Posted on May 20, 2019
I'm interested in submitting a Warrant Officer packet for 880A Marine Deck Officer. What insight can you provide on the career field?
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I'm interested in submitting a Warrant Officer packet for 880A Marine Deck Officer. Looking to get some more information from those in the field. What training and education opportunities are available? What is the promotion potential/time frame? What are the available duty stations? How is stability and family life? Deployments frequency, etc? I appreciate your time as I look to make an informed decision for my career and my family.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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I'm not an 880A, but I am the father of an 88K.
Available duty stations are Ft. Eustis, VA or Pearl Harbor, HI. About 3/4 of the active duty Army boat field is at Ft. Eustis, so most likely you will be stationed there.
Deployments, fairly frequent. There are several heavy boats stationed in Kuwait and hauling supplies around the Persian gulf. My sons unit does 9 months in Kuwait then 18 months back state side.
Can't speak to warrant officer promotions, but in the enlisted field the promotion points for E-5 and E-6 are sitting at 40 points right now. So minimum time in grade, minimum time in service, pass your PT test and required schools and you get promoted. I think there is a shortage of warrants as well, which is why they have the pilot program bringing in other MOS to the field.
The boat field is in kind of a weird situation right now. The army just shut down all the reserve boat units and either transferred their boats to the active duty or are disposing of them.
Available duty stations are Ft. Eustis, VA or Pearl Harbor, HI. About 3/4 of the active duty Army boat field is at Ft. Eustis, so most likely you will be stationed there.
Deployments, fairly frequent. There are several heavy boats stationed in Kuwait and hauling supplies around the Persian gulf. My sons unit does 9 months in Kuwait then 18 months back state side.
Can't speak to warrant officer promotions, but in the enlisted field the promotion points for E-5 and E-6 are sitting at 40 points right now. So minimum time in grade, minimum time in service, pass your PT test and required schools and you get promoted. I think there is a shortage of warrants as well, which is why they have the pilot program bringing in other MOS to the field.
The boat field is in kind of a weird situation right now. The army just shut down all the reserve boat units and either transferred their boats to the active duty or are disposing of them.
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I just dropped a warrant officer packet for MOS 880A and 881A. My MOS is 35f and current...
If selected what should i expect? There isn't much info on these MOSs online but the idea of being on a boat intrigues me.
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SSG (Join to see) you may want to look at the feeder MOS chart on the USAREC Warrant Officer Recruiting Page. I'd post a link but USAREC routes everything to the landing page.
880A has very specific maritime certification and licensing requirements you have to have just to get in the door. The 88series feeders set you up for that. Unless you had these before you enlisted from a civilian source or you were a Boatie 88K it will be highly unlikely. It says it's open to all MOSs but you have to meet prerequisites.
Look at AR56-9. It lays out those certs/licenses/ratings.
https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/880A/
DA PAM 600-3 and the MiIsuite corresponding page on AKO lay out the professional timeline, duty positions, and PME.
880A has very specific maritime certification and licensing requirements you have to have just to get in the door. The 88series feeders set you up for that. Unless you had these before you enlisted from a civilian source or you were a Boatie 88K it will be highly unlikely. It says it's open to all MOSs but you have to meet prerequisites.
Look at AR56-9. It lays out those certs/licenses/ratings.
https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/880A/
DA PAM 600-3 and the MiIsuite corresponding page on AKO lay out the professional timeline, duty positions, and PME.
U.S. ARMY RECRUITING COMMAND In-Service Opportunities U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting Do...
The official website for the Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)
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LTC Jason Mackay
SSG (Join to see) - you meet these?
Hold 88K MOS or Related Sister Service Specialty:
Must be certified in the CMF 88 to grade as per AR 56-9 if holding MOS 88K.
Have equivalent experience from another service component.
Have equivalent experience from civilian sector with US Coast Guard credentials and currently serving in a service component.
Experience:
Four years of documented marine experience in the deck department within the past seven years.
Preponderance of sea time must be on Class A1 or A2 vessel.
In 1995 I actively considered resigning my commission for a warrant appointment as an 880A. I was stymied by the maritime licensure requirements despite coastal seamanship experience.
I potentially can put you in touch with a former 88K / 880A who went OCS, if you want. Big shock, he was a Transportation Corps Officer. Retired as a Captain.
Hold 88K MOS or Related Sister Service Specialty:
Must be certified in the CMF 88 to grade as per AR 56-9 if holding MOS 88K.
Have equivalent experience from another service component.
Have equivalent experience from civilian sector with US Coast Guard credentials and currently serving in a service component.
Experience:
Four years of documented marine experience in the deck department within the past seven years.
Preponderance of sea time must be on Class A1 or A2 vessel.
In 1995 I actively considered resigning my commission for a warrant appointment as an 880A. I was stymied by the maritime licensure requirements despite coastal seamanship experience.
I potentially can put you in touch with a former 88K / 880A who went OCS, if you want. Big shock, he was a Transportation Corps Officer. Retired as a Captain.
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SSG (Join to see)
Sir to clarify a spoke with the Warrant Officer recruitment team a couple weeks back. Unless I misunderstood, for the pilot program you only have to meet the criteria listed for the pilot program. I assume that applies to only non Transportation Soldiers. Thanks again for the quick replies
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LTC Jason Mackay
SSG (Join to see) - that link I sent said no waivers for prerequisites. In the AR they are pretty anal about those by class licenses. Basic seamanship.... I don't see how they magic those away. Who knows? Army changes often. If you want that contact, PM me your email address. I'll see if my friend will wade into this with you.
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1LT (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay Sir, the OP is correct, the Army has been running a pilot program to recruit 880As with no prior experience. I was looking at this program before I got accepted to Green to Gold. The prerequisite qualifications for the pilot program are at the bottom of the page of the following link:
https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/880A/
https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/880A/
U.S. ARMY RECRUITING COMMAND In-Service Opportunities U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting Do...
The official website for the Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)
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