154C CH-47 Chinook Pilot

OVERVIEW
The Chinook is the workhorse of all Army National Guard aviation airframes, suited for a variety of missions, including air assault, lift operations, medical evacuations, resupply operations, aircraft recovery, and paradrop/rappelling operations. The Chinook is a tandem-rotor helicopter capable of reaching speeds in excess of 170 knots, making it the fastest in the U.S. Army. It features a triple-hook cargo system, allowing it to carry heavy payloads, such as bulldozers, 155 mm M198 howitzers or 40-foot cargo containers.

JOB DUTIES

• Pilot, navigate and communicate under combat and noncombat conditions
• Operate aircraft in all types of weather conditions during the day and night and under night-vision systems

• Perform all military aircraft operations, including:

• Security
• Gunnery
• Rescue
• Air assault
• Internal/external load
• Paradrop/rappelling
• Troop insertion, resupply operations and equipment emplacements in support of combat maneuver operations
• Routinely participate in real-time and training operations that include combat, combat support or combat service support operations
• Perform administrative or liaison missions to transport passengers, mail or cargo
• Maintain aviator flight requirements according to appropriate aircraft Aircrew Training Manual

MINIMUM PREREQUISITES

• Have any MOS
• Be at least 18 but not yet 33 years old at the convening of the selection board
• Successfully pass the Selection Instrument for Flight Training (SIFT) test.
• Successfully pass a Class 1A Flying Duty Medical Examination (FDME) in accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 40-501 that has been approved by the commander, U.S. Army Aeromedical Center

Waivers will be considered for applicants with exceptional qualifications and only on a case-by-case basis.

It is required that applicants have a letter of recommendation from a Guard aviator in the rank of CW3 to CW5, or major and above. If the unit commander or above is a field-grade aviator, the aviator interview may be part of the commander's endorsement. In this case, the commander's endorsement must contain the same statement required for the aviator interview. Use a memorandum format and start with the statement: “I have interviewed [your name] and find [he/she] has the needed personal characteristics, motivation, physical stamina and qualifications to be appointed a U.S. Army National Guard Reserve warrant officer, and appears acceptable for selection into the Warrant Officer Flight Training program as a warrant officer candidate.” Applicants from other military services may be interviewed by a field-grade aviator from their branch of service if a Guard aviator is not readily available. Guard aviators will conduct the interviews whenever possible.

Acceptance to Warrant Officer Flight Training (153A) will require attendance at and successful completion of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence:

• Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion course (SERE-C)
• Helicopter Overwater Survival Training (HOST), or dunker training

NOTE: The waiver authority for this requirement is the commanding general, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Novosel, AL 36362-5000.