Do I have a chance?

  • Yes, but you will need to work on your A.T.S.B. knowledge.

    Votes: 7 87.5%
  • No (Please respond with your reason why - thanks)

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • Total voters
    8

Florida_flyer

New Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2018
Messages
8
Hello, my name is Gage Nawrocki; I just created this account to begin my research before applying. I am planning to enroll in OCS for the Navy, I am currently pursuing my B.A.S. in business management. I know I am getting ready to get ragged on for not obtaining a technical degree, business is a great field (Navy does not care) and I know many naval pilots that do not have a technical degree! I am shooting for tactical air, F/18's. I am currently 18, i have my A.A. degree (obtained while in high school) currently in my Junior year of college. Solid 3.5-3.8 GPA, I do not know my current GPA, I have my private pilots license (VFR) currently shooting for my IFR (I know the Navy will retrain me as well) the navy needs individuals that are dedicated and already knowing that they can learn the material as they have their private (less of a liability). I am just curious, if I can have as much input as I can possibly can get, that would be greatly appreciated.

Looking to fly, period, no exceptions.
Going either Navy or Air Force.
Graduating in 2019 with my B.A.S. - estimated G.P.A. - 3.8
6 foot 2 inches - 195lbs.
Great physical condition.
20/15 vision (Beyond perfect?)
Not color blind, no depth perception issues, no broken bones, or impairments, no surgery EVER.
18 years of age, will be 19 WHEN I'M ACCEPTED.
Naval knowledge vast, aviation knowledge EXCESSIVE.
I currently have my VFR (private pilots license) most likely will have the IFR cert. before enrolling.
I have over 150 hours of flight time (not a lot).
I maintain a steady Job/Hard work ethic.
A.T.S.B?
 
It's hard to get a pilot slot from OCS. If you have the work ethic you describe, you probably can. I don't know how much the Navy cares about you knowing ATSB stuff coming in, since, as you said, they will train you on everything you need go know. However, you should probably think about removing PII from your post and username.
 
Well, I certainly can’t encourage you to be optimistic and confident, because I think you have that block checked.

OCS/OTS programs are designed to meet the needs of their Service, to add more officers to the commissioning pipelines in any given year to meet manpower shortfalls from other commissioning sources, and to deliver officers with specific skills or backgrounds through targeted recruiting. In its own way, OCS is just as competitive as other commissioning programs.

In the Navy, you are not just a pilot, someone who can competently operate the aircraft, but an officer who embarks upon a career of service and leadership. In your comments about your academic achievements, pilot skills, physical fitness, eye health, vast and excessive knowledge of the Navy and aviation, work ethic, all admirable, I did not see you mention your interest in service, teamwork and leadership, and your accomplishments in those areas. That will round out your application in the eyes of an officer recruiter.

Looking down the aviation pipeline, there is no guarantee of type of air frame. At the point in flight training where it diverges between fixed and rotary wing, and later to specific airframe, that is always determined by the needs of the Navy. You could have the top grades in your section, and no jet seats might be made available.

I spent 26 years on active duty in the Navy. My knowledge of the Navy is not vast but appropriate to the time I spent in uniform.

Ditto the advice on using any real info in your user name here. If you look around, it’s an anonymous Internet forum, for your protection. You can ask a mod about changing it if you choose.
 
It's hard to get a pilot slot from OCS. If you have the work ethic you describe, you probably can. I don't know how much the Navy cares about you knowing ATSB stuff coming in, since, as you said, they will train you on everything you need go know. However, you should probably think about removing PII from your post and username.

What exactly do you mean if i may ask, as i am new?
 
You may also get better responses if you post in the OCS forum, not Naval Academy.
 
Well, I certainly can’t encourage you to be optimistic and confident, because I think you have that block checked.

OCS/OTS programs are designed to meet the needs of their Service, to add more officers to the commissioning pipelines in any given year to meet manpower shortfalls from other commissioning sources, and to deliver officers with specific skills or backgrounds through targeted recruiting. In its own way, OCS is just as competitive as other commissioning programs.

In the Navy, you are not just a pilot, someone who can competently operate the aircraft, but an officer who embarks upon a career of service and leadership. In your comments about your academic achievements, pilot skills, physical fitness, eye health, vast and excessive knowledge of the Navy and aviation, work ethic, all admirable, I did not see you mention your interest in service, teamwork and leadership, and your accomplishments in those areas. That will round out your application in the eyes of an officer recruiter.

Looking down the aviation pipeline, there is no guarantee of type of air frame. At the point in flight training where it diverges between fixed and rotary wing, and later to specific airframe, that is always determined by the needs of the Navy. You could have the top grades in your section, and no jet seats might be made available.

