Question about Helicopter Pilot's

bigD1031 · 02-04-2006, 06:21 PM

Ok, long story short: Went through AFROTC in college to become a pilot. Got diagnosed with a hearing loss, had it since I was ten, lost my scholarships, stipend, etc, graduated and now working in a decent job but still have that earge to serve. Heard a rumor that the army is in desperate need of helicopter pilots. Anyone know if this is true? Also heard that lately Army has been a little more lax as far as hearing and the such because they need soldiers, anyone got any info?

Jiggly · 02-05-2006, 04:28 AM

talk to an officer recruiter and get the flying assignment prior to joining, in writing!!!!

i.e pass all the physicals, etc.

fiveninerzero · 02-05-2006, 12:43 PM

The Army doesn't have special Officer recruiters like the Air Force does.

You have to submit a packet for MOS 153A, and take the AFAST.

http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOcivilian.html

If you already have a bachelors, you are competitive. You never know until you try.

AirborneR1Champ · 02-10-2006, 12:13 PM

All the above is correct. You can also join the army specificaly for the warrant officer flight program, just the same you can enter the Army for Special Forces too. Tell the recruiter what you want and stick with what you want. Don't let him offer you something else and tell you that you can do the warrant flight program after you have been in. It helps to have al least an AA Degree (does not matter what in). You can go to the link above and download all the forms required. You'll need to get a Min score of 90 on the AFAST. If you live near post you can go to the education center with the recruiter and have the test scheduled. !!!YOU CAN ONLY TAKE THE TEST 2 TIMES PERIOD and 6 MONTHS BETWEEN EACH OTHER!!!!

unkleslapnutz · 02-10-2006, 12:30 PM

There is not a huge chance that you will get a flight slot as an officer. There are way too many people after thoes jobs. The first picks go to West Point grads. The next to ROTC grads. Then if you are lucky maybe. But I was told dont count on it. I am working on my Warrant packet now. That is the only way to be a flight officer. After you get in you can submit an OCS packet and be a flight officer.

And no. They are not lax about thier testing. They want you 100% up there in a 30million dollar bird. And just before you ask I have 5 buddies that fly. One that went from warrant to OCS and the other 4 are staying warrants. Great field if you can get it. That is why I am working on going back in after being out for 5 yrs.

Akheloce · 02-20-2006, 02:27 PM

Your story sounds alot like mine... AFROTC scholarship, diagnosed with a liver problem between soph and junior year.... ended up joining the Army guard. However, I screwed up and listened to the recruiter and went enlisted crew chief first (he said I should go enlisted 1st, have better chance of getting a warrant flight slot that way). I should have done what they call "High School to Flight School"... gone straight to WOCS. I ended up doing a really cool job and logged over 1000 flight hours in a Blackhawk, but not at the controls. I later was offered a flight school slot, but things changed and I turned it down, having other plans at that point in life. As for the medical thing, there is less competition in the army guard for flight slots, if you cant make it active duty, that is an option. Also, if you want to fly a helicopter, go warrant, if you want to fly a desk, go commissioned. I know 3 captains and one major who reverted to warrant officer.

fiveninerzero · 02-20-2006, 04:17 PM

Don't go to Army OCS just to fly, the way they do their system you don't find out what branch you are going to until you are well into the system. Chances are you will be stuck with something else and a four year commitment and be really pissed off the whole time.

Warrant, Warrant, Warrant!

highside7r · 02-26-2006, 07:49 PM

Everything you need is on the Warrant Officer website listed above. If you have any other questions let me know. I am a Navy transplant and fly Blackhawks for the Army now. Just make sure this is what you want to do, I mean for the right reasons and be ready to be gone alot. I just got back in Dec from Iraq and we are scheduled to leave again in Oct. They are still taking guys like crazy.