ok, first of all, i don't know if this is the best forum to pose this question in (maybe general naval aviation or the NFO forum would be better), but this question will be somewhat specific to a Marine aviator.
i just graduated in May from N.C. State (degree in mechanical engineering). still not commissioned, although they're saying that i'll likely get my bars on 28 Aug and shipped to TBS on 2 Sept (although all of that is speculative at this point, and we're running out of time to make September class!)
A couple of years ago, i switched from a ground contract to an NFO contract. However, since i've wanted to be a fighter pilot since i was probably elementary school age, I got PRK (seeing 20/15 now, instead of 20/30 with astigmatism before). My paperwork situation has been a major SNAFU, but i finally got word a couple of days ago that i'm officially physically qualified as both a pilot and NFO.
the rub is this: i submitted an application to switch to a pilot contract, and while i'm qualified, they denied it. the reason is that, with the end of the fiscal year quickly approaching, they needed to fill the NFO quota with the quickness. now, i know they they're hurting for pilots, but apparently they need NFO's even worse. it sounds to me like maybe someone's just trying to cook the books, though.
now, these are the potential outcomes i see:
1. get sent to TBS on 2 Sept as an NFO contract. this is what my OSO views as the overwhelmingly likely option.
2. they drop the ball again, and i don't go to TBS until november.
if option #1 is what happens, i'll try to switch to pilot at TBS. if that doesn't work, i'm debating on whether i should stay NFO contract and try to switch at flight school, and if that doesn't work, become an NFO...or drop the NFO contract for a ground contract, and put pilot at the top of my MOS wishlist, followed by tanks, arty, and infantry (and maybe ground intel). all of that depends on how likely a switch to pilot at flight school is, and what i decide i'd rather be (ground officer or NFO-which at this point, i'm not sure of).
if option #2 comes to fruition, then obviously i try to switch to pilot again, since they won't be getting me as an NFO by the end of the fiscal year anyway (and if approved, i suppose i'd be going to quantico for IFS pretty soon). if that doesn't work, then i'm right back into the possible scenarios of #1.
sorry for being verbose, but it's a damned oddball situation. any words of advice about any of this?
i just graduated in May from N.C. State (degree in mechanical engineering). still not commissioned, although they're saying that i'll likely get my bars on 28 Aug and shipped to TBS on 2 Sept (although all of that is speculative at this point, and we're running out of time to make September class!)
A couple of years ago, i switched from a ground contract to an NFO contract. However, since i've wanted to be a fighter pilot since i was probably elementary school age, I got PRK (seeing 20/15 now, instead of 20/30 with astigmatism before). My paperwork situation has been a major SNAFU, but i finally got word a couple of days ago that i'm officially physically qualified as both a pilot and NFO.
the rub is this: i submitted an application to switch to a pilot contract, and while i'm qualified, they denied it. the reason is that, with the end of the fiscal year quickly approaching, they needed to fill the NFO quota with the quickness. now, i know they they're hurting for pilots, but apparently they need NFO's even worse. it sounds to me like maybe someone's just trying to cook the books, though.
now, these are the potential outcomes i see:
1. get sent to TBS on 2 Sept as an NFO contract. this is what my OSO views as the overwhelmingly likely option.
2. they drop the ball again, and i don't go to TBS until november.
if option #1 is what happens, i'll try to switch to pilot at TBS. if that doesn't work, i'm debating on whether i should stay NFO contract and try to switch at flight school, and if that doesn't work, become an NFO...or drop the NFO contract for a ground contract, and put pilot at the top of my MOS wishlist, followed by tanks, arty, and infantry (and maybe ground intel). all of that depends on how likely a switch to pilot at flight school is, and what i decide i'd rather be (ground officer or NFO-which at this point, i'm not sure of).
if option #2 comes to fruition, then obviously i try to switch to pilot again, since they won't be getting me as an NFO by the end of the fiscal year anyway (and if approved, i suppose i'd be going to quantico for IFS pretty soon). if that doesn't work, then i'm right back into the possible scenarios of #1.
sorry for being verbose, but it's a damned oddball situation. any words of advice about any of this?
