Junior reaching out to Officers for assessment

[Derksy]

Good afternoon all.

I have contacted a recruiter, strangely one of the best I think I've ever talked with and have started the process of studying for the astb. I have talked with him about my chances of becoming a pilot in the Navy and was encouraged by his response to my credentials. On top of looking for a no B.S. assessment of my profile from current officers, I was wondering if you could offer me some advice and share your experiences as I prepare for OCS over the next year.

Quick Stats:
- GPA (3.35)
- Deans List: (Fall 07')
- Leadership:
President of Delta Upsilon Pledge Class (Fall 06')
J.V. Lacrosse Coach for 5 years
- Violations
Minor Traffic Violations (2)
DWUI (Found Not Guilty)


Questions:
1.) I will graduate in the Spring of 2010 with a B.S. in Biology. I'll be one class away from a Minor's in Chemistry. I am the head JV lacrosse coach at a local high school and obtaining my minor will prevent me from coaching this year. What is more important to the Navy: My minor or coaching?

2.) What is life like for a Naval Pilot? Specificaly, how often do you move as an officer? Is it hard on your family? (Looking to possibly retire as an officer)

3.) After life as a pilot is over, what job(s) do most Naval pilots hold while in the Navy?

4.) What conditioning programs would you suggest that would prepare me for OCS?

5.) I am a family oriented man. Is it likely you'll find a good wife while in the Navy?

6.) What can I do to make my-self as competitive as possible over this next year?



I emplore honesty and would enjoy hearing about your expireneces and will take your advice to heart.

 

[P3 F0]

First of all, have you tried searching these boards? Many of your questions have been talked about ad nauseum.

Second of all, why are you talking about astb? Are you talking to a regular recruiter and not an Officer recruiter, and if so, why? You should be thinking about OCS.

 

[P3 F0]

And because I have some free time...
1. I'd say your minor is more important. I don't see a block on your ODC (your record) for a minor code, but it can't hurt to have it completed. I'm also not a OCS expert, so I can't say if having the minor is more important than the coaching gig (my guess is yes; the coaching should still go in your OCS package, I'd think).

2. Life is what you make it. The answer depends entirely on you and your attitude. However, I've seen, as a general rule, that people in Naval Aviation tend to be much more happy with their career than the civvies I've met. You'll never study more, train more, endure more pressure (for your wings and other quals), and enjoy anything more than deploying and working with your fellow JO's. And yes, it's hard on families. Moving every 2-3 years is tough. But it has its advantages. I'm glad to have seen the places I've been stationed. I've met one or two AF officers who had never left the States and who'd spent almost all their time at Offutt. I can't say how badly I was disgusted.

3. If your life as an aviator is over, then something has gone horribly wrong and life is not good, nor will your job be, most likely. Once you get your wings, you keep them, and you're always an aviator. You may do different non-flying jobs, but that doesn't change what your warfare qualification is. If you're talking about what non-flying jobs aviators have, well that's too huge a question to answer, and shouldn't affect one way or the other your decision to join. Any non-flying tours you do will be after your first/second/third tour, depending on what orders you get or don't get lucky with.

4. Search. Navy PT standards are really pretty tame. If you, as a lacrosse coach (and I'm assuming ex-player) can't meet them or get yourself into shape to be able to meet them, then you've got bigger problems than the PT part.

5. You'll have to find a wife that will put up with all of the Navy bullshit, like Tricare and frequent moving, base hospitals and 6-month deployments. Some wives love it, others hate it, and others leave it. Choose wisely, and hope you get lucky before you have kids.

6. I'm guessing search will work for this one, too.

 

[Lobster]

Dude seriously all your questions can be answered by consulting the friendly search function. For the "finding a good wife" thing maybe match.com can help you there...

 

[Uncle Fester]

5.) I am a family oriented man. Is it likely you'll find a good wife while in the Navy?

Wow. Congratulations for asking the weirdest question I've yet seen posted on AW.

C'mon, seriously...look again at what you wrote and ask yourself how the fuck anyone's supposed to answer that one for you. Were you expecting us to say the Navy sets up mixers with nice churchgoing girls every Saturday?

 

[MasterBates]

We do have a fine supply of SNAGs for you to choose from if you make it to Pensacola/Corpus/Krock.

 

[Afterburner209]

Well first of all I am NOT an officer yet and therefore I don't mean jack and my opinion is based on what I've read and found through the SEARCH function.

I did however get accepted to OCS so I can tell you as far as how competitive your stats look. But with the information given I would say good. You have a decent GPA and the president of DU looks good (im friends with DU in San Jose). If you don't score well on the ASTB all that is crap though. Furthermore, I assume you meet the age, vision, height, and medical requirements? So take the test and you can have a much better idea of how competitive you are (3 times lifetime max. don't rush it).

All these questions are better answered through search but heres a quick run down:

1.) What is more important to the Navy: My minor or coaching?

Well you obviously have coaching experience but you dont have a minor. So why not take the minor and the coaching vs. the coaching and more coaching?

