Navy OCS pilot candidate
 

Hi, I just looked up some ways of getting into the USN as a pilot and I was considering going through OCS. I was wondering, if I applied for OCS would I know I was going to be a pilot before I start the course, or would I find out after I finished it? Because I don't want to join the Navy if I can't be a pilot, and if I don't pass for flight school then I would be stuck in the Navy with a job I didn't want. Or is there another way to get into the Navy as a pilot where I can know the results before I am commited to joining?
Or would ROTC be a better option?
Thanks.

Getting into USN
 

Based on your location, I would have to note that first off you have to be a US citizen to become an officer in the USN. To apply through OCS you have to complete a college degree (BS/BA). Technically there are no differences between the different commissioning programs, since everybody is now commissioned a reserve officer and you have to apply to convert over to regular.

During the application process for OCS, you can tell the officer recruiter you want flight school. They have some extra tests to ensure that you qualify, plus the medical exam. So the answer is yes, you would know before going to OCS that flight school would follow. In that regard, ROTC isn’t as nice because you have incurred a commitment before service selection. Also, once you have orders to flight school you receive another flight physical in Pensacola at the Naval Aviation Medical Institute, who’s mission seems to be “We provide Naval Flight Officers to the Fleet”.

If you don’t make it through flight school then you have a problem. You signed up for a commitment to Uncle when you went to OCS. Not sure what they are doing now, but Ensigns who flunked out of flight school were being sent on two year orders to carriers to make up for the lack of LT/LCDR available at that time (2000-2002).

OK thanks. I was born in USA so the citizenship isn't a problem for me. However if I do pass flight screening during induction to OCS, how likely is it that I won't make flight school at Pensacola, or do they have roughly the same guidelines?

Also what did you mean by that everyone is commissioned as a reserve officer? And if I do fail Naval flight school but am incurred into service, can I request to transfer into the Air Force or Marines and try out for flight school there?
Thanks.

bxample

First, decide IF you want to serve in the US military as a naval officer, then apply, make sure you will pass the flight physical and entrance tests, join. After that, it is up to the Navy's needs and your ability to be an aviator. There are simply no guarantees in life and that couldn't apply more in the military. If you pass flight screening at OCS, you will go to pilot training, that is why they have flight screening-to figure out who send on. Yes, the medical community seems to relish flunking people, but once in teh program, not so much. There has been some improvements-like allowing laser eye surgery. I'm ex-USAF, my brother is ex-Navy and his son is currently in H60 RAG training.

You can make inter-service transfers, but failing to make the grade in one service's flight school will pretty much put paid to going to other service's school. My brother trained an ex-AF pilot who transfered out of F-15s because he wanted to fly f-14s; I have known a good number of Navy pilots in the AF. Besides the Navy trains the Marines, so no dice there.

Reserve officer is merely a bureaucratic issue, no one gets a regular commission until the 0-4 level. Don't worry about it.

Good luck, it's great if you can join.

GF

As long as you haven't renounced your US citizenship at some point (I don't think your parents could have done it for you) then you are fine.

Just remember that you have to finish a university degree before applying for OCS... and if accepted you have to renounce any non-US citizenship you might have (like dual US-Aussie) so that you are ONLY a US citizen.

We let them think that, keeps the Navy boys happy.

All right thanks a lot you guys. Medically I think I should be right, and no my parents haven't renounced my citizenship. I think I'll give OCS a shot when I finish uni (which wont be for a while), I reckon I'll probably have a good chance at making pilot.
Is maths and reflexes and stuff a big issue when it comes to flight screening?
Thanks a lot

It might be worth your while having a look at this site:
Airwarriors - Powered by vBulletin

Its totally US Navy/Marines orientated, but do read the FAQs, they eat their own young.:)

Start thinking about your academic studies - will the USN accept your Oz degree, for example? Should you (as when applying to join UK armed forces) have lived in the country for a specified number of years before applying, and if not, how do you get round that?

Starting out from outside the US puts you at a disadvantage, I'm certain, but you have the time to pre-empt some of those issues.

Yes, for a pilot math is essential... as are good, fast reflexes.

Westie

That's right the Marines are a department of the Navy.............






The Men's Department

:ok:

Bxample & AA

I've meet Rhodesians in the USAF and they got on quite well, but both did emigrate to the US in their teens and went to US colleges.

Actually, I think there are upsides to being an Aussie/Yank--different viewpoints, Yanks love Aussies in general, exchange officers usually have good tours in each country. I think the Aussie accent on pedantic ways to be a benefit.

GF

FR
You're using some of my best material!

I'm not too worried about being outside the US, I'll probably go to apply to go to uni there anyway just to get a US degree. Generally what is the pass rate for Navy flight school? I've read different statistics that say anything from 20% or 50% washout rates... I want a roughly accurate idea of what my chances are before joining. Also what about Air Force pilots? Is it actually much more competitive than the Navy? Because I know they have tougher requirements, but does that mean it's more competitive?