USAFA vs. USNA (Lots of Questions)

Which School Should I Go To?


  • Total voters
    59
I'm a USNA appointee, but I will try and provide you with my unbiased advice :)
For starters, congratulations on your appointments. One of the few problems you want to have! On the Navy side of the house for carrier aviation at least, tours are three years and one year is spent at your NAS (Naval Air Station) doing different training, one year of work-ups (preparing to go on deployment), and then your deployment. You will either go on one or two deployments depending on the time you report to your Fleet Squadron. I'll let some of the USAF folks on here speak to their schedules.

I wouldn't pick your school based solely on the sports teams (and their sponsors for that matter) and the campus location. You are only going to spend four years there before going off and training away from the Academy.

Two things (Well, I like a lot of things) I like about USNA is the fact that there are so many different jobs in the Navy and Marine Corps. Also, I love to travel and the sea, so it was an obvious choice for me. Sure there are different jobs in the USAF, but I have heard that if you are not a pilot in the Air Force, you are second rate citizen. While I am not saying that is 100% true, I have read that a couple of times on SAF. The Navy needs guys and girls to drive ships, drive submarines, fly planes, blow up IEDs, etc. Every job has a path to command while it seems only pilots get command in the USAF. One thing carriers do is go into port. Australia, the Mediterranean, Hawai'i, etc. Carriers don't just go to the Persian/Arabian Gulf and back. They visit other places too. From what I have seen, USAF is mainly stateside or over in the Middle East.

USNA might get more people because it covers two services (USN and USMC). It is set up that way as the Marine Corps, although a separate branch, is overseen by the Department of the Navy. It could also be how each Academy reports their numbers. One other thing that could influence your decision is the fact that you can apply for Marine Air as well. I have a friend who is a 3/C at USNA and he said that they were handing out Marine Air billets like candy because they have a longer commitment. USMC officers (both Ground and Air) have to go through The Basic School, a school that teaches Marine Officership and platoon level infantry tactics as every officer is expected to be able to lead an infantry platoon (Every Marine is a Rifleman). Then after TBS (6 months), you report to NAS Pensacola. Then after Flight School, you start your service obligation. While most of USMC Aviation is helos, most of the fixed-wing fleet is composed of Hornets, Prowlers, and Harriers (all jets).

Hey Thanks 2019, that was a solid reply and I appreciate the thoughtful answer
 
This forum can be brutal so be careful what you post.;)

Congratulations on your appointments, and it seems like you'll do fine at either school. The decision really should come down to if you want to serve in the Air Force or the Navy, and at the end of the day, you have to remember that with either branch you're really serving the U.S.A.
Both campuses are beautiful and both schools have excellent academics. Colorado Springs, in fact is a smarter school, with higher ACT and GPA averages, however, Navy always ranks higher because it has much more history and has an older historic (beautiful) campus.
If you are really on the fence and can't decide, I understand that the superficial things DO matter, but don't let Nike versus Under Armor get in the way of more important decisions.

Good luck making your decision, and either way you just have to stick with it. And thank you for choosing to attend a service academy and serve in the US Military.
 
For anyone who really wants to fly I always ask the question... What would you prefer to do if you couldn't fly? I ask this because it happens. Look at those specialities and career fields and see what fits best. Missiles sound horrifying? Does being a SWO sound horrible?

So good responses from some appointees and candidates that aren't exactly right. Marine Air is generally not that hard to get, but it depends on the year. Yes TBS takes 6 months but honestly it won't really put you behind your Navy peers. Different promotion track all together. Also it can take some months and months to start flight school anyway.

I spent a lot of time as a Marine in the Air Force world. I do believe it is pilot or not and they are treated as such. Navy has pilots sure, but it's mission is the ocean and the pilots are just one aspect of it all. Marine Corps, everything is in support of the grunts on the ground and you will know that day 1. Quality of life in the Air Force is better, but for some the thrill of launching off a carrier is the ultimate dream. Navy has great base locations... Almost always near water. Remember on the Navy side you aren't assigned to a carrier but a squadron that will be attached to a carrier for deployment and work ups. USAF generally has nicer bases, housing. In my experiences I believe USN and USMC officers are much more empowered to make decisions, think outside the box and lead at a much lower level than the USAF.

Ignore uniforms, sports teams and the Blue Angels. What feels like the right fit? What fits your personality? What airframes are you interested in besides jets? Want to fly heavy cargo... USAF. Helos... Better shot in USN or USMC. UAVs... As of today that is only a shot in the USAF. For many that is a downside for the USAF side.
 
