Expert: Howard Lorenz - 3/24/2009

Question
I am looking for a real answer to base my decisions upon.  Here is my background...
--USMC active duty 6 years, inactive duty 2 years.
--Honorable Discharge as Staff Sergeant, 6322 Avionics Tech on CH-46E helicopters.  Air Crew Designation achieved.
--Broadened technical expertise repairing semiconductor process equipment for past eight years.
-- Qualified for MECEP, but voluntarily turned it down.
-- No convictions whatsoever.
-- Age 37.

Question:  Army Warrant Officer Pilot has an age limit of 33 years old at selection.  Will my prior service and experince get my "Army Age" down to 31 years and let me qualify to become a Warrant Officer Pilot in the reserves, if I passed all the subsequent training of course?

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Jay,

Sorry I took so long in getting back with you, Im preparing for a deployment my self..

I believe the way that the Army works, is that they take your prior service into consideration. Since the USMC and the Army both have the Chinooks, the experience will be valuable to them. I also think that the Reserves are more lenient as far as age goes. The standards that you are looking at are entry standards for those who have not been in the military.

My suggestion is to go straight to the source with all your information and source documents like DD-214 etc(Everything that you had to enlist originally) All your military certificates for the Chinook and Air Crew information.

I dont see why they wouldn't accept and modify your age to get an experienced CH-46 crew member to add to their numbers.. Lord knows that they need it!!

H