I spent 26 years on active duty in the Navy. My knowledge of the Navy is not vast but appropriate to the time I spent in uniform.

Ditto the advice on using any real info in your user name here. If you look around, it’s an anonymous Internet forum, for your protection. You can ask a mod about changing it if you choose.


This was one important aspect I failed to mention due to excitement while typing this up for the first time. And thank you for the heads up (displayed name) as I have never done this.

I would fall into great honor and feel like i was doing my family and county a disservice if i did not go in. As my father is a 21 year retired Navy vet. (P-3 Orion based), my grandfather being a 6 Year retired Air Force vet., many of my cousins are in the Air Force currently, my Uncle is a Major, and my brother serving 8 years as a plank owner on a DDG in the Navy. I come from a long line of service members, leading up to this I think I would would be a great addition to the Navy, as I am young and have much to offer. Serving my country is one of my childhood aspirations. As young as i could remember flying with my father i always dreamed of flying for the Navy, watching the blue angles at Sun N' Fun (airshow in lake land, FL) and just thinking to myself how much good i could do. Bringing my skill sets and joining that with military training; i would be an elite, or among a brotherhood of elites, as the military is a brotherhood, not every man for himself/herself. As I failed to mention as well, when posting this i got caught up in excitement typing, i also failed to mention team work and leadership; the drive to serve my country and be a part of the greater good. Being a leader/mentor for many to look after is another drastically important aspect in my book to state for my service, to incorporate knowledge from many fields, use leadership skills and doing my job efficiently and effectively. If i may ask, were you a pilot? If not, elaborate if you have time on what you did, and your experience being an officer.

Thanks again.
 
Not a good idea to use your real name on any of these public forums. A mod can help you change it to something else.
 
It's hard to get a pilot slot from OCS. If you have the work ethic you describe, you probably can. I don't know how much the Navy cares about you knowing ATSB stuff coming in, since, as you said, they will train you on everything you need go know. However, you should probably think about removing PII from your post and username.

What exactly do you mean if i may ask, as i am new?
Which part exactly would you like me to clarify?
 
"PII" not familiar with that jargon. I messaged a moderator to alter my name. Thank you again for the heads up, I should have noticed that prior to creating my account.
 
You need to contact TacticalNuke to change your user name.
 
+1 to everything @Capt MJ and @c17hopeful said. It seems to me that c17hopeful's remarks were straight forward. As mentioned OCS is used to fill out the pipeline. The aviator portion of the pipeline in both AF and Navy are generally already filled by USNA and ROTC cadets and midshipmen, leaving an OCS aviation candidate little or no room for a slot.

The Navy DOES care about your major. Yes, there are plenty of folks (in raw numbers) who are not STEM majors, but Navy tries to get 85% of it's officers from STEM majors. AF ratio is similar.

I'd like to ask how it is you're a junior? Are you currently enrolled in a 4 year college and all your AA credits carried over? If not, and you're just getting ready to enroll in a 4 year college then you may find you're not really a junior but starting over (YMMV - I know in state schools usually recognize AA credits). If the latter is the case look at one of the ROTC programs as it's a surer route to both a commission and an aviation slot. I think there is also a way to do each program in 2 years, so look into that aspect as well. The ROTC unit on your campus, if there is one, could provide more information.

Finally, in any service, there is never any guarantee of what you will be doing during your active duty years. Both services are not so much interested in the private license (although it helps) but they are more interested in the number of flight hours (from what I've observed on this forum). Also, the airframe you get depends on many factors, including your size and your position on the OML. As mentioned a few times there is also the issue of available slots. If you're "Looking to fly, period, no exceptions" then the service and OCS may not be for you. If for some reason you get an aviation slot but wash out of UPT, then you'll be doing something other than flying. Many, many excellent people fail to make it through UPT.

No doubt your skill set is excellent and you should take a swing at OCS, but you need to go in with your eyes open.
 
+1 to everything @Capt MJ and @c17hopeful said. It seems to me that c17hopeful's remarks were straight forward. As mentioned OCS is used to fill out the pipeline. The aviator portion of the pipeline in both AF and Navy are generally already filled by USNA and ROTC cadets and midshipmen, leaving an OCS aviation candidate little or no room for a slot.

The Navy DOES care about your major. Yes, there are plenty of folks (in raw numbers) who are not STEM majors, but Navy tries to get 85% of it's officers from STEM majors. AF ratio is similar.

