USNA OR USAFA???

Go watch “Master and Commander,” with Russell Crowe. The Navy culture descends from that and earlier world-roving sea traditions - operating on the far side of the world, far from direct oversight, having to improvise on the fly, maintaining good order and discipline, knowing when you can joke with your crew, but also keeping a distance that allows for the exercise of authority.

And crank up your surround sound movie speakers (while having a care for auditory health) for the battle scenes and great soundtrack.
Or find a copy of the "Naval Chronicle" from 1793-1815 and read of the RN folks during the Napoleonic wars...Hollywood couldn't do as well as those gents did!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(and loves the sea...)
 
USAFA was always my first choice. But looking at all the options available besides flying, I accepted USNA.


______________
USNA Clas of 2023
 
fewer medical waivers were given and PPQ candidates were given preference all things being equal. Needs of the Air Force etc etc.
Why would they be giving fewer medical waivers if they need more pilots? Just trying to understand their logic, you would think that if they’re having trouble filling slots then they’d be increasing the number of waivers, not decreasing.

For instance ... they wouldn’t give my son a waiver for colorblindness that would allow him into the SA ... because he can’t be a pilot.
I took the comment the same way. If you needed a waiver that would get you into the academy but preclude you from being a pilot, they reduced the number of those this cycle and may continue to as long as they cannot meet the number of pilot slots the USAF requires. Again this was one Captain from admissions and I have no way to verify his accuracy so take it for what it is worth.
 
fewer medical waivers were given and PPQ candidates were given preference all things being equal. Needs of the Air Force etc etc.
Why would they be giving fewer medical waivers if they need more pilots? Just trying to understand their logic, you would think that if they’re having trouble filling slots then they’d be increasing the number of waivers, not decreasing.

For instance ... they wouldn’t give my son a waiver for colorblindness that would allow him into the SA ... because he can’t be a pilot.
I took the comment the same way. If you needed a waiver that would get you into the academy but preclude you from being a pilot, they reduced the number of those this cycle and may continue to as long as they cannot meet the number of pilot slots the USAF requires. Again this was one Captain from admissions and I have no way to verify his accuracy so take it for what it is worth.
Ok I was under the impression you were talking about waivers for pilot training, didn't know you were talking about waivers just to attend.
 
fewer medical waivers were given and PPQ candidates were given preference all things being equal. Needs of the Air Force etc etc.
Why would they be giving fewer medical waivers if they need more pilots? Just trying to understand their logic, you would think that if they’re having trouble filling slots then they’d be increasing the number of waivers, not decreasing.

For instance ... they wouldn’t give my son a waiver for colorblindness that would allow him into the SA ... because he can’t be a pilot.
I took the comment the same way. If you needed a waiver that would get you into the academy but preclude you from being a pilot, they reduced the number of those this cycle and may continue to as long as they cannot meet the number of pilot slots the USAF requires. Again this was one Captain from admissions and I have no way to verify his accuracy so take it for what it is worth.
Ok I was under the impression you were talking about waivers for pilot training, didn't know you were talking about waivers just to attend.

I’m not saying you are wrong! I may be wrong.

I read it based on my experience because my son can’t be a pilot and needed a waiver.

We are glad we didn’t apply there ... he wouldn’t have gotten the waiver.
 
Take this FWIW.

I was at the USAFA Friday and was part of a discussion with admissions where they stated that for the past two years they have had more Pilot slots than qualified cadets to fill those spots. He told another cadet that if you want to fly, do well, and are medically qualified your chances are close to 100% right now. He specifically said that for the class of 2019 they wanted 550 pilots and are commissioning far less.

On a side note the Captain also said that the Sec of the Air Force gave direction to increase the potential pilot pool for the class of 2023 and that fewer medical waivers were given and PPQ candidates were given preference all things being equal. Needs of the Air Force etc etc.

