High School to Flight School - How to get selected to become a helicopter pilot in the Army 

Congrats oxide I’m glad everything worked out for you

Wanted to fly helicopters since i was 3, recruiter told me "high school to flight school" wasnt a thing. Signed up for 19K instead. Got to 30th AG at Benning and they told me i was a 19D. Now im just disabled and have PTSD. Dont take your opportunity for granted man, i woulda done some questionable shit to get where you are.

In Korean Army, only few of the best lieutenants(so univercity graduates) gets to be a Army Air Force's helicopter pilot, I have applied and failed, good on you to becoming one, always watching your content with joy.

TLDR: get into the DCS and Arma milsim community to get letter recommendations from enlisted people

My entire life I dreamed of being a military pilot. I grew up on the stories of my family members who had flow everything from P-40s to AC-130s. Then I found out I was colorblind. : )

As a current flight student, this has been a great video for anyone thinking about becoming an Aviator. My only note is do not let the term "high school to flight school" deter you if you have been out of school for a while. We have several people in my class who are "high school to flight school" but were in the civilian workforce for several years. If you can meet the standard, you can fly with us.

Congrats Oxide, and big RIP to the Kiowa platform and their Pilots. Some of the craziest pilots to ever grace the sky.

This video really shows how important having the right connections is to landing a job you're interested in. Touch grass & make friends guys. Show people in your area of interest that you're interested, and you'll stand a much better chance of getting in. Those 6 letters of recommendation probably did some serious legwork! Congrats Oxide, Army scored an interested & motivated pilot - not some average Joe who was filled in. Good luck with your career!

Looking forward to seeing you perform heli ramming irl!

92S is definitely the best job in the Army, even though I'm not convinced they exist

The masculine urge to drop out of UT Austin and become a UH60 pilot

R.I.P. Kiowa, Former 15S was working toward my application to WOFT before my body rebelled; most of your info is spot on for those currently lacking a DD214.

It’s cool to see you so research and get your dream job. I heard so many stories about being a Combat Engineer in Vietnam that I specifically chose that job. Not my greatest moment. My buddies dad spent most of his enlistment making traps to kill Charlie. I waxed a lot of floors, cleaned a lot, and drove around slowly. Thanks for the cool videos!

Congrats! I heard of WOFT from a CSM and he gave me a alot of help building my packet. Before you even go into the recruiters office, have a very good grasp on the process and even try to have your LORs so they know you're worth their time. (recruiters put alot of work into helping WOFT applicants for not much return) Always have a back up plan as well, there's alot of things that can cause you to not get picked up and it's a pretty long wait between boards. Above all, you don't need to be an officer to do cool aviation stuff and SOAR has a pretty big deficit right now.

Wow I was just talking to a retired Army recruiter about this around the time this was posted. I really needed all of this information. Thank you Oxide.

Remember to use code OXIDE at your local meps office to get 1 year total off your contract

Congrats dude

About-to-retire Navy Commander here. Love how you found old school 80s-90s army recruiting commercials and incorporated them into your video.

wouldn't you know it, this was one of my plans. Though I didn't know about this method, thought id have to do like 6 years of education for it. Thanks man!

This really killed all my hope of becoming a pilot :D

The trainer helicopters you show are used by my local air ambulance service, it’s super cool to operate alongside them whenever I’ve gotten the chance

Hey Oxide, I missed out on this program a while back and got stuck as a 15N in the Ohio Army Guard. I’ve actually been considering dropping a WO packet for a bit now. Good on you, and keep at it. Our pilots love their jobs and Army Aviation is seriously one of the best things you can do in life.

Its cool that you gave the recruiters credit you hear all the time about bad ones but yours seemed great. When I joined I was my recruiters first person he ever put in and the entire office was extremely professional and honest about the job and no lie it truly was the first step on making me love the Army and be successful in it still to this day.

Pilot training and a 10 year commitment?? Dang man, I appreciate people like you who would take that commitment. I recently got out but I'm glad to see the next generation of troops enlisting and taking the reigns.

Let's gooo!!My dream is to be a fighter or attack pilot,it's great that you achieved yours!

Class of '89 in HS, went to BCT the day after graduation and Rucker right after. Grey Flight 90-04. Retired from the USCG (Direct Commission Aviator) at 38. You are correct about finding a good recruiter. I had the best and am forever grateful that he took the time to get my packet done right. This amazing program made a life for me.

I saw your test of the helmets against Eastern Threats. Didn't know I was in school with you. Just started CC 22-20. Small world.

Always interesting how the enlisted/warrant world handles this sort of selective and technical training. Rather different than the officer side, where the chaff will have been filtered out long before even considering what they want to do in the army.

I’m an 11B and I still watched this video lol Good job Oxide! If you get Apaches I hope you fly over watch for me one day 🤘🏻

That army ad at the end was definitely aimed at 16-18 year olds lol

Currently going through the process and about to take the sift. I don't think that this video could have come out a better time for me. It looks to be a great opportunity.

