Hi,

I am interested in joining army at 15Q, hoping to go to WOFT eventually. However, I have many obstacles. Please advises me whether I have any chance or not.

First, I am a permanent resident. I heard that 15Q is open to permanent residents. Is it true? I believe that my english skill is going to meet the army requirements for 15Q, at least(I want to believe like that )

Second, I am 36yrs old. I know that FAA or DOD hires civilian ATCs only when the candidate is younger than 31. However, I am rather interested in remaining in military aviation, especially WOFT. Can I still apply for 15Q with 36yrs of my age?

Third, what is the chance of getting accepted to WOFT from 15Q, compared with other MOSs (such as 15P, 15T, etc)? Would my knowledge and experience in ATC be a plus?

Fourth, I have a private pilot license in rotary wing. I do not have instrument rating, though. How would this look to the WOFT board?

Fifth, once completed AIT for 15Q, where would be the most of the duty stations be likely for me? I heard that many of 15Qs are deployed to Iraq, Afghan, or Korea. Being a Korean-American, I'd love to volunteer to Korea, if possible. Will I have a little bit of choice like that?

Any advice woulbe be appreciated.

Your way above the max age. Age waivers have only a 2% approval rating.

I got an age waiver at 36 in the National Guard. I tried to go Active Duty initially and they said "sorry, no way." I have a pretty good resume and it helps, but only the Guard will take guys at our age for WOFT. And it is still a big IF.
I know many ATC guys that fly recreationally and that could be an option for you if you don't want to be part time. Also, 15T is a way to get that much coveted NVG time to use on a resume for later if you don't get in WOFT.

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permanent resident

quote:

First, I am a permanent resident. I heard that 15Q is open to permanent residents. Is it true? I believe that my english skill is going to meet the army requirements for 15Q, at least(I want to believe like that )

I asked army recruiter at goarmy.com about the MOS available to PR and this was the list he gave me. I see many 15's on the list but not the one you are looking at. Again this is what goarmy recruiter gave me.
11X (Infantry Recruit), 13B (Cannon Crewmember), 13S (Field Artillery
Surveyor), 15M (UH-1 Helicopter Repairer), 15G (Aircraft Structural
Repair), 15H (Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer), 15V (Observation/Scout
Helicopter Repairer), 15X (AH-64A Armament, Electrical, Avionics, System
Repairman), 15D (Aircraft Powertrain Repair), 15S (OH-58D Helicopter
Repairer), 15F (Aircraft Electrician), 15U (CH-47 Helicopter Repairer),
15Y (AH-64D Armament, Electrical, Avionics, System Repairman), 15T
(UH-60 Helicopter Repairer), 15B (Aircraft Powerplant Repair), 15R
(AH-62 Attack Helicopter Repairer), 19D (Cavalry Scout), 19K (M1 Abrams
Armor Crewman), 21B (Combat Engineer), 21C (Bridge Crewmember), 21D
(Diver), 21E (Heavy Construction Equipment Operator), 21G (Quarrying
Specialist), 21J (General Construction Equipment Operator), 21K
(Plumber), 21M (Firefighter), 21P (Prime Power Production Specialist),
21Q (Transmission & Distribution Specialist), 21R (Interior
Electrician), 21T (Technical Engineering Specialist), 21V (Concrete and
Asphalt Equipment Operator), 21W (Carpentry and Masonry Specialist), 42R
(Band Member), 42S (Special Band Member), 44B (Metal Worker), 44C
(Financial Management Technician), 44E (Machinist), 45B (Small Arms
Artillery Repairman), 45G (Fire Control Repairman), 45K (Armament
Repairman), 52C (Utilities Equipment Repairman), 52D (Power Generator
Equipment Repairman), 62B (Construction Equipment Repairman), 63A
(Abrams Tank System Maintainer), 63B (Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic), 63D
(Artillery Mechanic), 63H (Tracked Vehicle Repairer), 63J (Quartermaster
and Chemical Equipment Repairer), 63M (Bradley Fighting Vehicle System
Maintainer), 68P (Radiology Specialist), 68T (Animal Care Specialist),
68X (Mental Health Specialist), 68S (Preventive Medicine Specialist),
68H (Optical Laboratory Specialist), 68V (Respiratory Specialist), 68Q
(Pharmacy Specialist), 68M (Nutrition Care Specialist), 68D (Operating
Room Specialist), 68K (Medical Laboratory Specialist), 68J (Medical
Logistics Specialist), 68G (Patient Administration Specialist), 68A
(Biomedical Equipment Specialist), 68E (Dental Specialist), 68W (Health
Care Specialist), 68R (Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist), 74D
(Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist), 88H
(Cargo Specialist), 88K (Watercraft Operator), 88L (Watercraft
Engineer), 88M (Motor Transportation Operator), 88N (Transportation
Management Coordinator), 88T (Railway Section Repairer - RESERVE ONLY),
88P (Locomotive Repairer - RESERVE ONLY), 88U (Railway Operations
Crewmember - RESERVE ONLY), 89A (Ammunition Stock Control), 89B
(Ammunition Specialist), 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist), 92F
(Petroleum Supply Specialist), 92G (Food Service Specialist), 92L
(Petroleum Laboratory Specialist), 92M (Mortuary Affairs Specialist),
92R (Parachute Rigger), 92S (Shower, Laundry & Clothing Repair
Specialist), 92W (Water Treatment Specialist), 92Y (Unit Supply
Specialist), 94H (Test, Measure, and Diagnostic Equipment Support
Specialist),
Hope this helps

The guard will take age waivers all day long if their particular unit needs pilots bad enough.

