Information concerning Sea Year and Choosing Navy or Air Force

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Momofteens

5-Year Member
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Hello All: My DS and I are researching the USMMA and are asking those who might know the following:
1) Concerning Sea Year choice, would a midshipmen readily be able to select a Naval aircraft carrier as a sea year choice?

2) How difficult/competitive would it be to select Navy or Air Force as an option after graduation? More specifically, if my son wanted to request a pilot slot in either branch? Would class rank determine his ability to select aviation?
 
1) Yes, you can request a summer cruise on a carrier, that's about a month. You can go to sea year on an aircraft carrier, however, its complicated. They make sea projects virtually impossible. Nav systems, radars, architecture of the vessel are classified. God help you if you're an engineer. The nuclear plant is probably highly classified, I think the Nukes hold Top Secret clearances. They would rather kill you than let you take that info off the boat.

2) We can't say how difficult it will be in 4, 5, or 6 years. The Navy and Air Force extend Student Aviator billets according to their accession targets. For this year, defense spending and pilot needs among the services are sky high. Everybody who wanted Student Aviator got either that or Flight Officer. Many people got AF pilot slots as well. Most likely, the phase of the cycle will be different in 4 years. If your kid knows he wants to be Active Duty in the Navy or AF, then don't go to the USMMA. It's a maritime academy with a loophole for active duty. You start off behind the curve from the Naval Academy/NROTC guys. Go here if you want to sail.
 
For sea year, your DS could definitely choose to be on an MSC ship. To get time on an aircraft carrier, he would go on a cruise during the summer (usually 2 weeks) like NROTC does. It is not really practical to spend sea year time aboard an aircraft carrier. My DD's friend at USMMA is spending two weeks on a Navy destroyer thus summer.

Regarding a pilot slot, there is no guarantee, but everyone I have known who has wanted a flight spot out of USMMA has gotten one over the past ten years, at least NFO. You will get a lot of push back on this site from people who do not want Kings Point mids to become pilots or even go active duty. However, 25-35% of each graduating class in recent memory has gone active duty.

My DS is USMMA class of 2013 and is a Navy pilot. He had pilot offers for both Navy and Marine pilot out of USMMA, but he probably could have also gotten Coast Guard and Air Force spots if he wanted to go that route.

Of course he wanted jets, but there were no jet slots available for his class in Pensacola even though he had great scores. He got a rotary spot. He has made Aircraft Commander, just returned from his second deployment, and is now assigned to the elite squadron that inserts and evacs special operations troops. He couldn't be happier and believes the education and training he got at Kings Point prepared him well for his path. You absolutely do not start off behind the curve compared to USNA/NROTC student naval aviators.

I am happy to answer any more questions if you want to pm me which you can do once you have five posts. Good luck to your son.
 
kpmom2013 said:
choose to be on an MSC ship
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Being on an MSC ship doesn't really have anything to do with the question. The OP is talking about military ships, and the answer is yes, you can potentially spend a couple of months on a USS ship. I spent a lot of time with MSC, and MSC ships are not run like USS ships at all, other than that they coordinate with the USS ships to be at the right place with the right cargo. The environment and mariners on MSC ships are completely civilian. Wearing sea-khakis on the bridge is the closest it comes.
 
For the class of 2018, there were many who applied for and rec'd a flight slot...I know of approx 8-10 that rec'd Navy flight...and there could be more that I don't know of...there were many who went Air Force but I don't know the numbers for flight and then there is the possibility of Coast Guard flight spots too. As was mentioned previously, you could and will get push back from many on this page about wanting to go active in any branch and that you shouldn't go to USMMA...but it is an option that is available and yes approx 25-35% go active each year. It is also true that what happened for the class of 2018 may not be available for the class of 20XX...it all depends on the needs of the military. Yes you can get a summer intern spot at flight or on a carrier...again I know of a few 2018 who did this and they along with the others are now doing their flight training. Even if you go to USNA you may not get the flight slot that you want...there are no guarantees...I know a young lady from USNA who wanted flight so bad and didn't get it...after her 5 yrs is up, the plan is to go to flight school somewhere and fly commercial...so moral of story is no matter where your DS goes, he is not guaranteed to fly. Please do not discount the potential the USMMA can offer your DS...in my opinion, it offers more options than the other academies and he may even change his mind to do something else..best of luck to him.
 
