NUPOC to Pilot?

[TaLoN]

I am currently in NUPOC for submarines and still in college with OCS coming up. In the past year I have become very interested in becoming a pilot! All aviation pipelines look great, just as long as I get to fly! Has anyone heard of switching to pilot from NUPOC before OCS? If not, what are the prospects for lateral transfer later on? I appreciate any feedback!

-Dan

 

[Thisguy]

Unless you want to give back a bunch of money...pre-OCS is near impossible. You got a 10,000 bonus plus E-6 pay and allowances, they ain't letting you go.

As for lat transfer, in the past 2 boards, 3 people were selected for pilot, fleet wide (that's each, for six total). All were warfare qualified SWOs. The other hurdle you'll face is that the sub community restricts how many can lateral out. This past board, the sub community set the number for YG00 and below (junior O-3s and O-2s) at six.

 

[TaLoN]

Thanks for your response. Rather than returning money do you think extending my time in the Navy would be an option for pre-OCS transfer? Also, for those six lateral transfers from submarines-are those guys who finished their first sub tour? Or during their first tour? Again, I appreciate your comments.

-Dan

 

[Thisguy]

I doubt the Navy is going to just let you extend time in Navy. In fact, if someone here knows you can switch prior to OCS, jump in now. I'll tell you why I don't think it's possible: If you get a pilot slot, you can think about it, and actually turn it down. When you go to the NUPOC interview, and as soon as Admiral Bowman says "congratulations" the navy has you by the balls. You sign paperwork saying that if you're selected at the interview, you're in the Nuclear pipeline.

As for the lat transfers, you need 24 months of commissioned service to apply, which in other words, you need to be a JG. Additionally, since you'll be in a URL, you'll need to get submarine warfare qualified before you can apply as well (there's a waiver for it, I think, but it's not going to make you competitive). The board meets twice a year, once in the summer, once in the fall. I'm willing to bet those guys were done with their initial sub tour...or close to it (you can probably apply during your tour, and redesignate towards the end of your tour).

Also, I've heard of URL to URL transfers where you don't have to wait for the board to convene...Road Program did SWO to NFO that way if he wants to chime in...

I did a lat xfer myself, and I must say, having to wait for what you want to do is very frustrating. I hope you'll be satisfied with subs, because if you're goal is to fly, Power school/Prototype/Sub school/initial sea tour is going to annoy you as you put together your lat xfer application.

Here's the LOI for this November's Board

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/EBC02628-6439-4EC3-8A31-AD5C7C201D3F/0/Nov05RedesBoardLOI.doc

 

[wink]

You can always ask for the nupoc to aviation transfer. It would be a better deal than trying for an unlikely lat tranx later. This Guy is right, you have gotten a better deal money wise than anyone else so that is the rub. However, if the Navy needs aviators worse than nukes they would do it. Problem is, they don't need aviators worse then nukes last time I looked. Give it a shot and let us know.

 

[Godspeed]

However, if the Navy needs aviators worse than nukes they would do it. Problem is, they don't need aviators worse then nukes last time I looked.

This is the same thing my recruiter told me about transferring prior to OCS. Transferring to nuke from pilot wouldn't be a problem in today's navy. The navy's great need for NUKES makes this a given. However switching from a place where you are needed, to a place where you aren't needed would be damn near impossible in his words.

Not only would the Pilot community have to give a thumbs up to it, but the NUKE community would have to be willing to let you go; probably not going to happen . But just like anything else, you never know until you try Good Luck!

 

[TaLoN]

Thanks again guys for the imput. How does one find out what the Navy currently needs in terms of pilots vs. nukes?

 

[TaLoN]

I've been looking into lateral transfer requirements from submarines to pilot, and it looks possible. I'm not too worried about completing my first obligation to subs, but I'm curious to know what would make me competitive for a pilot slot. I've thought of continuing private aviation to the point where I have almost every qualification. Plus I imagine that plenty of flight hours could help.
Do you guys have any further suggestions for me in order to be more competitive? Is there anything else I should be considering?
Again I appreciate your feedback.

-Dan

 

[Thisguy]

Endorsements are important. Your CO endorsement is required, but make sure it isn't half-assed. Put some serious thought into it (yes, you'll write it, and your CO will chop/sign off on it). Focus on what you'll bring to the table in the endorsement and the additional info portion of the package. The biggest hurdle you'll face is Lateral out of subs, since they restrict how many per YG can go. Sounds like you made the $10,000 mistake

 

[TaLoN]

Thanks again to Thisguy for all the helpful info. I laughed my " " off when I read your last message...i.e. the $10k mistake. I'm actually very excited about going into subs. I am interested at this point just to know my options later on. The feedback you gave helps.
I talked to someone in my family in the Air Force who has a lot of friends in aviation, and she was telling me that during her officer training they took her up in a jet trainer just to let them get a sense of what military flying is all about. She recommended in my situation that I see if there are any similar opportunities out there for those of us thinking about Naval aviation. She seemed to think I should be extra sure before going through a lateral transfer and everything. Do you know of any such opportunities, either to go up in a trainer or fly back seat? Thanks again!
-Dan

 

[ip568]

Why not combine both?

The NB-36H atomic powered airplane was tested after WWII...

"Between 1946 and 1961, the Air Force and the Atomic Energy Commission spent more than $7 billion trying to develop a nuclear-powered aircraft. Although no airplane ever flew under nuclear power, the Air Force converted a B-36 bomber, known as the Nuclear Test Aircraft, to carry an operating three-megawatt air-cooled reactor to assess operational problems (it made 47 flights over Texas and New Mexico between July 1955 and March 1957). The NB-36H carried the reactor in its aft bomb bay and incorporated a new nose section, which housed a 12 ton lead and rubber shielded crew compartment with 10-12 inch (25-30 centimeters) thick leaded-glass windows. Water pockets in the fuselage and behind the crew compartment also absorbed radiation (due to weight constraints, nothing was done to shield the considerable emissions from the top, bottom or sides of the reactor)." (Source: Brookings Institute)
In theory, nuclear-powered aircraft could stay in flight for weeks at a time. General Electric built two prototype engines for such a plane. These engines exist today and can be viewed outside the EBR-1 complex in Arco, Idaho.

http://www.radiationworks.com/flyingreactor.htm

 

[Thisguy]

I talked to someone in my family in the Air Force who has a lot of friends in aviation, and she was telling me that during her officer training they took her up in a jet trainer just to let them get a sense of what military flying is all about. She recommended in my situation that I see if there are any similar opportunities out there for those of us thinking about Naval aviation. She seemed to think I should be extra sure before going through a lateral transfer and everything. Do you know of any such opportunities, either to go up in a trainer or fly back seat? Thanks again!
-Dan

Unfortunately, this would be a lot easier if you were a middie, because you could be in a squadron on a MDN cruise. The only thing I could think of is that if you had the initiative to get your backseat qual, and contact an S-3 squadron in JAX to give you a lift. However, the probability of that happening is slim to none, I don't know of any OPSO who's gonna be thrilled about giving a ride to someone they don't know, and who really isn't in the Navy yet. That being said, I would put this whole aviation thing on the backburner and concentrate on finishing college/OCS, since it'll be a few years before you can even try to lateral xfer.

 

[smittyrunr]

I know of a sub skipper who sends his new JOs for a flight in a P-3, once you get to a sub you might try to work that.
Being competitive for lat transfer is the same as being competitive for any other billet. You will have to be warfare qualified, and ranked very high against your peers. No community wants another one's failures. Do the best you can right now in college, then OCS, then Nuke school, etc.