Been with you since the War Thunder early days. Proud of ya champ

Hey congrats! Street to Seat CH-47F pilot here. Welcome to the club.

Bro, your essay's fire

If this video had come out 2 years ago I would’ve pursued it to no end. Now I don’t know.

Congrats, i too have dreamt big in the army, i was in the process for nuclear technician on the french nuclear nuclear weapons carrying sub(SNLE in french) but failed miserably a stress test.

Nice! I was in WOCS when I learned street to seat was a thing. I’m glad you’re getting the word out.

Oxide i wish you the best of luck. I know you will have fun and you will be loving your work. Consistency Determination Persistence

Crazy to think I started watchin your channel 8 years ago when it was a very simple warthunder highlight channel, and now your going to be an army aviator. Congrats Oxide.

We should all feel safe with Oxide guarding us in the air. Congratulations king!

literally live in lynnwood, going to their office today lmao it's 8 minutes away. I had no idea this was possible but this has always been my dream that I thought wasn't possible, thank you for posting this.

I walked in the recruiters office (age 22) in 1981 and that commercial was playing then. Told the recruiter wanted Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) or would walk and went in the end of 1982. After 23 years, I retired from the Army National Guard flying as an AH-1 Cobra Instructor Pilot , OH-58 Kiowa A/C Safety Officer and CW4. The total commitment THEN was around 5 years but I never regretted it, like he said best job in the Army.

I am looking into aviation in law enforcement. /TFO -> Pilot I think a good amount of your intel applies to LE as well. Thanks brother.

Been waiting for this video! Very entertaining as well. Thank you!

I work in the warehouse that is in the plant that builds the ah-64, hopefully soon I be making composites. If you are going to be flying one of these birds there is a good chance I've counted the many many bolts that make up that aircraft.

Currently working on my packet, and next week I hit my 5 year mark about to pickup my E6, but yeah this video is pretty spot on with the process, I do believe for active individuals the packet differs slightly aside from SIFT, physical, GT score, clearance but yeah sweet video and very informative. But yeah every single pilot says it’s the best job in the army and WO is the best rank.

*me taking notes even though I will probably never be able to fly*

Great video, really wish I knew about this stuff before I enlisted. Currently a scout barely a year into my first contract and I’m looking into putting together a warrant packet once I hit e-4

Dude. Unreal. Thank you kindly for upload o7

Oxide! Thank you, for the past year I’ve been researching what i need to become a warrant officer in the u.s. army, my dream is to either be selected for the 7th air cav or 160th soar, I’m in my junior year of high school and I’ve been watching your content since you’ve made videos on different types of Russian helmets, this video is awesome, thank you!

I remember SSG Al when we did a big ass future soldier thing at the nasty girl armory in Marysville (I think). Small army, truly.

Congratulations for living my dream. I got medically disqualified a year and a half ago

1:37 GHPC music spotted

Can't wait for you to reenact your Bratishka video but in real life.

Congrats ! It’s nice of you to provide such a goldmine of information for other’s, you walked so they could run.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I think this video may be what gets me to contact a recruiter.

one of my SNCO's from when I was in the Marine Corps is in the Army flying apaches through the same program, congrats on it working out for you man

Im planning on join the marines in 2 years. Glad to see that you got what you want in army.

Congrats man hopefully you end up in a better unit then I did

Update 2: SIFT score of 62, got my letters, writing my essay. Board in September/November if I don't make it first try. I can't thank you enough, Oxide.

1:37 GunnerHeatPC Music Goes Brrrt

GHPC soundtrack goes hard

Holy crap, what happened between the last video I saw from you years ago and now? Some magic and hard work that's for sure. Congrats!

My doctor said I’m also full spectrum

Congrats, start on the maps when you get them. Didn’t do them till BI and had to work against the clock. Also put effort into the areas around Enterprise. Since you’ll be around them at least for BWS

Love you videos man

Update: Made it back from AIT, studying for the SIFT now. The warrant recruiter was very thorough and helpful.

Hey Oxide been watching you since your old airsoft videos and I am glad that your getting your dream job. It’s gonna be worth it for you. Proud of you bro

Props on giving some credit to your recruiters and props to them to doing their job beyond hitting recruiting numbers. 👏

Just wanted to say grats on getting in progressing through the SERE course also. the video made me pickup my own copy of the FAA heli handbook and start working on a civvie cert again. Best of luck to your future exam.

I can never do this as a Canadian-American who’s lived out of country practically since birth - but thank you so much for this video Oxide, I hope it serves a lot of future Army Aviators well, I know it will

Was that GHPC's OST i hear? if so oxide is unfathomably based

I have been thinking about doing this for a while after I EAS from the Marines. Because of this video, I called a recruiter. I’ll be up there with you soon brother!

