My Navy pilot Application was denied because according to my recruiter; either there were too many applicants, My GPA wasn't high enough, or my misconduct waiver (I was arrested once but all charges dropped). He said I can re-apply but I would have to improve my application in order to do so. My ASTB OAR test score is high at 77 so there is little room for improvement there so alternatively I would have to raise my GPA in order to reapply for pilot. My recruiter suggested applying for Naval Flight Officer and Surface Officer and then try to get into pilot training later. It is my dream to be a pilot, and he told me that once I graduate OCS, it's possible to transfer over and become a pilot later. Is this my best chance to become a pilot and is all this true? If it is impossible to be a pilot then I would be happy to serve as an NFO but I want to be 100% sure. I know this is a lot of info but any info is very much appreciated.
U.S. Navy Officer Canidate Application Question
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Whichever commissioning path you take, make sure you’re primary goal is to become an active-duty officer, regardless of occupation. It’s great to target certain jobs, but know that the needs of the Navy come first. And a lot of things can happen to you that may prevent you from being a pilot or NFO.
Not trying to discourage you. Only trying to ensure you know what may — or may not — lie ahead. If it’s “pilot/NFO” and all else be damned, think it through a bit more.
Not trying to discourage you. Only trying to ensure you know what may — or may not — lie ahead. If it’s “pilot/NFO” and all else be damned, think it through a bit more.
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I never said pilot/NFO or nothing. I just want information about the fluidity of jobs post OCS and what my best options are for becoming a pilot.
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if you are applying to OCS and are hell bent on Pilot/NFO, then you should be spending your time here: https://www.airwarriors.com/community/
there is more info than you can consume about the aviation pipelines and the application process in particular and many current aviators who can answer your questions.
be careful about that one, recruiters are notorious for telling an applicant to go into one path and "you can switch later". ask me how i know....
the nice thing about OCS is that you don't have to sign on the line until you get exactly what you want. it's always possible to get a medical DQ later on , or washout of flight school, but that shouldn't scare you away. just be ready and willing to become a SWO if aviation doesn't work out. if you really want pilot, then do whatever you can to improve your application then re-apply. if you are ok with NFO, they you can make Pilot first choice and NFO second. You could make SWO third choice or even Intel or Supply. there are lots of designators to commission into.
there is more info than you can consume about the aviation pipelines and the application process in particular and many current aviators who can answer your questions.
be careful about that one, recruiters are notorious for telling an applicant to go into one path and "you can switch later". ask me how i know....
the nice thing about OCS is that you don't have to sign on the line until you get exactly what you want. it's always possible to get a medical DQ later on , or washout of flight school, but that shouldn't scare you away. just be ready and willing to become a SWO if aviation doesn't work out. if you really want pilot, then do whatever you can to improve your application then re-apply. if you are ok with NFO, they you can make Pilot first choice and NFO second. You could make SWO third choice or even Intel or Supply. there are lots of designators to commission into.
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Yes, it is possible to change warfare specialties, BUT it’s not a guaranteed process.
There is a small window of a few years when you can apply, through a competitive process, of applying to a lateral transfer and re-designation board, which may meet 1-2 times a year. You will have to have completed your SWO qual on time, have water-walking fitness reports, a stellar recommendation from your CO, and an application package that beats everyone else applying. For aviation, I do not know what elements they request, or if they require an aviation physical.
The big factor to consider is that it will ALL depend on the needs of the Navy in any given year. I have sat as a member on those boards. The SWO community has to be sufficiently staffed in officers in your year group to let you go; the aviation community has to need intakes in your year group. You could have the most eye-watering package on the planet, but if the SWO community needs your body and/or aviation doesn’t, it’s not happening.
Please do not go SWO OCS with a focus on treating it as just a launch platform for aviation. It can certainly be a goal, but your focus should be on your ship, your sailors, your professional development as a SWO, until you are ready and eligible to consider a request for transfer, understanding it may not work, and you will continue as a SWO.
