Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 9/30/2011

Question
QUESTION: Good Afternoon,

I am E-5 currently active duty in the navy been in the navy for 7 years. My enlistment will be up in April of 2013 I am one class away form obtaining my AA and I am also close to completing my BS. wanted to know what were the criteria for going blue to green as a warrant Officer or the Officer candidate school?

ANSWER: Kara,
Most people want to become a warrant officer so they can fly, so I'll gear my answer toward that.

The Army has an requirement to train between 1,000-1,200 helicopter pilots annually. Approximately half of those slots are filled by Warrant Officers and the remaining slots filled by Lts (O-1 & O-2#.

With only a high school diploma or a GED with 15 college credits, you can qualify for helicopter flight school and a Warrant Officer appointment thru the Warrant Officer Flight Training program. 92% of the Army's aircraft are helicopters but they do have a number of small executive jets/turbo prop aircraft in their fleet. As a Warrant Officer pilot, you're able to fly fixed wing aircraft as well during your career but, you must start out initially in helos.

Once being selected for this program under a written guaranteed contract, you may or may not be required to attend a 4 week course for prior service personnel called the Warrior Transition Course #WTC#. After completing WTC if required, you'll then attend Warrant Officer Candidate School #WOCS# for 6 weeks. Upon successful completion of WOCS, you receive your Warrant Officer appointment as a WO-1 and then start Warrant Officer Flight Training #WOFT# where the washout rate is LESS than 10%. No enlistment bonus, but you'll be an Army Officer after only 6-10 weeks and that should be a nice pay increase for you.  WOCS and WOFT are conducted at Ft Rucker Alabama, the home of Army Aviation.  The most difficult part of the WOCS/WOFT program is being SELECTED.  Like the TV commercial says, even a Cave Man/Woman can do it when it comes to flight training.


The total ACTIVE duty commitment will be approximately 7-7.5 years #six year commitment after completing WOFT). This program is also available in the Army Reserves and Army National Guard if you wish to serve as a part time soldier and pilot. The Army is the only service that does not require any college credits at all to be a Warrant Officer and pilot if you're a high school graduate.

Enlisted experience is NOT a requirement but is an added plus on the selection board in your case.

Selection requires good health/vision, vision can be corrected by surgery at your expense, American citizenship, good test scores, letters of recommendation, and haven't reached your 33rd birthday without a wavier.  Very, very competitive since college is not a requirement but obtainable if that's your desire.  If you feel you have leadership qualities, a strong desire to be an aviator/officer, and want to be tested, the WOFT program just may be what the doctor ordered.

Colonel H


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Morning,

Thanks for you timely response it was very precise and to the point but i also have a few more questions, so the only to go from blue to green as a Warrant Officer would have to be an Aviator/Officer is there any other way to become a warrant without going avaition.

Answer
Kara,
No, but as I said most people want to be a WO so they can fly.  You can certainly go to green without flying, in fact your chances are better.  See an Army recruiter for all the details.
Let him know right off that you don't wish to fly.  It's good that you're planning ahead.
Colonel H