Help with WOFT?'s

I am an Airman with almost 7 years in the service and I am thinking about joining in the Army. I am a smart guy and think I have what it takes to fly for the Army. I would like to find out from people that have been through all of the training of becoming a Warrant Officer and flight training also the following questions.



How many people wash out of Warrant Officer Candidate School?



How many wash out of Warrant Officer Flight Training?



What is it really like flying for the Army?



How often do you deploy and for how long normally and now?



What would happen to me if for some reason I did not make it through training?



What are the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the Air Force for the Army?

You can reply to Ryan1airman@aol.com

[Brad]

I'm not an Army Pilot, or even in the military. I did go through the WOFT application process but didn't make it due to a vision problem. I'll try and give some generic answers to get you started, and hopefully Av8tor or another pilot will drop by and chime in.


How many people wash out of Warrant Officer Candidate School?

I don't know exact numbers, but just like OCS, it's a highly challenging environment. You need to be squared away and have your head on straight to succeed. The course is designed to be an overwhelming experience.



How many wash out of Warrant Officer Flight Training?

Surely some do, but at Flight School they want you to succeed. My brother was an AF IP down at Columbus, MS for a few years. He has several stories of students who tried to kill him in the air one way or another but who are now successful military pilots. Same is true in Army Flight School. You have training and you have check rides. As I understand it, even if you fail a check ride, you usually get another chance before they wash you out. Helicopter Flight School has been described as trying to drink water from a fire hose. It is a high stress intense environment, but one that you can succeed in if you are dedicated and apply yourself.


What is it really like flying for the Army?

One of the other guys will have to tell you first hand. From second hand information - it is not necessarily as "comfortable" for lack of a better word as flying for the AF. For example, in the 1st Iraq war, some AF pilots flew their missions out of Italy and got to "come home from the war." An Army pilot is going to be out there with the grunts - either flying support, transport, cover, or recon. You may have to wash your own windows and help care for your bird, things your typical fighter jock wouldn't consider doing.


How often do you deploy and for how long normally and now?

I don't know - but again you'll be deploying with the soldiers on the ground.


What would happen to me if for some reason I did not make it through training?

If you don't make it through WOCS, you're a PFC in the Army, or whatever rank you'll have crossing over. Don't know about if you pass WOCS but not WOFT.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the Air Force for the Army?

Advantages from some AF pilots I know... lots of job satisfaction and if you're the type that wants a "close to the action" mission, Army Aviation is that.

Disadvantages - AF quality of life is usually somewhat better than other branches.

Thanx for the help..

[Rusty24]

Up to E-4 you will keep your rank. Depending on how many years you have in the AF (You said 7) thye may bump you down a grade. Of the 60 that have done the Blue to Green, less than 10 have kept their rank. It was breifed at the staff meeting the other day.

I am still a E-4 due to leaving active duty for a while to finish some school. In this time frame I missed 3 testing cycles for E-5..

[Av8tor152d]

Yep I may be able to answer alot of these qeustions and if I can't I will find an answer for you

How many people wash out of Warrant Officer Candidate School?

Hmm if I remeber correctly from my class which started 76 we finished with 63. Now not all of these "washouts" were aviators or totally washed out so to say most were just set back to the next class to allow them more time to grasp the training. So out of the 13 that were set backs I would say that at the most 2-3 were actually washed out totally.

How many wash out of Warrant Officer Flight Training?

Again most of the people who have troubles in the flight training are those who do not put forth the effort that is required. And then most who did and still had troubles were just set back. If you have the ability to be an aviator the Army is not going to just boot ya they will giv eyou multiple chances to succeed if you posssess the right skills. And then there are the few that just should not be driving a vehicle let alone flying. These people were giving three options 1) if they had other skills IE field artillery or MP background they could transfer to another Warrant officer MOS
2) given the option to seperate from the Army
3) Go back to to their enlisted rank and Job

What is it really like flying for the Army?

This answer will vary depending on whom you ask. Here is my opinion
I love the job plain and simple. Yes there are times when it sucks---But when you strap that machine on and slip the bonds of earth into the sky all the suck seems to go POOF for that time being. There is nothing more rewarding than coming back from a mission and having a Grunt(yes I can say grunt I used to be one) walk up to you and say "hey man you guys are our guardian angels man, if it had not been for you we would have been toast out there , Thanks" That will really make you realize why you do what you do.

How often do you deploy and for how long normally and now?

Hmmm deployments well I am a strange and unique breed. I volunteer for every deployment I can. Some call it sick I call it my Job. But on average an aviation unit (depending on your airframe also) will deploy right now for at least 12 months and can be up to 18 months depending on mission and world situation. As for how often well lets just say that the Army isd hurting for Aviation right now so it is possible to deploy and spend 8 months back home and be gone again after 12 months in the states. Just the nature of the beast right now. I know a guy who deployed with one unit returned and PCSed to next unit and was on his way to Iraq again for another tour 4 months after getting back.

What would happen to me if for some reason I did not make it through training?

Refer to previous answer on washouts of Flight training


What are the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the Air Force for the Army?

Hmm this I can not really tell you. Simply because I have no experience with the Air Force, other than an x-wife but we won't go there lol.
But come on man do you ever see an Jet Jock wearing a Stetson and Spurs smoking a fat cigar ?? Honestly chicks dig Army Helo pilots more LOL

Feel free to email me with any other questions or comments.

And to all who are looking at my post saying man this guy can't spell worth a darn. Yeah I know but do I care ....Um refer to my signature for that answer.