Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Becoming an Army Warrant Officer

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Expert: Rod Powers - 11/9/2009


Question
     I am a high school junior, and my goal is to become an Army helicopter pilot. As far as I know, you have to go through Basic Training, then Warrant Officer Candidate School, then Flight training. You also have to get a certain score on the ASVAB and the FAST, and pass a few different physicals. My question is, if you do not meet the requirements on these steps to flight training, are you still required to stay in the Army as an enlisted soldier? Or can you try to become a pilot, and still back out of the Army if you do not make it?

Thank you,
-Anna

Answer
I Anna,

Okay, you take the ASVAB, FAST, and the flight physical before you ever sign a contract, so these items aren't factors (if you don't pass, you never sign a contract).

(1) If you fail basic training, you're discharged.

(2) If you pass basic training, but fail warrant officer school, you have to complete the remainder of your contract as an enlisted member.

(3) If you pass warrant officer school, but fail in flight training, you have to complete the remainder of your contract as a warrant officer in a non-flying field.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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Rod Powers

Expertise

Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.

Experience

Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.

Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

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