The NFO -> Pilot contract switch

[ItsTurboTime]

I don't have a specific question here, this is just a way for me to put my thoughts down, but I'd like to hear anyone's suggestions or thoughts...

I just got the email from my OSO that I was hoping I wouldn't get. He suggested applying NFO and switching to pilot. Here's my situation:

I need PRK surgery. That's fine, and I'm going to get it, but I'm in school until May, and from what I hear, trying to study during the recovery period is nearly impossible. So I get the surgery in May, wait 6 months for the waiver, then apply for a pilot contract. OCS in January 2007. It's a long wait, but who the hell cares? It'll be worth it, I'm sure.

He is proposing I apply for a slot in OCC-193 as an NFO. After the eye surgery, switch my contract to pilot, in hopes that I can get a waiver approved before Oct 9th.

I have two problems with this. The first is that I feel like applying for NFO and then trying to switch my contract is like decieving the selection board with regard to my intentions. The OSO assures me this isn't the case. The second is that the switch wouldn't go through, which of course would not be the end of the world. I would be very happy with NFO, but I'd also have to wonder if it would have been different had I just had the patience to wait.

 

[Schnugg]

If you start NFO, you'll most likely stay NFO.

You got to what if it worst case.

Would you be happy as an NFO? If not, it's the wrong path to start down.

 

[ItsTurboTime]

I think I'd be happy, but I'm going to wait.

 

[bwildcat]

I had PRK about a year ago. January 13th to be exact. Right as school was starting. I personally was sore for about 2 days had extreme bluriness for 1 week (while I had those protective contacts in) and then only mild halos from then on. I also never left the house without eyedrops at all times. I would say get the surgery ASAP and then get your application started.

Of course people react differently I suppose. I forget but doesn't MEPS want like 3 months between surgery and exam before granting a waiver?

I had PRK in Jan. Worked on applications and studied for ASTB in Feb. and March (while attending college). Did MEPS in April, got pro-rec'd (pilot) in early May and final selected in mid-late May. Swore in on June 3rd.

Really, the surgery isn't all that bad. A little freaky when your eyes are on the line but PRK was one of the best things ever to do. All in all, if you can give up 3 weeks at the most of having trouble seeing everything should be fine.

 

[ItsTurboTime]

Alright. I'm going to look into getting it over easter. I'm not going to miss out of that much studying (I have an easy 12 credit last semester) and nothing I do now is going to change my GPA much anyways.

Thanks

 

[PLCOSU]

Just got done turning in paperwork today at the OSO. My Captain states there is a contact waiver, and you do not, repeat, do not already have to be an aviator to be granted this waiver. I've read all the posts on whether or not this waiver exists for those trying to contract "pilot", and I am now completely confident that a contact waiver is do-able. See about putting in this contract with a contact waiver (6 months documented wear).

 

[irishmc]

Just got done turning in paperwork today at the OSO. My Captain states there is a contact waiver, and you do not, repeat, do not already have to be an aviator to be granted this waiver. I've read all the posts on whether or not this waiver exists for those trying to contract "pilot", and I am now completely confident that a contact waiver is do-able. See about putting in this contract with a contact waiver (6 months documented wear).

yeah, this waiver does exist. I have a nice pdf I got from my OSO about the gigantic amount of requirements (well not gigantic, but plentiful) needed for this waiver. The last sentence on the end of the first page sums up the reality of the new waiver very well: "Bottom line, this should be used sparingly for your most highly qualified applicants due to the inherently difficult and stringent waiver process". The first paragraph also mentions that even if you qualify, there's no garuntee NAMI will grant you the waiver. I've been beating this SCL waiver to death with my OSO, who has worked with me every step of the way, and he's urging me to go the PRK route since the likelyhood of actually being APPROVED for the waiver is pretty low as of now. just what's going on in my part of the world.