2.) What is life like for a Naval Pilot?

Good and Hard. Depends on the person, but from what i've learned you will move fairly often, it is hard on alot of familes, the job can be tough as it is dangerous, but it will be worth it.

3.) After life as a pilot is over, what job(s) do most Naval pilots hold while in the Navy?

I can't answer this, if I finish all my training and make it as a pilot, my life will be pretty damn complete. I don't look past it.

4.) What conditioning programs would you suggest that would prepare me for OCS?

Run. Run. Run. Push-ups, sit-ups, and run. Hit the gym if you want but you are going to run your ass off and do alot of excersizes that will drain you. I would work on endurance more than strength. You work will athletes right? Come to OCS in athlete shape and they will do the rest.

5.) I am a family oriented man. Is it likely you'll find a good wife while in the Navy?

Will I get hit by a car driving to work? The military life is hard on families, trust is a big issue, but no one can tell you if your definition of a good wife will be found in the navy. We also can't tell if you look like a foot and act like a douche, which will make it much more difficult.

6.) What can I do to make my-self as competitive as possible over this next year?

Stay out of trouble. Work out and do well on the PRT. Stay healthy. Score well on the ASTB. Volunteer. Make friends with some officers (that you know) for recommendations. Maybe get a little flight experience.

Good Luck, and stay thirsty my friend.

 

[Picaroon]

Pledge class president? Wow, that's such a huge responsibility

Nah looks good. Do well on the ASTB and you should be fine. As for the coaching, I would argue that you should do whichever you want to do, rather than doing one because you think the Navy selection board might be slightly more impressed by it than the other.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

5.) I am a family oriented man. Is it likely you'll find a good wife while in the Navy?

That is an odd question to ask. If you're one of those guys that can't get laid in a whore house with a fist full of $50's, you might want to consider doing your first tour in Japan. I've seen even the nerdiest of dudes come back to the states from there with wives. Being a pilot should help the cause, too.

 

[Bonko]

That is an odd question to ask. If you're one of those guys that can't get laid in a whore house with a fist full of $50's, you might want to consider doing your first tour in Japan. I've seen even the nerdiest of dudes come back to the states from there with wives. Being a pilot should help the cause, too.

I think this is the best answer I have seen all day.

Alot of good advise has been given. Definetly take the ASTB seriously study for it don't just walk in and take it. Those scores will play a large part.

Get familiar with Aviation termonology at least. The Navy will teach you fly, if you have some hours it will help but I would say you need at minimum a rough understanding of aircraft knowledge. I was asked questions like light gun signals on my ASTB.

RUN RUN RUN is always really good, You can never run too much. swim a little at least to make sure your comfortable in the water.

Job outside of flying will all depend on where when and what you do, so don't worry about it.

It is hard on families but my Dad wasn't military he was the 9-5 guy, and I can tell you he had to work late all the time, work weekends, and work vacations so way I look at it is Life is hard especially on the Dad/Husband. The Navy will look out for your family at least so I still think even through all the hard bits it is worth every minute.

I would also agree Letters from officers help

The rest just more of the same the others have already pretty much covered it.

Good luck

 

[P3 F0]

Sorry, I didn't realize you poor f*ckers have to take the astb for OCS.

Wow. Congratulations for asking the weirdest question I've yet seen posted on AW.

C'mon, seriously...look again at what you wrote and ask yourself how the fuck anyone's supposed to answer that one for you. Were you expecting us to say the Navy sets up mixers with nice churchgoing girls every Saturday?

I try not to be mean* to guys that look like they have a chance. Even if they ask dumb questions. It's like my 12-year old--I know she's going to ask questions that would make a retard look smart. I expect it. I try not to let it get to me.

*Not chastising you, just explaining me.

 

[Bonko]

yea we take the ASTB but not the ASVAB

 

[P3 F0]

I'm banning myself from this thread for reasons of stupidity.

 

[Derksy]

Alright, brutal honesty and I appreciate it.

I understand the oddity of the question and appreciate answers both ways. I ask only because I'm trying to cover every base. I'm not looking for mixers, just honest opinions of building a family around the responsibilities of the military.

My family is slightly military. My Aunt retired a Lt. Col from the Army but we have no Naval history at all. What is a good approach in obtaining LOR's from Officers?

 

[Picaroon]

Alright, brutal honesty and I appreciate it.

I understand the oddity of the question and appreciate answers both ways. I ask only because I'm trying to cover every base. I'm not looking for mixers, just honest opinions of building a family around the responsibilities of the military.

My family is slightly military. My Aunt retired a Lt. Col from the Army but we have no Naval history at all. Where would I contact Officers for LOR's?

You don't need LORs from officers. You need LORs from people that know you, and therefore can hopefully write you a good one. Get your aunt to write you one for sure, but my application only had one from a retired officer, and two total from retired military. Out of four. Some people have no military LORs and that's fine.

Based on my reading of AW, the general thing to remember is that the military will always have to come first when push comes to shove.