Jones14

Can't seem to wipe the *pie*eating grin off my face this week. Newly selected SNA from the July OCS board. Feels great to be one step closer to "making the team."

EvilMonkey

Gloat away, congratulations!

p3gator

Many congrats, best of luck in training.

USMCFLYR

Yes - many congrats.
Take it one step at a time though (I fixed the title for you ).
It is a long road.

USMCFLYR

Jones14

Thanks everyone, it's going to be crazy. OCS will definitely change my life in just 3 short months.

Jones14

Obviously very early in the game to invest too much thought, but I'm initially very interested in the Maritime pipeline. Any thoughts on my chances at dropping P-8's? There's not much info out yet, but my thoughts go one of two ways.

1. They transition current P-3 guys into the new airframe and figure out the needs of the program later. So, basically very little new pilots coming into that pipeline. If so, get winged in P-3's and wait in line.

2. Why waste money and time training SNA's on the P-3, having to transition them to the P-8 later? All new applicants in the pipeline get P-8 and the P-3 guys transition when able.


If that topic is still up in the air, then I would be more than happy with some general information on the P-3 community. I've heard good things thus far.

Grumble

Dude, you need to recage your brain and focus on getting through OCS and NAMI first. Start going to bed at 2200, waking up at 0445 and working out now. You'll do yourself a huge favor getting your body adjusted.

Then assuming you don't get injured, roll a class, fail an RLP, etc and graduate on time, then you need to get through API. Hows your swimming? If you suck, better start now. Jump off a 12M platform, and swim underwater in flight gear for 25M. Sounds stupid, but you have to do it to graduate. Mile swim in flight suit? A lot of the courseware in API ground school is going to be totally backwards from what you know. Guess whats on the test? Hint: what they teach you, not what you know.

Once you get to primary there are plenty of hurdels to get over there too. I watched more than a handful of guys with commerical and ATP tickets, wash out. Yeah, it happens.

Then should you get through all that, you'll get a chance to fill out your dream sheet of what you'd like to fly. The Navy will then ball that up, throw it in the trash, and give you whatever they want. if you're lucky, you'll get something with a tailhook, and join the fraternity. Be happy with whatever you get however.

Good luck, it's a ride I'd do all over again in a second.

Jones14

Not going into my true feelings about that response.

Thanks for the gouge...

HoursHore

Worry about things you control, like getting in shape and swimming for OCS and API, Procedures, systems, and memory items for Primary. You'll have plenty Fridays over beers to talk about selection with you buds. Your wants and the Navy's needs may or may not coincide. Your wants will also probably change once you start as well.

jungle

It is a little early for gloating, but you should be proud to have the opportunity to compete for the right to wear those wings of gold.

The real work is ahead and staying motivated is going to be the most important aspect in making sure you make the most out of this experience.

Consider yourself an empty vessel at this point, and as others have pointed out, you are going to have to learn the Navy way to fly.