wordfromthewise

Hey guys i have some interest in becoming a naval officer. i am in flight school right now and really love it, working on my instrument rating. i want to fly for the airlines eventually. i will be graduating with a B.S. in geography next year along with having my commercial, CFI, and Multi.

I really feel a strong desire to serve my country, i dont care if i fly in the navy. i just want to serve as an officer for 4-6 years. i have much respect for those who serve our country and i would feel selfish if i did not give uncle sam a few years. Of course i would be happy to fly in the navy if given the oppurtunity. and i would be fine with the 10 yrs of commitment. but in the end, i just want to help out, whatever job im given.

My questions:

1. Do i have a shot getting a pilot slot with a degree in geography, i heard you have to major in engineering?

2. I am 24 yrs old, will be attending OCS just before i turn 26, am i too old for a pilot slot??

3. Assuming i dont get a pilot slot, what is the next coolest job for an officer...naval intelligence??

4. will giving up 4-6 yrs as a non flying officer really hurt my airline career goals?

5. how easy would it be to get re-current after my service. will my ratings and certificates still be valid?

thanks for your help!

VQ2 Spanky

If you wish to serve your country, then serve. But there are many ways to serve.

me Navy pilot about to retire:
1. Yes Business Major. Key is your GPA. The Navy weighs a 2.5 GPA with an engineering degree the same as a 3.2 Business degree.
2. I was 28 when I completed flight training. I think cutoff is 31.
3. If you want to stay in aviation then Naval Flight Officer (F18 Back seater, EA6B, P-3), then Aviation Maintenance duty officer, intel, then supply...just don't go Surface Warfare (you will quit in your first tour)
4. Yes... you need flight time for the bigger paying jobs.
5. You will be flying at the local FBO to keep some kind of currency. Then regionals to get hours up...then airlines...

With that being said. I love the Navy. Had a great career................But If I knew in College what I know now.....I would find a Guard Job.....Why? You can rush a guard unit with the aicraft you wish to fly (Navy it becomes a roll of the dice at selection after primary). The Guard will send you to get trained in that aircraft...Upon two years of active service (flying) you are in the guard making money and getting a chance at regionals or corporate until you get enough hours for the airlines. Best part of all. You will only move to go to pilot training after that you are permanent. No permanent change of stations is a plus.

Hope the info helps. Would love to be in your shoes and start all over again.
Good luck.

Spanky

hoya99

Go to USMC OCS, you can get a guarenteed flight school contract before you go. Pretty much the easiest route if you ask me...administratively speaking, not physically. I major'd in Governement and had no problems whatsoever. Find your nearest OSO and tell them you want to go to OCS and flight school. You'll take a written test (buy the study guide form Barnes and Nobles) and you'll do fine. You then sign a contract and off to OCS you go. You have up until like week 8 of OCS to decide its not for you and drop out...if not its off to TBS at Quantico for 6 months and then Pcola for flight school.
Good luck bro, its a blast

41DS

Marine PLC program myself, however I had many friends that did Navy OCS after college. If you want to join the Navy to fly then when you go see the officer recruiter tell them you want to be a pilot. They should have you take all the tests and get you a flight physical. Assuming you pass all of that then they should submit your package as an aviator. If you don't get accepted then you will owe nothing, if you do get accepted then you should have a slot at flight school assuming you don't flunk out of ocs. This is the way it used to work, not sure if it still does. If they got turned down then no obligation and they could try again in 6 months. Ask the Navy Officer recruiter about the specifics and ask to see it in writing. The contract should state all of this. If you flunk out of flight school then thats your fault and it depends what stage of training your in. You could be reassigned to another platform or off to SWO or intel school.
Biggest thing, if you get a pilot slot, forget all of your civilian habits until your flying in the aircraft by yourself then fly it however you want. Leave your attitude if you have one at the door. The Navy will want you to do it their way, after all its worked for years, so just say yes sir and learn it the Navy way. I have seen too many of my friends with a descent amount of civilian time (1000hrs Lear time) wash out of Navy flight school because they wouldn't do it the Navy way and thought they new more than the instructors. Some of them did know more than the instructors, but guess what the instructors have made it through the Navy training and well my buddies didn't. With that being said, if you do what they teach you, you should rock the program and be #1 in your class and get what you want. Good luck whatever route you chose and pm me if you have any questions.

wordfromthewise

thanks guys for all of the great advice and answers to my ?'s

EvilGN

www.airwarriors.com is a site primarily for Naval Aviators, lots of answers to questions such as yours, go on there and search around a bit, you will find many threads similar to this one.

