Warrant officer

armyman736

5-Year Member
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Jan 1, 2011
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I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but is there a way to become a warrant officer after ROTC or can you only be a commissioned officer?

If not, is there some sort of college people to go to to get a degree in what they want and become a warrant officer afterwards?

Thanks.
 
Armyman, my guess was the same as FloridaDad's in that you appear to want to fly helicopters but may be worried that flight time will be sharply reduced as you rise through the commissioned officer ranks. Unless your interest lies solely with flying attack helicopters, you may want to investigate whether this issue is isolated in the Army or whether it is also the case in all of the branches that employ helicopters in carrying out their assigned mission, including Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force.
 
Finally...a Coast Guard related subject. Sorry I don't get a chance to get a plug in for my old branch much.

If you are interested in becoming commissioned and want to fly Helo's the Coast Guard is a great choice. Commissioned Officers fly the Helo's, it is not uncommon to see a LtCmdr at the stick, there is a caveat though. The Cosat Guard does not have a ROTC program, they do however have a fine academy, not an easy institution to gain addmission. There is another way, if you have your 4 year degree and your fixed wing pilots license you can apply for thier Pilot program, the only thing is that you will be required to sign up for an 11 year stretch, the good part is that you will be able to fly the entire time.

Just something else to look at.
 
Finally...a Coast Guard related subject. Sorry I don't get a chance to get a plug in for my old branch much.

If you are interested in becoming commissioned and want to fly Helo's the Coast Guard is a great choice. Commissioned Officers fly the Helo's, it is not uncommon to see a LtCmdr at the stick, there is a caveat though. The Cosat Guard does not have a ROTC program, they do however have a fine academy, not an easy institution to gain addmission. There is another way, if you have your 4 year degree and your fixed wing pilots license you can apply for thier Pilot program, the only thing is that you will be required to sign up for an 11 year stretch, the good part is that you will be able to fly the entire time.

Just something else to look at.

No guns? No thanks. :smile:
 
You guys guessed correctly. I have always wanted to only fly helicopters and am afraid if I become a commissioned officer I wont fly as much as a warrant officer would. Scoutpilot has already talked to me on another thread and he said there are times you fly a lot as a commissioned officer, and there are times where you do paper work.

Another thing is that I want a college degree before I enter the army and that's why I wanted to go through West Point or AROTC. However, if Warrant Officers seem to fly more, I think I would rather be a Warrant Officer. I still want my college degree and wanted to know if there was any way I could get the degree and still become a Warrant Officer.
 
No guns? No thanks. :smile:

Oh not true. We had and still have Drug Interdiction, those boys fly fully loaded. Granted they don't have the big boy toys like the Army. The snipers are amazing, they can shoot the outboard engines on a go fast boat traveling 50 knots in 4 foot seas from 1500 ft up, and do it at night, that is if a couple bursts from the 50 cal. across the bow doesn't stop them. God help them if they fire on the Helo.

Of course there were more then a few times we wish we had a couple missles....just to make a point.

The one sad thing is that the pilots never got to pull the trigger.
 
Oh not true. We had and still have Drug Interdiction, those boys fly fully loaded. Granted they don't have the big boy toys like the Army. The snipers are amazing, they can shoot the outboard engines on a go fast boat traveling 50 knots in 4 foot seas from 1500 ft up, and do it at night, that is if a couple bursts from the 50 cal. across the bow doesn't stop them. God help them if they fire on the Helo.

Of course there were more then a few times we wish we had a couple missles....just to make a point.

The one sad thing is that the pilots never got to pull the trigger.

Bingo. They're just taxi-driving...
 
Bingo. They're just taxi-driving...

That is another thing, I want to be IN the action. I really want to pilot the Apache.

I know you said both Warrant Officer and Commissioned fly. In your opinion, if I want to fly more rather than doing office work every once in a while, would you recommend becoming a Warrant Officer? Thanks.
 
Bingo. They're just taxi-driving...

Taxi drivers kissing the edge of a Hurricane, hovering 50 ft above 25 foot waves while they pull some poor soul out of the water on what seems like piano wire. Blowing so hard you can't tell if it's the rain or the spray from the waves soaking you.

Of course nobody is usually shooting at us either.

You know we could keep this up all evening. Always had nothing but the utmost respect for what you guys do.

PS. IN the action is a relative term.
 
Bingo. They're just taxi-driving...

scoutpilot, I'm sure there's a LOT of job satisfaction in rescuing someone from a sinking vessel during a violent storm where few pilots, even the bravest of all Apache pilots, would have the guts to fly. Just saying . . .
 
Taxi drivers kissing the edge of a Hurricane, hovering 50 ft above 25 foot waves while they pull some poor soul out of the water on what seems like piano wire. Blowing so hard you can't tell if it's the rain or the spray from the waves soaking you.

We cross-posted!!! The message is the same.
 
That is another thing, I want to be IN the action.

-If you are thinking four and out, it's not going to matter much which way you go (same flight hours) - so go ROTC and get college paid for

-If you are planning on staying in (wife kids etc) the pay differential is pretty significant - go ROTC - your family will thank you for it

-If you are going to be a bachelorforlifehotdogtopgunmaverickvipergoosepilot - go fly fighters for the Navy:eek:
:biggrin::tomcat::biggrin:
 
-If you are thinking four and out, it's not going to matter much which way you go (same flight hours) - so go ROTC and get college paid for

-If you are planning on staying in (wife kids etc) the pay differential is pretty significant - go ROTC - your family will thank you for it

-If you are going to be a 'bachelor for life' Hot-Dog Top Gun pilot - go fly fighters for the Air Force:eek:
:biggrin::tomcat::biggrin:

If you branch aviation, it won't be 4 and out.
 
--If you are going to be a 'bachelor for life' Hot-Dog Top Gun pilot - go fly fighters for the Air Force:eek:

You can have just as much fun with the 25mm cannon of a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. At least you get to see your target up close!
 
I respect every service member no matter what job they perform. For me, I would like to be shooting things (this is just me). Every person has their different opinions. When I said in the action I wasnt being disrespectful. Rescuing people during hurricanes takes as much courage as any firefight.

Let's just end this argument now.

When you said four and out I assume you mean serve for four years then leave? If that's the case then no. I plan on staying in the military for 10+ years. Would warrant be the better way to go?
 
I respect every service member no matter what job they perform. For me, I would like to be shooting things (this is just me). Every person has their different opinions. When I said in the action I wasnt being disrespectful. Rescuing people during hurricanes takes as much courage as any firefight.

Let's just end this argument now.

When you said four and out I assume you mean serve for four years then leave? If that's the case then no. I plan on staying in the military for 10+ years. Would warrant be the better way to go?

There is no argument young man....just some good old fashioned inter-service rivalry, All in good fun.

Believe me, you were not being disrespectful at all.

If you branch aviation and pass flight school you will owe the Army more then 4 years, how much I am not sure, Scout Pilot can tell you more. Coast Guard requires 11 years.

The decision to go either Warrent or commissioned is going to be up to you, no one can tell you what to do. Talk to active duty pilots, eventually you'll have to decide on your own.
 
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