kpmom2013 said:
For sea year, your DS could definitely choose to be on an MSC ship. To get time on an aircraft carrier, he would go on a cruise during the summer (usually 2 weeks) like NROTC does. It is not really practical to spend sea year time aboard an aircraft carrier. My DD's friend at USMMA is spending two weeks on a Navy destroyer thus summer.

Regarding a pilot slot, there is no guarantee, but everyone I have known who has wanted a flight spot out of USMMA has gotten one over the past ten years, at least NFO. You will get a lot of push back on this site from people who do not want Kings Point mids to become pilots or even go active duty. However, 25-35% of each graduating class in recent memory has gone active duty.

My DS is USMMA class of 2013 and is a Navy pilot. He had pilot offers for both Navy and Marine pilot out of USMMA, but he probably could have also gotten Coast Guard and Air Force spots if he wanted to go that route.

Of course he wanted jets, but there were no jet slots available for his class in Pensacola even though he had great scores. He got a rotary spot. He has made Aircraft Commander, just returned from his second deployment, and is now assigned to the elite squadron that inserts and evacs special operations troops. He couldn't be happier and believes the education and training he got at Kings Point prepared him well for his path. You absolutely do not start off behind the curve compared to USNA/NROTC student naval aviators.

I am happy to answer any more questions if you want to pm me which you can do once you have five posts. Good luck to your son.
Click to expand...

Thank you for you response. I will pm once I reach my five posts.
 
Mr2020 said:
kpmom2013 said:
choose to be on an MSC ship
Click to expand...

Being on an MSC ship doesn't really have anything to do with the question. The OP is talking about military ships, and the answer is yes, you can potentially spend a couple of months on a USS ship. I spent a lot of time with MSC, and MSC ships are not run like USS ships at all, other than that they coordinate with the USS ships to be at the right place with the right cargo. The environment and mariners on MSC ships are completely civilian. Wearing sea-khakis on the bridge is the closest it comes.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your information. All helpful.
 
BuckeyeGuy said:
For the class of 2018, there were many who applied for and rec'd a flight slot...I know of approx 8-10 that rec'd Navy flight...and there could be more that I don't know of...there were many who went Air Force but I don't know the numbers for flight and then there is the possibility of Coast Guard flight spots too. As was mentioned previously, you could and will get push back from many on this page about wanting to go active in any branch and that you shouldn't go to USMMA...but it is an option that is available and yes approx 25-35% go active each year. It is also true that what happened for the class of 2018 may not be available for the class of 20XX...it all depends on the needs of the military. Yes you can get a summer intern spot at flight or on a carrier...again I know of a few 2018 who did this and they along with the others are now doing their flight training. Even if you go to USNA you may not get the flight slot that you want...there are no guarantees...I know a young lady from USNA who wanted flight so bad and didn't get it...after her 5 yrs is up, the plan is to go to flight school somewhere and fly commercial...so moral of story is no matter where your DS goes, he is not guaranteed to fly. Please do not discount the potential the USMMA can offer your DS...in my opinion, it offers more options than the other academies and he may even change his mind to do something else..best of luck to him.
Click to expand...

Am wondering if the push back would continue at the academy?
 
