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Job prospects for NFO's after the Navy
- Thread starter JD81
- Start date
Guys,
I don't mean to nitpick, but it's "Would you like fries with that?"
Now, since I was an English Major as well I could probably get a job where I could ask, "Did you save room for dessert?"
Seriously, you can do anything you want as an NFO. When you put on your resume that you have experience managing and leading people and a track record of mission accomplishment, you are a commodity.
Personally, I am going to teach school, coach and guide fly-fishing in the summers. I like to think of trout as very small submarines.
Steve
I don't mean to nitpick, but it's "Would you like fries with that?"
Now, since I was an English Major as well I could probably get a job where I could ask, "Did you save room for dessert?"
Seriously, you can do anything you want as an NFO. When you put on your resume that you have experience managing and leading people and a track record of mission accomplishment, you are a commodity.
Personally, I am going to teach school, coach and guide fly-fishing in the summers. I like to think of trout as very small submarines.
Steve
saltpeter said:
After 3 years teaching at USNA, I can tell you it's gonna be a lot more than 16 hr a week.
Here at NAVCENT we currently have a very large number of furloughed pilots doing reserve active duty anywhere from a half year to as much as they can get. They left the Navy for the airlines, got screwed by the airlines and now are no kidding e-mailing and calling me to try to get an individual augment slot to earn money. Sort of sad to see.
No NFO augments that I've met yet. Not to say they're not here, but there's a preponderance of 1315s about the place.
As an NFO you are very marketable. Get all your quals, volunteer for the tough jobs and you'll get a skill set that will set you up for the civilian side.
r/
G
phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
I'll echo the posts about being a Naval Officer, and that's really all that counts. My Dad works for Lockheed Martin (at the VP level, retired O-6 with a PhD, go figure), and he told me that if I wanted to get out, I could walk into just about any job (excluding flying jobs) because Marine Officer was on my resume. He also mentioned that companies are scrambling (his words) to hire guys who are combat veterans (Iraq and Afghanistan). So if you are getting out, and you've got the "combat" block checked on your fitrep, make sure you include it on your resume!
Oh, and if you're looking for a flying job - make sure all your red ink time is accounted for on your resume. It proves that you can operate an aircraft safely in less than optimal conditions...
Oh, and if you're looking for a flying job - make sure all your red ink time is accounted for on your resume. It proves that you can operate an aircraft safely in less than optimal conditions...
Ouch.... I'll go back to driving the "bus".... hmm, let me carry that pub bag for you!HAL Pilot said:We'll see who is carrying the bags... :icon_rage ...unless you don't have any desire for that letter of rec seeing as it will be coming from a NFO.....
:icon_smil
..... why do I have the feeling that you are going to remind me of this comment some day?
All and all this is a good thread.
Most of the comments from fellow stick/yoke holders is just brought from the days of being able to poke fun of the NFO's (No Future Option). Generally speaking, as we begin our careers we learn a different mindset. Pilots for the most part are so concentrated on one speciality that we forget how to diversify ourselves. NFOS's as it would seem learn many traits. It just seemed to me over the years when being around communities that have NFOs aboard they are giving briefs and managing senior leadership positions. Maybe because there are more NFOs in communities like the Hawkeyes, Prowlers and Orions. I believe they have found that the best way to making themselves presentable to the civilian world is a broad background with knowledge on a variety of jobs. That being written, I can attest to getting out and looking at what options you might have in today's market it is completely dependent on what you are looking for in the civilian world.
You will have to decide what type of career you want. (99% of the guys who didn't want this aircraft, that aircraft end up being happy, front office dependent) There are opportunities even today to do just about anything you want to do.
My personal opionion is that if a pilot gets out early in his career he is still in the mindset that he wants to fly for a living and will do just about anything to follow that career path. From a estimated group of 50+ guys from my CNATRA days I know of only a handful that got out and went either back to school for a MBA or a non-flying career.
