Aviation questions

I have a couple of questions about the Aviation Community:

For NFOs and aviatiors, how long does the training (like API) last for each?
And, let's say for SNAs, it takes 18 months to earn their pin. Does this 18 months count toward their advancement/promotion to LTJG? Does the time it takes to train a NFO count toward their advancement to LTJG?

Thank you!

CandidateElias15 said:

I have a couple of questions about the Aviation Community:

For NFOs and aviatiors, how long does the training (like API) last for each?

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API is 6 weeks; however, you may not start for several months after graduation due to backlogs. For pilots it will be around 2yrs or so from graduation to winging. NFO's are shorter and you will likely hit your first fleet squadron within 2 yrs.

And, let's say for SNAs, it takes 18 months to earn their pin. Does this 18 months count toward their advancement/promotion to LTJG? Does the time it takes to train a NFO count toward their advancement to LTJG?

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All time from graduation counts towards pay, retirement, and advancement. 2yrs out and you will pin on LTJG. At your 4yr mark you will pin on LT (barring some major issue). Doesn't matter if you are in training or not.

And just to clarify, if you are able to go to graduate school immediately after USNA (VGEP/IGEP), the time in graduate school does not count toward pay, retirement, etc?
How long does a typical tour last for an Aviator? If one does not go to grad school right after USNA, would he be able to attend before/when he reaches O-4?
I'm asking this because I heard that O-4s and above need graduate level education or their careers pretty much end.
Thanks again, kp2001!

Furthering this line of questioning...

In the event that one is sent for graduate education AFTER pinning and tour(s) how is that treated toward time of service, retirement, promotion, etc.?

After you graduate the time counts towards retirement, advancement, etc. This is true if you go straight to the aviation training pipeline or go to take a vacation at some graduate school. Flight school varies both from NFO to pilot and from platform to platform. Once winged, typical tours are the same for aviators as they are for most others, around 3 years.

marvin7794 said:

After you graduate the time counts towards retirement, advancement, etc. This is true if you go straight to the aviation training pipeline or go to take a vacation at some graduate school. Flight school varies both from NFO to pilot and from platform to platform. Once winged, typical tours are the same for aviators as they are for most others, around 3 years.

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So it is possible to spend the time-based grades (O-1/2) in grad school and still be promoted? Why doesn't everyone do this?
3 years at sea? Really? Or is this three years broken up, like 12 months at sea, then another 12 shore based?
Thanks!

The reason that everyone doesn't go to grad school right after graduation/commissioning is because the option is not available to everyone - remember the phrase "needs of the Navy/Marine Corps". The service does need a regular injection of Ensigns/2LTs.

The concept of 3 years at sea is misleading; it means that you are assigned for sea duty for a three-year tour; the amount of time actually spent at sea varies per unit. Typically deployments will vary by type of unit, eg, six months deployed, six months at homeport, etc. Again, this can be varied by the events occurring at any given time, readiness of units to be deployed, etc. You learn to be flexible in your long range planning.