sourdough44

Yes, was there a medical reason for no Navy pilot slot? If so that could hamper other options, though likely not civilian piloting. The needs of the military rise and fall, as to requirements for pilots.

Her getting a private pilots license will only help, a good amount.

If she is medically qualified, and wants a pilot slot, I would hold off on the NFO commitment, as able. I’d be talking to the rest of the services that fly, and the Guard and Reserves. I don’t like the idea of going in and ‘hoping’ for a pilot slot down the road, unless all options are exhausted.

Is she stronger into military piloting/Service or is she looking to an airline cockpit? Is she wants to be a pilot, and is only offered an NFO position, how about civilian pilot training, though she may have a military commitment after later years in NROTC.

If she gets a private pilot, has no or minor medical issues I think she has a great chance to get into one of the military pilot programs.

Back in the day I talked to every branch that would listen, and work with me. I had a few options in the pipeline, ended up at NAS Pensacola.

ColoradoAviator

Advice from an active duty Air Force pilot I know:

If she wants to be a pilot then she shouldn't be an NFO/Nav/CSO. The competition from those seats for pilot training later down the line is intense.

There's a reason everybody is recommending the Air National Guard followed by the Air Force Reserve: guaranteed pilot slot and airframe. Honestly I have a difficult time recommending active duty for anybody that wants to be a pilot at this point.

Please wish her the best of luck with a major career decision. Please also let us know what she ultimately decides.

badflaps

Question: Can she get out of her 3 year commitment to the Navy?

SaltyDog

If nothing else, I pursued and was allowed an inter service transfer from USAF ROTC to the USN my senior year of college. Satisfied all obligations. She could ask for a Navy commission in the IRR and could pursue inter service transfer while learning to fly commercially etc.

Diesel10pilot

She was medically qualified.

Thank you all for your advice, I will pass this on to her.

PNStoKLIT

If she is releasable from any commitments, go ANG or AF Res hands down. If she is not releasable, tough it up, do as well as she can in NFO flight school, hit her fleet squadron running and do all the early/crappy/new person jobs well, and push for a pilot transition. Do really awesome in NFO flight school, she can push for a transition while still unwinged in CNATRA. But, she is going to have to do extremely well for that to happen

rickair7777

If she really wants to fly and can't get released, take a Navy job which has the lowest possible AD obligation, then get out and move on asap. NFO is not the lowest obligation, and that background will do essentially nothing to further her civilian flying career. Pilot transition is probably too much of a long shot to even bother quantifying.

IMO the only reason to go NFO is if she really digs the Navy and Naval Aviation, wants to be part of it, might want to do a career (NFO would be better than SWO long-term), and that's more important to her than a potential airline career.

Pyro

Interservice transfer to the Air Force, if they'll even give a pilot slot. For the rest of you, the Navy has lots of boats and a few planes, the Air Force has lots of planes, choose wisely.

yardstick

Yeah but then you have to be in the Air Force. No thanks. I say this as someone in the Navy who is as close to being in the Air Force as you can be

Pyro

Retired AF fighter pilot here, who spent plenty of time with Navy and Marine fighter pilots. Most of them wanted to go to the Air Force National guard. I say this as a pilot who’s been doing this for 20 years, choose wisely.