What is highly sought after when applying to be a 153A?

Age and TiS could have something to do with it. They’re more willing to invest all that money in someone who might stick around longer than in someone who’s already mid-career and not likely to give them another 15-20.

Have you passed a Class 1 flight physical?

I branch transferred from Infantry to Aviation. I was an officer already, but you have to transition through WOC School first. Performance in school and in Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) course will determine choice of aircraft, so don’t get hung up on which aircraft, it’s premature and may show that you’re more concerned about the aircraft than becoming an Aviator. See if you can get a Field Grade Aviation Officer letter of recommendation to add to your packet. Higher ranks won’t hurt. Finally, I got my civilian pilot’s license. Every Commissioned officer that was a branch transfer in my class (Regular Army, not Guard or Reserve) had a pilot’s license. It isn’t necessary that it be a rotary wing license, in fact getting a rotary wing license may or may not be good because it is possible that you would have been taught habits in a civilian helicopter that would be hard to unlearn for Army methods. If you get a fixed wing license, you will learn a few negative habits, but they are something the school is experienced in dealing with. Getting the fixed wing license is much cheaper than a rotary wing license and is more practical in the long run. What they want to see is that you have an aptitude for flight (taking flying lessons will also help with the FAST as well), not necessarily that you have an aptitude to fly helicopters.