WOCS ensures that Soldiers who become Warrant Officers have the skills relevant to an Army at war and are thus better able to operate and survive on today’s ever changing battlefield in the Global War on Terror. WOCS is no longer just "Basic Training on Steroids". It is a leadership school that helps candidates develop the skills they need to effectively lead Soldiers in the Contemporary Operational Environment.

The WOCS focus is on teaching "how" to think, as opposed to teaching "what" to think. When soldiers become Army Warrant Officers, their decisions have much more influence that their decision had when they were Non-Commissioned Officers or civilians. Candidates are led to understand that their decisions and actions often have an impact well into the future. Thus, the focus on helping candidates think three to five steps ahead and plan for the reactions to and long-range effects of their decision and actions.

There are two methods to complete WOCS.

The traditional WOCS is conducted at Fort Rucker, Alabama. This program consists of an individual-paced Distance Learning Phase followed by a 4 week resident phase at FT Rucker. A newly appointed Warrant Officer will then get branch-specific training at a follow on Army schoolhouse.

The AZ ARNG is now able to offer an optional WOCS conducted primarily in AZ. This program gives the Warrant Officer Candidate an opportunity to stay in AZ for a longer period, thereby reducing the impact caused on both the family and civilian career, by attending a resident course away from home. This class is conducted in 3 Phases.

- Phase II consists of 5, MUTA 5's from APR to AUG at the RTI. Academic subjects include Heritage of the Warrant Officer, Just War Tradition, Military Problem Solving, Principles of War, Convoy Operations, Small Unit Operations, Contemporary Operating Environment, Military Briefing, Military History, and Leadership Development, and others.

- Phase III consists of a 2 week annual training conducted at Fort McCellan, Alabama in September 2007. This phase is consolidated with Warrant Officer Candidates from several other states.

1. Leadership. Demonstrated leadership potential through military or civilian experience

2. Prior Training. A current member of the ARNG seeking enrollment must have 6-8 years experience in a "feeder MOS". WOCS Enlistment Option applicants must complete basic training and have the requisite civilian skills replacing the feeder MOS requirement.

3. Age. Be 18- 50 years old

4. Citizenship. Be a U.S. Citizen

5. Test Scores. Score 110 or higher on the General Technical (GT) portion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB.

6. Education. High School Graduate.

7. Medical / Physical.

a. Pass a Chapter 2 Commissioning Physical prior to beginning of Phase I. Commissioning physicals are valid for 2 years from the examination date. If the physical is older than 1 year at time of commissioning, the WOC must obtain a satisfactory DA Form 7349-R (Initial Medical Review/Annual Medical Certificate).

b. Meet height/weight standards as outlined in AR 600-9 prior to enrollment in Phase II

c. Pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) prior to enrollment in Phase II. (Waiver for alternate event APFT possible, but candidate must be able to participate in all training)

8. Security. Possess a minimum of "SECRET" security clearance. (A request for security clearance and interim "SECRET" clearance granted is acceptable to compensate for security backlog)

9. Moral. Moral/Civil conviction waiver approval (if applicable) (minimum of waiver request completed for enrollment)

10. Service. ETS must be beyond the WOCS graduation date

11. Application. Submit the WOCS Application Packet with all required documents to the State Command Chief Warrant Officer when complete.