Questions about NFO

[rhollin1]

I talked to my recruiter today and asked him to change my SWO designation to NFO. I have been thinking of the idea of flying the past couple of days. I really don't know too much about it. I have no flight hours logged. Anyway, what advice should I be asking for now that I am putting in for NFO? I think that if I am accepted I would want to fly a jet. If you have any websites with more info on NFO, that would be great.


Pain...is weakness leaving the body

 

[Pat1USMC]

Well first of all, I would think about it for more than a couple of days. You're going to really want to be an NFO because SNFO school is no joke. As for more information, I only know about the Marine Corps side so I can't really give too much help. This page:

http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/TbsNew/Pages/Officer%20Courses/Default/MOS%20Handbook/MOS.htm

has the descriptions for Marine NFO's, but that would only be for the EA-6B Prowler and F-18 Hornet, so hopefully someone else here can help you out. Honestly though, do some searches on the internet, you'll find something. I did a ton of research before i made my decision and was able to find a lot of information.
Good luck

 

[rhollin1]

I agree Pat. Actually I have though it would be cool to fly for some time now. But in the last few days I have really considered going for it.

Pain...is weakness leaving the body

 

[cman]

NFO is a pretty cool job. Pat1USMC is right, the training is pretty tough. Got to be good with numbers and be able to think and solve problems under pressure. Not that I'd know this from experience, but I've talked to some NFOs and done a little reading on my own. In many cases, the pilot may be responsible for getting the plane where it needs to be, but it is the NFO that is responsible for the mission objectives. Jets are pretty cool, but don't discount the other platforms. The P-3 may not seem as exciting an aircraft as a F-18, but think about it like this. With the Hornet you train, train, and then train some more. If and when you are deployed to the Arabian Sea, you will get some mission time for the six months you're there and after that it's back to training. The P-3 is different in that almost everytime you go up you are doing the job itself instead of training for it.

C

 

[ProwlerPilot]

BUT... you don't get to drop bombs and break things in a P-3!!

 

[DDriver]

[/i]
NFO is a pretty cool job[/quote]

Fellows, what do NFO's do - say after 10 or 15 0r 20 years in the Navy?
I never even heard of NFO equivalent in the civilian sector. I am asking this because I want to complete a degree that encompasses NFO stuff like a degree that can be useful should I decide to switch or move to other fields in the Navy. I do respect both NFO's and Pilot's
like. Just read the news. These jobs are dangerous!

Thinking ahead...

ed

 

[grouch]

I'm sure with 10-20 years as an NFO you ought to be able to pick up a cushy gig with FedEx as third seat on a DC10. Good money.

 

[ProwlerPilot]

I think that everyone in the cockpit for FedEx and the airlines is a pilot. I don't believe that they have designated NFO's in the civilian sector, but I could be wrong.

 

[Kraftwerk]

Yes you are indeeed wrong. Be a FO, have your multiengine IFR rating and go fly the S-3 and you'll log copilot hours. If you get your license later you can even backdate those hours from special crew time into copilot hours. Good on your resume if you get out. I'm a NFO but in the S-3 i'm the Co-pilot/Tactical coordinator. Cool gig.

K

 

[grouch]

Kraftwerk, tell us more about your gig. Tell us the benifits of your platform over others. I want to know what I'm getting into. That whole S-3 co-pilot/tac coordinator thing sounds cool.

 

[DDriver]

Originally posted by grouch
That whole S-3 co-pilot/tac coordinator thing sounds cool.

Lets roll....[]

 

[Pat1USMC]

I know it won't be as easy to transition to being a civilian pilot since I'm an NFO, but I figure I'll at least have a huge advantage to everyone else who will be competing for jobs along with me. What I hope to do is use the GI BIll to pay for some flight training so that I won't need to work for years towing banners just to get enough flight time. I know its a LOOOOONG time in the future, but I've got my eye on a flight school in Ft. Lauderdale that will bring you from no ratings all the way up to a permanent hire job with Gulfstream as a First Officer just to start with.
But for now, first things first. I might not even decide to get out of the Marine Corps, who know.
Can anybody else add to DDrivers question?

 

[grouch]

I'm SOL on the airlines due to age. I want my 20 years so that puts me at 50 when I get out. I figured I'd get some cushy corporate office gig yelling at people to motivate them. Or I could be a saltwater fishing guide. Either way, I won't hurt for money so it will be a matter of doing what I like.

 

[Kraftwerk]

The s-3 is going away so I'm pretty sure they'll tighten off the pipeline for new blood within the next year or two. I'll probably transition to an undisclosed platform after my first sea tour, but having that background and those hours will definately be good. Important thing to remmeber is that the Navy is always transitioning from one airframe to the other, so staying 20 yrs in one community is fairly rare. None or very few of the old ex-military pros we flew with in flight school had only one airframe under their belt, some had even five different airframe quals. But now, everything moving over to the SuperBug and then the JSF, I'm sure chances are ripe I'll se the backseat of a Bug someday. Bottom line, in the communities where there are NFO's, there is little or no difference between a Pilot and NFO's responsibility when it comes to safety of flight. We back the driver up and they do us. It is not a second-class citizen job in any way, cman and Pat you guys are right on.

K

 

[ProwlerPilot]

Kraft,

I understand that you can backlog your FO hours for copilot hours when you get out, but you still need a pilot's license to fly for the Airlines don't you? My point was that you couldn't just turn in your two anchors and get a job in the airlines the next day. Also, can you do that in an aircraft where there isn't a stick for you, like the back of a super?