Introduction; A few questions.

[Aether]

I've known I want to join the military as an officer for a few years now. My only question was which branch to join. After doing some research I've finally narrowed my interests down to two fields. Marine Aviator, or Navy Nuclear Propulsion.

I have an immense desire to serve my country, I believe military experience will be good for me, and I want to contribute to supporting the men and women on the ground. The third reason is why I would choose to be an aviator, over other fields. I also want my career to have relevance to my major, as I don't want to feel like I've 'wasted' my education. I'll be receiving a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering this February. This is actually the only reason I've decided against pursuing an infantry career.

When I was younger I used to dream of being a pilot, but as my eyesight got worse, I slowly put that dream aside. Now that eye surgery is waiver-able, I am fully committed to pursuing that career. My goal is to fly attack craft, be it in fixed wing or rotary aircraft (although, like most people, I'd prefer fixed wing).

Academically I have a 3.3 GPA, which should go up by the time I graduate. I don't have many extra curricular activities, as I've been focusing on my school work. I do have work experience. My major requires 50 weeks of co-op in industry.

Physically I'm 5'9 and between 140-150 lbs. Yes I'm skinny. I'm working on it. Right now I'm on a 6 week plan to ramp up my running, and am doing the Armstrong and Killer's workouts. I'll finish this plan right before going back to school, where I'll continue and also have access to a weight room. My eyesight is -4.0 diopters in my right eye and -3.5 in my left. I have a slight astigmatism. I believe I am qualified for PRK, but intend to open dialog about that with my eye doctor at an appointment later this month.

Ok, enough about me. I've been doing a lot of research and feel very informed about what I'm getting into (this site has been a great help). I finally got in touch with a recruiter the other day, and a Staff Sgt. is coming to talk to me Monday. Right now I'm still in the "gather information" phase, and I know I should get in touch with the OSO for the area. I intend to ask the recruiter for the OSO's contact info.

Can anyone tell me what I should expect from this meeting?

I'm also having trouble coming up with questions I should ask. Is there anything I should make a point of asking?

I am to be the Best Man at my best friends wedding next October. I take this responsibility seriously, and do not want to re-neg on that commitment. I've been told that if I get into the earliest OCS class after I'm done with school (May 9, 2009 IIRC) that I would probably go to TBS in Sept. The next TBS date is in January. Will there be any negative consequences if I decide to hold out so I can be assured of attending the wedding? I don't know what the next OCS date is, and I might miss the May date anyway, due to the wait time after having eye surgery (6 months I was told).

Whew, that was a mouthful. Thanks for reading that, and I appreciate any advise you guys can give me. Also, If anyone here has expirience with the Navy's Nuclear Propusion program, I'd like to hear about your expiriences.

 

[picklesuit]

I would say go to the wedding, the military will still be here, but your friend will get married once (maybe) As far as what career field you choose, go with what your gut says. The aviation road will be pretty long and hard with all of the waivers you will have to get (I know you have to be a ways out from yer PRK before you can get that waiver) but if that is your passion, go for it. As far as the Nuke route, I have no idea. Don't get too hung up on your degree, I was an Animal Science major (preveterinary medicine) and now I fly planes...no correlation at all. I never took calculus (never will if I can manage it) and the Navy has taught me what I need to know.

Be careful about recruiters, they "distort" the truth at times to get what they need. I won't say they lie, they just have a way of making a shit sandwich sound like an ice cream sundae. Do your research, READ THE FINE PRINT, take yer contract to your lawyer if neccesary to explain the ramifications of signing your life away BEFORE you sign it. Once it is signed, they own you.

Good luck on your journey, I love the Navy, I have meet the best people in America living this life, and wouldn't trade it for anything. I like the koolaide, and it likes me!

 

[nugget61]

Before you get PRK, be sure that you check out the reqs for SNA - I know they have before criteria. I think your diopters are fine, but I can't remember what they said about having an astigmatism.
I'm in the same boat with you in nupoc and sna - and you do just have to figure out what would make you happy. While I have the aptitude for nupoc, I would never be happy hearing all of the planes launch and I could never be up there. Do whats best for you, not your recruiter.

 

[FLYTPAY]

After doing some research I've finally narrowed my interests down to two fields. Marine Aviator, or Navy Nuclear Propulsion..

Why didn't you just narrow it to porn star or fluffer? If you do not know what a fluffer is, Google it from other than a governemnt computer.