There is a small window of a few years when you can apply, through a competitive process, of applying to a lateral transfer and re-designation board, which may meet 1-2 times a year. You will have to have completed your SWO qual on time, have water-walking fitness reports, a stellar recommendation from your CO, and an application package that beats everyone else applying. For aviation, I do not know what elements they request, or if they require an aviation physical.
The big factor to consider is that it will ALL depend on the needs of the Navy in any given year. I have sat as a member on those boards. The SWO community has to be sufficiently staffed in officers in your year group to let you go; the aviation community has to need intakes in your year group. You could have the most eye-watering package on the planet, but if the SWO community needs your body and/or aviation doesn’t, it’s not happening.
Please do not go SWO OCS with a focus on treating it as just a launch platform for aviation. It can certainly be a goal, but your focus should be on your ship, your sailors, your professional development as a SWO, until you are ready and eligible to consider a request for transfer, understanding it may not work, and you will continue as a SWO.
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I think there is some opportunity to go from NFO to pilot while in the training pipeline IF the needs of the Navy dictate. You can probably find that out at the other board that was mentioned, as well as how it works once you’re an NFO in an operational squadron. Time becomes a factor.
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NFO to Pilot transition while in training can and does happen but it gets turned on and turned off all the time, depending on the needs of the Navy that particular week.
When I joined many years ago, I had 20:10 eyes, and was fully qual'd for pilot. That particular week, they had a lot of NFO spots and only a few pilots spots, so the recruiter said "take the NFO contract and go to AOCS. when you get there, and go to NAMI for your flight physical, as long as you pass the eye exam you can switch to pilot". I thought, great, i'm in.
When I got to Pensacola, I passed all the tests and when I asked about switching all I got were blank stares. I'm told it's more or less the same now, some weeks it can happen, other weeks not so much. Recruiters probably have no idea which way things are trending.
Once you are in the fleet, re-designating NFO to Pilot (known as retread) is very tough to do. I know a few guys who did it, but you need to first get your NFO wings, get through the RAG, get to an operational squadron and complete your first sea tour. If you do that, and are a water walker, you might get selected.
Keep in mind, you are starting all over, and by the time you get pilot wings and get through the RAG again, you are now 3 years behind your peers in career progression.
When I joined many years ago, I had 20:10 eyes, and was fully qual'd for pilot. That particular week, they had a lot of NFO spots and only a few pilots spots, so the recruiter said "take the NFO contract and go to AOCS. when you get there, and go to NAMI for your flight physical, as long as you pass the eye exam you can switch to pilot". I thought, great, i'm in.
When I got to Pensacola, I passed all the tests and when I asked about switching all I got were blank stares. I'm told it's more or less the same now, some weeks it can happen, other weeks not so much. Recruiters probably have no idea which way things are trending.
Once you are in the fleet, re-designating NFO to Pilot (known as retread) is very tough to do. I know a few guys who did it, but you need to first get your NFO wings, get through the RAG, get to an operational squadron and complete your first sea tour. If you do that, and are a water walker, you might get selected.
Keep in mind, you are starting all over, and by the time you get pilot wings and get through the RAG again, you are now 3 years behind your peers in career progression.
Thanks for all the great info!
Any thoughts to the most likely reason I got denied for pilot? All the bad is that I have a 2.5 GPA, a misconduct waiver from a past arrest, and a medical waiver for a surgery I had. I believe I can raise my GPA to a 3. I would be happy to do SWO but I want to give pilot my best shot, and from what I'm hearing its more likely to ultimately become a pilot by getting a pilot contract rather than going NFO or SWO and laterally transferring.
Any thoughts to the most likely reason I got denied for pilot? All the bad is that I have a 2.5 GPA, a misconduct waiver from a past arrest, and a medical waiver for a surgery I had. I believe I can raise my GPA to a 3. I would be happy to do SWO but I want to give pilot my best shot, and from what I'm hearing its more likely to ultimately become a pilot by getting a pilot contract rather than going NFO or SWO and laterally transferring.
