This. Navy has never guaranteed anyone any particular job, particular airframe, or even a job at all. In the past there may have been clauses allowing the candidate to opt out of a service obligation if not winged.

I'm sure if you got winged, they could send you to UAVs for life. Nowhere in the contract does it say you get to actually ride in the airplane that you're flying, or even that get to fly an airplane at all. They *could* take a newly winged aviator and assign him to mop floors for eight years...of course due to cost of training candidates can safely *assume* they'll be assigned flight duty once winged. Except my college buddy (post cold-war drawdown era) ...he got assigned to ship's company on a CVN for three years after flight school. Sucked but he ultimately tracked hornets and that shipboard experience helped him to eventually screen for command of said CVN. Silver lining.