I'd like to ask how it is you're a junior? Are you currently enrolled in a 4 year college and all your AA credits carried over? If not, and you're just getting ready to enroll in a 4 year college then you may find you're not really a junior but starting over (YMMV - I know in state schools usually recognize AA credits). If the latter is the case look at one of the ROTC programs as it's a surer route to both a commission and an aviation slot. I think there is also a way to do each program in 2 years, so look into that aspect as well. The ROTC unit on your campus, if there is one, could provide more information.

Finally, in any service, there is never any guarantee of what you will be doing during your active duty years. Both services are not so much interested in the private license (although it helps) but they are more interested in the number of flight hours (from what I've observed on this forum). Also, the airframe you get depends on many factors, including your size and your position on the OML. As mentioned a few times there is also the issue of available slots. If you're "Looking to fly, period, no exceptions" then the service and OCS may not be for you. If for some reason you get an aviation slot but wash out of UPT, then you'll be doing something other than flying. Many, many excellent people fail to make it through UPT.

No doubt your skill set is excellent and you should take a swing at OCS, but you need to go in with your eyes open.

I do have leniency, i dual enrolled in high school and graduated with my A.A. and now i am attending a state college as a Junior. Flying is my dream and i will chase it, but i understand all circumstances. I will shoot for my dreams and will not give up! But ultimately i am looking to make a career out of the Navy, dedicating 20 years. Aviation is my dream. Also there is a current pilot shortage, so we will see!
 
"PII" not familiar with that jargon. I messaged a moderator to alter my name. Thank you again for the heads up, I should have noticed that prior to creating my account.
PII is personally identifiable information aka your name. Glad to see you have started to rectify the situation
 
Wanting to fly is good...but wanting to serve as an Officer in the Navy is more important. Statements like "looking to fly, period, no exceptions..." is probably a negative. I will let others who know the other Officer Accession pipelines better comment, but I suspect flight training out of OCS could be a longshot --- OCS will get pilot slots if USNA and ROTC don't fill them. Being a legacy (i.e. parents in Navy) might help a little -- purely because whoever evaluates the the application will know that you understand Navy life. I don't think your aviation experience, and Navy knowledge, in itself gives you a leg up on other applicants --the Navy will teach you everything you need to know, and in the case of flight training, have to untrain some of the bad habits you have learned. That being said, the intangibles you have learned as a young pilot, i.e. maturity, goal setting and achievement , decision making, confidence, etc. is important, so you should present it that way on your application rather than "I'm a pilot and know a whole lot about the Navy".

The final comment applies to all candidates, for anything....USNA, ROTC, OCS or even civilian jobs--don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something or you aren't qualified. 100 percent of those that don't apply or try will not achieve their objective. Of course, if there is some regulation (like age) in the way, its foolish to blindly forge ahead, so do you your homework and understand the rules o
 
Wanting to fly is good...but wanting to serve as an Officer in the Navy is more important. Statements like "looking to fly, period, no exceptions..." is probably a negative. I will let others who know the other Officer Accession pipelines better comment, but I suspect flight training out of OCS could be a longshot --- OCS will get pilot slots if USNA and ROTC don't fill them. Being a legacy (i.e. parents in Navy) might help a little -- purely because whoever evaluates the the application will know that you understand Navy life. I don't think your aviation experience, and Navy knowledge, in itself gives you a leg up on other applicants --the Navy will teach you everything you need to know, and in the case of flight training, have to untrain some of the bad habits you have learned. That being said, the intangibles you have learned as a young pilot, i.e. maturity, goal setting and achievement , decision making, confidence, etc. is important, so you should present it that way on your application rather than "I'm a pilot and know a whole lot about the Navy".

The final comment applies to all candidates, for anything....USNA, ROTC, OCS or even civilian jobs--don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something or you aren't qualified. 100 percent of those that don't apply or try will not achieve their objective. Of course, if there is some regulation (like age) in the way, its foolish to blindly forge ahead, so do you your homework and understand the rules o


Thank you, i appreciate it, again i get excited talking about this topic and get ahead of myself when typing. I will reform my packet and statements.

Thank you again.
 
I see an attitude problem here. If you wanted a real advantage in meeting your end goal, OCS, you would've picked a technical major. But instead, you're spewing subjective and immaterial nonsense like your "vast knowledge of the Navy" and your VFR flight rules hours. Your flight experience is probably a negative, because you think you already know it all versus someone with a fresh attitude who knows they know nothing.

And then you say you're going to fly with "no exceptions". That's a terrible thing to say, you have to be willing to be flexible to do what's in the best interest of the mission, the service, and the country when the time comes. You should be careful with your ego, because if you do get into OCS, people will pick up on that and someone will probably try to break you (i.e. make you quit). That's never fun.
 
Back
Top