Chris

Hey guys,

I'm going to see a Navy Recruiter soon for information about becoming an Aviation Officer, but I couldn't wait for them to call me back and wanted to see if you guys could offer me any guidance. I wrote back and forth with an Air Force Officer on here a couple of years ago; he told me that being an officer in the AF was not a flying job, as most of the job was paperwork and administrative-type duties. I expect pretty much the same as a Naval officer but then again, I don't know any officers, or retired officers, in the Navy.

I understand some squadrons may fly much more than others, maybe C130's fly more than F/A-18's, etc. I'd really love to be up in the air as much as possible no matter what type of aircraft. I don't really care much for rotors. Do I get a choice? Is the Navy the right choice? Naturally the Navy was what came to mind initially for me as my dad was a sailor.

I'm working on my bachelor's degree right now. I still have some time until I'm done.. I currently have my PPL + IR, started training for Commercial but ran out of money. Should I finish my Commercial SEL/MEL prior to signing up or would I just be wasting my money as the navy would be paying me to train? Right now I fly just to keep instrument current and if I have some extra money do a Commercial lesson or two. My meager salary at Continental as a ramp agent doesn't allow this very often.

Any sign-up bonuses going on right now?

Any preference for base? I understand it's "Atlantic or Pacific," then the Navy decides from there.

I'm 23 with no attachments. I'm in pretty good shape and wear very light prescription glasses (sometimes). I was going to follow the typical civilian route, CFI, go work for a regional (ha) and then one day come back to Continental, or whatever major, but being a military pilot seems like a better lifestyle than banging around in the regionals that have guys furloughed indefinitely.

I apologize for my ignorance and my questions if they're too basic. I'm just trying to get the facts and not buy everything the recruiter tells me.

Thanks guys, feel free to PM .. I'll post if I have any more questions.

Chris

Slice

If you want FW the AF is the best choice due to the number of planes versus helos. In the Navy, like all the other branches, the needs of the service come first. So, you can graduate high in your class and still possibly get a helo. The lifestyles are vastly different between each branch...you need to figure out what may suit your style best. I would prefer AF facilities with Navy flying rules.

Navajo31

Air Force's idea of a deployment is four months in Turkey at a base with cable. Navy's idea of a deployment is six months on a big boat. But Navy pilots get alot of valuable training and experience - in my opinion, better experience than Air Force.

In general, military pilots fly less than civilian counterparts. One reason is they only log flight time, not block time. Most airlines correct for this when you interview.

In the Navy and Marines Corps, primary flight is the same for all students. Platform selection is based on needs of the service, student's performance and preference. Some pilots get forced into helicopters, but many choose them anyway.

Glasses might be an issue; ask the recruiter about Lasik.

No need to pursue any more ratings. Navy actually prefers low/no flight time - no bad habits to break.

Just to let you know how they do things: Civilian ME rating can be completed in 5 hours. Military ME training, in a King Air, is over 100 hours (including single engine NDB approaches!).

PM with more questions.

Go Navy, Beat Army!!!

Chris

Thanks guys for the quick responses.

"Military ME training, in a King Air, is over 100 hours (including single engine NDB approaches!)."

That sounds great to me. I'll have to relearn NDB approaches in the sim. I've only done one, ever, I think. Only one A/C I've flown has had a functional ADF in it.

I've been looking into the Air Force's website as well.

I hope I won't need LASIK. I sure as hell can't afford it, and I don't think health insurance will cover any of the operation...

Oh and it's six months on a big boat, 4 months in Turkey, or what I'm doing now, working all day in the hopes that my check will be able to afford me to fly a couple of times. Sadly enough, a lot of furloughed airline pilots would be happy to have my job...

Chris

HercDriver130

Just wondering what "valuable training and experience" Navy pilots get that AF pilots dont... ( other than than traps on a carrier...)

cargo hopeful

Dang brother, you just broke a lot of hearts

don't knock it till you try it!!

USMCFLYR

What do you expect a Navy guy to say? Usually we only hear how good the AF is . I like the one comment on another thread about "AF facilities with Navy flying rules"

Btw OP - don't discount helos. I understand that you may want to fly fixed wing - many do - but both the Navy and USMC have a lot of helos in their fleet. Marine helo pilots for instance are in the *real* fight almost everyday. Kudos to them.

USMCFLYR

Chris

You're right, but I have a love affair with airplanes The DE that I did my instrument ride with failed his helo checkride the day before I got my IR. I found that to be pretty amusing.

USMCflyer, I'm not discounting them (helos), flight time is flight time, I'm not one to barge in the armed forces and start demanding things. I think we've all learned in aviation that if you come in expecting to do only what you want to, you're gonna be let down. I'd at least like the chance to change to FW if I could, but I have a feeling that once I would start flying rotors it'd be hard to get out.

I guess my first hope is to be flying anything, the second would that they would be airplanes. And maybe a third would be to fly whatever it is, often.

On another note, is ANG part time only? From their website I couldn't tell much. I also looked at GoANG.com, and the only thing I could really find were A/C specs.. I hear quite a positive buzz every so often about the Guard on this forum and wonder what all the hype is. The AF guy I mentioned earlier wrote me before saying after his enlistment was over he was going to go part time with the Guard, if I understood correctly.

Chris

SaltyDog

We get used to 'sea legs' on said carrier, kind of like walking on a trampoline all the time, it's different and you become pretty good at walking on backyard trampolines from WalMart when you are ashore.
Also, you get really good at aiming when standing in the mens room in rough seas, especially useful when you have had a rousing friday night out at thhe club. Some of the most valuable training we receive is living conditions, we learn to accept crowded, small rooms, eating brown lettuce at sea, and especially learn to appreciate a USAF Q room. Could go on about the 'valuable training and experience' you didn't get that I did. <BG>

Chris,
I recommend you take whatever floats your boat and whomever will accept you. Love the Navy, enjoyed day carrier landings and the like. Really wasn't fond of night landings in crappy wx. Loved the comradarie, but will find that in any service really. I really enjoyed the West Coast cruises (Asia, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Persian Gulf) but the East coast bases are in better towns (Jacksonville, Norfolk) and Atlantic/Mediteranean deployments, but everything has positives if you look for them. I wanted carrier based because that was the real difference of being a naval aviator. If you go Navy, you simply want to make the cut to whatever you desire, Strike, Maritime, Rotary, C2/E2. Strike and E2/C2 will get you a carrier, Rotary will likely get you shipboard ops. (I still think some of the finest aviation skills any Navy Aviator has demonstrated was during a VertRep (vertical replenishment- a helicopter flying supplies from a supply ship to the other ships in the battle group) being flown by a H-46 crew. It was mesmerizing how they deftly flew around the ships crashing through rough seas with wicked winds drop with amazing precision a slung load into tight quarters on a smallboy or carrier. If you get rotary (helos) the advantage is you can fly Kingairs later (C-12's or instruct in the coming T-6's) since dual rated and then fly in the Guard/Reserve and Airlines later.
P-3's and C-130's are more like USAF in my opinion. P-3's don't fly as much since airframe is tired.
Get the ubiquitous F-18?, will have several possible mission options.
Anyway, to recap: Get Strike, Maritime, etc first, then concentrate on what airframe (mission) appeals to you, then lastly worry about what coast you want. It will go in that order anyway.
Stay in long enough, will see both coasts anyway if you want (maybe even if you don't want <g>)
Good luck in your Naval Aviation career.

HercDriver130

thanks for the reply Salty.... that was classic. I lived in a tent with 9 other guys for 9 months... thats an experience!!!! LOL