Aerospace engineering

[amc]

I'm focused on a career in aerospace engineering and am considering applying to USNA when I'm older (currently 15). I was wondering what life would be like after the academy if I were to get this degree. What kind of jobs do people from the academy receive with an aerospace engineering degree after graduation?

 

[EfusaurusRex]

I'm focused on a career in aerospace engineering and am considering applying to USNA when I'm older (currently 15). I was wondering what life would be like after the academy if I were to get this degree. What kind of jobs do people from the academy receive with an aerospace engineering degree after graduation?

Well, the jobs those Midshipmen receive after commissioning are all listed on both the Naval Academy and Navy websites. So, ya know, SWO's, aviators, SEAL's, Marines, etc. There are Aerospace Engineering Duty Officers in the Navy, but if I remember correctly, that's a restricted line community and most Midshipmen go into unrestricted line (your combat-oriented jobs like the ones I listed earlier). Plus I don't think that is a restricted line community you can commission into from the Academy. I've never seen it on any service selection stats. I recommend going and giving USNA's website a visit. I did it for years, and 90% of the time I found the answer to what I was looking for (that other 10% was this oh-so-helpful forum).

 

[NavyHoops]

Rex nailed it... every Mid, unless not physically capable, will become an officer. Read every page of the USNA website. A simple google search for USN officer jobs will get you lots of info. If engineering is your interest read about Engineering Duty Officer. You can select this as an option out of the Academy, but you must earn your warfare qualification first before moving on to this field. This would not apply to Aviation EDO as you would apply for that later on in your career field after earning your wings and being in the fleet. When you research make sure to really look at the unrestricted line jobs as that is where 95% of Mids will go upon graduation.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

One additional thought-- and certainly don't mean to discourage you , but why do you want to be an Aero Engineer ? I ask, because I went to USNA thinking I wanted to be an Aero Engineer, but also knew that my interests and skills were more aligned with Poli Sci. I remember going through a series of lectures about the various majors, and a Poli Sci professor looking out at us, and asking how many were considering Aero because they want to be pilots.... a couple of us stuck up our hands, and he laughed...told us that was total BS, and that you don't need an Aero degree to be a pilot (and concluded with he knows, because he was the "best damned pilot in the Marine Corp..."). I never looked back.

IF you truly want to be an Aero major, go for it....but that being said, don't go to USNA just because you want to be an Aero Major. Your major at the USNA is really service as a Navy/Marine Corps officer. Sure, you will get a great education, whatever major you pursue, but if you aren't 100% dedicated to being a Naval /Marine Corps officer, USNA may not be the place for you. You are doing the right thing, asking questions about post graduation assignments ....I encourage you to read as much as you can to understand what you are getting into.

 

[Cerberi]

CVW 2015 - briefing to the parents - Dean of Math Department regarding academic majors (paraphrasing) - pick one that you can enjoy and are relatively good at for the 47 months you will be here. The vast majority of the Mids are heading to the fleet to do a job that is not based on their academic major - you can specialize when you go to graduate school.

He was a poli sci/history double major that went on to command submarines and was a graduate of the USN Nuclear Power school - which as I understand it is comparable to a Masters in Mathematics. And he wasn't just the Dean of the Math department for the title - he instructed as well. The USNA academic program is very well rounded regardless of your major.