I was wondering if anyone had any advice to give on trying to put my packet together while on deployment. I leave in a few weeks so there's no time to start anything now and I know I'll probably have to wait a few months to get settled into the FOB before I can do anything. Is it harder to do while over there? Can I take the flight physical over there or will I have to wait until I come back? I will be on a big FOB so I should have a lot at my disposal. I searched for an answer to this question and didn't find one, I would appreciate your help. Thank you.
hi cozy, i am in the same boat as you, but i am deployed as a civilian. like me, you'll probably have to do the paperwork back home, but you should still be able to start doing the actuall packet work now since it is your responsibility to fill it out. since you're now deployed, now would be a great time to get your letters of recommendation and to put your resume/essay work together. if your base has the asvab at the education center, then that will also be of help to you. if you need to retake it, you could try and knock it out before you leave. they are problaby not going to let you do anything else unless you get that GT 110 firtst. as far as the f. physical and the AFAST go, i think you'll have to be back in the states to do it... then again I'm a civilian on a contract deployment, so i don't know all the facts, however i am wanting to apply for the program and i have done some research as well.
if i was you, i would start putting your packet materials together now and start studying for the asvab/afast (if you haven't already)
Thanks for the info. I have a 132 GT so I'm good there and I know that you can take the AFAST overseas at the education centers. Other than that I guess I'll just start what I can, hopefully I can find some good people to give me recommendations. Another question: Does your eyesight have to be 20/20, or correctable to 20/20. I interpreted the website to say correctable to it. I'm getting lasik as soon as I get back though-do I have to wait to put my packet in til 6 months after the surgery?
Cozi - I completed my entire packet while deployed in six months - and got selected! I too was on a decent sized FOB and with the support of my command was able to knock it all out rather quickly. I would not solicit letters of recommendation until you have completed your flight physical, because they DO expire and the warrant officer who interviewed me wanted to be sure I was physically qualified before he wasted time writing a letter.
Wow, really? You even did the flight physical over there? Awesome news. Thanks for your help, and congratulations on getting accepted. How did you go about getting recommendations, I'm a vehicle mechanic so it's not like I'll be working around a lot of warrants, did you find it hard to do? Again, thanks a ton.
Yep, did the complete flight physical there. I was near BIAP, so it was easy. As far as your senior warrant letter, ask your company commander if he/she knows any aviators. Check with your G3 Air section - there may be a warrant there or at the very least, any of the officers there could put you in contact with one. Be resourceful, think this through and don't be afraid to ask your chain for help.
It doesn't have to be a Warrant Officer. It has to be a Senior Army Aviator or a Master Army Aviator. It is a time in service and a flight hour experience thang. If they are wearing their aviator wings, you can tell because they wear the wings with the star above the shield (or star and wreath). Generally, they are CW3 and above, or MAJ and above on the RLO side. So, if you can get the Division G-3 Air to offer up some time to write you a letter, that can work. Otherwise, you might check with the Brigade Aviation Officer (BAO). Hopefully, he will actually be a Major instead of a senior Captain filling a Major's billet.
