Posted on Jan 6, 2022
What avenue's are available if I were to consider becoming a Warrant Officer or Commissioned Officer? What should I consider and why?
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I've completed my Sergeant's Board, waiting on word for if BLC will be scheduled, COVID still has things weird so we'll see if it's VBLC or regular BLC but all that aside my immediate plan is to make SGT.
I'm currently working on an Associate's Degree which I am getting close to finishing which would make me eligible to drop a WOC packet for my MOS field once complete.
I'm not stopping at an Associate's Degree and plan to transfer to a university to complete my Bachelor's. At that point it's possible for me to commission, what avenue's are available if I were to consider that path? Of course I won't remain in my MOS field.
All of this in mind, should I stay the NCO route? There is only one E7 slot available in my State, so SSG is likely the cap as SFC will be competitive I imagine. Then of course there are no E8 or E9 slots in my MOS.
I'm currently working on an Associate's Degree which I am getting close to finishing which would make me eligible to drop a WOC packet for my MOS field once complete.
I'm not stopping at an Associate's Degree and plan to transfer to a university to complete my Bachelor's. At that point it's possible for me to commission, what avenue's are available if I were to consider that path? Of course I won't remain in my MOS field.
All of this in mind, should I stay the NCO route? There is only one E7 slot available in my State, so SSG is likely the cap as SFC will be competitive I imagine. Then of course there are no E8 or E9 slots in my MOS.
Warrant Officers
Officer
Professional Development
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 5
Honestly, continue the path to NCO...that way you will have more oompf to your packet(s). As for O or WO...choose the one you feel is best to provide you the better opportunities.
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I love topics like this. So here I go.
Already said, USAR has more opportunities than NG and that’s going to be the case regardless NCO/WO/Officer path.
“Money” wise, WO/Officer are not that far off from one another. A CW3 with the years behind him is going to be around what a MAJ makes. In the realm of USAR/NG going past either of those are hard chargers and by time you get there you are about retired anyway. So what I’m getting at is the WO or Officer path shouldn’t be largely influenced by “money”, they both do well enough, and especially in the context of monthly drill pay verses full AD pay.
Now……… the mechanics of becoming an Officer in my opinion is easier. Depending on your MOS (looks like you are in legal services) it only gets harder. I presume you are a 27D, and your WO path is 270A.
In the entirety of the USAR there are fifteen 270A vacancies right now. There are only six W2 slots open that would be the WO entry point. I’m betting there is a good chance there are zero vacancies in your state NG for that.
Mechanically a bachelor degree is a hard stop for Officer. So you need that. WO’s don’t technically need that to apply, but I’ve never met WO’s without one, and most I meet have Master Degrees or working on them.
I’m betting your WO path is going to limit you to your current MOS in Legal Services and it’s going to trap you into a much harder competition path for selection to WO and future promotions.
Now, the officer path for example needs the Degree, but you aren’t going anywhere with a WO packet anyway without NCO time, and NCOER’s to be included with your WO application. So as long as you are working on your degree you are not losing opportunity time. I’m going to bet you would actually earn your degree before you would have enough NCOER’s to include in your WO packet.
Ironically, I think you’re going to be in a position to apply for OCS before you could check all the boxes for a WO selection board in your current MOS.
As well………….. when you go down the Officer path you open up the window of opportunity to select a branch (yes, the NG/USAR get to select our branches) that affords you the best opportunities for advancement.
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My personal example. I entered the USAR at age 38 with a Master’s degree as a SPC. Yes, it sucked for me but I stayed in my lane. I applied for Officer ASAP before the 42 mark and chased the Intel branch. I was not selected at my first application. My mistake was not looking at the vacancies for officers in the USAR.
I applied the following year again, but as a new SGT. I gamed the system, and put my name in for Logistics (Quartermaster) where there were 200 vacancies in my state for CPT and below. There was no way the USAR was going to fill all those in the next year. So I was selected, and at this time I was a SGT with a few more awards from a deployment.
At this exact point in time I still was not qualified to submit a WO packet for Intel that was my enlisted MOS. I needed two more NCOER’s and one more mission set of experience to even put my name in, but in a heartbeat I was made a QM 2LT.
Comparing the time line, it's probable I made CPT by time I would still be a WO1 (just getting to CW2) were I selected if I chased that path.
Already said, USAR has more opportunities than NG and that’s going to be the case regardless NCO/WO/Officer path.
“Money” wise, WO/Officer are not that far off from one another. A CW3 with the years behind him is going to be around what a MAJ makes. In the realm of USAR/NG going past either of those are hard chargers and by time you get there you are about retired anyway. So what I’m getting at is the WO or Officer path shouldn’t be largely influenced by “money”, they both do well enough, and especially in the context of monthly drill pay verses full AD pay.
Now……… the mechanics of becoming an Officer in my opinion is easier. Depending on your MOS (looks like you are in legal services) it only gets harder. I presume you are a 27D, and your WO path is 270A.
In the entirety of the USAR there are fifteen 270A vacancies right now. There are only six W2 slots open that would be the WO entry point. I’m betting there is a good chance there are zero vacancies in your state NG for that.
Mechanically a bachelor degree is a hard stop for Officer. So you need that. WO’s don’t technically need that to apply, but I’ve never met WO’s without one, and most I meet have Master Degrees or working on them.
I’m betting your WO path is going to limit you to your current MOS in Legal Services and it’s going to trap you into a much harder competition path for selection to WO and future promotions.
Now, the officer path for example needs the Degree, but you aren’t going anywhere with a WO packet anyway without NCO time, and NCOER’s to be included with your WO application. So as long as you are working on your degree you are not losing opportunity time. I’m going to bet you would actually earn your degree before you would have enough NCOER’s to include in your WO packet.
Ironically, I think you’re going to be in a position to apply for OCS before you could check all the boxes for a WO selection board in your current MOS.
As well………….. when you go down the Officer path you open up the window of opportunity to select a branch (yes, the NG/USAR get to select our branches) that affords you the best opportunities for advancement.
****************
My personal example. I entered the USAR at age 38 with a Master’s degree as a SPC. Yes, it sucked for me but I stayed in my lane. I applied for Officer ASAP before the 42 mark and chased the Intel branch. I was not selected at my first application. My mistake was not looking at the vacancies for officers in the USAR.
I applied the following year again, but as a new SGT. I gamed the system, and put my name in for Logistics (Quartermaster) where there were 200 vacancies in my state for CPT and below. There was no way the USAR was going to fill all those in the next year. So I was selected, and at this time I was a SGT with a few more awards from a deployment.
At this exact point in time I still was not qualified to submit a WO packet for Intel that was my enlisted MOS. I needed two more NCOER’s and one more mission set of experience to even put my name in, but in a heartbeat I was made a QM 2LT.
Comparing the time line, it's probable I made CPT by time I would still be a WO1 (just getting to CW2) were I selected if I chased that path.
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Those are definitely some things to consider sir. I like the Guard side of things, State missions, foreign partnerships, etc. That said, I can see the cap and if the Reserves offer the way forward then that might be the way to go. Either that or an Interstate transfer to say Texas for example which has more Guard assets and funding. I'll have to inquire further about the NCOER's for a 270A, I was only tracking 5 years in MOS, Associate's Degree, and E5.
Still, the officer route is intriguing because it's completely unknown. I'd be out of my MOS field, but that experience along with enlisted experience would help me somewhat I would imagine being an officer.
Still, the officer route is intriguing because it's completely unknown. I'd be out of my MOS field, but that experience along with enlisted experience would help me somewhat I would imagine being an officer.
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I’d recommend going reserve vs guard if you want to have more oppty for advancement.
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