Hey all,
I've been reading this site intensively for the past few weeks trying to get up to speed on the process of becoming an officer and what life might be like once one earns his/her commission. Thanks to you all, I now know the basics of the communities I’m interested in and how the pipelines work. I also know not to ask what % get jets. Honestly, I'd be happy being a Naval Officer and even happier to be paid to fly whatever it is that needs flying.
I'm a 20 year old college junior looking at a handful of career options, including the Navy, and particularly Naval Aviation. Unfortunately, while my college is considered one of the best in the country, they don't really have many resources for anyone who is considering the armed forces. Kids drive 90 minutes to another school to do Air Force and Army ROTC, and a handful do Marines PLC over the summers. Unfortunately, there's hardly any Navy presence.
1.Multiple waivers: I think I’d need a handful of waivers to get in. One for PRK (which would need for SNA), one for a psychiatric issue I had in the past, one for previous marijuana use and one for a minor case of psoriasis which is no longer really an issue. I know PRK is a fairly common one to have, but I’m concerned about the other three, especially the psychiatric one. I was hospitalized for about a week and put on meds, but fortunately have recovered fully and am off all meds. I'd have to check the diagnosis, but I checked the NOMI Psychiatry waiver guide and think my condition is technically waiverable. I’m fairly certain my doc would certify that I’m doing fine w/o meds and that I won’t have a similar issue in the future. Obviously I want to get in, but I want to be as honest as possible and not misrepresent or omit any of the above conditions.
So do they prefer guys with fewer/no waivers? My academic background is strong (3.7 GPA, top school), and I'm sure I'd get good recs, be able to articulate clearly my reasons for applying in the motivational statement and study hard for and do well on the ASTB.... but with lots of applicants, would they look at my app and just dismiss it outright due to the above issues? Even if everything else looked good or great?
2.When to apply/How long does it take: I’m curious when I should start putting together a package? I’ve read a number of threads but don’t really know the consensus on this one. I graduate May 2009, but the thing is, I’d ideally like to know by Fall 2008 whether I was pro-rec’ed or not so that I would still have time to interview on-campus and get a job should the Navy fall through. Unfortunately, I’m studying abroad and won’t be able to talk seriously to a recruiter before June. From there I don’t know how long to expect. I may have to go through the motions of interviewing and getting a job and then turn down an offer should the Navy take a long time to come through.
I have a number of other, aviation-related questions, but think it’d be best to save them for if/when I get picked up and get through OCS.
Sorry if these questions are stupid, or if it looks like I just all of a sudden decided to try to become a Navy pilot. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to serve but only recently has the thought that I might spend the rest of my life in a cubicle, no matter how well-paid I would be, led me to look seriously at the process.
Thanks for your help.
I've been reading this site intensively for the past few weeks trying to get up to speed on the process of becoming an officer and what life might be like once one earns his/her commission. Thanks to you all, I now know the basics of the communities I’m interested in and how the pipelines work. I also know not to ask what % get jets. Honestly, I'd be happy being a Naval Officer and even happier to be paid to fly whatever it is that needs flying.
I'm a 20 year old college junior looking at a handful of career options, including the Navy, and particularly Naval Aviation. Unfortunately, while my college is considered one of the best in the country, they don't really have many resources for anyone who is considering the armed forces. Kids drive 90 minutes to another school to do Air Force and Army ROTC, and a handful do Marines PLC over the summers. Unfortunately, there's hardly any Navy presence.
1.Multiple waivers: I think I’d need a handful of waivers to get in. One for PRK (which would need for SNA), one for a psychiatric issue I had in the past, one for previous marijuana use and one for a minor case of psoriasis which is no longer really an issue. I know PRK is a fairly common one to have, but I’m concerned about the other three, especially the psychiatric one. I was hospitalized for about a week and put on meds, but fortunately have recovered fully and am off all meds. I'd have to check the diagnosis, but I checked the NOMI Psychiatry waiver guide and think my condition is technically waiverable. I’m fairly certain my doc would certify that I’m doing fine w/o meds and that I won’t have a similar issue in the future. Obviously I want to get in, but I want to be as honest as possible and not misrepresent or omit any of the above conditions.
So do they prefer guys with fewer/no waivers? My academic background is strong (3.7 GPA, top school), and I'm sure I'd get good recs, be able to articulate clearly my reasons for applying in the motivational statement and study hard for and do well on the ASTB.... but with lots of applicants, would they look at my app and just dismiss it outright due to the above issues? Even if everything else looked good or great?
2.When to apply/How long does it take: I’m curious when I should start putting together a package? I’ve read a number of threads but don’t really know the consensus on this one. I graduate May 2009, but the thing is, I’d ideally like to know by Fall 2008 whether I was pro-rec’ed or not so that I would still have time to interview on-campus and get a job should the Navy fall through. Unfortunately, I’m studying abroad and won’t be able to talk seriously to a recruiter before June. From there I don’t know how long to expect. I may have to go through the motions of interviewing and getting a job and then turn down an offer should the Navy take a long time to come through.
I have a number of other, aviation-related questions, but think it’d be best to save them for if/when I get picked up and get through OCS.
Sorry if these questions are stupid, or if it looks like I just all of a sudden decided to try to become a Navy pilot. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to serve but only recently has the thought that I might spend the rest of my life in a cubicle, no matter how well-paid I would be, led me to look seriously at the process.
Thanks for your help.
