Aviation
Aviation
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Warrant officer or commissioned officer for flying?
I'm currently a college student and a U.S. Army Reservist. I'm intel and I like it for the most part, but I don't think I want to keep this MOS for my whole career. I've been considering two paths lately since I've been doing some research and I'm taking a lot of interest in flying helicopters. That being said, I either want to quit being a full-time student and go active duty with hopes of going the warrant officer route, or join ROTC and get a commission. Although I'm not exactly sure how it would go trying to get into the active army from being a reservist. Which would be a better route and why? Thanks in advance.
I'm currently a college student and a U.S. Army Reservist. I'm intel and I like it for the most part, but I don't think I want to keep this MOS for my whole career. I've been considering two paths lately since I've been doing some research and I'm taking a lot of interest in flying helicopters. That being said, I either want to quit being a full-time student and go active duty with hopes of going the warrant officer route, or join ROTC and get a commission. Although I'm not exactly sure how it would go trying to get into the active army from being a reservist. Which would be a better route and why? Thanks in advance.
Warrant Officers
Officers
Aviation
ROTC
Helicopters
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 18
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Go Warrant if you want to fly. Also, you don’t have to come back in just to go that route. Warrants are experts in their fields and continue to do that until they get out. Officers will eventually go to staff positions and rarely ever fly.
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PFC (Join to see)
I haven't spent anytime on active duty except for training since I enlisted as a reservist. I was planning to go active duty after college. Do you know if it makes the process smoother to go active duty first and then drop a packet? or should I just begin my packet now? I asked a recruiter and they told me to go active duty first but I wasn't sure if that was just recruiters being recruiters.
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CW2 (Join to see)
PFC (Join to see) For the life of me, I will never understand why recruiters are so misinformed or why they think going active first will help you. Absolutely start your packet now. Find yourself a dedicated recruiter to help you with the process and DO NOT BUDGE! I can’t emphasize that enough! Recruiters don’t get credit for a WOCS candidate until they’ve graduated WOCS, which is what I suspect is the reason they always say to go active first. If a recruiter says go active first, respectfully tell them no. There’s a reason why Flight school is open to any prior ranks, even civilians.
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CW2 (Join to see)
PFC (Join to see) if you need any help at all, you can ask myself or any warrant on this site. There is a plethora of knowledge here.
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Stay in college and complete your degree. That accomplishment will have long-term effects well worth the time and money. The decision to fly military and to do so as a warrant officer or commissioned officer are separate decisions.
IMO Army Aviation Warrants have one of the best jobs in the Services. They normally spend almost their entire 20-to-30-year career flying. If you want to fly and not command, then this is the way to go. However, your pay over 20+ years of active duty and 20+ years of military retirement will be less than a commissioned officer.
The Army, Department of the Navy, and Air Force all have commissioned officers in flying MOS/AFSC. There are differences among the Services in how pilots are viewed and treated. In most cases, commissioned officer pilots are expected to compete for advancement and command positions throughout their career. In the Air Force the majority of "front line" troops are officer aircrew. In the Dept of the Navy and Army, front line troops are normally enlisted (infantry, Marines, artillery, etc.) with a smaller subgroup of commissioned aviators serving in front line MOS (fighter, attack, helicopter pilots, etc). The Air Force treats pilots well. Opportunities for advancement include the very top of the Service. Every Air Force Chief of Staff has been a pilot. As a Service, the Air Force is all about flying, so flyers (pilots, systems operators, and other aircrew) get opportunities to excel that other AFSCs may not. The Army and Navy have aviation departments associated with their Service missions. Commissioned aviators may be competitive to General or Admiral within the Aviation community. For example the current Commander of Naval Air Forces is a VADM (O-9). Commissioned officers in all the services make a larger salary than warrant officers. Thus retirement pay for commissioned officers is higher than WO retirement pay.
If you're going to seek a commission, then I recommend ROTC. If you are physically qualified and can score high enough on testing, then I recommend AFROTC. (See AF web page for pilot requirements.) You may be able to negotiate a pilot training slot as part of signing a contract with AFROTC--depends on the needs of the AF. Army and Navy ROTC will lead to a commission. Competition for flight billets in these Services is very competitive.
IMO Army Aviation Warrants have one of the best jobs in the Services. They normally spend almost their entire 20-to-30-year career flying. If you want to fly and not command, then this is the way to go. However, your pay over 20+ years of active duty and 20+ years of military retirement will be less than a commissioned officer.
