Ideas on which way to apply for WOFT

B

bix

New Member
Hi all my name is Jon Bixler and I am a new member of this forum. I just have a few questions to ask and ill try not to ask questions that have been asked before. I am 19 years old and my dream is to go woft in the army. I did well in highschool but college is just not somthing i see myself going into right now. From reading past threads and other forum threads I know how hard it is to get picked up out of highschool. I talked to a recruiter a few months ago and he told me being 19 and not having more than one good LOR and having done no community service it would be extremely hard for me to get in. At this point would joining up now and applying later for WOFT be the better route to take? If so what mos would be the best choice? I also have no time around aviation at all and my recruiter told me that would probably count against me. Would getting my private pilots license help me at all? I have heard it only helps when your actually in flightschool but does nothing for your packet. Any replies would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Jon
 
I have been out of the loop for a while as far as WO applications, so I'll give you some general guidance.
Flight training can't hurt and can only help.
No specific MOS will help you. However, a flight MOS (such as crew chief), will put you in touch with WOs who have been there, done that and know what it takes to make it as well as possible LORs. On the flip side, an MOS such as infantry will get you into action where you can distinguish yourself and perhaps put your file ahead of others in the application process.
Try to get some college, even if it is a community college. Math, science should help.
Look into the GA National Guard. They have a -60 unit up in Atlanta. May be another way of getting into flight school and they do like to send their own people to flight school. It's a different process from active duty (at least it use to be).
Good luck.
 
Thanks for the info I really appreciate it. I have been really looking into maybe getting a ranger contract instead of just going into regular infantry. I figure if they are looking for men that are leaders that would be the best route to go. I realize it is NOT easy to get into the rangers but i also realize if I made it the training I would receive would be the best. Its somthing to think about, Im just trying to get some good advice as too which route to go. None of my family has been in the military so i dont have many people to go too and of course the with the internet you have to take everything with a grain of salt. Thanks again for the info

Jon
 
I applied for WOFT right after high school. The entire process took long enough that had a semester of college complete by the time I was selected. That was 10 years ago, from what I hear now it is very selective. There is no reason not to apply but in the meantime continuing school is not a bad option. You would stand a much better chance on being selected with a degree. Enlisting would also make you more competitive but I strongly caution you to do this only if it is something you want to do. Even then nothing is for certain.

There is always the National Guard as well. Maybe enlisting in the Guard while you go to school and then apply to WOFT for the Guard can be an option for you. Being an Active Duty guy I can't really say what your chances on that would be, but it may vary from state to state.
 
I definitely want to go active for sure. I feel like right now even if I do get some college credits under my belt its not going too be enough to get me excepted, I wish I would have known I needed to be more involved with the community. My recruiter told me they want very well rounded young men and having lors from high standing members of the community that have known me my whole life is pretty big. (Low level hell) what do you think about an mos choice? Infantry or aviation? Thanks for the help!

Jon
 
The Army loves the infantry. I do believe that will give you the most advantage for when you do apply. If you do this, make sure being an infantry soldier is something you can see yourself doing in the first place regardless of having the chance to apply for WOFT. I know alot of Infantry guys. Some loved it, others changed careers as soon as they could.
 
Well I have absolutely no problem sticking to somthing if it means getting to the place that I need to be. I understand what you mean though by saying the infantry might not be for me, it is definitely not what the media cracks it up to be. I have a friend in afghanistan right now and he is in the infantry as an FO. Do you happen to know how many years would be reasonable before I could submit a packet?

Jon
 
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