WT Forums

Hey everyone, yet another new guy question.

Currently Active Army of 6 years. 3 years flying Hawks. Love the Hawk, don't so much love the Army, go figure. I've gone through the typical searching of info and got some leads with good info.

Read that there was a thread/page with general info for aspiring Hawg Drivers located somewhere discussing qualifications etc... couldn't find it. Can someone link me to where I might find answers to all those pesky questions I have?

Great forum, just what I was hoping to find.
Thanks everyone,

The FNG.

http://forum.a-10.org/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9440


<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Currently Active Army of 6 years. 3 years flying Hawks. Love the Hawk, don't so much love the Army, go figure. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Why's that? I have considered cross training to become a helicoptor pilot in the Army when my current enlistment is up. In fact, it's the only thing I think I would enjoy as much as being a Crew Chief. What's it like? Both the good and bad.

They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes. I prefer them in that order.

Well, it's got it's ups and downs like everything else. You looked into it much? You want comissioned route or warrant? If warrant check out the WOCC recruiting page for everything you need to get your app in. A10 Crew Chief, hell you're qualified you just need to apply (just a couple requirements: pass a flight phys and have a security clearance, which you probably have, and pass the AFAST).

It was a great way to get into flying, I love it and love the Hawk and my boys in the unit. Just looking ahead and still dreaming with my sights on the Hawg. Just getting started in looking into it though, so I'm searching out the requirements for commission in the ANG or AF. I'd like to get picked up as a flight officer and fly the Hawg, and that's about all I know about the whole thing.

Thanks for the link and good luck, anyone else?

We do PT in the army jack.

<b>There are two kinds of soldiers.
Snipers...and targets.</b>
<img src="http://www.creedmoorsports.com/images/SA9121-M21.JPG" border=0>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
We do PT in the army jack.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Jack's ideal of PT is running to the Class 6 before it closes. <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - Lil Hitler on Aug 29 2005 11:12 PM

_________________


Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

Move to Nellis. Our class 6 doesn't close. 0'Beer thirty is much better than PT

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Jack's ideal of PT is running to the Class 6 before it closes.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
True.
I saw a brochure in the Army recruiters office the last time I was on leave. If I was to do it, it would definitely be as a Warrant Officer. That was what appealed to me so much, that you don't need to have a college degree. Also that the higher in rank you get in the AF, the less you do Crew Chief things, and eventually won't even touch a jet anymore. Going Blue->Green is one of the very few ways I could ever see myself not being a crew chief. I was reading recently alot on the WOCS page, and it's a possibilty. I dont mean to hijack this thread in a completely opposite direction than the one you started it it, but what is the flight school like? I know its pretty long, but how tough is it? Also, I assume the WOCS is similar to basic training again?

They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes. I prefer them in that order.

Well, WOCS is a 6 week long course with 3 parts. A new class comes in every 2 weeks, so you start as the new guys and they're pretty hard on you. Next 2 weeks not as much, and last 2 weeks your class is senior and by then all the TACs are harrassing the new class and it's pretty easy. PT is brutal throughout though. Just don't ever fall out of a run and you'll not likely get held back or be kicked out. Just 6 weeks man, not bad. Throughout the day you go take classroom instruction with civilian/army instructors and take tests on the material. After school and on weekends you're at the TACs disposal to do common area cleanup details and other projects. The physical portion is similar to ARMY basic in some ways, but you have alot of BS to deal with. It's all about teaching you time management. You never have enough time to get everything done, and you have to prioritize which is more important/which will get you in less trouble.

As far as flight school, it's got 3-4 parts (depending on your aircaft), with subparts and checkrides at the end of each. Half the day you go to class and the other half is flying, which is nice to do everyday. Start with basic flying with 2 checkrides, one in middle one at end. Then you have basic instruments all in the huey simulator and a checkride, then real instrument flying and a checkride. Then you either go to your advanced acft (Apache, Kiowa, Hawk, Chinook) or you take basic combat skills in an OH-58 for a month. I was lucky and got to skip BCS and got that training in the Hawk. The other route is take BCS, complete WOBC, graduate then go to your advanced acft. Confusing I know. You get to choose your acft based on your GPA in the class and whatever the ARMY has available on a list at the time of selection.

Over all it takes about a year to complete if you don't really have too many class bubble delays. And you walk away with 150 hours or so. You can take the FAA test at the end, which is too easy and like $50 or so, then you get your commercial instrument helicopter rating.

And you know the rest, go to your unit and probably go to Iraq. Great time, I loved it. Good luck and let me know if you have other Q's.