In the FLEET, you start briefing tactics, EP, etc as part of the crew brief. This may take a little per-flight planning, but it's nothing like TRACOM.
-ea6bflyr
But, unlike the TRACOM, in the Fleet you have a "day" job that makes for long hours; numerous collateral duties (can you say "CFC," "voting," "SACO," etc.?);
real SDO/CDO duties; ODO; weekends to catch up on your day job (that you had to put on the back burner due to crew rest/crew day during the week); weekend duties or FCFs; weeks away for dets; months away for workups; months/years away for deployments; PME; administrative requirements for your Marines/Sailors (awards, performance evaluations, etc.); investigations; PFTs/PRTs/CFTs; rifle/pistol ranges; safety stand-downs; etc, etc, etc....and that's all in addition to studying/prepping for qual and mission upgrades (you know, the flying part of your job).
In other words, while the studying in the TRACOM is intense, it is the only time in your career when your sole job is to show up ready for a brief and to be prepared to fly. In fact, it is all the taxpayers are paying you to do. Study, brief, fly, debrief...wash, rinse, repeat. It's intense, yes, but it doesn't get any easier from the world of Orange and White.
If the "friend" of the OP is getting discouraged, it is time for a gut-check. Tell him to talk to friends, Fleet Aviators/NFOs (both inside and outside his chain of command), etc. and get a feel for if it is something he wants to continue with for the next decade or longer of his life. Realize that flight school isn't the Fleet, but also realize that the Fleet isn't "easier" - it's a much different sort of intensity. But, like monte said, all of those long hours of flight school and the Fleet pay off with real-world missions. The feeling of accomplishment - both earning Wings, and hoisting a beer with your squadronmates at the Club after a successful mission or deployment - is one that simply cannot be matched. While the work is tough, and there's plenty of BS along the way, it's a very rewarding endeavor.
If it's something he wants to do, cool - keep pressing. If not, it's better to make that decision now, when all that is at stake is maybe a re-designation (or separation from the Navy).
After all, it's not all Choker Whites and...
