Questions about the service.

[Vulpes Inculta]

Thanks once again cfam, in your opinion do you think that applying that late drastically decreases my chances of acceptance? Edit: Alright, I'll try and get in contact with them, and if it ends up not working I can always enter an out of state NROTC program. Thanks for your help once more.

 

[cfam]

Thanks once again cfam, in your opinion do you think that applying that late drastically decreases my chances of acceptance?

Hard to say honestly. You'll be slightly behind the typical timeline, but I know people that have started late and still been accepted. However, if you're not accepted, USNA may offer you the opportunity to attend NAPS (the Naval Academy Preparatory School) or a Foundation School (essentially a high school post-grad year at a private school) to improve your record prior to being accepted the following year.

Additionally, even if you're not accepted the first time around, you can absolutely apply again the next year, even if you've started classes at a civilian college.

 

[Vulpes Inculta]

Hard to say honestly. You'll be slightly behind the typical timeline, but I know people that have started late and still been accepted. However, if you're not accepted, USNA may offer you the opportunity to attend NAPS (the Naval Academy Preparatory School) or a Foundation School (essentially a high school post-grad year at a private school) to improve your record prior to being accepted the following year.

Additionally, even if you're not accepted the first time around, you can absolutely apply again the next year, even if you've started classes at a civilian college.

So I can essentially transfer any credits I gain at an civilian college toward the USNA if accepted ?

 

[cfam]

No, you can't transfer the credits. What USNA does is allow you to take a series of tests during your freshman summer to see if you can validate (skip) courses you've already taken. For example, if you took Calculus during your freshman year at a civilian college, you will take a test to assess your proficiency, and if you do well enough, then you won't have to retake calculus at USNA. The same thought process could also apply if you took AP courses during high school.

 

[Vulpes Inculta]

Oh ok thanks, so in general if I attended the NROTC, and graduate, do I have pretty good chances of getting a pilot slot? This includes rotary and fixed wing.

 

[cfam]

Oh ok thanks, so in general if I attended the NROTC, and graduate, do I have pretty good chances of getting a pilot slot? This includes rotary and fixed wing.

It's entirely dependent on the needs of the Navy, and your performance both in college and in NROTC. By committing to a commissioning program, you are assuming the risk that you won't get a pilot spot. I recommend thoroughly researching all of the different career opportunities in the Navy and the Air Force so you're fully aware of what else is out there. You'll be a military officer first, and a pilot second.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

If you wanted to apply for ROTC you are a bit behind, but really if you go OCS you control much more of your destiny, at least for the USN, seen guys in NROTC that came into my office to take the ASTB and not get a qualifying score, they are still going to be officers but not just in aviation.

A friend of mines son went to the USAFA and is in pilot training, when he was home on leave he stopped by our office so we were talking, asked him some questions about who he sees in pilot training, he said mainly USAFA, a few AFROTC, and he couldn't think of any that were from AF OTS

Find a college you like, go for a degree that interest you, do well, then apply for OCS, there has been plenty of spots for those that have good ASTB scores and a good GPA.

 

[Vulpes Inculta]

Thanks for the information, but I'm curious as to why you say I would be a little late to apply for ROTC?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Thanks for the information, but I'm curious as to why you say I would be a little late to apply for ROTC?

I didn't say late, I said behind.

Many that want to apply started working on their applications several months ago, you still have time to get it done.

Is ROTC the best place for you? (we don't even know if you would be competitive for ROTC so we will go with you are) If your number one desire is to be a pilot maybe not, ROTC is nice, paid college is a big plus, but you take what you get when you graduate, a lot can happen in 4 years, what if you get hurt and don't qualify for pilot or what if you just don't get picked? How would you feel if your went NROTC and were told you were going SWO, or what if you went AFROTC and were told you were going to be one of the guys that mans a missile in the middle of some wheat field?

If you only want to be a pilot you can apply to OCS for only pilot if you get it then great, if not you have no obligation.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Is there some reason you're only considering the Navy or Air Force? All five services have aviation, you know, though with very different cultures and lifestyles.

 

[Vulpes Inculta]

Thank you all for replying, and uncle fester I have done some research into the army, Marines, and the coast Guard. Most of them (excluding the Marines) fly mainly rotary. But I'm really interested in the Navy and airforce's way of life, no offense to any one in the other branches.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Thank you all for replying, and uncle fester I have done some research into the army, Marines, and the coast Guard. Most of them (excluding the Marines) fly mainly rotary. But I'm really interested in the Navy and airforce's way of life, no offense to any one in the other branches.

The Army's the only service I would say is "mainly" rotary. CG, Navy, and Marines are about 60-40-ish (and it depends on whether you're talking number of airframes or number of aviators and even then it's pretty fuzzy). And while the AF doesn't have a lot of helo pilots, the ones they do have are almost all doing some pretty high-speed shit (i.e., AFSOC).

But what it is about the AF and Navy ways of life you find so appealing, given that the AF and Navy careers and daily life are pretty vastly different? And why are helicopters so repellant to you? Not to be rude, but "jets are cool" is kind of a weak platform to make life decisions on. Not that it's stopped some people.

 

[DanMa1156]

Dan, thank you for your reply, and yes I have considered both those situations and as far as that goes I would greatly prefer going to the Navy as I wouldn't wanna stay in the same place inland for too long if I don't have too, would much rather be on the coast or on a ship.

Remember this in about 10 years...

 

[Vulpes Inculta]

Lol I'll be sure to remember that Dan! And it's not that I'm not interested in helicopters also I would just strongly prefer fixed wing, and here is what I like about the Navy way of life: I love the history, the speech, I love traveling the world (and the beach if it comes to a land base) and I love the relaxation of the fellow members (of course I understand not all are like this). I like the air force because of the kinda professionalism they like to show (not saying the Navy doesn't show any but the two are different) and that they have many more specialised aircraft to choose from, and also the different kinda missions they have vs the Navy, the kinda well oiled feel come to mind. But I still prefer the Navy more than anything. But like I said I would DEFINATLY not contest to flying a rotor, but I have always had an interest in the fixed wing department more so because there two different beasts all together.