NROTC to Naval Aviator

[candidate3256]

I have a similar thread in the USNA forum, but was wondering if anyone here was/is or has a DS/DD that went NROTC and got an aviation spot and what that process was like for them going through college. Thanks!

 

[phil61526]

not rocket science

go to college and get degree
maintain high gpa
maintain high level of physical fitness
be an active leader in your rotc unit
do well on the flight aptitude test
don't get kicked out for drugs or alcohol

maybe you go aviation maybe you don't - pays your money and takes your chances

 

[LizzieMac]

My son is 1/c in mechanical engineering NROTC program. He was selected into naval aviation in September. He has a high GPA, high PFA scores, he is a leader in his unit, and had high ASTB scores. Being an aviator was his goal however he understood that it is alway “needs of the navy” first. He would have gone SWO otherwise. He was a bit concerned because his engineering grades were so high that he might get sub drafted but that didn’t happen this year at least not that I can tell in NROTC.

 

[goirish1]

All of the above, but dont settle for minimal ASTB scores. You are competing nationally for those service selection spots. LizzieMac I actually know a few who had super high Tier 1 engineering grades that got nuke sub instead of aviation. Just remember it's up to needs of Navy. DS1 is a naval aviator via NROTC. DS2 selected aviation as top choice but wont find out til Fall

 

[LizzieMac]

All of the above, but dont settle for minimal ASTB scores. You are competing nationally for those service selection spots. LizzieMac I actually know a few who had super high Tier 1 engineering grades that got nuke sub instead of aviation. Just remember it's up to needs of Navy. DS1 is a naval aviator via NROTC. DS2 selected aviation as top choice but wont find out til Fall

Ah good to know. It didn't happen in my son's unit or at any of the units of my son's friends.

 

[rocatlin]

Navy option or Marine option? Marines can contract early for aviator.

DS was selected for flight contract during his sophomore year. Actually was almost "voluntold" to due to a shortage of aviators. He is currently in the pipeline at Pensacola. He commissioned in May of 2018. Awaiting the start of primary currently.

His former ROTC unit just had a pretty decent size group of Navy options get selected for aviation.

 

[goirish1]

Navy option or Marine option? Marines can contract early for aviator.

DS was selected for flight contract during his sophomore year. Actually was almost "voluntold" to due to a shortage of aviators. He is currently in the pipeline at Pensacola. He commissioned in May of 2018. Awaiting the start of primary currently.

His former ROTC unit just had a pretty decent size group of Navy options get selected for aviation.

Just to give you an idea...my DS1 commissioned May 2017...was stashed in his NROTC unit until Oct when he moved to Pensacola...lotta hurry and wait...from Pensacola went to Corpus, spent some time detached to New Mexico, then back to Pensacola where he got his wings November 2019...now stationed in Jacksonville targeted to finish training on the Romeo in November..its a long journey

 

[Physicsguru]

My experience is dated, but honestly I wasn't even looking at aviation until my 1/c year. I was a math major and was looking toward nuke first. I even did a 1/c cruise aboard an SSN that went to the North Pole. However, my grades looked like a sine curve and I didn't pass the initial screen. I then put in for aviation and got picked up during the spring term. Even then it wasn't guaranteed. I still had to do the flight physical and pass the flight aptitude tests.

The secret was my unit had a large spread of warfare selections. We had almost even numbers of subs, surface, and aviation, and, in my case, I was selected for an NFO slot vice Naval Aviator.

Aviation slots are out there. Remember, the Navy also uses OCS to fill in aviation slots each year. In my squadron we had 60 officers, of which at any given time 2 or 3 were academy, 35 to 45 percent ROTC, and the rest were OCS. Just to the best you can, stay out of trouble, and keep exercising your eyes!