Switiching Service Selection Designator

[jack1988]

Question:

I am a Senior in NROTC ready to commission in May. I was Designated SWO, however, I have recently been thinking about it and would really like to go aviation for many reasons. Does anyone know if it is too late in the game at this point to switch service selections? Thanks in advance.

 

[NavAir42]

I wouldn't say never, but I'm guessing you are way too late in the game at this stage.

Your best bet may be to submit a transition package after your first tour on the boat. Be a hard charger for that entire tour to make your front office see you as a great officer and you'll stand a much better chance. Show up and be a douche who acts like he doesn't want to be there and you have no shot.

 

[HAL Pilot]

You should be asking your ROTC officers. They have the answer.

 

[wlawr005]

You should be asking your ROTC officers. They have the answer.

I'm willing to bet that he already has, and knows the answer to this question.

 

[jack1988]

Yea, I have already talked to the ROTC officers and they were unsure and am just looking for some other opinions.

 

[HAL Pilot]

If they are unsure, then they should be trying to find the answer for you. It's their job.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I'll leave it at this, but I hope you're ready to ship select next month.

 

[dirtydog]

Seconding the lateral transfer. It's been done many times before. Never heard of anyone changing designator after service assignment.

Then again I'm just a 1/C.

 

[OUSOONER]

Then again I'm just a 1/C.

^-- This. People do transfer over afterward. It's rare but if you read above...they were saying he should get his SWO pin, do well..and then put in a package. We are actually looking to get rid of guys so right now I would imagine it would be tough going to get an SNA spot when SWO is his current designation.

 

[CommodoreMid]

If you were going the other way it wouldn't be as difficult. A girl who's commissioning from my ROTC unit this year initially got picked up for SNA, but recently decided to go SWO instead and they put her on the ship list.

 

[Wudgles]

CommodoreMid is right, they did let a girl from our unit swap to SWO from SNA once word about the IRR thing got passed down. However, they also picked up two more people from our unit for flight school. One did terribly on his initial ASTB and was assigned SWO, but retook it in the past few months and got SNFO. The other had high grades, good fitreps, and awesome Physics/Calc grades, so he was put on the Nuke interview list and they didn't want to share, despite his first choice being SNA. Long story short, he just got picked up for SNA.

I'd definitely look into swapping designators if that's what you want. Even with the IRR/overmanning/flight pipeline backup, it seems it's still possible to get designated SNA/SNFO at this point. And it never hurts to ask.

 

[wlawr005]

^-- This. People do transfer over afterward. It's rare but if you read above...they were saying he should get his SWO pin, do well..and then put in a package. We are actually looking to get rid of guys so right now I would imagine it would be tough going to get an SNA spot when SWO is his current designation.

The thing about that is everything goes by year group, so just because they are kicking out YG '09 and '10 doesn't mean that guys in college can't still select SNA/SNFO. The best advice is to work with your unit staff and see what kind of deal YOU can work out, because I am sure that it is a case by case basis. It might even come down to who your staff knows and what kind of strings they are willing to pull for you.

 

[zippy]

Seconding the lateral transfer. It's been done many times before. Never heard of anyone changing designator after service assignment.

It happened before around the '04 timeframe when there was a surplus in certain pipelines and shortages in others. Individuals were getting designators changed until shortly before graduation IIRC.