Possibility of NFO to Pilot.

OK, everyone just needs to simmer down. Venom, if you don't feel like you should be an NFO...first, talk to a NFO...Not of the forum but IRL. Find someone cool in API or wing six to talk to. Now, I am a FO so obviously I am biased. But, all in all, I think the adversarial relationship is BS. I can't conduct a strike without my pilots getting me where I need to be. They are skilled and generally awesome operators. Trust me, sit in a tube with no windows and trust a dude to land you on the boat and you will understand how FO's need pilots. It's some hairy stuff. My gut tells me that if you do not want to be a FO, don't do it. You will attrite. It's not because you are not smart. It's because you won't want it. That's really the sticking point in flight school. You have got to be of the opinion that no matter what crap you will go through (and there will be a lot) you will do whatever it takes to get your wings. Everyone who has their wings probably at one time came to the wall and asked themselves the tough question of whether they should continue. I sure did. I stuck it out and it was the best decision of my life. So, if you want to fly, fly. If you just want to be a pilot, then don't go FO. You will just hate life. Trust me...chum by hand for an entire weekend and you will know what wanting it means. I think I have babbled enough about this. I understand your frustration about potentially not getting what you want. That's just bad timing. Most guys on this forum have gotten jacked one way or the other. It's just something you have to deal with. Oh, one last thing, API means jack dude. You will brain dump all of this crap once you get to Primary. I literally had my first instructor for Wx in Primary say, "Yeah, all that crap you learned in API, dump it." Warm and fuzzy boys, warm and fuzzy. Good luck.

That is funny!
But it is ridiculous to think of no better use for an NFO. It would be interesting to see the results of a poll that ask Pilots "whether they can do the job of an NFO equally or better and vice versa.

Word.

Primary "Aero" pretty much consists of knowing that if you push the stick forward, the trees get bigger, and that a stall might happen after your rudders shake for a while.

API was good for one thing only: Prepping you for the memorization academy that is Primary.

Oh - it also taught me that I am a Navigator-Warrior. Ooh Rah!

Sorry for being sarcastic Venom, I now see the err in my ways. As such I have set out to help you, so here goes, THE POSTAL SERVICE IS HIGHERING!

That was gonna be hilarious if you spelled the last word correctly. Good try!!!

Yeah, but I'm afraid they might have me loading the truck instead of driving it around town. By the way, what are my chances of getting promoted from a mail handler to one of their 747 Pilots????

The next person that makes a "what are my chances" joke is going to have me show up at their doorstep and BUTTSTROKE THEM WITH A RIFLE.

Please, stop your sexual advances. Enough already!

Unless you're in a S-3, which is unlikely now, this is strickly [highlight]training command[/highlight]. Don't get too excited about that. You aren't flying sh!t in a Super Bug or Prowler.

I am the only one who sees the irony that this comment came from a Harrier selectee?

Last S-3 guy was winged in my class. Only CTW-6 fellas who will by flying in the fleet will be Chair Force F-15E types...

Then again, you can still blow sh!t up

I can sympathize with Venom and other pilots who did not make the cut in API. I would not want to be an NFO, just like I wouldn't want to be a SWO or a Sub dude. Not because I feel that those communities are inferior in any way, but because I have always wanted to be a pilot. Everyone in here is preaching that you are an officer first and your specific job comes second. Sorry guys, but I joined the Navy to be a pilot! Being an officer and having leadership responsibilites is a great addition to my job satisfaction, but everyone has their own priorities. Going to college and getting a degree was only a hurdle in the path of getting wings for me. I probably wouldn't have gone to college if it wasnt required. Although I look back and am greatful that I had the opportunity to recieve a higher education, dont get me wrong.

Venom, I would not settle for being a NFO if you are going to be miserable and not enjoy your job. For some reason NFOs get all butt hurt when pilots talk about not wanting their job, so disregard all the BS they have been dishing out. If it comes down to it, get out of the Navy.

I can appreciate your candid response, but I must know: What will you do when your obligated service isn't up, but the Navy decides to take you out of the cockpit and make you fly a desk?

Will you refuse to recruit any officer candidates because you signed up to be a pilot?

Will you tell the CO of the NROTC unit that teaching Naval Science and mentoring Middies is not one of your priorities?

Will you fail out of your graduate school program because the education is not required to be a pilot?

What if you have a mishap, or just have your annual physical, and it is determined that you are NPQ to fly again?

Or, in the short term, will you gaff off your day job (NATOPs Officer, Training Officer, etc.) because it takes away from your flying?

Don't mean to "preach," but especially now that you are in the Navy, you might want to take another look at what you elected to do with your life. The Navy is going to do with you what it sees fit, because the Navy doesn't care that you signed up just to be a pilot.

"...I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter." .... sound familiar... so whether you gotta plan the squadron christmas party, fly your aircraft, or get switched up in the cockpit... you made that oath.

Wise and sage words from a........student awaiting flight training .

You guys like to twist and manipulate what is said every which way you can. I am an officer, and I think it is a great position of which I accept full responsibility in whatever I am tasked. I know that flying is not everything, and I will not fly my whole career. I was just stating that I joined the Navy because I knew I could be a pilot. Since I love the Navy, I probably would have elected to stay in and join another community if I would have attrited from the aviation program.

I never said that I am going to neglect my collateral duties, or be a bad officer, just because flying is really important to me. I am fully aware of all the responsibilities that are required of an officer in the US Navy. I have no idea where your thoughts came from, KBayDog. Just for your peace of mind, I plan on fulfilling every obligation that I am given, whether it be recruiting other officers, flying a desk, or mentoring middies.