WT Door
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You’ll go nuts trying to figure out why you were denied pilot selection and it will always eat at you if you dwell on it. What beats a “good” application in competition? A better application. Better always beats good. Fix what you can, then pursue your goal using a different avenue of approach if need be.. Best of luck to you.
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Back up to look at the big picture too.
OCS serves as an intake adjustment valve that can be quickly toggled to a larger or smaller flow rate to take in more or fewer officer candidates. Each year, the Navy manpower analysts plan to take in X ensigns from USNA, NROTC, NUPOC, enlisted commissioning programs, direct commissioning programs. By law, they are capped at a certain number of officers in each pay grade, so it takes careful management to monitor and tweak the flow. From years of experience, they can plan for attrition. If they don’t get what they need out of the other pre-comm pipelines, they can add seats to an OCS class. If attrition is less than predicted, they can cancel a class or reduce seats. If they “grew” enough pilot path ensigns, then they can cherry-pick for OCS.
OCS serves as an intake adjustment valve that can be quickly toggled to a larger or smaller flow rate to take in more or fewer officer candidates. Each year, the Navy manpower analysts plan to take in X ensigns from USNA, NROTC, NUPOC, enlisted commissioning programs, direct commissioning programs. By law, they are capped at a certain number of officers in each pay grade, so it takes careful management to monitor and tweak the flow. From years of experience, they can plan for attrition. If they don’t get what they need out of the other pre-comm pipelines, they can add seats to an OCS class. If attrition is less than predicted, they can cancel a class or reduce seats. If they “grew” enough pilot path ensigns, then they can cherry-pick for OCS.
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i'm going to out on a limb and say the 2.5 GPA coupled with a bad conduct waiver for an arrest were major factors.
if you can get that up to a 3.0 it would certainly help your cause.
spend some time at the site i recommended, there is a section specifically for OCS where people post all their stats and compare who gets what. there are updates each month for the selection board results
if you can get that up to a 3.0 it would certainly help your cause.
spend some time at the site i recommended, there is a section specifically for OCS where people post all their stats and compare who gets what. there are updates each month for the selection board results
Hello everyone,
Thanks a lot in advance for helping me with my question.
I am 40 year old male, fit and healthy from asian origin (India). I am putting application package for a CWO/ Information Professional / Cyber Warfare / Intelligence officer. I have 14 years of civilian work experience in a variety of areas from banking & finance, Hotels, AML Compliance and IT consulting firm ( I use to be a tech start-up entrepreneur) across many countries (India / Switzerland / Germany / France/ USA) . I have 2 engineering degrees (IT and Instrumentation & Control) and 2 masters degrees (MSIT and MSc. Finance) (Education from India & Switzerland) . I speak 7- international languages. I am recently divorced and now have chosen the career path to serve my country, hence the US Navy.
I have already started preparing for the OAR exam and practising the PRTs since last 2 weeks.
I would appreciate, if someone could guide on my chances of became a US Naval Officer and if there are any ways to improve my chances?
Thank you all once again in advance for your guidance....
Have a wonderful day!
Thanks a lot in advance for helping me with my question.
I am 40 year old male, fit and healthy from asian origin (India). I am putting application package for a CWO/ Information Professional / Cyber Warfare / Intelligence officer. I have 14 years of civilian work experience in a variety of areas from banking & finance, Hotels, AML Compliance and IT consulting firm ( I use to be a tech start-up entrepreneur) across many countries (India / Switzerland / Germany / France/ USA) . I have 2 engineering degrees (IT and Instrumentation & Control) and 2 masters degrees (MSIT and MSc. Finance) (Education from India & Switzerland) . I speak 7- international languages. I am recently divorced and now have chosen the career path to serve my country, hence the US Navy.
I have already started preparing for the OAR exam and practising the PRTs since last 2 weeks.
I would appreciate, if someone could guide on my chances of became a US Naval Officer and if there are any ways to improve my chances?
Thank you all once again in advance for your guidance....
Have a wonderful day!