Again this was from a Captain who works in admissions so take it for what it is worth.
Again For What Its Worth, while USNA does not have a specific goal for pilots to "get", it is not really common for someone who is qualified to be a pilot and requests it on their Service Selection preferences to NOT get it. While it may happen from time to time, the vast majority of would be pilots end up getting assigned to Naval Aviation.
 
Another consideration on the Aviation side ....do you care what type of platform you fly ? Air Force has a lot of pilots going into transport/logistics. I don't know numbers, but suspect that higher percentage of Navy pilots have tactical missions, if that is what you are looking for.
 
Another consideration on the Aviation side ....do you care what type of platform you fly ? Air Force has a lot of pilots going into transport/logistics. I don't know numbers, but suspect that higher percentage of Navy pilots have tactical missions, if that is what you are looking for.
That may be accurate due to the numbers of navy pilots compared with air force pilots. I don't have any "official, here's the word from the E ring" statistics but just searching USN and USAF websites...if we look at "tactical mission" aircraft as simply fighter, electronic warfare, and bombers...
USN total number is around 892 airframes (F/A-18 which is going away and being replaced by F/A-18 Super Hornets, and the EA-18G). The USN also has some F-5's and F-16's for DACT aggressor roles.
USAF total number is around 2236 airframes (just counting A-10, F-series, and B-series).

The latest info I could find said that approximately 400 new pilots graduate from naval flight training (USN and USMC) whereas the AF graduates 1,200 annually (although right now they need to ramp up to 1,500 minimum and are struggling). So...smaller pool...I think Old Navy BGO is probably correct in that the percentage may be higher for a "fast jet" in the naval forces.

Said this old AF fast jet pilot!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Update: I have decided to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. (Y’all already know where that is but it is still is awesome to say) After talking it over with friends and family,, considering the culture of the two services, jobs offered, spending time with God and listening to my gut I have made my choice. This thread truly helped me tremendously in comparing the two and being able to get my thoughts out there as well as from feedback from those with experience. I look forward to an “eventful” summer and the challenges that lie ahead. I know it will not be the easy road but it will be a fulfilling one and I am so blessed to be on this ride.
 
Wise choice and congrats. Tell me though while nobody is listening.

It was the photo I posted of Tom Cruise as Maverick that sealed the deal for you, right?
 
Congrats on your selection. Of course I think it’s a great selection! Best of luck.
 
Update: I have decided to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. (Y’all already know where that is but it is still is awesome to say) After talking it over with friends and family,, considering the culture of the two services, jobs offered, spending time with God and listening to my gut I have made my choice. This thread truly helped me tremendously in comparing the two and being able to get my thoughts out there as well as from feedback from those with experience. I look forward to an “eventful” summer and the challenges that lie ahead. I know it will not be the easy road but it will be a fulfilling one and I am so blessed to be on this ride.

Congrats. Remember this feeling. Remember how much thought and consideration you put into your decision. Wrap all this up and store it in your brain and heart to pull from when you are in the deep depths of plebe summer.

THIS FEELING. Remember how blessed you are, how many are not there. In one of DS’s letters home, he said ‘whenever I get down, I look around at this fine institution I get to be a part of, and know that there are hundreds more who didn’t get to be here in my place’.

That letter literally brought tears to my eyes.

Congrats and WELCOME.
 
Congratulations!

For any other candidates who still have to decide between the Navy and another branch I suggest watching the PBS documentary
"CARRIER." It is available on AMAZON for a dollar an episode.

My DS watched all 10 hours of it.
It depicts the highs and lows of life aboard a deployed ship.

He watched it under the pretense of picking the service not the academy as SAF moderators suggest.
 
Congratulations!

For any other candidates who still have to decide between the Navy and another branch I suggest watching the PBS documentary
"CARRIER." It is available on AMAZON for a dollar an episode.

My DS watched all 10 hours of it.
It depicts the highs and lows of life aboard a deployed ship.

He watched it under the pretense of picking the service not the academy as SAF moderators suggest.

Has DS decided between ivy AROTC and USNA? We are all excited to hear his choice!
 
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