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Warrant Officer Aviator

You’ve seen National Guard aviators in action: delivering troops and supplies to critical areas; engaging enemy targets with pinpoint accuracy; rescuing civilians from emergencies when all other hope seems lost.

Guard aviators are among the best. And if you want to be a technical and tactical expert in the world of aviation, the best way is through the warrant officer aviator program. As a warrant officer aviator, you’ll be earning a warrant officer’s salary plus flight pay, allowances and benefits (some positions qualify for additional bonuses*), and you’ll be piloting some of the world’s most advanced aircraft:

  • Black Hawks: The military’s workhorses, used to deliver troops, supplies or air assault
  • Apaches: Nimble and armed to the teeth, the Army’s primary attack helicopters
  • Chinooks: The biggest, fastest rotary-wing transport aircraft
  • Lakotas and Kiowas: Compact and agile, the Guard’s primary reconnaissance aircraft

The first step toward determining your eligibility for flight training is taking the Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test (AFAST). To learn more about the AFAST, you can download a copy of the Army’s AFAST Information Pamphlet.

If you meet the local selection criteria and are selected for the flight program by your State Aviaton Office, you'll attend Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS). Upon completion of WOCS, you’ll attend a yearlong training course at Fort Rucker, AL, where you’ll learn to defend and fight from the air, assist Soldiers in combat and help civilians during emergencies and natural disasters.

You can learn more about each of the warrant officer aviator careers, or see general warrant officer eligibility requirements below.

Eligibility Requirements

Before enrolling in Warrant Officer Candidate School, you'll need to meet eligibility requirements. If you are currently a member of the Army National Guard, a Reserve Soldier, a transitioning active component Soldier or a current or former warrant officer, you may qualify.

Age restrictions:

  • Aviation warrant officers must be appointed before their 33rd birthday

In addition you must:

  • Score 110 or above on the General Technical Area of the ASVAB Exam
  • Be a high school graduate or pass the GED
  • Be a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization
  • Successfully pass all events on the Army Physical Fitness Test
  • Meet certain technical qualifications for your specific career path

If you meet the basic eligibility requirements, you can download the Warrant Officer Application Guide for additional information.

* Occasionally, certain warrant officer positions will be listed as Critical Shortage MOSs, which may qualify for bonuses up to $10,000, based on your state's need. To be eligible for these positions:

  1. You may not have been an officer or warrant officer previously.
  2. You must complete warrant officer Basic Course (WOBC) in your Area of Concentration (AOC) or Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) within 36 months of your date of commission.
  3. You must enlist for at least six years in an active drilling status (not AGR or Miltech).

A lump sum payment will be made upon completion of WOBC.

If you don’t qualify for Warrant Officer Candidate School, check out other jobs in the Guard's Aviation career field. These careers can give you a great opportunity to learn more about the aviation field and help put you in a position to attend flight school in the future.

Each state and territory has different selection requirements. Your local Warrant Officer Strength Manager will have the most current information.