Path to becoming a pilot

[socalsomeday]

This is my first post here so please bare with me.
I am aiming to commission through OCS as a pilot. I took the ASTB yesterday (59 6/5/7). My recruiter said that, unfortunately, the mimimums for SNA were recently upped and I am one point short (6/6/X). Since this was my second ASTB, he recommends I do not retest because my scores are good, and instead apply for NFO and hope for a lateral transfer down the line. Is this a common thing? He said that I’m very likely to get NFO (“because of the diversity factor”: I’m a 22 year old woman) and that it’s very possible to transfer after you’re in. So:
1. Is this common/easy?
2. Am I better off rolling the dice and retesting?
Feel free to try to talk me into NFO. I’m not trying to hate on a community, it just is my dream to be at the controls. Thanks.

 

[Gatordev]

1. No. It does happens, but to answer your quesiton: no.
2. I would study some more and then retest, if pilot is your goal.

If you're okay with being a NFO then apply, but if you want pilot, shoot for pilot. Only you can answer the question of which is the priority: Naval Officer or Pilot.

 

[Brett327]

Lateral transfer is not common at all and carries with it certain risks to a normal career track. If you don’t want to be an NFO, do not pursue that track hoping that you’ll one day be a pilot.

@RUFiO181 your community has got to stop feeding applicants this line of BS. Fix yourselves.

 

[MGoBrew11]

It is possible but certainly not “common or easy” to switch to pilot from NFO once you are in. Don’t buy that load from your recruiter.

Find in writing where they raised the minimum score for pilot. If you can’t find it then ask to see it. There are recruiters on here that can confirm @RUFiO181

If they did raise it, only apply for what you want (pilot). Don’t apply for a job you’re not interested in.

 

[socalsomeday]

Hi @Gatordev @Brett327 and @brenbuck,

Thank you all for your quick response! I thought so. I was disappointed to be told go for NFO as well. I am fairly confident that my scores wouldn’t go down with a retest, especially if I go to my recruiting station a few times this month to practice the controls (if that’s possible).

I’m pretty sure I read about the change of scores on here, but @RUFiO181 would you mind confirming? I would hate to know my recruiter lied to me.

Thank you all very much. This was very helpful.

 

[Spartans1991]

Hi @Gatordev @Brett327 and @brenbuck,

Thank you all for your quick response! I thought so. I was disappointed to be told go for NFO as well. I am fairly confident that my scores wouldn’t go down with a retest, especially if I go to my recruiting station a few times this month to practice the controls (if that’s possible).

I’m pretty sure I read about the change of scores on here, but @RUFiO181 would you mind confirming? I would hate to know my recruiter lied to me.

Thank you all very much. This was very helpful.

If you look at previous boards they almost always have a spreadsheet of applicants that shows scores that were selected and not selected. It's not an end all be all but it's a good starting point to see where you are amongst the competition. Just like everyone else said, follow your dream. It's a long contract to settle for something you didn't really want and to be so close to people doing what you dreamed of would only make it harder.

 

[socalsomeday]

If you look at previous boards they almost always have a spreadsheet of applicants that shows scores that were selected and not selected. It's not an end all be all but it's a good starting point to see where you are amongst the competition. Just like everyone else said, follow your dream. It's a long contract to settle for something you didn't really want and to be so close to people doing what you dreamed of would only make it harder.

Will do, @Spartans1991. Thank you.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

This is my first post here so please bare with me.
I am aiming to commission through OCS as a pilot. I took the ASTB yesterday (59 6/5/7). My recruiter said that, unfortunately, the mimimums for SNA were recently upped and I am one point short (6/6/X). Since this was my second ASTB, he recommends I do not retest because my scores are good, and instead apply for NFO and hope for a lateral transfer down the line. Is this a common thing? He said that I’m very likely to get NFO (“because of the diversity factor”: I’m a 22 year old woman) and that it’s very possible to transfer after you’re in. So:
1. Is this common/easy?
2. Am I better off rolling the dice and retesting?
Feel free to try to talk me into NFO. I’m not trying to hate on a community, it just is my dream to be at the controls. Thanks.

As mentioned here, if you apply to be an NFO DO go under the assumption this is what you will be doing your entire Navy career. The chances to switch over to Pilot are extremely limited.

As for Pilot, you just have a 5 AQR and a 6 PFAR which has recently changed. So either retake the ASTB or proceed to apply for NFO.

Lateral transfer is not common at all and carries with it certain risks to a normal career track. If you don’t want to be an NFO, do not pursue that track hoping that you’ll one day be a pilot.

@RUFiO181 your community has got to stop feeding applicants this line of BS. Fix yourselves.

10 bucks says her OR is an NC or a Chief... or both.

It is possible but certainly not “common or easy” to switch to pilot from NFO once you are in. Don’t buy that load from your recruiter.

Find in writing where they raised the minimum score for pilot. If you can’t find it then ask to see it. There are recruiters on here that can confirm @RUFiO181

If they did raise it, only apply for what you want (pilot). Don’t apply for a job you’re not interested in.

It’s most definitely in writing. New Pilot/NFO program authorization came out about a month ago. I believe it was also discussed here on AWs as well (will have to look around).

 

[socalsomeday]

As mentioned here, if you apply to be an NFO DO go under the assumption this is what you will be doing your entire Navy career. The chances to switch over to Pilot are extremely limited.

As for Pilot, you just have a 5 AQR and a 6 PFAR which has recently changed. So either retake the ASTB or proceed to apply for NFO.



10 bucks says her OR is an NC or a Chief... or both.



It’s most definitely in writing. New Pilot/NFO program authorization came out about a month ago. I believe it was also discussed here on AWs as well (will have to look around).

Hi all,

Thanks for getting back @RUFiO181. I’m not sure what NC is (new, sorry) but my recruiter is an officer.

I am retaking the ASTB-E on Sep 12. I feel confident in that decision. I’ll post on this thread again to update on my scores, if you all will still care by then. Wish me luck!

 

[Brett327]

10 bucks says her OR is an NC or a Chief... or both.

That's a lame excuse - even if it were true.

 

[Seniuram]

Ima get shit for this, but I made it easy for you, here’s your writing.

https://www.airwarriors.com/communi...ew-pilot-nfo-program-authorization-out.45748/

 

[BackOrdered]

That's a lame excuse - even if it were true.

It's true and not limited to this subject. Even when I was coming up, the NCO/CPO Officer Recruiters often talk about the experience from the outside looking it, filling in the holes with what is technically true but wrong in practice. Not all of them, but a good many. Hence why this site is such a great resource.

 

[socalsomeday]

Hi all!

I am happy to report that I took the ASTB today and received 52 6/7/7! I will be applying to the FEB board for SNA. Thank you all for the help and encouragement - third time was the charm!

 

[robav8r]

Congratulations !

 

[wink]

Another satisfied AW customer.