Thanks for your info, 17171479. I don't mind going with the guard. How about my being a permanent resident? Do I have to be enlisted first to apply for a citizenship? Or can I work on the guard WOFT packet from the beginning?

I have contacted a guard recruiter yesterday and it seems like guard is willing to take me into the enlisted 15Q. However, he was reluctant to put me directly into WOFT packet and said that I would have to wait (probably) 6 years in enlisted status until I become eligible to submit my packet. I was under the impression that, for WOFT, non-prior civilian could apply directly for WOFT. Am I wrong?

Non prior service can only apply to the active side... correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they can also apply to the reserves. The Guard wants to draw from their own ranks for their WOFT candidates. Sounds like the recruiter is shooting you straight.

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he ... was reluctant to put me directly into WOFT packet and said that I would have to wait (probably) 6 years in enlisted status until I become eligible to submit my packet.

This sounds wrong. My state, and I'd assume all states, requires a 6 year contractual obligation incurred after completion of flight school, so maybe this is where your recruiter is getting that.

There were guys/gals in my last unit who were non prior service that went from basic to WOCS then to flight school. Your 36 now, after a 6 year enlistment you will be 42. I doubt very seriously if you will get a waiver at 42 to go to flight school, NG or not...

No chance. Sorry; the State may actually approve the age waiver, but Mother Rucker is the final authority. Mother Rucker don't like us old guys. At an average our eyes lenses start to harden which makes it hard to see, especially the instruments at night under NVG's.
If you really want it; put in your packet TODAY, and play the odds.
Your best bet would be go for Army MOS 150U, UAV Pilot, Warrant Officer.

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Originally posted by homesick:
No chance. Sorry; the State may actually approve the age waiver, but Mother Rucker is the final authority. Mother Rucker don't like us old guys.

Can you back this up with a reg or something? Ramadi up there in this very thread said that he got in at 36. National Guard age waivers are approved by the Bureau. What authority does Rucker impose on an approved age waiver? Are you talking about Rucker approving a flight physical or not? Well that has nothing to do with age waivers and not everyone age the same way ...

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At an average our eyes lenses start to harden which makes it hard to see, especially the instruments at night under NVG's.

So let's ground most of our CW4-5s. Because they don't have good near vision. Further if the individual has slight myopia, he will not have a huge problem with Presbyopia...



Mitra. Your best bet is to go guard at this point. You have to remember, in order to submit a citizenship application, your unit has to be in active status. Most units enlist permanent residents. My citizenship application took 19 months. There is so much backlog with the security checks and all. But I believe they recently passed a legislation that now USCIS has to adjudicate naturalization applications within 6 months. I am active duty, considering Guard after my contract is over. And I am in process of applying for WOFT.

First things first, enlist!

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Originally posted by mitra88:
I have contacted a guard recruiter yesterday and it seems like guard is willing to take me into the enlisted 15Q. However, he was reluctant to put me directly into WOFT packet and said that I would have to wait (probably) 6 years in enlisted status until I become eligible to submit my packet. I was under the impression that, for WOFT, non-prior civilian could apply directly for WOFT. Am I wrong?

He can't put you in WOFT. You can not hold a clearance at this point, that is why you are to become a US Citizen. First you have to find out if you enlist within your state, can you apply for military citizenship under executive order? If you can, then enlist, finish your AIT, and then you can drop a WOFT packet within your Guard unit. You do not need to finish your initial contract.

Head on out to this link;

https://forums.goarmy.com/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=168

Mr. West is a Guard pilot who in flight training, he can answer your questions about Guard in detail.

I don't want to crush your dreams or anything but let's all be a little more realistic here and stop filling Mr. Mitra88's head with a bunch of dilusions. You are a 36 yr old non-citizen and, correct me if I'm wrong, but it doesn't sound like you have done much besides talk to a recruiter. What's your ASVAB score? Can you pass a physical? By the time you enlist into a 15 series job and do the time necessary to obtain you citizenship you will be considerably older. Probably close to 40 if not over. I was a recruiter for over 3 years and have seen situations like this before. I have seen people enlist thinking that their citizenship will be automatic and find out that more than often this is not the case. It's just my 2 cents, but you would have to prove yourself more worthy than the dozens of other 20 something yr olds who have been with that guard unit for a number of years. But please prove me wrong. Enlist in the guard, put in your time, get your citezenship, drop a WOFT packet, get it approved, make it through flight school and I'll let you kick me in the jimmy. I'll probably be a CW3 by then but I'll still be around.

I thought I had permission to kick you in the jimmy anytime...

I'd kick you in the jimmy if I could get my foot that high

Got selection tomorrow!!!

I'm number 2 on the OML. so should I take a 60 or a 58? Give me your honest opinion and don't just say "chinook, chinook, chinook, blah, blah, blah."

I'm a little on the fence about this whole thing and I'm looking for some good insight from people. Ultimately I think I would really enjoy the KW mission. I know it's underpowered and all that but I've had my butt saved my those guys a few times and I honestly believe they wheel their balls out to the aircraft in a gator. Not to say that all the other airframe's pilots aren't hot $h!t, but that's just my opinion. Sorry to jack the thread.

Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I would go with the 58's. No reason really, just a gut feeling.

sorry about that. hit the wrong button. Well I will let you all know how it goes down tomorrow.

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Originally posted by AirborneMO:
Enlist in the guard, put in your time, get your citezenship, drop a WOFT packet, get it approved, make it through flight school and I'll let you kick me in the jimmy. I'll probably be a CW3 by then but I'll still be around.

With all due respect (I am obliged to say it even if I don't agree with it in this case) why the arrogance? It is a difficult goal but not impossible. Why bring him down?