What works for one person will not work for all. At least in the civilian world you have that option to make a choice for yourself! Is that a scary thought, hell yes! Is the military a safe environment, much more until you get to about the 15 yr mark and then all that you have done in the past will tell you if your even going to be able to make it to 20 or enjoy the road ahead. Some guys today are finding that out before the 15 year mark though and praying for the early out.
The growing dependency on contract personnel has opened the door to the civilian world to former aviators in both categories. How long this dependency will last will be seen; I believe a long time. UAVs, although not glamorous is one area, JSF has it's own potential along with others. The real bottom line is not always what you know but who you know and what you are willing to do and what fits you the best.
The worst day on the golf course, beats the best day in the office!
Most of the comments from fellow stick/yoke holders is just brought from the days of being able to poke fun of the NFO's (No Future Option). Generally speaking, as we begin our careers we learn a different mindset. Pilots for the most part are so concentrated on one speciality that we forget how to diversify ourselves. NFOS's as it would seem learn many traits. It just seemed to me over the years when being around communities that have NFOs aboard they are giving briefs and managing senior leadership positions. Maybe because there are more NFOs in communities like the Hawkeyes, Prowlers and Orions. I believe they have found that the best way to making themselves presentable to the civilian world is a broad background with knowledge on a variety of jobs. That being written, I can attest to getting out and looking at what options you might have in today's market it is completely dependent on what you are looking for in the civilian world.
You will have to decide what type of career you want. (99% of the guys who didn't want this aircraft, that aircraft end up being happy, front office dependent) There are opportunities even today to do just about anything you want to do.
My personal opionion is that if a pilot gets out early in his career he is still in the mindset that he wants to fly for a living and will do just about anything to follow that career path. From a estimated group of 50+ guys from my CNATRA days I know of only a handful that got out and went either back to school for a MBA or a non-flying career.
What works for one person will not work for all. At least in the civilian world you have that option to make a choice for yourself! Is that a scary thought, hell yes! Is the military a safe environment, much more until you get to about the 15 yr mark and then all that you have done in the past will tell you if your even going to be able to make it to 20 or enjoy the road ahead. Some guys today are finding that out before the 15 year mark though and praying for the early out.
The growing dependency on contract personnel has opened the door to the civilian world to former aviators in both categories. How long this dependency will last will be seen; I believe a long time. UAVs, although not glamorous is one area, JSF has it's own potential along with others. The real bottom line is not always what you know but who you know and what you are willing to do and what fits you the best.
The worst day on the golf course, beats the best day in the office!
Making the decision to get out was scary. I stayed in the Reserves and finished out my whole 20 never leaving the cockpit which let me do the part of the Navy I loved and minimize the crap. I took about a 25% pay cut getting out as a senior 0-3 in 95 but the Reseve pay more than made up for it. Now, ten years later by going back into engineering I make more than any active duty officer (hell, more than any government official for that matter). In my work sphere having a TS/SCI clearance is gold. Being a Naval Officer and having that ticket sends certain assurances to an employer that you are at least reasonably trustworthy and trainable. The unemploymnet rate in the DC/Baltimore area for a TS/SCI cleared person is a bit less than .2 percent (yep, that's a decimal) Some companies are awful so don't be afraid to change. The average time that an ex-military offcier stays with their first company is about 18 months. I followed that track and have been with my second comapny six years and love it. Interesting work. More vacation that I got active duty and good benefits.
Pugs
Former ECMO
2400 hours
502 traps
Pugs
Former ECMO
2400 hours
502 traps
Pugs said:
Companies in the DC area cannot find enough guys with clearances to fill the contracts they have right now. I sit next to contractor and work with a few more, they make big money for doing very similar to me. My personal preference is not to go the contractor route, but there is nothing wrong with it.
Part of the reason for the rapid expansion of contractors in the government is that it is much easier to hire one of them than a government civvie (long story). There are thousands of jobs here for anyone with a clearance, several of the LT's in my office have been pretty much been mobbed when they show up to career fairs with a sticker indicating they have TS/SCI etc etc etc. "How much do you want to earn?" Now if I can just find an affordable house.....