 

[Aether]

Why didn't you just narrow it to porn star or fluffer? If you do not know what a fluffer is, Google it from other than a governemnt computer.

Haha!

I was originally set on going Navy Nuke. It was while doing research for this I found out about the eyesight waivers, and my desire to fly was rekindled.

I think I'm in the same boat as nugget61. I don't think I could stand being below deck listening to the planes take off if I hadn't already put forth my best effort to get into the cockpit.

I'll definately check into the regulations for PRK, but either way I'm definately going to get it. I hate wearing contacts, and hate glasses even more.

picklesuit: What other waivers might I have to get, besides eyesight?

 

[srqwho]

I believe the post-op wait for a PRK waiver is only 3 months if your right and left diopters are less than -6.00... PLEASE somebody correct me if I'm wrong. It goes to 6 months for anything worse than -6.00.

Be careful with the enlistment recruiter... don't agree or sign anything without talking with your OSO first. When I was first getting into this I gave the local enlistment recruiter a call and he said there were "plenty" of "ways" I could end get into aviation... and he never once mentioned an OR. I had to do my own research on that. As far as the meeting with the OSO goes, my first meeting with my OR was fairly brief. He gave me some info on the different designators, gave me a ton of paperwork (app, LORs, etc) to fill out, and confirmed my GPA. I also scheduled an ASTB date.

In regards to the wedding... are you willing to wait to go to OCS and then TBS? I applied in June, but didn't ask to leave until January. If you are in a hurry then fine, but you are not "required" to ship out the moment you get selected. With the Navy, you are matched up with an OCS date that corresponds with the date you put on your application as the date you can leave.

The other more experienced guys can give you better gouge than that... but those were my experiences.

 

[Schnugg]

I've finally narrowed my interests down to two fields. Marine Aviator, or Navy Nuclear Propulsion.

That's like narrowing it down to banker or construction worker...Navy Nuke and USMC Air are at opposite ends of the spectrum. What would you really rather do? Fly a plane or a live in a tube?

I have an immense desire to serve my country...I used to dream of being a pilot

But not as "immense" as your desire to be a best man at a friend's wedding? If you get a slot, I'd take it.

But, stand by to miss a lot of "immense" life events if you do sign the dotted line.

 

[BACONATOR]

Fly a plane or a live in a tube?

That same answer applies to the question: Marine Aviator, or Navy E-2 NFO?

 

[Clux4]

The next TBS date is in January. Will there be any negative consequences if I decide to hold out so I can be assured of attending the wedding?

Is the Wedding like a week long thing? You can get excused for a wedding at TBS. Chances are that you may be waiting to class up while doing IFS. Just make sure your staff(SPC) knows ahead of time. People get married at TBS as well and it is not a big deal. It is a 6 month marathon and everyone is going to have to attend to things along the way. So if you really want to do it, go for it.

 

[Herc_Dude]

Is the Wedding like a week long thing? You can get excused for a wedding at TBS. Chances are that you may be waiting to class up while doing IFS. Just make sure your staff(SPC) knows ahead of time. People get married at TBS as well and it is not a big deal. It is a 6 month marathon and everyone is going to have to attend to things along the way. So if you really want to do it, go for it.

Well, some people might have something that was planned in advance, but do not plan on doing anything that will put you in a situation where you will miss training. That is just not an option. If it's over a 96 or weekend and you get approved for the out-of-bounds libbo, leave, etc, then you will be okay.

To the OP, if the wedding is in October and the next TBS class to start is in January, you will be in Mike Co and things should be much easier - that is unless you they have you doing IFS. Keep this in the back of your mind - so many factors are involved in OCS/TBS class dates. Be prepared to go earlier and later than you expect. Once things are rolling you have to remain flexible. You will be told one thing and find out later that it has changed. It's the nature of the beast. Same goes for API/Primary/Advanced/SERE/RAG dates (yeah, all of those were either moved up or back for me).

Just like Schnugg said - be prepared to miss certain things like this. I had to turn down being a best man for a very good bud about 3 weeks out from his wedding. Yeah, it sucked and I felt like shit, but was there anything I could do about it? Nope.

 

[Clux4]

If the wedding is on a weekend, how much could he possibly miss.(Remedial Land Nav and or digging up a terrain model)? That is why I asked him/her if it was a week long thing. Out of bound libo is almost always granted as long as you have your itinerary to go with the request.

Echoing Devil_dog, do not plan to miss training and if you think you might need to be excused, tell your leadership.

