SpiralPilots
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2016
- Messages
- 8
I'm a USNA appointee, but I will try and provide you with my unbiased advice
For starters, congratulations on your appointments. One of the few problems you want to have! On the Navy side of the house for carrier aviation at least, tours are three years and one year is spent at your NAS (Naval Air Station) doing different training, one year of work-ups (preparing to go on deployment), and then your deployment. You will either go on one or two deployments depending on the time you report to your Fleet Squadron. I'll let some of the USAF folks on here speak to their schedules.
I wouldn't pick your school based solely on the sports teams (and their sponsors for that matter) and the campus location. You are only going to spend four years there before going off and training away from the Academy.
Two things (Well, I like a lot of things) I like about USNA is the fact that there are so many different jobs in the Navy and Marine Corps. Also, I love to travel and the sea, so it was an obvious choice for me. Sure there are different jobs in the USAF, but I have heard that if you are not a pilot in the Air Force, you are second rate citizen. While I am not saying that is 100% true, I have read that a couple of times on SAF. The Navy needs guys and girls to drive ships, drive submarines, fly planes, blow up IEDs, etc. Every job has a path to command while it seems only pilots get command in the USAF. One thing carriers do is go into port. Australia, the Mediterranean, Hawai'i, etc. Carriers don't just go to the Persian/Arabian Gulf and back. They visit other places too. From what I have seen, USAF is mainly stateside or over in the Middle East.
USNA might get more people because it covers two services (USN and USMC). It is set up that way as the Marine Corps, although a separate branch, is overseen by the Department of the Navy. It could also be how each Academy reports their numbers. One other thing that could influence your decision is the fact that you can apply for Marine Air as well. I have a friend who is a 3/C at USNA and he said that they were handing out Marine Air billets like candy because they have a longer commitment. USMC officers (both Ground and Air) have to go through The Basic School, a school that teaches Marine Officership and platoon level infantry tactics as every officer is expected to be able to lead an infantry platoon (Every Marine is a Rifleman). Then after TBS (6 months), you report to NAS Pensacola. Then after Flight School, you start your service obligation. While most of USMC Aviation is helos, most of the fixed-wing fleet is composed of Hornets, Prowlers, and Harriers (all jets).
Hey Thanks 2019, that was a solid reply and I appreciate the thoughtful answer