AF Warrant Officers

It is my understanding the AF did away with warrant officers decades ago but I had the oppurtunity to strike up a conversation with an Army CW3 this morning about avation jobs in the military. This CW3 is a helicopter pilot at a nearby base. I told him my AROTC DS has talked about branching avation upon graduation. The CW3 advised DS go into Raptors or some other sort of PRA slot as it is an emerging MOS. Then we got to talking about how the AF is moving their pilots from jets to RPA and how crazy it is to invest so much money in training a pilot to then move them to an RPA platform. This CW3 had a great idea, have the AF bring back their warrant officer program to fly these RPAs. He said we as warrant officers are more cost effective in the short and long term. Sounds like a great idea, thoughts??

Right now the UAV's in the Army are operated by enlisted soldiers, the MOS is emerging more all the time but it is an enlisted MOS. During the transition of warrants from the oH-58 some have gone to the UAV program, but the operators are still the enlisted.

Right now the UAV's in the Army are operated by enlisted soldiers

As much as the AF is hurting for money and pilots they may want to take a page from the Army's playbook on this one.

sheriff3 said:

It is my understanding the AF did away with warrant officers decades ago but I had the oppurtunity to strike up a conversation with an Army CW3 this morning about avation jobs in the military. This CW3 is a helicopter pilot at a nearby base. I told him my AROTC DS has talked about branching avation upon graduation. The CW3 advised DS go into Raptors or some other sort of PRA slot as it is an emerging MOS. Then we got to talking about how the AF is moving their pilots from jets to RPA and how crazy it is to invest so much money in training a pilot to then move them to an RPA platform. This CW3 had a great idea, have the AF bring back their warrant officer program to fly these RPAs. He said we as warrant officers are more cost effective in the short and long term. Sounds like a great idea, thoughts??

Click to expand...

You'll find that warrant officers are always full of great ideas, and half of them are completely divorced from reality. Case in point, there's no "officer MOS" for UAVs (the Army isn't trying to sell them as "RPAs," that's an AF thing).

I'm pretty sure this would require Congressional action to implement, as the USAF has exactly zero warrant officers now. Additionally, all pilots in the AF are commissioned officers (for historical and intra-service issues).

If the AF wanted to go to "career pilots" and make them warrant officers, I know a few people would would volunteer.

raimius said:

I'm pretty sure this would require Congressional action to implement, as the USAF has exactly zero warrant officers now. Additionally, all pilots in the AF are commissioned officers (for historical and intra-service issues).

If the AF wanted to go to "career pilots" and make them warrant officers, I know a few people would would volunteer.

Click to expand...

You all are no less career pilots than warrants.

The Coast Guard had A warrant officer to Ensen for pilots back in the day when I was thinking about getting in. Of course this was probably because they were short on pilots.
This should be the same situation. I have done 3 tours with the Army and two in the C12 king Air. I have also done Task Force ODIN and you think it would be easy for me to get in when they are desperate.
I am in the IRR but, I believe I can still give back. I have been trying to inquire about getting in for a year now. I just interviewed at General Atomics but I laughed for quite some time when they told me the Salary 56k to start. It was a very short interview. I had to apply just to find out. Not giving up my civilian MEDEVAC job for that.
I am hoping things changed or maybe they have already. I am waiting back from an ARMY and AF recruiter.

Coast Guard has CWO to LT but not for pilots. Also keep in mind the Coast Guard doesn't have Warrants (W-1), it only has Chief Warrant Officers (CWO-2 to CWO-4).

Friend's son graduated USNA and was volunteered to Nukes. Hated it and is now CG Officer after five and dive with Wings in the future. Always wanted to fly and will. CG needs pilots.

raimius said:

I'm pretty sure this would require Congressional action to implement, as the USAF has exactly zero warrant officers now.

Click to expand...

If so, AF should not have any problem convincing the Congress - the move will be save AF some money. My understanding is that one of the first questions asked on a proposed Congressional action is what will be the cost.

Back in 2006 they had CWO to Ensen not sure about now. Took two years for my packet to go through. I know this because my packet was accepted with my experience, I interviewed on a board in Atlantic City but declined. This was for pilot of course and it was just like a flight school board but, mostly aviation/IFR and Officer questions. Was trying to get into Hawks and C130s eventually.

They couldn't guarantee an Aircraft no matter what I flew and duty position and the work schedule wasn't for me. Working MEDEVAC week on, week off spoiled me.

Anyway, back to what I said, they had WO to Ensen in other branches trust me and when they are desperate they can do the same. I got into C12 fixed wing with the Army any way and did two tours.

In the IRR but would love to dabble into UAVs. I feel i still have a lot to give back without all the front Line Pilot Hooah.

I even tried to switch Navy bec I live in Coronado CA now. Like I said above the whole switching branches takes two years. I'm sure they can figure out something, per diem, contract, allowing WO or WO to Ensen but the accelerated method. I was recently in Qatar flying C12 as an attachment with the AF so, why not?

Ensign. Are you talking a warrant from another branch to ensign? I can nearly promise you there was no Coast Guard CWO to ensign in 2006. If you're talking about an Army WO to ensign, I believe that, and it may still exist. In fact there is a direct commission aviator (DCA) program in the Coast Guard. I saw Army pilots at the rank of major taking a two pay grade cut to lieutenant junior grade (and O-4 to an O-2) to go through the DCA program. They take that hit and go through a brief OCS program that teaches them specifically about the Coast Guard. At that point they likely have the other military stuff down.

But Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officers are not becoming ensigns and going to flight school.