To summarize my story, I started my application process June 2008 and had PRK surgery that October. I'm good to go in every other area, but I've been getting delayed to attend OCC because both my eye waiver and subsequent flight physical couldn't get approved in time. I was contracted for this year's June (OCC-201), October (OCC-202) and most recently the January 2010 class (OCC-203). Well, I just found out from my OSO that the Marines are now so backed up with flight training, that they won't be taking any new SNA applicants till the October 2010 class. I really don't know what to say at this point. I turn 27 next August which would put me a bit close for comfort to the commissioning age limit (27.5 for USMC) basically leaving no room for error (e.g. further delays, injury at OCS, etc). Apparently I could still go as a SNFO candidate this coming January, but I've been so dead-set on being a NA (and having gotten PRK) I don't know if I could. I suppose I could try the Navy or the USAF, but once again, I've been dead-set on being a Marine. I don't mean to come across as too whiny, but my whole situation is just maddening...Has anyone else heard about this crazy-ass delay?
The NFO pipe line has been shutdown for the Marines for well over a year right now. I dont think they plan on opening it up anytime soon because of the f-35. The other crap I dont know about. I know they are pumping helo guys out left and right in the Marines.
Do your best and leave things to work itself out. I know how pissed you feel right about now. The folks at MCRC and Manpower are really working hard. Trust me, the economy threw a monkey wrench in end-strength projections to the point that they are considering bringing back an active augmentation board to force some people off. Don't be surprised if they cancel some OCS classes. I can imagine that this had some effect on production at the flight training pipe-line.
I've had at least a 2 month wait (if not more) between every school I've attended. Makes since they'd need to thin out the ranks a little. But the fact that they're thinking about bringing an Active Augmentation Board online is surprising to me. Although I did hear the a few weeks ago that we overshot our goal of 202k by about 10k. If there's one thing I've learned about slots and manpower though is that everything can change in the matter of hours. One day they're saying "we're not taking anyone for the next fiscal year" and the next, "We don't have enough aviators, push the aviation contract!" Stay patient (easier said than done, I know).
We are about 205K. I tell you what, we are seriously hurting for lawyers. They are looking at opening the flood gates for 4402's in the IRR to come back.
I'll tell that to my SNFO roommate here at TBS, and the SNFO I know in Fox Company... You've got bad gouge. Just because your OSO doesn't have any SNFO slots doesn't mean the pipeline is closed. We are still flying the Prowler and D model Hornet, and those squadrons are going to need new NFOs....
Concur.... bad gouge. Prowler/Hornet is planned to be around AT LEAST until FY19. The current plan is to keep making NFOs (ECMOs at least) through FY16. See attached page 3-6. We'll see what the FY10 AVPLAN has to say when it comes out.
Not sure if this is the reason for the confusion in this case, but often a certain district contracts all the NFOs or SNAs they need for given OCS classes, in which case the pipeline is effectively "closed" to anyone who comes along later wanting to go to OCS in that same slot. Also I don't know "that NFO in Fox company" but he may well have contracted for Juniors years ago. Just saying...
Well, I gotta say it is a better (rather, more plausible) rumor than O-1s being sent home because they failed a few A-pool uniform inspections. I just can't imagine there not being any aviators on the lineal list for a whole year. Maybe the OP's OSO filled all of his SNA slots for FY10, but this tale is a bit tall as is. Stranger things have happened though.
I agree...I'm contracted for OCC204-A so unless the Marine Corps decides to throw me to the wolves there's at least one SNA going to 204 in 2010.
Take this for what it's worth, but they just doubled the number of Marine SNAs classing up for API starting the new fiscal year. Not saying it's gonna last, and not saying that means they didn't shut down the pipeline, but I find it hard to believe. If they keep taking as many guys at this rate, they'll run out by this time next year without taking anybody new for FY10.
I heard the pool of Marines waiting for API is around 300 right now, with 7-8 classing up each week. So I guess doubling it means that around 15 will begin each week. So that means people just entering the pool will be starting in about 4-5 months. Glad to see the wait is decreasing
I just picked up with Golf Company at TBS. There are two slots for competative SNA but none for NFO. Additionally, they are telling us that if any of the NFO's drop their contract the slots will not be opened to the company. Before I left my OSO's office the first week of September they were still looking for people to fill SNA and NFO contracts. On a side note, the companies here at TBS are no longer going to be 300-330 Lt's but around 230-250. So a lot of people keep getting rolled back on the front end...
I heard the Marines are getting rid of Naval Aviators too. The AF will just be doing CAS after 2017. No more SNA spots after 2012. Seriously!
I am still skeptical. The Corps is spending a ton of money of the F-35 and some one will have to fly them. And without aviation the whole maneuver warfare kind of goes out the window unless they are going to start deploying AF pilots with the MEUs...
The whole point of the MEU is a force in readiness that can sustain itself anywhere in the world for up to 15 days. And the Corps philosophy of fighting is maneuver warfare which is quick and requires off balancing your enemy. To do that usually requires air craft, especially when the enemy out numbers us. The harriers that are currently used are supposed to be replaced by the F-35. If the Corps is doing away with all aviators, and at the very least not replacing those who leave, then who is going to fly the F-35 down the road? What I am saying is that it just doesn't fit how the Marine Corps wants to fight and what the Marine Corps is tasked to do as its first function given in the 1947 National Security Act. Futhermore, if it is true that the AF is taking over the responsibilites and the Marines wont have any aviators then when the Marines still need close air support it will have to come from somewhere. The only way for that to happen in a MEU (designed for rapid forward deployment) is to have the aviation element already integrated, ie planes flown by someone deployed with the MEU. So drawing out that conclusion, the AF personnel would have to be deployed with the MEU. Bottom line and the point I am trying to make (albeit ineffectively) is that I dont see this happening. It is counter to what the Corps is supposed to stand for. Unless he was being sarcastic, then yes, i did miss that one...
