Author Topic: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program  (Read 3149 times)

Offline Reynolds One

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Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« on: December 05, 2009, 11:02:40 AM »
A friend of mine, who is a licensed helicopter pilot with both his instrument rating and commercial license, has been trying to enter the Army's warrant officer program for several months now (he obviously wanted to fly for the military).  For those of you who don't know, warrant officers fall between enlisted and officers (they're treated as officers by enlisted folk) and are reserved for specialists.

He needed 3 letters of recommendation, and after passing the board, he would go to enlisted boot camp then straight to warrant officer school.  Assuming he passed both, he would then go to flight school.  

Last week, I was surprised to hear from him that despite all his qualifications, he was disqualified because he admitted to smoking marijuana once after turning 18 (he's 23 now), and that it was over 3 years ago when he smoked.  Not only can he not be a pilot, he couldn't work in any field in aviation, which includes ground crew or mechanical.  He tried to get a waiver, but no luck there.

I was surprised because I figured since the military has been lowering their standards so much over the past few years that they'd waive him.  When I was in the Navy, I worked with a guy who was convicted of grand theft auto twice in Baltimore before the judge finally said "Go in the military or go to jail".  But again, that was ten years ago when that kind of thing was more common.

I think in his case the Army's decision to automatically reject him is a bit extreme.  At the same time, it looks like the military is raising the standards.  I don't know what the recruiting numbers are, but if they won't waive something as trivial as smoking pot once years ago, then they must be filling their quotas.

He's enlisting, anyway, and hopes that he can work his way into the aviation community down the road, though there are no guarantees.  He'll be working on Bradley Fighting Vehicles, instead.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 05:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Marine101

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2009, 01:08:28 PM »
Quote from: "Reynolds One"
A friend of mine, who is a licensed helicopter pilot with both his instrument rating and commercial license, has been trying to enter the Army's warrant officer program for several months now (he obviously wanted to fly for the military).  For those of you who don't know, warrant officers fall between enlisted and officers (they're treated as officers by enlisted folk) and are reserved for specialists.

He needed 3 letters of recommendation, and after passing the board, he would go to enlisted boot camp then straight to warrant officer school.  Assuming he passed both, he would then go to flight school.  

Last week, I was surprised to hear from him that despite all his qualifications, he was disqualified because he admitted to smoking marijuana once after turning 18 (he's 23 now), and that it was over 3 years ago when he smoked.  Not only can he not be a pilot, he couldn't work in any field in aviation, which includes ground crew or mechanical.  He tried to get a waiver, but no luck there.

I was surprised because I figured since the military has been lowering their standards so much over the past few years that they'd waive him.  When I was in the Navy, I worked with a guy who was convicted of grand theft auto twice in Baltimore before the judge finally said "Go in the military or go to jail".  But again, that was ten years ago when that kind of thing was more common.
I think in his case the Army's decision to automatically reject him is a bit extreme.  At the same time, it looks like the military is raising the standards.  I don't know what the recruiting numbers are, but if they won't waive something as trivial as smoking pot once years ago, then they must be filling their quotas.

He's enlisting, anyway, and hopes that he can work his way into the aviation community down the road, though there are no guarantees.  He'll be working on Bradley Fighting Vehicles, instead.

I know for a fact the army "upped" the standards because of the rapid increase of people enlisting due to the poor economy. Him not getting Warrant Officer because of it doesnt surprise me (Thats why you dont admit that stuff at Meps)  :---)  You didnt hear it from me.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 05:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline HavHav

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2009, 08:59:09 AM »
2 years ago, there were dudes coming in with Aggrivated Assault, 3 DUI's, burglary, and some other lovely charges. Of course, at this time the Army was taking whoever they could get, as Iraq wasn't ending as they saw it, and our numbers in Afghanistan were slowly increasing.

These same people have since fucked up, and are quickly on their way out. What sucks? They usually get honorable discharges just to speed up the process of kicking them out. Awesome.
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Offline BOHICA

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2009, 11:50:08 AM »
The other issue isn't the 3 years, but 7 years clean. Due to statue of limitations, although you might think 1 joint 3 years ago isnt that big deal it's still a felony and prosecutable for 7 years. Also the Army might give a waiver for a 11B or other combat arms MOS, but they will never lower standards on Aviation or other high dollar MOS. We ground pounders are expendable, but fly boys are not....

Sorry for your friend.
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Offline Reynolds One

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2009, 12:14:54 PM »
Good point about the 7 years.  I do understand why they came to that decision, I was just more surprised than anything.  In the end, I'd rather they keep the high standards instead of opening the flood gates.
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Offline azsarge

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2009, 06:23:40 PM »
That sucks.

He went about it the wrong way, though.  Enlisting right off the street and hoping to get a warrant slot is damn near impossible because you have experienced crew chiefs and other field-related folks that have put in their flight packets ahead of guys like your friend.

The fact that he admitted to doing illegal substances sealed the coffin on his career goals.

Alot of my friends from my unit are at flight school right now, and did not have any issues getting in because of their experience.