Rhinoflyer

I was in your situation about 12 years ago, joined the Navy, was lucky enough to fly super hornets and have no regrets.
1. I had a b.s. in Geography with a 2.9 gpa.
2. I started OCS at 26 years old, I believe you have to be commisioned by 27.
3. I admire you for wanting to serve, but if you have airline aspirations there is no job other than Pilot to get you there. I think the only other "cool" Navy job is SEAL.
4. Giving up 4-6 years will delay your airline career by at least 4-6 years.
5. has been answered.
Keep in mind that you are commiting to about 11 years min in the navy and there is always a chance you could end up flying helicopters (not that theres anything wrong with that). The great thing about OCS is that you are guaranteed a pilot slot. All you have to do is make it throught OCS (not too hard), API (not too hard) and get jet grades in primary (a little harder).
I agree with Spanky that the Guard is also a good option.
Good luck.

Cooperd0g

1. Yes you will be fine with geography. You do not need a degree in engineering. I know fellow F/A-18 pilots who were music and psychology majors.

2. You are not too old.

3. If you want to stay in aviation, NFO - then it is jets or big planes. Personally I think SEAL or EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) are very cool, but also very hard. Not that getting jets is easy, but it is a different kind of hard.

4. I really don't know, but I'm sure it would set you back some.

5. If you become a pilot the your CFI will still lapse unless you do that on the weekends. Multi will be not current depending on what you fly because Navy jets are considered multi with centerline thrust. The big planes would be fine for multi. Helos - you would not be current on multi airplane, but you would still be building turbine time, just not turbine airplane time.

If it were a non flying job, then you would probably want to get some local recurrent training and then back in with the CFI thing to build some currency hours before trying at the regionals.

While I am getting out of the Navy at the 11 year mark I wouldn't trade my time for anything. Flying from the ships (whether planes or helos) is the coolest thing in the world. Landing on them at night is the scariest thing in the world. No offense to the Air Force guys, just my opinion.

rickair7777

I don't see any thing wrong with joining the military with the intent of getting a leg up on an airline career. We all have our own varied reasons for joining, and most of them are legit (I had no interest in airlines at the time).

However...you need to go in with the enthusiasim and willingness to do the military service to the best of your ability. Otherwise you are doing a disservice to us all (and yourself).

With that said, I would suggest ANG, USAFR, or maybe regular Air Force if you are interested in airlines. The Navy/USMC have a lot of helos, and you have a high likelyhood of getting assigned to fly them. There is no recourse or appeal, and by then it's too late to back out.

Helos are fun to fly, but helo time will do almost nothing for your airline career...the time just doesn't count at most airlines. The fact that you were an officer and aviator will give you a leg up with a major, but you will still have to get your fixed-wing turbine time before you can apply. You may be able to do this as a military instructor pilot, but odds are good that you'll need to build time at a regional after you finish your military obligation.

With the ANG/USAFR, you know what type of airplane you will fly before you commit. With active USAF, you have a much higher chance of getting a fized-wing aircraft.

BoxFlyer

I did the Marine route also, not a bad road to take if you want to fly in the military. Business major with average grades, but I was the "well rounded" student. Time from OCS to wings, about 2-3 years. Then you owe Uncle Sam 10 more years after winging. So plan on a min. of 12 years before you considering getting out (if going the aviation path). Find an OSO and they can gouge you up, see if there are any slots open. Good luck.