Pilot Life after OCS

[BatteryMan]

Hey all,

I first want to say that I am a long time viewer of airwarriors. After a year and a half long recruitment process and losing 100 lbs, I have been accepted into Navy OCS for Pilot or NFO. I need to go see my recruiter Wednesday to make a final selection, but I have a few questions I was hoping I could get some answers too.

If I choose to accept this role, what are the chances that I will get through OCS and then the Navy decides that they would rather me fill another role other than pilot? And what will day to day life be like after OCS?

If someone could also speak to the pro's and cons of NFO vs Pilot it would be greatly appreciated, as I cannot find a good source of knowledge comparing the two in great detail, other than referring to Top Gun.

Also, after OCS do I have a say in what kind of planes I would be flying? ie I would rather fly multiengine aircraft than a jet.

Thanks for any advice or answers

 

[robav8r]

After being recruited for 1.5 years, you don't know the differences between Pilot & NFO and how the A/C selection process works in flight school ???

 

[CAMike]

I miss the good 'ol days of the AW dog piles.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hey all,

I first want to say that I am a long time viewer of airwarriors. After a year and a half long recruitment process and losing 100 lbs, I have been accepted into Navy OCS for Pilot or NFO. I need to go see my recruiter Wednesday to make a final selection, but I have a few questions I was hoping I could get some answers too.

If I choose to accept this role, what are the chances that I will get through OCS and then the Navy decides that they would rather me fill another role other than pilot? And what will day to day life be like after OCS?

If someone could also speak to the pro's and cons of NFO vs Pilot it would be greatly appreciated, as I cannot find a good source of knowledge comparing the two in great detail, other than referring to Top Gun.

Also, after OCS do I have a say in what kind of planes I would be flying? ie I would rather fly multiengine aircraft than a jet.

Thanks for any advice or answers

All of these questions your OR can explain in great detail. Also, by doing some searching here many of your answers about flight school can be answered. I'm finding it hard to believe that your spent 1.5 years reading AW to know the basics. You're killin' me Smalls.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

After being recruited for 1.5 years, you don't know the differences between Pilot & NFO and how the A/C selection process works in flight school ???

I have a feeling there is an issue with the quality of recruiter this guy spoke to.

 

[robav8r]

I have a feeling there is an issue with the quality of recruiter this guy spoke to.

Perhaps, but a little personal initiative and exploration on the interwebs ??? No ?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Perhaps, but a little personal initiative and exploration on the interwebs ??? No ?

yes, but the recruiter should have asked some probing questions when the first met such as "what do you want to apply for?, why do you want to apply for that?, Do you know what that job does?, What research have you done on your own?" those questions really help out a recruiter and the applicant.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

1) Whatever you select for, you process for. Through OCS you are essentially guaranteed whatever designator you select, barring a background check problem, NAMI whammy, or DOR during OCS/Flight school.

2) NFO vs NA, do some searching because there is a lot of good info on this site which definitely helped me decide between the two.

3) After OCS, you will go through flight training for either SNA or SNFO. Your ultimate choice of platform will be determined by (in this order) 1. Needs of the Navy; 2. Your performance; 3. Personal preference. Flight training is obviously very different depending on which designator you pick, and there are sometimes 2 or even 3 points where you select a platform and/or location. Again I suggest you do some searching. Also focus on the short term. No sense in worrying about picking a F-18 or P-8 when you haven't been selected yet. My personal strategy is to focus on the short term goals: get selected, get through OCS, kick ass in IFS, API, Primary, etc. and then see where your chips fall.

Biggest thing I learned about AW: if you do your research and background work and ask original, specific questions, people are more than willing to help you. If you ask repetitive questions or "what % gets xyz platform" you are going to be made fun of (at best).

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

yes, but the recruiter should have asked some probing questions when the first met such as "what do you want to apply for?, why do you want to apply for that?, Do you know what that job does?, What research have you done on your own?" those questions really help out a recruiter and the applicant.

I agree on that but I do fell the OP could have taken the initiative searching around, especially claiming that he's been around for 1.5 years.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I agree on that but I do fell the OP could have taken the initiative searching around, especially claiming that he's been around for 1.5 years.

If he met with the recruiter and the recruiter asked no questions just "do this" then that should have caused him to look around more and raised concern.

 

[haimehhh]

@BatteryMan Congratulations on the selection and losing all that weight. Not easy and says a lot.

yes, but the recruiter should have asked some probing questions when the first met such as "what do you want to apply for?, why do you want to apply for that?, Do you know what that job does?, What research have you done on your own?"

That would have been so helpful, but it doesn't seem like this type of engagement is the norm, at least in my and some recent peers' experiences. Wish I'd had you as an OR when I started this process almost 1.5 years ago.

r/,
James

 

[exNavyOffRec]

@BatteryMan Congratulations on the selection and losing all that weight. Not easy and says a lot.


That would have been so helpful, but it doesn't seem like this type of engagement is the norm, at least in my and some recent peers' experiences. Wish I'd had you as an OR when I started this process almost 1.5 years ago.

r/,
James

Those are questions they said we should be asking when I went to OR school in Pensacola, the person that was going to teach the class after my instructor left was probably not the guy that should be teaching OR's but that wasn't my call.