Accepted to WOCS, Start Date - April 7th

[spikethebest]

I have finally been accepted to WOCS at Fort Rucker. I was on the waiting list for 4 months, and I just got the call the other day that they had a shortfall, and that I was next on the list.

I start April 7th. Do I arrive early to inprocess?

I am in the National Guard, so my aircraft is Blackhawks.

Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, advice, or feedback about the current WOCS program?

Does anyone have any regulations, field manuals, training manuals, literature, notes, or any paperwork that would assist me in WOCS?

I am doing the 6 week WOCS since I have not completed WLC.

What do you think I should most to prepare for WOCS? PT? Study? anything else? Someone told me that I have to write my name on all my clothes, how do I go about doing this? What is the format and regulations for this?

Do you recommend I drive my personal car over (about a 2500 mile drive) or do something else for transportation?

Anyone know how the bubbles are doing in flight school? Is it still a 2 year completion time?

Recommend getting some rotary time before going to WOCS? I am a civilian fixed wing pilot, but I only have 1.5 hours in a Robinson R22.

Do you recommend to bring any specific items with you to WOCS or Flight School to make life easier, or wish you did or didn't bring certain items?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Low_Level_Hell]

Congrats!

I'd say get in shape, its still an Army course. I went through in 2001 so alot has changed but everything they test you on is taught at the school house. As for writing your name on all your stuff wait til you get there. They'll provide instructions on all that when you get there and you'll have time to do it while you inprocess and everything you'll need will be down the street at the shoppette.

If you're gonna start flight school right away bringing your car makes sense to me. The school has a place to store it that's pretty secure. I think quite a bit has changed since I went through but your personnal items are regulated so just bring all your basic issue from basic/AIT and if you need anything else I'm sure it'll be there.

As far as flight training I say save your money. Also I would keep the fact you have a fixed-wing cert. to yourself your entire time in flight school.

Again congrates and best of luck. I think there are some more recent Army flight school grads here who can give you some more current info on WOCS and flight school.

 

[HVYMETALDRVR]

Congrats!

I'd say get in shape, its still an Army course. I went through in 2001 so alot has changed but everything they test you on is taught at the school house. As for writing your name on all your stuff wait til you get there. They'll provide instructions on all that when you get there and you'll have time to do it while you inprocess and everything you'll need will be down the street at the shoppette.

If you're gonna start flight school right away bringing your car makes sense to me. The school has a place to store it that's pretty secure. I think quite a bit has changed since I went through but your personnal items are regulated so just bring all your basic issue from basic/AIT and if you need anything else I'm sure it'll be there.

As far as flight training I say save your money. Also I would keep the fact you have a fixed-wing cert. to yourself your entire time in flight school.

Again congrates and best of luck. I think there are some more recent Army flight school grads here who can give you some more current info on WOCS and flight school.

LLH is right. The Army should pretty much take care of you and teach everything in the crawl walk run format, and I'm sure they have a specific way they want everything done anyways so I wouldn't worry about studying the Blackhawk in advance or anything... Biggest thing I would say is PT, granted I'm in the Reserves but pretty much conducting yourself with discipline, professionalism blah blah blah and passing all your PT tests, everything else should fall into place. I just re-read your post and see your already in the NG so you know what I'm talking about...

One of my close friends is actually trying to do the same thing as an active duty Apache pilot (he's prior service), I gotta ask how is the interview process and how long did it take from getting the ball rolling and submitting the paperwork too getting your class date if you don't mind me asking? thanks

 

[Lefty]

I have finally been accepted to WOCS at Fort Rucker. I was on the waiting list for 4 months, and I just got the call the other day that they had a shortfall, and that I was next on the list.

Congratulations!

I start April 7th. Do I arrive early to inprocess?

No more than a day or two. You will be in snowbird status for a few days to get your crap in order.

I am in the National Guard, so my aircraft is Blackhawks.

That sucks!

Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, advice, or feedback about the current WOCS program?

Bring your cellphone.

Does anyone have any regulations, field manuals, training manuals, literature, notes, or any paperwork that would assist me in WOCS?

You don't need any of it, they will teach you all the answers in academics. (foot stomp)

I am doing the 6 week WOCS since I have not completed WLC.

Better that way, at least you won't have to butt heads with seasoned NCO's who are now a bunch of peers.

What do you think I should most to prepare for WOCS? PT? Study? anything else? Someone told me that I have to write my name on all my clothes, how do I go about doing this? What is the format and regulations for this?

As of 3 years ago, my class liked to run. I would just stay in the 250ish range on your APFT and you will be fine.

Do you recommend I drive my personal car over (about a 2500 mile drive) or do something else for transportation?

If you are starting IERW right after WOCS then I would drive. If you will return to your unit, then I would fly.

Anyone know how the bubbles are doing in flight school? Is it still a 2 year completion time?

This could change drastically in the next 6 months, I wouldn't expect them to be too long with the current state of Warrant Officer accessions.

