My friend that is in the big army said that if your motivation is pay, your in for a reality check. When you breakdown the hours you work and what your paid, it's far less than minimum wage.

Your friend is exactly right.

Fair enough  Thanks for the information.

This is so very temping....I am next in line to be part owner in the business I work for. This is very very temping to say fuck it and do this.

Do it part time.  36th CAB, Texas National Guard has battalions in Houston, Austin, & Grand Prairie.  Or you could try the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Texas Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve...

Army Aviation is changing everyday. With that said I still cannot imagine doing anything else. Like previous post said if pay or acquiring flight time as fast as you can is your motivation the you should probably look elsewhere. But as I set here typing this after getting done with my shift in which we escorted two air assaults and responded to a TIC. I feel pretty good about my days work today, that's motivation enough for me.

Can't fix stupid

Yeah. Don't apply for the Army. We don't need you. Especially with that attitude. Self motivation goes a long way. You'll be one of those new Soldiers that think your shit doesn't stink because of your civilian credentials.

LOL


Ok.



I guess the Army doesn't require any sort of literacy to be able to join.  The internet is infinitely amusing.

Don't let the haters get you down.  Pay is definitely a consideration when considering a major career change.  The careerists who joined when they were 18 & have no civilian experience have a "This is OUR Army" type of attitude, but they couldn't do their job if civilians didn't keep volunteering.  How many flight hours do you have?

Don't worry about me.  I pay little attention to the keyboard warriors.  They're good for a laugh and that's about it.

I'm very familiar with types of military attitudes.  I have gone through the full cycle myself.   As previously stated, I am prior service.  I did 6 years in the Marine Corps. 2 combat tours.  What you describe is what I call the "boot" attitude.  Can't really fault them.  They're either still in the process of being indoctrinated, or are freshly indoctrinated, they believe their shit doesn't stink and that everything their commanders and instructors have told them about themselves and their position is infallible. Anyone in the service was "that guy" once.  I was too.  Good for a laugh though.

I picked up a rifle and volunteered for war when I was 18 and then proceeded to put myself as close to the fight as possible.  I love my country dearly and I'll fight for her until the day I die.  I've already served my country proudly.  And with the war winding down and big cuts coming, the military will be entering a time of peace time operations.  So for me, being a salty war dog , joining a peacetime military would be a career move.  And you're right, pay comes into consideration with a choice like that.  You'd be an idiot not to consider it.

I've got ~1450hrs currently.  4 years of flying on the civilian side.

It's not a "boot attitude". You being in the Marine Corps makes sense. (This is not meant as an insult) I was directing my comment at your 'clown' comment. My interactions  with former Marines always comes with a sense of bravado and aggressiveness. Different cultures and all that. Not neccessarily a bad thing.  I've been at this ten years, and I interpret your approach as someone who would have a hard time being back at the bottom of the totem pole. I'm going to have some adjusting to do going from a SSG(P) to a junior Warrant.

Now is your question about pay legitimate, yes. But some self starting will go a long way. The WOFT applicant process is self-driven, and no one is going to hand you answers. That's all my point was.

It is most certainly a boot attitude.  Doesn't matter how long you've been in.  Boot mindset is a boot mindset.  Chucking cliches around doesn't make you appear any more intelligent or knowledgeable.  Makes you look dumb.  "You" not being directed in anyone's direction.  Just speaking in generalities.

The 'clown' comment was because Mr. hardass army pilot had himself a little temper tantrum with little to zero information regarding the situation, yet he steamed in headstrong with the accusations.  Had he bothered to read the thread, he would have noticed that the question about pay was actually my very last question (not the first) and that I prior service.

Of course Marines are full of bravado and aggressiveness.  That goes back to the indoctrination I was talking about.  You have to be that way to be effective in our role.  We are well aware it is obnoxious as hell to everyone else, but it is damn effective and necessary for the task at hand.

I wouldn't be back at the bottom of any totem pole.  I was enlisted.  WO would be a move up.  Generally speaking, I am a boot ass pilot too.  I do not pretend to know more than anybody else about my profession.  I am a sponge.

I am also aware of the process.  The local ANG has called me several times trying to get me to join up.  In the past I just immediately declined because I was fresh out of the service and really enjoying my awesome beard .  But military aviation has always interested me and now that I am turning 30 the window is closing on that idea real fast.  I skipped it the first time around because by the time I would have finished school the war would have been about over anyway.

I do not expect anyone to hand me anything.  But what kind of an idiot(s) comes into a thread about the WOFT process and starts telling people asking questions that "nobody is going to hand you answers" ?  Painfully stupid approach to a discussion thread about the process.

Understood. Shoot me a pm if you want any help building a packet. I just went through MEPS again. That was the most painful part.  

Ugh.  MEPS.  

Some people won't fit in.  That's perfectly fine.

Let's just accept that and drop the bullshit.

Absolutely, the military is not for everyone.

I'm a long time lurker and I very very seldom post anything, but this is a thread I had to respond to.  I'm a prior service Marine, CH-46E Crew Chief and Weapons and Tactics Instructor with almost 1800 flight hours. I've been out for a few years and I'm now in the Army Reserve as a 68W.  It has long been my dream to be a helicopter pilot and I'm well into the process of putting my Warrant package together.  As previously stated, I have extensive aviation experience; I deployed to Iraq 3 times in that role and flew mostly CASEVAC and assault support missions in Anbar Province.  I have my associate of arts with a 3.5 gpa and am now working towards my bachelors.  With that, I believe I am a very good and very competitive candidate for this program.  I'm currently trying to find a CW3 or higher Pilot that would be willing to interview me and hopefully write me the required letter of recommendation for the board.  While I know I'm on my own in regards to this process, a little bit of "coaching" in preparation for the SIFT and polishing my resume would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

Started AEROMED today. Firehouse is in full effect!

Wilson: your CDR and 1sg writing a solid letter would be more than adequate.  Your bn cdr would icing on the cake.  The board is made up of smart people who will see through a letter written by a random pilot who met you for lunch one day.  Your chain of command is the best possible source for your letters.  In fact, being in the guard and not having letters from your chain of command would make you less desirable, like you're trying to hide something about your 68w job performance.

That's actually one of the better Army recruiting videos that I've seen.  Thanks for sharing, CFII.

I head to 1-17 this week.  Maybe I'll see you in Hooks someday...

Brandon

Can anyone give me advice on going to a local recruiter to get info on this?  My cousin recently finished army boot camp and is not getting the mos that he was promised at the beginning.  
I don't want to walk into the recruiter's office and have him/her act like I'm asking to join up to be a seal.  

If anyone has advice they would like to share, I can pm my details.  Thanks!

Grab your balls and walk in the front door.  Google is your friend.  Some recruiters will deceive you, educate yourself and don't let them.  

Promises are for little girls.  Your cousin should have read the paperwork before he signed it.  "Just the tip" is a promise too.

Yeah, we weren't surprised he didn't get to be a drone pilot, but if the recruiter tells me "yeah we can get you in woc school, that's easy!"  I'm not going to know the difference.

Read the papers you sign.  The papers cannot lie.

You will know the difference, because you can comeback here and ask the guys that have btdt.  

Ask the recruiter to get your WOFT packet started.  Do NOT let them sign you up for any alternative enlisted job.  Certain MOSs are used as bait.  

Check back for advice and verication.

When they ask you if you're interested in enlisting, the answer is always no. Insist that you do a WOFT packet.