Working on Brad's is a shit job.

What to do now?  Serve his time in his newly selected shitty MOS, and be the best goddamn tracked vehicle mechanic he can be.  If he is a good kid, he can always apply for flight school later down the road.  Perhaps after a transfer into the AVN branch.
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Offline Reynolds One

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2009, 10:33:57 AM »
That's the goal for him, I think.  I honestly don't know why he picked the MOS he did.  He's hoping to try to apply again down the road, but we'll see.
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Offline Doc Hollywood

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2009, 11:19:07 AM »
Out of curiosity, does he know you are dragging his drama though a public airsoft forum ?

Names or no names, I'd kick you in the cockholster for telling my story.
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Offline azsarge

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2009, 10:00:17 PM »
Quote from: "Doc Hollywood"
Out of curiosity, does he know you are dragging his drama though a public airsoft forum ?

Names or no names, I'd kick you in the cockholster for telling my story.

I was thinking the same.  I gave homeboy the benefit of the doubt, figuring he was inquiring with this forum based upon it's extensive military personnel base. :lol:
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Offline Reynolds One

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2009, 04:10:11 PM »
The last word I would is "drama".  I'm ex-military, and there's obviously a lot of other ex & current military on this forum, which is why I posted the topic in the first place.  I thought it was interesting.  It looks like I was wrong, because out of nowhere one of you, who of course I don't know, is saying you would "kick me in the cockholster" for talking about something like this, that is, if it were you.

Well, dickhead, I'm not talking about you.  I have no idea who you are, what you do, what your background is, or how many cocks you can fit in your mouth at one time.  What I do know, is that you are a blowhard and a raging douchebag.  

I was really looking forward to meeting a lot of the Arizona airsoft players and get into my first game, but assholes like you make me suddenly think twice.  I'm pretty thick skinned and usually don't let dumb shits like you get to me, but you've managed to.
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Offline busta_cap

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2009, 04:44:59 PM »
Quote from: "Reynolds One"
The last word I would is "drama".  I'm ex-military, and there's obviously a lot of other ex & current military on this forum, which is why I posted the topic in the first place.  I thought it was interesting.  It looks like I was wrong, because out of nowhere one of you, who of course I don't know, is saying you would "kick me in the cockholster" for talking about something like this, that is, if it were you.

Well, dickhead, I'm not talking about you.  I have no idea who you are, what you do, what your background is, or how many cocks you can fit in your mouth at one time.  What I do know, is that you are a blowhard and a raging douchebag.  

I was really looking forward to meeting a lot of the Arizona airsoft players and get into my first game, but assholes like you make me suddenly think twice.  I'm pretty thick skinned and usually don't let dumb shits like you get to me, but you've managed to.

For being 30, you act like you are all of 12. And the fact is, I hate to break it to you but having your instrument rating and commercial license doesn't mean jack shit. Does he have any turbine experience? Unless you have 1000+ hours of turbine experience, I don't think the army Would really want him anyways. Going from flying an R22 that that costs $250,000 to  something like a UH-60 which cost upwards of 12M is a big deal.

Most people work in the tourism turbine field doing charters or scenic stuff after getting their commercial license for a few years. They get trained usually on the job by that company to fly turbine, then maybe after a couple years or a thousand plus hours they move onto high end private work or go work for the oil companies shuttling back and forth from offshore drilling rigs.
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Offline HavHav

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #11 on: December 09, 2009, 04:47:07 PM »
Let me just say this will be entertaining. Doc Hollywood is a great dude. Popcorn anyone?  :D
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Offline Vince

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2009, 04:54:25 PM »
Quote from: "busta_cap"
For being 30, you act like you are all of 12. And the fact is, I hate to break it to you but having your instrument rating and commercial license doesn't mean jack s***. Does he have any turbine experience? Unless you have 1000+ hours of turbine experience, I don't think the army Would really want him anyways. Going from flying an R22 that that costs $250,000 to  something like a UH-60 which cost upwards of 12M is a big deal.

Most people work in the tourism turbine field doing charters or scenic stuff after getting their commercial license for a few years. They get trained usually on the job by that company to fly turbine, then maybe after a couple years or a thousand plus hours they move onto high end private work or go work for the oil companies shuttling back and forth from offshore drilling rigs.

woah, did you learn all that during your lengthy tenure at Data Doctors?

lanes, guys. stay in them.
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Offline Reynolds One

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2009, 04:58:18 PM »
Well guys, the people have spoken.  It seems I've already made enemies before ever getting my feet wet in airsoft.  Since I'm clearly in uncharted waters, I'll bow out of the Arizona airsoft community and stick with video games.  

Cheers!
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Offline Vince

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Re: Friend Disqualified from Warrant Officer Program
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2009, 04:58:55 PM »
bye
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 05:00:00 PM by Guest »


"I was having dinner with Andrew Ho, and he said I should have COL McKnight lead airsofters in mock combat. I said, "That is the gayest idea I have ever heard." - John Lu