Recommend getting some rotary time before going to WOCS? I am a civilian fixed wing pilot, but I only have 1.5 hours in a Robinson R22.

Nope. Don't tell anyone you're a pilot.

Do you recommend to bring any specific items with you to WOCS or Flight School to make life easier, or wish you did or didn't bring certain items?

Beer, porn, drugs and your dog.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

PM me if you have any questions.

Also, I wrote all of this without reading Low Level Hell's post, there is quite a few similarities. This might be more accurate information than I thought!

 

[Ollie]

Nope. Don't tell anyone you're a pilot.

:yeahthat:

Don't tell a single soul - trust us on this one. It's not dishonest not to volunteer that you have flight experience. You'll probably have an IP who, at some point, will figure it out. If he asks just answer that you've always been interested in flying and took a few lessons a long time ago or that you've got a flight simulator program on your computer.

The bottom line here is just lay low, keep your nose clean, and don't select Chinooks and you'll be just fine.

 

[MikeD]

:yeahthat:

Don't tell a single soul - trust us on this one. It's not dishonest not to volunteer that you have flight experience. You'll probably have an IP who, at some point, will figure it out. If he asks just answer that you've always been interested in flying and took a few lessons a long time ago or that you've got a flight simulator program on your computer.

The bottom line here is just lay low, keep your nose clean, and don't select Chinooks and you'll be just fine.

I disagree.

Tell them that you have civilian experience. And that even though the Army was the last choice for aviation on your list, since aviation holds no real importance for them, it was better than nothing.

Be honest.

 

[Low_Level_Hell]

The bottom line here is just lay low, keep your nose clean, and don't select Chinooks and you'll be just fine.

He'll be flying Blackhawks for his Guard Unit. Which is the second, though a distant second, best helicopter in the Army. Chinooks come in third cause they look stupid. And Kiowa's are dead last cause they are the worst aircraft there ever was in any military ever.

 

[Ollie]

He'll be flying Blackhawks for his Guard Unit. Which is the second, though a distant second, best helicopter in the Army. Chinooks come in third cause they look stupid. And Kiowa's are dead last cause they are the worst aircraft there ever was in any military ever.

Yeah yeah. I mentioned the part about not selecting Chinooks with a significant amount of tongue-in-cheek. I'm pretty sure they're not making any active duty Chinook pilots right now anyway because of the massive mess they've made over the past five years...

 

[Lefty]

Yeah yeah. I mentioned the part about not selecting Chinooks with a significant amount of tongue-in-cheek. I'm pretty sure they're not making any active duty Chinook pilots right now anyway because of the massive mess they've made over the past five years...

Yeah that.

 

[Ian_J]

I'm pretty sure they're not making any active duty Chinook pilots right now anyway because of the massive mess they've made over the past five years...

What's been going on with them?

 

[Lefty]

What's been going on with them?

The Army produced a massive amount of Chinook pilots over the last 5-7 years. The plan is to let the problem dissolve itself. Rucker suspended all 47 FSXXI classes for a period to stop flooding the ranks.

 

[TOP]

The Army produced a massive amount of Chinook pilots over the last 5-7 years. The plan is to let the problem dissolve itself. Rucker suspended all 47 FSXXI classes for a period to stop flooding the ranks.

I think the active duty Blackhawk community is in the same mess. Although I don't know if they have suspended classes yet.

 

[spikethebest]

One of my close friends is actually trying to do the same thing as an active duty Apache pilot (he's prior service), I gotta ask how is the interview process and how long did it take from getting the ball rolling and submitting the paperwork too getting your class date if you don't mind me asking? thanks

thanks everyone for all your advice and help!!

to help answer your questions... I had 2 interviews. 1 for the state for national guard, and 1 for federal recognition. they were pretty easy. Just wear your greens (or blues, or a nice suit if your a civilian, and they ask you questions about aviation, current events, leadership, teamwork, experience (both civilan and military), reason for being a pilot, and they judge your potential to succeed or not. I am MORE than willing to help about anyone that is interested to submitting a packet. I just know how the process goes for National Guard, but I will assist in any way that i can.

I started the process in Feb 2010, got my eyes fixed with LASIK, waited 3 months, got another flight physical, by May I had all my recommendations and paperwork. the packet got signed off by facility commander, and then I was off to my first board in October (had to wait a long time for the flight physical to get approved by FT Rucker, and state boards meet once a quarter). then I had my Federal board in Dec (they meet once a month, and for some reason Nov was canceled). I found out immediately after the Federal board that I got appointed a WOC, got pinned on the spot, and on Feb 6 2011 received the phone call that a slot has opened up for me.

 

[Airborne840]

Congrats on WOCS. PM me if you have any specific questions. I am just about done with the Blackhawk course here at Fort Rucker. You're going to enjoy flight school. Just be prepared to drink from the firehose!

 

[spikethebest]

UPDATE

I am on the road to Fort Rucker. I have a few questions before I start WOCS.
Please Give me a call if you have been through WOCS.

661-312-9521
Thank You.