I'm interested in submitting a Warrant Officer packet for 880A Marine Deck Officer. What insight can you provide on the career field?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 May 2019 00:25:36 -0400

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.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 20 at 2019 12:38 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 20 May 2019 00:38:55 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member 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.

U.S. ARMY RECRUITING COMMAND In-Service Opportunities U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting Do...

The official website for the Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 20 at 2019 1:17 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 20 May 2019 01:17:09 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member perhaps some others to talk to.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/i-just-dropped-a-warrant-officer-packet-for-mos-880a-and-881a-my-mos-is-35f-and-current-assignment-is-s2-ncoic-what-are-my-chances

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.

Response by SSG Tom Pike made May 21 at 2019 10:18 AM

SSG Tom Pike — Tue, 21 May 2019 10:18:22 -0400

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.