Later in 1916, he entered officer training at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, but after a month he asked to be transferred to aviation.

Offutt was then sent to Fort Worth, Texas, where he received his commission as a first lieutenant in the aviation section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in November 1916.

Upon its arrival the Squadron continued further training, after which he was assigned duties as a ferry pilot attached to the Royal Flying Corps.

As a ferry pilot, Offutt's duties were to deliver aircraft fresh from the factories and from holding fields in England to bases at the front in France.

The dedication ceremony on May 10, attended by Offutt's mother and brother Casper, featured an aerial salute from nineteen planes which circled the field; Major Charles Tinker commanded seven of the planes which flew from Fort Riley, Kansas, and dropped a dedicatory wreath to highlight the ceremony.