Hempdiddy,
Start out with
this site, which will give you a good idea of the officer programs available in the Navy. Everyone is right about the age portion: You need to be less than 27 years of age when you receive your commission. This means that if you were to act now and submit your application for a commission as a US Naval Officer, you'd need to do the following:
1. Talk with a recruiter. Find one by going to
CNRC (Commander, Naval Recruiting Command) and selecting your closest metropolis.
2. After your nice talk with the OFFICER recruiter, he will want you to take a standardized test, called the ASTB (Aviation Selection Test Battery). You should study for it by getting a book on it at B&N, and also by coming here and doing some
research or search for threads with ASTB study guides.
3. Once you're qualified (refer back to the first link for qualifications) for your officer community (job), you'll need to submit all of your documents to the recruiter. This would include transcripts, Letters of recommendation (LOR), birth certificates, legal docs, etc. Do a search of the LOR's here and see what they are looking for.. Remember, they want a well-rounded individual, not some book-worm who has the highest-ranking officers, highest company officials, etc. Show them your past experiences by adding one or two from past employers and close/trusted professionals. You will also have to complete the
SF 86 (Nat'l Security Position Questionnaire), or the EPSQ (Electronic Profile Security Questionnaire), depending on the requirements by the recruiter. This will mean you need to dig up the past addresses, names, etc. of every place you've lived at in the past 7-10 years*(7 years for most officer programs/ 10 years for top secret clearance programs). You'll also need to dig up the names & contact info of neighbors who knew you at those addresses, as well as character and personal references who can vouch to the FBI/ US Security Investigations (new contractor for clearances) that you are a good guy. Basically this is the background portion of the application. I'd recommend starting on this quickly (and the transcripts), as it tends to take awhile to dig the info up.
4. The recruiter will submit your application to CNRC for up to three communities (SWO, NFO, NA, IW, Supply, SpecWar, etc.).
5. Assuming your package is "approved," you'll get Professionally Recommended, or pro-rec'd, meaning that particular community wants you. This means your foot is in the door, so to speak.
6. The recruiter will send you to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) to undergo a physical and check your vitals, etc. You'll also need to sign a bunch of docs stating you understand the process, NKO (Navy Knowledge Online), liability, etc. and then you will conduct a PRT. Your scores need to be at least at the Good: Low level to advance on. Start working out now. You can find the requirements for the PRT, according to your age,
here.
6. Once you have achieved a sufficient PRT score and have completed MEPS, your package will be sent to CNRC again to be final selected, meaning you will receive orders to OCS and all follow-on training. Depending on the community you are selected for, you will finish OCS and continue to your next station for training (for Aviation community, it is NAS Pensacola, FL).
Keep in mind that the clock is working against you in your case, unless, of course, you just turned 26. Here's the breakdown:
* The application process takes anywhere from 2+ months to over a year, depending on your waivers and your individual case. Try to get everything required into the recruiter's office ASAP, so as to reduce turnaround time.
* There is usually AT LEAST 2 weeks from the time you receive your orders (contract in writing) and swear in to the time you report to OCS.
* OCS takes 13 weeks, culminating in your commission at the last week.
All in all, you're looking at no less than 23 weeks to obtain a commission. While it is difficult, it isn't impossible. Remember that the amount of time and energy you put into it will speed the process up or slow it down. YOU have to decide whether or not you can get the application through in the minimum amount of time. Stay on top of things and hang out at the recruiting station if you have to..
That being said, you need to sit down before you start "The Quest" and weigh out your options. First, you need to assess whether you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be a US Naval Officer. There are a few threads on this here at AW (Airwarriors). Second, as some have said before, decide if flying/being a pliot is really what you want. Be prepared to be assigned to something that you don't like - i.e. wanting jets and getting helos, or vice versa. If you are a Pilot/NFO, realize that you might have to undertake a night landing on a carrier at some point (For some the glitz or the "Top Gun effect" of being a Naval Aviator is cool, until the night ops part of the job!). Next, you need to understand that no matter what community you are in, you will NEVER receive the amount of pay equal to or greater than your civilian counterparts. The military, in general, makes up for this in many ways. Try searching on AW or Google or look
here to see what the monetary benefits are for serving in the US military. Keep in mind that most links online are going to refer to applicants as enlistees, due to the mere fact that there are more individuals looking for information to enlist.. This still will apply to you (for the most part). Lastly, you need to understand that you will be given something other than monetary or tangible rewards for serving in the US military, something you cannot purchase or match - the pride and sense of loyalty to one's country.
If the Navy is not for you, check into each of the different services to see what types of aviation programs they offer. Here is a start for you:
*US Army: Currently, I believe the US Army only offers warrant officers the opportunity to fly, and it is only rotary wing aircraft (helos). I have heard of some commissioned officers in the Army serving in the Aviation branch, but I don't believe they are actually flying. Try
USAREC for some information on how to become a US Army warrant officer.
* The US Air Force offers the opportunity to fly both fixed and rotary wing aircraft to commissioned officers. For more information on how to become a US Air Force officer, goto
AFOATS OTS and check out the FAQ's.
* The US Coast Guard offers commissions for aviation as well. Goto the Coast Guard's
Recruiting page to find out more about opportunities. Be sure to pay attention to OCS deadlines, as the Coast Guard's OCS deadline is October 16, 2006 for applications.
*The US Marine Corps offers commissions as an officer to those wishing to pursue a career in aviation. You must first goto OCS with the Navy (called OCC I believe), then TBS (The Basic School) with the Marines (I believe this is correct still). Goto the Marines
site to view more information on how to become an officer in the Marines Corps.
The US Military receives the same, uniform benefits and pay, so the pay/benefits of each service should not be a factor.. Goto
DFAS to view the pay charts and potential incentives.
Some other good sites are:
*
usmilitary.about.com
*
Military.com
*
USNavyOCS.com
*
ArmyOCS.com
*
FAS.org
*
Global Security
Good luck with things, and PM me if you need some help.. I know it can be a bit intimidating as a newcomer to the scene..
