Shoup Airlines

Red vs. Blue

Warrant Officer classes run about 2 weeks between each class with three classes generally running at the same time. That way there is a junior, intermediate and senior class at all times. On top of that there is a 4 week class and a 6 week class. The 4 week guys are usually E-6s (Staff Sergeants and above) while the 6 weekers are E-5s and below. The two weeks are basically to make up for the experience level that the senior enlisted have.

The catch is, that as soon as you start here, everyone is a Candidate regardless of whether you are straight out of Basic or a Master Sergeant with 18 years in already. For the most part, within one class, that really isn’t a problem. However, that 2 week difference between classes apparently gives the more senior class GOD rights in which they treat the junior class like a bunch of brand new soldiers in Basic.

We just moved into intermediate phase, while Blue Class just became seniors and they are abusing every minute of it. We’ve already clashed with their leadership, trying to tell us one thing while our TACs tell us something different, the last couple days. What really cracks me up though is that they started 3 days before we did, but they’re a 4 week class so technically they’re 2 weeks ahead, yet they treat us like idiots. The three main guys have interesting characteristics that we keep making fun of, but now they’ve caught wind of it and are trying to make heads roll. Which just makes us laugh harder because they’re still candidates just like us. It is amazing what can happen to an ego around here.

Sergeant Shoup

We received orders today promoting all of us to the rank of Sergeant. It’s just one of those weird paperwork deals while going through WOCS because we get paid as an E5 (Sergeant) while in class. Obviously, as soon as we graduate we get promoted again to WO1 (Warrant Officer), but it’s just funny to think that I’m a Sergeant for 6 weeks!

Academics

If you haven’t caught on yet, the majority of our time is spent in the classroom. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of exciting stories; however, we do go to the field next week, so who knows.

Anyway, back to my original point. There is basically one test a week, 50 questions, multiple choice. I thought the tests would be pretty much Army standard: 2 really crazy answers and 2 more logical answers. The type of test you can take asleep. I was half right!

The first test dealt with standard operating procedures, sexual harassment, equal opportunity and Army organizational stuff. Real eye opener stuff! I thought because there was so much information thrown at us, the questions would be pretty broad. The 78% I got thought otherwise. It turns out they get pretty deep into some of the information they want you to know, like the percentage of body fat a healthy person should have?!

Now a 78% isn’t too bad. It’s still passing. Anything below a 70% is a failure and if you fail twice, you’re out. Anything below an 85% puts you on academic probation, but there is a catch. The first two tests don’t count towards that because it wouldn’t be fair for us in the 6 week course vs. the guys in the 4 week course. They get to take those tests at home, and they’re self correcting. I was relieved to hear that until I kicked the second test’s butt with a 96%. Hopefully, I can continue the trend with the last 3 that actually count. Time will tell I guess.

Oh and if you’re still wondering it’s 12% according to the Army.