Flying in the Guard

[sflax]

I have been doing some research into the flying helo's for the national guard. I have noticed there is a program for lasik, I was wondering if anyone has done this program. Also I have been having problems with my recruiter understanding what I want. He just wants me to enlist and then apply for WOFT. But I read on-line that I can get it before I even enlist if I can get in. If anyone has a suggestion or a good idea please let me know.

 

[46Driver]

The recruiter is trying to sell you a line and meet his quota. Go to www.aptap.org ask the same question, and there will be a bunch of army bubbas who can give you the straight scoop.

 

[sflax]

Thanks alot. I pretty much figured that.

 

[mudkow60]

Does the Guard take non-military, non-helo pilots? I was under the impression that they did not,

 

[sflax]

What I have read does not say and I have not been told "no" yet. Thank you very much this is the type of info I need when talking to them. It allows me to make a better informned choice.

 

[OPIE01]

WO vs Commisioned

What recruiter did you go to. You need to go directly to the Guard Aviation unit that you want to get into.

I don't know of any guard units that will Send you straight to WO Flight School. They all want you to enlist in, finish Boot camp and AIT. Then they will send you to WOFT. This way, if for some reason you wash out of WOFT, they can still utilize you. Plus having you in the unit for a while will let them you really want to be there.

Now if you have a degree and want to go as a Commisioned officer, that would be a different story. Then you apply to them for OTS and Flight school.

Now I have seen one guy who went to an actived duty recuiter and applied to WOFT for the Reserves. The recruiter even found a unit for him to work for. Now that was 18 years ago but I did see it happen.

There is a big difference between going to WOFT for Active Duty and Guard. People stay in the same Guard unit thier whole life, so they are very selective who they send, because they don't want to waste there money on someone they can't stand. Where in the Active duty, if they don't like you they just send you somewhere else.

Army Guard and Air Force Guard are different. Air Guard units like non-unit members apply because like the Army Guard they are to come in as commisioned officers. But even in the Air Guard, if a unit enlisted member is on the same board as you, they will get the slot with lower qualifications.

Guard units like to promote from within

 

[sflax]

I have my degree and then some, I am still looking at my options, reserve vs. guard, officer vs. WO. I understand the guard is a big unit by unit thing. I am meeting with the recruiter next week, so I just want as much info as possible when I go in. Thank you

 

[weekendwarrior]

I'm a W01 in flight school right now, and am in the Arizona NG. My experience is most recruiters don't know jack when it comes to Warrant Officers and flight school. I had to do one year enlisted. After that, I started the application process. A couple of boards, security clearance, and a boatload of paperwork, and I was in. Took over a year to get done, but I'm here.

The LASIK program is a real thing. I went through WOCS with a guy who is in the program. It is very experimental, and very selective. You have to get evaluated all the time, and have to wait 6 months or a year (can't remember) after you have the surgery, before they will grant you the vision waiver.

As previously mentioned, go to the unit you want to join, not a recuiter. See who their flight surgeon is, and go talk to him/her. Don't believe anything a recruiter tells you about the flight program, unless they have direct experience, because usually they don't. Current Army requirements are 20/50 correctable to 20/20. Also, don't go get the LASIK, because they can tell if you do.

 

[cessna_driver2]

Basic to Woft

My friends brother just went (active duty I believe) from Basic right into WOFT. In Fact he graduated on the 4th from WOFT and starts flight school in a few weeks.

Talk to another recuirter before signing anything. I looked into and still contemplating it all. You can go straight from basic to Woft with out a 1yr enlistment tour.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Yes, that is true for the active duty folks. I have several in my current class that did that. It's called "High School to Flight School". Not necesarily are they out of high school, but it really refers to not having an MOS, just going straight to WOCS after basic.

At least with the Arizona National Guard, you can't do this. You have to serve enlisted for one year. I have heard the same from other states, but am not sure if it is a state-by-state policy or a guard thing. Again, talk to an aviation unit and their chain of command, not a recruiter.