I'm in my thirties now and my dream when I was younger was to become a helicopter pilot and when looking into the military after high school I thought that rotary pilot would be the best job in the world/military. I did some research and asked my recruiters and was told I had to be an officer or be in for awhile and then go through the process to become an WO at least. I wasn't doing the university route as I wanted to be in the military right after high school and leave my area, so I signed for a 3 year enlistment. I figured if the military wasn't for me, I would get out fairly soon and if it was for me I would pursue the WO route and go for WOFT. As time went, I had some poor leadership early on, shit deployment, and ended up really hating my MOS as well. I decided not to re enlist, got out and life went on. I have a family now and a great job, but always look back and think "man I wish i could've done that while I was in or I should have just went for that". I just now a couple days ago find out about "HIGH SCHOOL TO FLIGHT SCHOOL". How I never found out about this till now is beyond me. I never heard or know of anyone even while in that new about it. I have never felt more stupid in my life and full of regret. Really the only person I have to blame is myself for not doing more research and just listening to my recruiters who either didn't know or didn't care to inform me and being impatient to leave. I would have just kept trying and putting in my packet even if my recruiters didn't know or want to help me, I would've went to different ones. SIGH.... anyways, thank you for this video as it is the only one I have found that has someone talking about street to seat from someone actually doing it. I am too old now to qualify , but If I could rewind time man that would be awesome path to take, but then again I guess God had other plans for me because if I went that route I prob wouldn't have my beautiful family now, so I wouldn't change a thing. I hope your career is as fun and fulfilling as it looks man, congratulations and God bless you.

Hell yeah man! They DQ’d me on medical. Go live the dream!

you have told me so much more than what my old recruiter told me and he was a helicopter crew chief

Actually been looking into this specific program for awhile now. Thanks for the info

Funny that little promo at the end talks about the apache being fast... the chinook is actually the fastest helicopter the army has.

That's fucking awesome man. SURFS UP

I was in the Army for about 8 weeks before I got out. I decided it really wasn't for me but that's alright. Im heading to college soon instead but im happy to see you got your dream job.

Proud and happy for you.. wish I had this information 15 years ago. I lived in an airforce dominated area, and my only fast track was a gunnie due to track record of my father being a cmsgt in the 16th sos and co knowing me from diapers.

This inspires me to join my local army in my country, not exactly as a pilot, but in some other branch, but my current situation would not allow me, although from the age of 6 I dreamed of being united with the world of weapons or the military world, but it will have to wait for the latter.

Been watching you for a long time bro, really happy everything is going your way 🤙

I’m also on the spectrum

you were definitely destined to be a pilot with that voice

im getting LASIK this month, I'm already a pilot and I cant wait. Childhood dream

Great job Oxide! would join the Military if I could.

Damn, the Army really has all the good programs. Personally can't do that myself now but the years I spent in the Marines were some of the best and worst and I wouldn't trade them even for an Apache (well maybe lol). Glad to see you made it into a good program, god knows the Army always needs new pilots and we all know you'll kill it out there!

Damn, I might actually be able to fly with Oxide when I commission if his contract is for that long.

Congrats Oxide, I don’t know if you’re in flight school or not but I hope you do well and if you get the chance to become fixed wing or chinook 😉. My flight instructor became a fixed wing pilot and loves it! I wish I became a warrant officer earlier in my career but I’m ETS’ing after 6 years of service working with chinooks. Good luck brother!

Now that is quite the career choice. Good luck! Greetings, Jeff

Congrats man I’m proud of you!

My brother is army aviation in the Indian Army, he flies the Dhruv mk3, good on you.

I’m mad jealous! Well done Oxide.

Can’t wait to hear the eventual “warrant officer Oxide, you you spend your free time shooting body armor and helmets?”

Have you chosen an aircraft yet? If you thinking of Apache, remember during peacetime, you be flying circles in the sky. Blackhawks fly to airports to go eat. Flew to the coast to eat seafood once. I have no deployments sadly being in for 10 years

I just started common core, and I can’t wait to start flying!

I’m going the slow route. I went aviation ground based. 15R, so I’m hoping to submit a flight packet in 2-3 years. A ground mechanic has a very high chance of being selected to go to flight school and fly the airframe they worked on. That’s specifically why I chose to work on the Apache. With a GT score of 109 I’m waverable, I need to get my HS diploma in those 2-3 years, the letters will be a cake walk, but that fuckin test is the only thing I’m worried about. It’ll be a long road, but that’s what happens when you drop out of high school folks. Stay in school, trust me, it makes reaching your dreams a lot easier in the long run😂🤙🏻

👏🏼 congratulations my guy

I knew about this and still plan on doing this. My biggest regret so far is not having my now deceased grandfather who was a 1st lieutenant submariner writing a letter. May I be as good a man as he was.