 

[Afterburner76]

So you want to be a Marine Aviator first, but you'd rather be a Navy Nuke than a Naval Aviator? I don't get it. You really want to fly, just not for the Navy?

 

[Spekkio]

Ok, enough about me. I've been doing a lot of research and feel very informed about what I'm getting into (this site has been a great help). I finally got in touch with a recruiter the other day, and a Staff Sgt. is coming to talk to me Monday. Right now I'm still in the "gather information" phase, and I know I should get in touch with the OSO for the area. I intend to ask the recruiter for the OSO's contact info.

Can anyone tell me what I should expect from this meeting?

If you are meeting with an enlisted recruiter, you can expect him to try to convince you to enlist. He will tell you about enlisted commissioning programs and the like. Not saying that all will do that if you present your desire to become an officer, but a lot will, so be mentally prepared for it. Just keep in mind that you are seeking a commission, and stand firm about that. If you mention the fact that you're considering joining the Navy, he will probably wince or make some other unfavorable face .

My eyesight is -4.0 diopters in my right eye and -3.5 in my left. I have a slight astigmatism. I believe I am qualified for PRK, but intend to open dialog about that with my eye doctor at an appointment later this month.

You will need to get PRK to be eligible for pilot with that eyesight. I'm -0.5 left and -0.75 right and I'm not eligible for pilot without surgeory.

I am to be the Best Man at my best friends wedding next October. I take this responsibility seriously, and do not want to re-neg on that commitment. I've been told that if I get into the earliest OCS class after I'm done with school (May 9, 2009 IIRC) that I would probably go to TBS in Sept. The next TBS date is in January. Will there be any negative consequences if I decide to hold out so I can be assured of attending the wedding? I don't know what the next OCS date is, and I might miss the May date anyway, due to the wait time after having eye surgery (6 months I was told).

Unfortunately, the military sometimes makes you miss things that you would ordinarilly be able to attend. I have a 24 hour leave chit pending for my grandfather's funeral at Arlington this month, and I'll honestly be surprised if I get approved for it because it's on a training day for nuke school.

As far as the Nuke route, I have no idea. Don't get too hung up on your degree, I was an Animal Science major (preveterinary medicine) and now I fly planes...no correlation at all. I never took calculus (never will if I can manage it) and the Navy has taught me what I need to know.

You must have calculus 1-2 and calc based physics 1-2 before starting nuke school. They go over the entirety of those 4 classes in about two weeks, plus you have to learn the entire reactor schematic in a week while you're taking them. The point of physics/calc classes even being in there is to review the material and have the basics for the rest of nuke school, not teach it to you for the first time.

OP has a mechanical engineering degree, so he should be okay. He'll take a preliminary exam and if he passes it, he'll go straight to nuke school without having to go to pre-school.

So you want to be a Marine Aviator first, but you'd rather be a Navy Nuke than a Naval Aviator? I don't get it. You really want to fly, just not for the Navy?

OP said he wants to fly strike. Aren't the the chances of getting strike aircraft higher in the USMC than the Navy?

Whew, that was a mouthful. Thanks for reading that, and I appreciate any advise you guys can give me. Also, If anyone here has expirience with the Navy's Nuclear Propusion program, I'd like to hear about your expiriences.

I'm just beginning nuke school, but I can answer any basic questions you have about the pipeline and what is expected of nuke officers. What do you want to know?

 

[Lobster]

You need to take a good hard look at what you want to do in the military and what branch you really want to join. You shouldn't be joining a specific branch just for a specific designation just because there is always a chance that you wont get what you want. Join the Navy because you want to serve in the Navy or join the Marines because you want to be a Marine. Also, as was said earlier if you want to join the military get used to missing important events with friends and family, the wedding wouldn't be the last thing you'd miss, but if you can put off joining until the wedding is over since you've already made the commitment go, family first, but like I said you're going to miss a lot more.

 

[picklesuit]

You must have calculus 1-2 and calc based physics 1-2 before starting nuke school. They go over the entirety of those 4 classes in about two weeks, plus you have to learn the entire reactor schematic in a week while you're taking them. The point of physics/calc classes even being in there is to review the material and have the basics for the rest of nuke school, not teach it to you for the first time.

Yeah, sorry 'bout that, I was just speaking to aviation, thanks for the catch Spekkio. Any idiot can fly a plane...but those reactors are pure rocket surgery!