Why did you become an NFO?

[Brett327]

If what you're implying is true, that could prove to be quite scandalous for PERS leadership. Can you imagine the Navy Times headline?

 

[Flash]

Story time...please? Some of us young ones could learn!

I can think of at least half a dozen examples off the top of my head from my own squadrons, flight school to sister squadrons. Some got married, some were already married and some got married, divorced, married, divorced and then married all over again without ever having to leave their respective commands.

 

[Austin-Powers]

I can think of at least half a dozen examples off the top of my head from my own squadrons, flight school to sister squadrons. Some got married, some were already married and some got married, divorced, married, divorced and then married all over again without ever having to leave their respective commands.

What do other guys and girls in the squadron think of it? Are they chill with it?

 

[Flash]

What do other guys and girls in the squadron think of it? Are they chill with it?

While in flight school and training squadrons it usually isn't that big of a deal if it is between students, instructor-student relationships are frowned upon and can result in punishment if they break the rules though I am not sure how often that happens.

In a fleet squadron it is much more disruptive and makes things messy for everyone, more often than not causing tension in the ready room which isn't necessarily a good thing when you are putting your lives in their hands every time you fly. Other folks in the squadron usually aren't 'chill' with it but usually grin and bear it unless it becomes a bigger and more disruptive issue or breaks the rules (fraternization). Even if there are no rules broken and no official sanctions it can still affect one's career, getting married 3 times to folks in your units in 5 years doesn't imply stability or good judgment to most commanding officers.

 

[Austin-Powers]

While in flight school and training squadrons it usually isn't that big of a deal if it is between students, instructor-student relationships are frowned upon and can result in punishment if they break the rules though I am not sure how often that happens.

In a fleet squadron it is much more disruptive and makes things messy for everyone, more often than not causing tension in the ready room which isn't necessarily a good thing when you are putting your lives in their hands every time you fly. Other folks in the squadron usually aren't 'chill' with it but usually grin and bear it unless it becomes a bigger and more disruptive issue or breaks the rules (fraternization). Even if there are no rules broken and no official sanctions it can still affect one's career, getting married 3 times to folks in your units in 5 years doesn't imply stability or good judgment to most commanding officers.

Thanks for the interesting info

 

[Uncle Fester]

Dating within the ready room was very heavily frowned upon by every seagoing command I've ever been in. Two jg's dating, for example, would not technically be fraternization per the UCMJ but I've never heard of a skipper who'd condone it, under the general category of 'nothing good will come of this'. I've seen JOs dating within the same CAG and the resultant mess when they broke up...it's just drama you do not need on the Boat.

Shore duty and training commands (student-on-student and instructor-on-instructor) was a different story. Ex-Mrs Fester and I were in the FRS at the same time and then instructors at NASC together.

 

[Hair Warrior]

...surprised that no one has replied: "I decided to become an NFO because I was already an SNFO, and then I graduated."

 

[Brett327]

instructor-student relationships are frowned upon

Instructor-student relationships may be considered fraternization and subject to UCMJ.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Wouldn't that be an interesting statistic to delve into. Any real data behind that assertion?

It's not scientific, but I can only think of about a half dozen who are currently operationally flying (i.e. in fleet C/E squadrons)…..LTJG/LT/LCDR inclusive. Was the same, or slightly less when I was in my JO squadron. Not saying that is wrong/right/anything, just an observation. Compared to most other communities, it is statistically unusual.

 

[Pags]

It's not scientific, but I can only think of about a half dozen who are currently operationally flying (i.e. in fleet C/E squadrons)…..LTJG/LT/LCDR inclusive. Was the same, or slightly less when I was in my JO squadron. Not saying that is wrong/right/anything, just an observation. Compared to most other communities, it is statistically unusual.

So annecodotally how do those numbers compare to women in F squadrons?

 

[Python]

So annecodotally how do those numbers compare to women in F squadrons?

Anecdotally, my opinion is that those numbers are noticeably higher, and maybe a slightly higher percentage of females in those squadrons have two anchors. I'll let MIDNJAC chime in too (since you replied to him anyway).

 

[Flash]

Seemed to me that women aviators were grouped in certain units by happenstance or design. My first unit, which had a huge wardroom, had only one my entire time there while my second had a lot. Same happen in VFA?

 

[MIDNJAC]

I don't really see a conspiracy or "design"…….I think it is probably purely related to the normal BUPERS slating process. I also haven't really seen female "clusters" a whole lot in VFA (unlike VAQ or VAW), but again, that is probably mostly due to the extremely low percentage we are talking about. I'm sure there are DUMPEX squadrons for both RAGs/coasts, as well as "good dude/gal" squadrons, regardless of gender.

 

[Python]

^ I haven't really even thought about it that much, but now that I do, I realize there do tend to be "clusters" in those communities but not VFA. Concur that it just is what it is (I.e no conspiracy).

 

[Charles Edward]

Nothing is wrong with teaching primary students. But as an NFO, you likely won't do it and there will be a far wider range of jobs available to you. In recent years, pilots who have been primary instructors have gotten hosed in the O-4 boards. Maybe (hopefully) that will change in the future.

I understand your curiosity, but in this line of work you need to learn to only care about the opinions of people who matter. In this case, the Navy's opinion is the one that matters. They pay you pretty well and and NFOs are well-represented in the upper echelons of the Navy. ADM Fallon was PACOM and CENTCOM. ADM Harris is currently PACOM.

Bottom line: being an NFO can take you wherever you want to go in the Navy, and you'll probably have a damn good time getting there. You will not, though, ever take your life into your own hands like pilots do. I have no regrets, but knowing what I know now, if I had had perfect eyesight at 22, I would choose pilot.

Who then teaches prospective NFOs? Other pilots?

Given some of the responses here, could it be reasonably argued that perhaps going NFO is less crowded route to o-4 and above than the aviator route?