To piggyback on NavyHoops, the vast majority of the drops at UPT are for Heavies (Airlift, tankers, etc.). And RPAs are being utilized more and more. UAV's are part of the Navy, but manned aircraft is and still be the mantra of the Navy for a long while.
 
Hurricane... Don't believe UAVs are being assigned as an airfram on the Navy side. Or has this changed? I know both the USMC and USN both have them, but not given as an airframe. I know USMC side has been changing things up on how UAVs are done. Thoughts on it being an assigned airframe like the USAF?
 
Hurricane... Don't believe UAVs are being assigned as an airfram on the Navy side. Or has this changed? I know both the USMC and USN both have them, but not given as an airframe. I know USMC side has been changing things up on how UAVs are done. Thoughts on it being an assigned airframe like the USAF?

I have no up-to-date contacts with drone knowledge. (Drone = UAV, correct?)
But given the fact that a drone was successfully landed on a carrier just recently, my guess would be that there won't be Naval Drone Aviators anytime soon. Much more testing to be done, IMHO. Lots of $$$ to defense contractors.

However, in the future, it would make sense to have unmanned aircraft flying missions related to ASW and carrier task force screening, i.e., AEW. So, we will have drone pilots deployed aboard carriers flying their missions from the depths of the CIC.

Hopefully they won't have to smuggle their post-mission "medication" aboard like I did. But their "mission" shouldn't be as stressful :)

For sure... If some amateur a$$h0$& flies a drone over my back yard, me and my Daisy Red Rider WILL take it down. Period.
 
Hurricane... Don't believe UAVs are being assigned as an airfram on the Navy side. Or has this changed? I know both the USMC and USN both have them, but not given as an airframe. I know USMC side has been changing things up on how UAVs are done. Thoughts on it being an assigned airframe like the USAF?

UAVs are currently a shore tour deal in the Navy and are a ground contract selection out of TBS for Marines (and, actually, a fairly competitive one). I doubt it'll change to the Air Force way any time soon, but I'm just a boot so who knows.

Not sure on the Navy pipeline, but my peers who went UAVs did USAF training until doing their specific airframe. It's a young community and so I'd bet things have changed even since then.
 
Go Air Force! My son only applied to USNA and he needs an opening... still pending and WAITING FOR OTHERS TO MAKE UP THEIR MIND!!! :)
:tomcat:
 
I think you are taking into consideration some very superficial (i.e. unimportant) things. Whose uniforms are cooler? Who has the better sports teams? Seriously?

I think you need to think a little deeper and focus on more important things. I don't know how to get you to do that.
 
USNA, the USN and (to some extent at least, the USMC) are about water. During your time at USNA, you will learn to sail, learn seamanship, practice damage control, and learn to handle small ships. You'll study naval battles and Navy leaders. During your summers, you'll spend at least some time at sea -- on sailboats, small craft and/or "real" USN combatants. Regardless of the warfare specialty you select, you're almost certain to spend time at sea and, in some cases, a LOT of time at sea. There are a few exceptions, but not many.

USAFA and the USAF are primarily about aviation. While I haven't been through it, I know enough to know that it's about flying. That's what you learn/study at USAFA and what you will do, or support, in the USAF. Chances are that you won't see a boat/ship during your four years at the Academy or even your entire career. And maybe see water only when you fly over it.:D

Do you prefer a sea-based service or an aviation-based service? Also, as someone above said, what if you can't be a pilot? All sorts of things can happen (poor class standing, medical issues, etc.). You may also not get your platform of choice even if you do go pilot -- that depends on class standing, available slots and, as always, needs of the Navy. Are you ok with flying prop planes or tankers or surveillance craft or even helos (all of which are critically important, BTW). What other options in the USN, USMC, and/or USAFA appeal to you?

As for the SAs themselves, first year sucks for everyone. After that, it gets better. If you want it to get really, really better -- you should go NROTC. :) (Lest anyone take this the wrong way, I mean b/c your life from day 1 in ROTC is "more" like a normal college student than it will be in any year at any SA). WRT uniforms, after a year or so, it's . . . a uniform. You stop loving or hating it and just ensure you wear it properly.
 
Hard to believe this is a serious post since the OP on a prior thread was asking questions about PC's at USAFA where he/she implied they would be attending. No one seriously picks their SA based on the type of uniforms or which has the better sports teams.
 
FWIW. Mid hosted USAFA "drags" during the USNA vs. USAFA football game weekend. At the end of the weekend, a USAFA cadet said "I should have applied here.."
 
USNA1985's response is probably the best to review. Remember that one service is based upon "the water" and the other on "the air." Don't go to one and expect to run from that fact.
 
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