Flash,
Your're right about the rapid expansion and the government hiring process not being agile enough to deal with the requirements among other things. I worked for a standard contractor for a year and a half and found I was being told to push solutions that the company had a vested interest in pushing. About that time I got recalled to active duty to go off to Aviano and fly during the Kosovo debacle for four months with the giant VAQ/135/138/140/209 group. I came back to find the company had cancelled my health care and used all my vacation. Nothing illegal about it but I'd had enough. I was offered a position with a non-profit Federally Funded Research and Development Center who's guiding vision is to go do the right thing. Much happer here working on the hard problems and getting recognized as a trusted agent. As Naval Officers we're all pretty loyal to our organizations and it takes some time once you leave to realize that companies are not (nor is the Navy for that matter but that clue light comes on later) Don't be afraid to look elsewhere for employment or tasks inside your own company that interest you. I do not plan on being in the DC/Baltimore area until retirement but the work is interesting and challenging and I feel like a make difference to the nations security and to the guys on the tip of the shaft.
Pugs
Pugs
Your're right about the rapid expansion and the government hiring process not being agile enough to deal with the requirements among other things. I worked for a standard contractor for a year and a half and found I was being told to push solutions that the company had a vested interest in pushing. About that time I got recalled to active duty to go off to Aviano and fly during the Kosovo debacle for four months with the giant VAQ/135/138/140/209 group. I came back to find the company had cancelled my health care and used all my vacation. Nothing illegal about it but I'd had enough. I was offered a position with a non-profit Federally Funded Research and Development Center who's guiding vision is to go do the right thing. Much happer here working on the hard problems and getting recognized as a trusted agent. As Naval Officers we're all pretty loyal to our organizations and it takes some time once you leave to realize that companies are not (nor is the Navy for that matter but that clue light comes on later) Don't be afraid to look elsewhere for employment or tasks inside your own company that interest you. I do not plan on being in the DC/Baltimore area until retirement but the work is interesting and challenging and I feel like a make difference to the nations security and to the guys on the tip of the shaft.
Pugs
Pugs
raymond.barr
Registered User
Dudes,
The clearances you pick up as a tactical naval flight officer open many doors in govt including intelligence as well as many opportunities in the private sector in consulting. Remember, a company would much rather hire someone who has been a Naval Officer and has a security clearance.
BTW- That bag carrying comment is pretty funny. I have a goldfish with more traps than you.
The clearances you pick up as a tactical naval flight officer open many doors in govt including intelligence as well as many opportunities in the private sector in consulting. Remember, a company would much rather hire someone who has been a Naval Officer and has a security clearance.
BTW- That bag carrying comment is pretty funny. I have a goldfish with more traps than you.
GeoffStahl
Former E-2/FA-18 NFO
My experience (as a former NFO). Got out went to work as a software engineer for a beltway bandit (uh, government contractor). Since I had a Computer Science/Aerospace degree this was a reasonable transition. Spent 4 years there, it was okay. Based on things I did outside of work I got an engineering job at Apple. Been here 6 years now and am an Engineering Manager for 3D Graphics. Love my job, make very good money (likely more than a pilot who got out the same time I did). Have a great wife and baby daughter that I go home to every night.
So is there life after being an NFO, yes. Is it necessarily in aviation or military related work, no. Does your time in the military help, yes, very much. Work hard, kick some butt and life will be good to you. Also, life is long with many twists and turns so predicting the future many years away is very difficult.
BTW, I am tremendously proud of my service and everyone in the service, but man once you get out there IS something to be said for going home every night (on my first sea tour was was away for 30 out of 44 months and on the boat for 18 months, day for day).
Good luck.
So is there life after being an NFO, yes. Is it necessarily in aviation or military related work, no. Does your time in the military help, yes, very much. Work hard, kick some butt and life will be good to you. Also, life is long with many twists and turns so predicting the future many years away is very difficult.
BTW, I am tremendously proud of my service and everyone in the service, but man once you get out there IS something to be said for going home every night (on my first sea tour was was away for 30 out of 44 months and on the boat for 18 months, day for day).
Good luck.