Expert: John L - 1/7/2010

Question
Mr. Lewis, thank you for reading my question and I hope you can point me in the right direction on a few matters. I am 23 years old, enlisted May 6, 2008 into the Active Army as a 21B (Combat Engineer). When I was looking into joining the Army I was trying to get in as a Warrant Officer flying helicopters. I was enrolled in a civilian flight school at the time but had no money to really begin training and my funding options all came up empty. I wasn't able to get a position as a pilot due to my driving record preventing me from getting a security clearance. Now that I have time in the Army and have a security clearance I want to make the switch. I am currently deployed in Iraq. I have an ASVAB score of 98 and a GT of 139. I came in as an E2 and got a waiver to E3 and just got a waiver to E4. My chain of command and retention NCO are all pressuring me to re-enlist and stay 21B and have been less than informative about what I need to submit a WOFT packet and what my chances might be of actually getting in. Can you tell me to the extent of your knowledge what I need to be the best prepared for submitting a WOFT packet that I possibly can be, and with civilian pilots coming into the Army to fly what is the field of Army Aviation looking like currently? Are Army Pilots still in as high demand as they were in 2005? Does the National Guard have helicopter pilots and, if so, how might I go about becoming a National Guard helicopter pilot? I have a friend who is a civilian helicopter pilot who is looking at possibly joining to National Guard to fly. How does a civilian pilot go about becoming a National Guard pilot? I realize this is probably not your specific area of expertise, but any information at all you can give me on the matter will be greatly appreciated. I thank you for your time reading this and hope very much to hear an answer back from you as soon as you can. Thank you.

Answer
When you get ETS, go to a National Guard recruiter and tell them what you want to do.  While there is no guarantee in writing that you can become a pilot, anyone who is qualified can apply for flight school.  Alot of states are currently looking to fill future vacancies as alot of pilots are retiring or getting out to pursue other things.  You should be able to apply for flight school in the regular army as well.  I know they have some type of program for that, check out AKo and see what is there.