more job opportunities in the civilian world if your just now coming in the military and have to go through ait as an iet soldier you will hate your life in ft. Huachuca just throwing that out there

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 11:37 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 11:37:29 -0400

I'm a 15E for the Shadow stationed at Fort Hood. Honestly if you were to be a 15E or 15W, I would try to get Gray Eagle. You won't be able to enlist for Gray Eagle unless the Army has changed that now, but you will at lease be able to talk to your platoon sgt at AIT about going through the course. Trust me, if you want to work with drones, Gray Eagle is the one to go with.

Response by CW4 Brian Haas made May 12 at 2017 12:19 PM

CW4 Brian Haas — Fri, 12 May 2017 12:19:15 -0400

Gary, I'd tell you don't wait. If I had a buck for every person that said, "I was going to put in to fly Warrant...". Put it in, if they accept you and you get a date, awesome. You don't need ANY kind of aviation experience to get picked up. Being a former crew chief doesn't "help" you become a Maintenance Test Pilot. Besides, you never know what you will track, that's a ways away. Please PM me and I'll be happy to talk to ya.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 1:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 13:52:49 -0400

Gary Henson 25B if you get any certificates such as A++.

Response by SGT(P) Landon Mintz made May 12 at 2017 4:30 PM

SGT(P) Landon Mintz — Fri, 12 May 2017 16:30:07 -0400

I'm a 15T and I can tell you with no inhabitions put the warrant pack in now. Find out when the next board is and have it ready. You have a better shot right now than ever, I will not elaborate but from the inside looking out I'm telling you your own personal drive and will to compete for that warrant job will determine whether you get it or not. Nothing stands in your way but yourself become that pilot, look forward to flying with you one day.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2017 11:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:30:58 -0400

Put your warrant packet together, submit it, and don't let a recruiter tell you anything about you having a better chance at getting picket up if you're already working an aviation MOS. Insist on it, make sure your ducks are in a row, and shoot for the goal. Any warrant will tell you, "Flight school starts every two weeks," and the boards happen a bit more frequently than every two years. If you don't get picked up despite your best efforts, then consider enlistment. Until then, though, you're only hurting yourself.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2017 6:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 May 2017 18:30:12 -0400

It depends on if your active or guard . I don't know . However I am a guard WOC waiting to go to flight school. I have 15 R 15 S and 15 T. I can say on the guard side being in an aviation unit helps as far as the vetting process. The unit has more time to see who you are and your character traits . As opposed to some guy coming out of flight school to a new unit where you will be scrutinized at first by people who don't really know you. In the sense that they are getting to know you and find out what kind of person you are. Not really a big deal if you are a good person. Now as far as getting your packet in . If you are surrounded by warrants well they had to get their packet in , so there are plenty of avenues for advice . Just realize no one will take you seriously until after you have been there a while and kinda proven yourself. Almost every new person in the unit wants to be a pilot just to find out 6months in they get a DUI or fail a PT test or always late with some shady excuse. So take that for what it's worth and be prepared to overcome alot of obstacles and hear NO alot.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2017 10:27 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:27:03 -0400

15w

Response by SFC Mark Mitny made Jul 24 at 2017 4:05 PM

SFC Mark Mitny — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 16:05:03 -0400

I'm retired from Army Aviation, but heard there is a shortage of pilots. Guess it depends on what state you are in. 15T is UH-60 maintenance. Most states have a Warrant Officer program to become a pilot. I was aviation for 25+years. Good luck.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 8:10 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:10:24 -0500

Most jobs right now doing 15E work is mainly all deployable contractor jobs