 

[nocal80]

don't sign an nfo contract if you want to be a pilot. NFO's always seem to be a premium for the USMC and if you sign that contract the chances are you will be held to it. The only way they would allow the switch would be if there was a drastically higher need for pilots than nfo's, which I believe to be very unlikely. Based on what I've heard from guys I went through OCS/TBS/flight school with, OSO's have been putting out some shitty gouge about changing/dropping NFO contracts over the last few years. This may be because they don't have the right info, or they may be decieving you to get you to sign up. ninety percent of OSO's will be upfront and honest with you about everything, but don't just blindly believe whatever they tell you.

 

[theduke]

DON'T SIGN IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE AN NFO.

I got fed bad gouge from an OSO on this matter, in a very similar situation. He said that taking the NFO contract would actually make it easier to switch to pilot when I got PQ'd than it would be if I stayed ground (it was right about the time they came out with the NFO contract, and I'm sure he was getting pressure to get some people contracted for it, but I didn't know that at the time.) I took the NFO contract having no intention or desire whatsoever to ever be an NFO. I figured that if something happened and I couldn't get pilot, I'd drop it and switch to ground, and go for tanks, tracks, arty, engineers, etc (which my OSO assured me wouldn't be a problem...but then they came down with the new MOS policy at TBS which would've landed me a spot as a ground supply officer or adjutant).

I actually didn't even wear glasses or contacts, and my acuity was fine (20/30). I went and got the PRK, though, and paid out of pocket, just so my cone/sphere measurements would come out within limits, expecting to be switched to pilot with no questions asked, just like my OSO said.


Well, he was wrong. I fought it tooth and nail before commissioning, at TBS, and when I got to flight school. I wrote letters, talked to Majors and Colonels who in turn ran it up even higher (I believe to a Brigadier General on my final attempt), and was told "No", "Hell no", and "Don't ask again until your first fleet tour as an NFO."


I'm about to finish my private pilot's license, and I plan on buying a 1/4 share in an airplane to build some civilian PIC time (and because I've wanted to do those two things for a long time, anyway). I'm gonna put in for the switch again as soon as I'm eligible. If they don't let me do it then, I want to be a FAC, and then I'll start talking to the Air Force, Navy, ANG, and maybe Army to see if they want to take me on an interservice transfer and send me to flight school when my obligation with the USMC is up...but I really, really would prefer to stay Marine, so I hope it doesn't come down to that.

Basically, there are two things I've ever wanted to do since I was a kid...be a Marine, and be a military pilot. I'd like to be a Marine pilot, but if I can't, well, I'll check that other box with whoever will take me in.

(then I'm headed for the political arena...the 3rd interest I picked up in highschool and college).

 

[theduke]

I should add that I was pissed at the world when I first got to flight school. I didn't even like to watch the Blue Angels or go to the Naval Aviation Museum for MONTHS after I got here. The only reason that I didn't drop my NFO slot was that (1) If I had to go to work pissed off every morning, I still would rather be a pissed off NFO than a pissed off adjutant and (2) I knew the only way I'd get to be a pilot at that point was to be a good NFO first.

Finally, after about 4 months in flight school, I got to the point where I'm still a little bitter about it (it's all I'd wanted to do since I was about 8 years old, and I actually had a slot before the eye doc caught my eye problems on my 2nd flight physical), but I'm finally at the point where I'll say that I like my job. I'll never make it a career as an NFO, and I'm not on fire about it like I would be if I were a pilot, but I like what I'm doing.

Sorry for the semi-thread hijack, but I wanted to follow up my advice with the caveat that I don't hate the fact that I'm here or anything (and I never for a day regretted signing my name on the line to serve in the Marines).


and if you haven't wanted to get your hands on the stick, rudder, and trigger since you were able to walk, you might find some appeal in the fact that you will be guaranteed to end up in a tactical jet. NFOs never fly the mail in the USMC.

 

[Schnugg]

DON'T SIGN IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE AN NFO. I took the NFO contract having no intention or desire whatsoever to ever be an NFO.

A lesson learned the hard way.

 

[ip568]

I'm an ATP/CFI with 4,900 pilot hours. I'm also a retired NFO with 2,900 FO hours in P-3s. Being an NFO was more fun than being a pilot. Your results may vary.

 

[Schnugg]

This is deep....