The Army, Department of the Navy, and Air Force all have commissioned officers in flying MOS/AFSC. There are differences among the Services in how pilots are viewed and treated. In most cases, commissioned officer pilots are expected to compete for advancement and command positions throughout their career. In the Air Force the majority of "front line" troops are officer aircrew. In the Dept of the Navy and Army, front line troops are normally enlisted (infantry, Marines, artillery, etc.) with a smaller subgroup of commissioned aviators serving in front line MOS (fighter, attack, helicopter pilots, etc). The Air Force treats pilots well. Opportunities for advancement include the very top of the Service. Every Air Force Chief of Staff has been a pilot. As a Service, the Air Force is all about flying, so flyers (pilots, systems operators, and other aircrew) get opportunities to excel that other AFSCs may not. The Army and Navy have aviation departments associated with their Service missions. Commissioned aviators may be competitive to General or Admiral within the Aviation community. For example the current Commander of Naval Air Forces is a VADM (O-9). Commissioned officers in all the services make a larger salary than warrant officers. Thus retirement pay for commissioned officers is higher than WO retirement pay.
If you're going to seek a commission, then I recommend ROTC. If you are physically qualified and can score high enough on testing, then I recommend AFROTC. (See AF web page for pilot requirements.) You may be able to negotiate a pilot training slot as part of signing a contract with AFROTC--depends on the needs of the AF. Army and Navy ROTC will lead to a commission. Competition for flight billets in these Services is very competitive.
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I am going to be not liked by this comment but if your heart is not set on the army. I would look into commissioning in the airforce instead. They are hurting for pilots and honestly they have a wide selection of airframes. You will do lot of flying there as well. If you want to fly helos, also the airforce has a very select group. Why am I pushing you away from warrant?
Simply if you make it a career your pay will be a lot higher than a warrant in the army.
I would get the degree first and go to a recruiter specifically for a pilot slot in AF.
If your heart is set to the Army then I would finish your college degree and apply to the warrant aviator program the closer you get to finishing your degree.
Why not the officer route? Well if you make it a career you will basically flying a desk after hitting major. Plus your flying time will be very low. This only true in the army.
You are at the mercy of the army if you either get the aviation branch or Amedd dustoff. If you don't get either they will shove you into any branch the army needs you in
I know navy also has pilot slots but they are a bit harder to get into but thats another option.
Simply if you make it a career your pay will be a lot higher than a warrant in the army.
I would get the degree first and go to a recruiter specifically for a pilot slot in AF.
If your heart is set to the Army then I would finish your college degree and apply to the warrant aviator program the closer you get to finishing your degree.
Why not the officer route? Well if you make it a career you will basically flying a desk after hitting major. Plus your flying time will be very low. This only true in the army.
You are at the mercy of the army if you either get the aviation branch or Amedd dustoff. If you don't get either they will shove you into any branch the army needs you in
I know navy also has pilot slots but they are a bit harder to get into but thats another option.
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CPT Enrique M.
PFC (Join to see) - Ah i see, 4 years is a bit away , I would still look at either ROTC or talk to the air force recruiter.
There are ways out of the contract especially if you are getting commissioned were a new contract takes place ( for the military they will own you for longer! ). Plus there are inner service transfers.
I would do the following if I was in your shoes:
1) talk your local airforce recruiter and see if its possible to pick up a pilot slot in the AF , and is there a possibility to do an inner service transfer and pick up a commission
2) if that doesn't work , talk to your local AF ROTC branch and bring forth the same situation to them and see what they have to say.
3) If that still doesn't work definitely talk to your Army ROTC recruiter and go that route.
If you are still interested in an officer slot then I would choose aviation branch followed by medical service corps as a 67J . If you love flying at that point and your contract is over, I would switch to the AF , or fallback to warrant if you like army flying for active duty.
If you want to go AF reserves, I would just look into the air national guard and look for a helo unit. If you are flying fixed wing in the army prior. Just be aware you can't switch to the AF without going to UPT ( which means that you would extend your contract by a lot)
anyhow hope that helps
There are ways out of the contract especially if you are getting commissioned were a new contract takes place ( for the military they will own you for longer! ). Plus there are inner service transfers.
I would do the following if I was in your shoes:
1) talk your local airforce recruiter and see if its possible to pick up a pilot slot in the AF , and is there a possibility to do an inner service transfer and pick up a commission
2) if that doesn't work , talk to your local AF ROTC branch and bring forth the same situation to them and see what they have to say.
3) If that still doesn't work definitely talk to your Army ROTC recruiter and go that route.
If you are still interested in an officer slot then I would choose aviation branch followed by medical service corps as a 67J . If you love flying at that point and your contract is over, I would switch to the AF , or fallback to warrant if you like army flying for active duty.
If you want to go AF reserves, I would just look into the air national guard and look for a helo unit. If you are flying fixed wing in the army prior. Just be aware you can't switch to the AF without going to UPT ( which means that you would extend your contract by a lot)
anyhow hope that helps
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PFC (Join to see)
CPT Enrique M. - Thank you very much sir! I appreciate your time and help. I will go into an Air Force recruiting office sometime this week and explain my situation.
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CPT Enrique M.
PFC (Join to see) - if they are not interested in you , look for the next recruiter. I am just going to say that recruiters make it or break it for you.
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