COLUMBIA, S.C. - Seeing a military aircraft flying through the sky can make you feel a sense of awe. But for some, like Warrant Officer Alante Snell, it sparks something deeper — a calling.
Snell grew up in the small town of Vance, South Carolina. As a junior in high school, he took his first step toward that calling by joining the South Carolina Army National Guard as a military police officer in 2014.
Like many young recruits, Snell was balancing school and his duties in the National Guard, but even at a young age, he had big ambitions.
After high school, Snell became a state trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. While he was busy patrolling the roads and keeping people safe, his dream of becoming an Army pilot never left his mind.
“Those Army aviators portrayed the best of the best and I wanted to be one,” Snell said.
His turning point came in 2022 while he was deployed in Southwest Asia, supporting Operation Spartan Shield with the 133rd Military Police Company.
Snell didn’t let the long hours or unfamiliar terrain stop him from preparing for the next step in his military career. He spent about two hours each day studying for the Selection Instrument for Flight Training and gathering everything he needed to apply to become a pilot in the National Guard. When he returned home, he passed the physicals, nailed his interviews, and was selected to reclass. From there, he was off to the six-week Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Novosel, Alabama, followed by Warrant Officer Pilot School and Flight Training, which took another 12 to 18 months.
“From submitting the flight packet to the day of graduation took approximately two years,” he recalled, acknowledging how tough the process was but how much he enjoyed every part of it.
Now, as a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, Snell is doing what he always dreamed of. And as if flying helicopters wasn’t enough, he’s still serving as a state trooper, staying connected to the community he’s always loved.
Asked if he had any advice for those with similar dreams, Snell didn’t hesitate: “Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. Submit your packet because you never know what’s in store for you.”
Snell’s journey from a small town to the cockpit of a UH-60 Black Hawk is a testament to resilience, hard work and a desire to serve. It shows that ambition paired with dedication can take you far, even when the road isn’t clear or easy. Snell didn’t just aim to serve his country — he did it while staying true to his roots as a community member and state trooper. His story is a reminder that no dream is out of reach for those willing to work, adapt and take that leap of faith.