which path is most beneficial?

mdsu

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Sorry if this isnt entirely related to USNA but here it is:
I'm not sure about the competition to get a spot to go to flight school in pensacola from USNA but lets say a student gets picked to go. Then you have a student who just graduated from Embry Riddle Aero. Univ. with an Aerospace science degree and an FAA commerical pilots license. This student would like to go to flight school in Pensacola, so would the USNA and ERAU students both be going to the same navy flight school? This is only out of thought, but do the ERAU guys with aerospace science degrees do better in flight school than the other classmates because of the fact, he took the military pilot track degree in ERAU, flew in school, and got ratings? I would only assume, flight school would be very easy and thus graduate at the top of his class.

I guess im just curious as to if it is a benefit for a military pilot hopefull to go to ERAU and have aviation as your life for 4 years because of the knowlege you will know when you go to class in pensacola and you have other students from USNA, civilian school, etc. wondering how the cockpit works. Anyone have insight?
 
It might be easier, but it won't necessarily put you at the top of the class. Ground school would be easier, but most USNA grads have taken ground school before too and a lot have aero degrees or at least aero classes. You don't necessarily need a lot of the technical knowledge to do well in flight school however, and whatever knowledge you do need wouldn't affect you're rank. From what I understand thats mainly based on performance at Pensacola.

In summary, it might help, but those same opportunities are available at Navy (pilots license, aero major).
 
It doesn't matter. The end goal for both is the same. Pretty silly question. Everyone, regardless of background, goes through the same flight program. There might be some statistical correlation between college major and flight school performance but that doesn't really matter either.
 
Marvin, agree. Everyone who shows up for flight school gets the same stick between their legs.
 
Having been through primary and advanced helo @ Whiting Field, I can say that having prior flight experience will initially give you an advantage in areas like basic airmanship...however, further along in the syllabus the playing field is made more level. Academic major or commissioning source is irrelevant. Stay focused and stay motivated and you should have no problem making it through.
 
I guess there's a marginal chance at being better (although I saw plenty of Embry-Riddle types have a harder time because they had to change habits), but really, why would you pay for all of it to buy you five minutes of a lead in flight school?
 
All true, plus it's statistically easier to get pilot from the academy than ROTC.
 
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