Posted on Oct 29, 2017
Which provides a better quality of life, Warrant Officer (Aviation) or Commissioned Officer (MI)?
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BLUF; I cannot decide between Aviation WO, returning to my civilian career, or G2G due to my lack of knowledge in regards to quality of life in each.
Hello,
I am inquiring information in regards to how nice the quality of life is for each Aviation Warrant Officer, and Commissioned Officer. Now please keep in mind, when I ask this I am not speaking from entitlement or seeking to be spoiled. I truly could care less how nice the housing is, or any petty materialistic subject.
When I reference quality of life I am asking about:
-How often will I spend time with my family?
-How often will I be wasting time after duty hours doing non-essential tasks?
-How frequent does X career get placed into high op-tempo and frequently deploying units?
Essentially, quality of life means: is my work actually valuable and making a difference, and am I sacrificing my family entirely.
A short background to explain why each interests me so that you can properly criticize my decisions:
Civilian:I would like to go back into software development because it was a simple job that provided me with a plethora of income to sustain and grow.
Highest amount of freedom out of the choices, highest overhead cost.
GS Position: I am a 35F with an alphabet soup clearance, my home of record is in the MD/DC/VA region. I can trip and fall into a job. Fuzzy on how stable the job is for GS workers.
Aviation Warrant Officer:Great pay, more respect. Less duty station options, higher chance (to my knowledge) of constant deployment rotation due to the nature of your WMOS. Probably bad for my family.
Commissioned Officer via G2G: Great pay, more respect, the ability/pull/power to actually make a practical and statistical change in today's army to make the branch better and more efficient rather than just fruitlessly whining about it. Not sure how much family time one gets, not sure if my G2GAD packet will get accepted, not sure if attaining my graduates will take 2yrs or if it will take longer.
At the end of the day my ultimate goal is the youngest retirement, and best life my family can have. Military communities have fantastic resources for children and families alike, and I plan to have my firstborn within the next two years regardless of choice. Wife and I love the time I get as a lower enlisted working at an intelligence unit, but fully comprehend life gets worse at other installations/units.
If you've read this far you're patient, and I appreciate your contribution.
Hello,
I am inquiring information in regards to how nice the quality of life is for each Aviation Warrant Officer, and Commissioned Officer. Now please keep in mind, when I ask this I am not speaking from entitlement or seeking to be spoiled. I truly could care less how nice the housing is, or any petty materialistic subject.
When I reference quality of life I am asking about:
-How often will I spend time with my family?
-How often will I be wasting time after duty hours doing non-essential tasks?
-How frequent does X career get placed into high op-tempo and frequently deploying units?
Essentially, quality of life means: is my work actually valuable and making a difference, and am I sacrificing my family entirely.
A short background to explain why each interests me so that you can properly criticize my decisions:
Civilian:I would like to go back into software development because it was a simple job that provided me with a plethora of income to sustain and grow.
Highest amount of freedom out of the choices, highest overhead cost.
GS Position: I am a 35F with an alphabet soup clearance, my home of record is in the MD/DC/VA region. I can trip and fall into a job. Fuzzy on how stable the job is for GS workers.
Aviation Warrant Officer:Great pay, more respect. Less duty station options, higher chance (to my knowledge) of constant deployment rotation due to the nature of your WMOS. Probably bad for my family.
Commissioned Officer via G2G: Great pay, more respect, the ability/pull/power to actually make a practical and statistical change in today's army to make the branch better and more efficient rather than just fruitlessly whining about it. Not sure how much family time one gets, not sure if my G2GAD packet will get accepted, not sure if attaining my graduates will take 2yrs or if it will take longer.
At the end of the day my ultimate goal is the youngest retirement, and best life my family can have. Military communities have fantastic resources for children and families alike, and I plan to have my firstborn within the next two years regardless of choice. Wife and I love the time I get as a lower enlisted working at an intelligence unit, but fully comprehend life gets worse at other installations/units.
If you've read this far you're patient, and I appreciate your contribution.
Career Advice
Warrant Officers
Family
Intelligence Officer
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 9
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As a 15U, I would choose the Aviation Warrant Officer over the MI Commissioned Officer. While assigned to Korea, I got voluntold to work in the 2 CAB Brigade TOC for a total of 4 months. For some reason, we had lots of CW5s working in the BDE HQs. They would often bid me farewell at about 1500 each day, sometimes saying "Have a nice weekend, Sergeant!" on a Thursday afternoon. Warrant Officer pilots have it pretty cushy too, except for having to pull duties at the BDE (Staff Duty). Other than that, they are ninjas, living however they decide to live.
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Drop a packet and go Flight.
I read your entire post, and I can tell you from experience, if you go G2G, you'll never be able to affect the change you think you can. The Commissioned side is chalk full or bureaucracy and long days in front of trackers, power point and sitting at desks and tables for briefings that last hours, without being able to voice suggestions that'll be taken seriously. Now, don't get me wrong, there's bureaucratic nonsense in the Cohort too, but no where NEAR the level that O's have to put up with. To me, that pay was never worth it.
I have known plenty of Commissioned Officers who dropped their bars, and even a Major that turned in his Oak Leaf for a Square.
You fly. You mange yourself. You become the expert in your respective aircraft.
I was Infantry for nine years before I dropped my packet and I can tell you, my family life has never been better.
Plus, credential wise, you'll end up with more certifications, licenses and technical training if you go Aviation.
I can't stress Warrant enough.
I read your entire post, and I can tell you from experience, if you go G2G, you'll never be able to affect the change you think you can. The Commissioned side is chalk full or bureaucracy and long days in front of trackers, power point and sitting at desks and tables for briefings that last hours, without being able to voice suggestions that'll be taken seriously. Now, don't get me wrong, there's bureaucratic nonsense in the Cohort too, but no where NEAR the level that O's have to put up with. To me, that pay was never worth it.
I have known plenty of Commissioned Officers who dropped their bars, and even a Major that turned in his Oak Leaf for a Square.
You fly. You mange yourself. You become the expert in your respective aircraft.
I was Infantry for nine years before I dropped my packet and I can tell you, my family life has never been better.
Plus, credential wise, you'll end up with more certifications, licenses and technical training if you go Aviation.
I can't stress Warrant enough.
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PFC (Join to see)
It seems like it is very redeeming to only worry about becoming an expert in your field.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Wesley, I absolutely love my job. Aviation is a completely different animal compared to the rest of the Army.
In the end, go after your hearts desire. The pros and cons are great, but if you dislike your career field, it will impact you and your family life emotionally.
You seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders, and it's evident by your actions in reaching out to gather a consensus.
In the end, go after your hearts desire. The pros and cons are great, but if you dislike your career field, it will impact you and your family life emotionally.
You seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders, and it's evident by your actions in reaching out to gather a consensus.
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Go Aviation Warrant. You will be a lot happier. I served one tour flying RC-12G SIGINT aircraft. Seeing the MI Commissioned side of the house was sad. MI eats their own young officers. Thank goodness that was my only dealing with the MI folks. Once was enough!
PS. Aviation is a great skillset for project transition.
PS. Aviation is a great skillset for project transition.
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