What happens after graduation

USNFilms

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Jan 26, 2010
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I've been accepted into the Naval Academy and am expecting to receive a Navy ROTC scholarship as well.

I'm not sure whether I'm going to go USNA or ROTC, but either way I want to do aviation when I graduate.

What exactly happens after graduation from either ROTC or USNA? I know I'll go to flight school in Pensacola, but how long does that typically last? What happens after that? Where will I live? Do I get to choose where I'll be stationed? When is my first deployment? How long will it be? If I chose not to stay in the Navy for my whole career, what is the soonest I can get out? How frequently will I get deployed and how long will it be for? Can I join the reserves before my minimum service requirement is up?

I've always been so concerned with getting in, that I've never thought about what happens after graduation, and I'm having a hard time finding out. If someone could answer my questions or just give me a typical outline as to what happens in this situation I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
 
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Congrats on your appointment.

Just a quick question, since you have an appointment is NROTC out? If it isn't have you investigated the statistical chance of getting an aviation slot via NROTC?

I know for AFA it is basically guaranteed if you wanted to fly you got UPT, but that isn't true for AFROTC.

I wouldn't worry about how long, how soon, where I will live questions. You will be committed to the Navy for 4 or 5 yrs (USNA/NROTC). I would be concerned about getting the aviation slot and what needs to be done to achieve your goal.

JMPO and 0.01975 cents. Good luck and congrats
 
If selected for aviation, you'll have a chance in the spring to select what date you want to report to Pensacola. Selection is done by the mysterious "aviation order of merit," a listing of all the mids who have selected SNA/SNFO.
You're guaranteed thirty days of uncharged "basket leave" after graduation, unless you decide to skip that and head down right away. This is stupid, however, because once those days are gone you will never get them back.
If you pick a date beyond those immediately following basket leave, you'll be assigned temporarily at the Academy doing some kind of menial task (teaching PE to plebes, helping in admissions, or, in my case hiding in the museum and trying to avoid being tasked with something) until it's time to report to Pensacola. The latest report dates for my class were in late October, I think.

Your time in Pensacola will vary in length. Sometimes it's really backed up and you'll be waiting around down there not doing any significant, other times they try to speed everyone through. I have friends who reported at the end of July who completed IFS (introductory flight screening, 2 weeks in a cessna) and are still waiting to start API (aviation preflight indoc, 6 weeks of classes and swim training) and won't begin until January or later.

You can bank on flight school taking at least 2 years from graduation, depending on a bunch of stuff from what platform you want to the number of people they need to get through. Sometimes people get winged within 18 months but this is pretty rare. Your pipeline will look roughly like this:
May 20XX- Graduate USNA
July 20XX- Report P-cola
July/Aug 20XX- IFS
Aug-Mid Sep 20XX-API
Sep-May (roughly six months?)- Primary at either Whiting Field (near Pcola) or Corpus Christi, TX, flying the T-34 or, more likely, the T-6. Select pipeline (helos, tailhook, or multiengine)
May-whenever (dependent on pipeline): Advanced, flying the TH-57, T-45C, or T-44. Finish advanced. Select specific airframe. Get wings!
FRS/RAG: Learn to fly your specific fleet aircraft. Finish and head to the mythical fleet!

Your first "sea tour" will be anywhere from 2-4 years long, depending on the airframe, OPTEMPO, and other stuff. During that time you'll be working on additional qualifications, possibly deploying (it all depends), and possibly leading a division as part of your "ground job" (what you do when not flying).
Then you'll do a "shore tour" away from an operational fleet squadron. During that time you can return to USNA as an instructor or company officer, be an instructor during flight school, or a whole bunch of other things.

Your minimum commitment for air is 6-8 years (depending on rotary/fixed wing) starting at your winging. So, you can reasonably expect to be in the Navy on active duty for 8-10 years at a minimum before transitioning to the reserves or CIVLANT.

To learn more than you even thought you wanted to know about Navy/Marine/USCG Air, check out airwarriors.com. Any questions you have be sure to search first though, since they've probably been answered and they don't like redundant or stupid questions over there.
 
Any questions you have be sure to search first though, since they've probably been answered and they don't like redundant or stupid questions over there.

Airdales only like wasting everyone else's time.... not their own. :wink:
 
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