U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jason R. Payne is the Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the Army Reserve Aviation Command (ARAC) headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He serves as the senior advisor to the Commanding General on all Warrant Officer related topics. He provides mentorship to the WO cohort and Soldiers, and supports the Command through WO recruitment, education, integration, staffing, and assists ARCG in recruiting new Warrant Officers.
A native of Winfield, West Virginia, CW5 Payne enlisted in the United States Army on 21 March 2003 into the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program. CW5 Payne completed Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky then graduated Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Novosel, Alabama and was appointed as a Warrant Officer One on 31 October 2003. CW5 Payne completed Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training as an AH-64D Apache Helicopter pilot and was awarded the Army Aviator Badge on 5 October 2004.
CW5 Payne’s other assignments include A Co 6-6 Cav AH-64D Pilot, Illesheim, Germany, O Trp 4-3 ACR Company Instructor Pilot, Fort Cavazos, Texas, 1st-14th Avn Regt Flight School Instructor Pilot, Fort Novosel, Alabama, B Co 4-2 CAB Company Instructor Pilot, Camp Humphreys, Korea, 8-229th AHB Battalion Standardization Pilot, Fort Knox, Kentucky, 1-158th AHB Battalion Standardization Pilot, Conroe, Texas, United States Army Reserve Command G-357 Aviation Directorate Standardization Officer, Fort Liberty, North Carolina.
CW5 Payne’s military and civilian education includes Warrant Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer Basic Course, Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education, and the Warrant Officer Senior Staff Education course. He also completed the Electronic Warfare Officers Course, Aviation Life Support Equipment, AH-64D Instructor Pilot, UH-60L Aircraft Qualification, UH-60L Instructor Pilot, Rotary Wing Instrument Examiner, and the Aviation Master Gunner Course. CW5 Payne has completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle University.
CW5 Payne is married to his wife Kelly and they have two sons Jonah (8) and Kason (7). He and his family currently reside on their farm in southern Indiana.