BuckeyeGuy said:
For the class of 2018, there were many who applied for and rec'd a flight slot...I know of approx 8-10 that rec'd Navy flight...and there could be more that I don't know of...there were many who went Air Force but I don't know the numbers for flight and then there is the possibility of Coast Guard flight spots too. As was mentioned previously, you could and will get push back from many on this page about wanting to go active in any branch and that you shouldn't go to USMMA...but it is an option that is available and yes approx 25-35% go active each year. It is also true that what happened for the class of 2018 may not be available for the class of 20XX...it all depends on the needs of the military. Yes you can get a summer intern spot at flight or on a carrier...again I know of a few 2018 who did this and they along with the others are now doing their flight training. Even if you go to USNA you may not get the flight slot that you want...there are no guarantees...I know a young lady from USNA who wanted flight so bad and didn't get it...after her 5 yrs is up, the plan is to go to flight school somewhere and fly commercial...so moral of story is no matter where your DS goes, he is not guaranteed to fly. Please do not discount the potential the USMMA can offer your DS...in my opinion, it offers more options than the other academies and he may even change his mind to do something else..best of luck to him.
Click to expand...

Yes, looking at the curriculum, one notes that its first year offerings are rigorous and similiar to other engineering schools.
 
There is little if any push ack at the academy for those who want to go active duty. There are so many there who do that your DS will not even stand out for that reason. Keep in mind that it is not unusual for plans to change after sea year. Some who are sure they want to go active duty change their minds and decide to sail on their license and vice-versa. One of the best things about sea year is getting to have actual experience before deciding on a career path.
 
As was indicated, most of the push back comes from these pages...please don't worry too much about what some of the mids might say about going or not going active. My son wanted Coast Guard when he first arrived...then he sailed and he wanted to sail...then during the stand down he encountered a less than positive experience and decided to go active....he is very happy with his choice and has talked about advancing in rank and possibly making it a career...subject to change. If there is anything you learn from this page is that there is constant change at the academy...what happened to or for the class of 2018 or before may or may not happen with any future class...2019 and beyond has already experienced change with a new Superintendent...and I believe he has made changes that impact both parents and mids....next year...well, we will wait and see what if any changes may come.
 
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KP Eng said:
Push back is only on these pages? Go on a US flag merchant ship as a cadet and tell them you don't really want to sail, you just went to USMMA for a pilot slot!
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I re-read the comments, and maybe I missed it, and if I did, I apologize but I don't think anybody said "only on these pages". I am reasonably sure that many/most of the cadets have been told by either staff or other mids how to act and how not to act, and what to say and what not to say...that is not to say that they listen and if they don't, well...as was previously stated, they might have a little more education coming...and I am sure that somebody on the ship will educate them....and then when they are done with their sailing they can go back to the academy and pursue their future work area or their desired active duty spot and be wiser for it.
 
I have stated many times before, I got into the Academy system because I wanted to fly jets. The more I learned about the maritime industry, the less I wanted to fly. No regrets.
 
KP Eng said:
Push back is only on these pages? Go on a US flag merchant ship as a cadet and tell them you don't really want to sail, you just went to USMMA for a pilot slot!
Click to expand...

As long as that ‘pilot slot’ was for Honolulu harbor; you’ll be cool, brah..
 
KP Eng said:
Push back is only on these pages? Go on a US flag merchant ship as a cadet and tell them you don't really want to sail, you just went to USMMA for a pilot slot!
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Or the GCaptain forums, and don't forget to tell them how the US flag merchant fleet couldn't survive with USMMA and how KPers make the best mates/engineers.

As for here ... Just say what you want and live with the consequences. If you can't take a few lumps on an anonymous internet forum then you will likely have greater challenges in life ahead.
 
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Momofteens said:
Hello All: My DS and I are researching the USMMA and are asking those who might know the following:
1) Concerning Sea Year choice, would a midshipmen readily be able to select a Naval aircraft carrier as a sea year choice?
Click to expand...
It's not really feasible to go to a Deployed CVN, it is not worth anyone's money to to send you there. It is more likely to get on a CVN in port and then without the embarked Air Wing, what is really the point if DS is intending to go flight?

A better use of time would be to do an internship with a Squadron. I know that has been done many times before and there are Squadron COs out there who are KPers.
 
Agree with KPEngineer. My DS did a two week flight internship with the Navy in Key West during his second sea year. It was a great experience, and he got to catch a ride in a Navy jet, proudly avoiding puking on himself in the process.
 
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