Hello Everyone,
I just got offered NFO and am incredibly honored by the opportunity. However, my initial goal was Naval Pilot Officer as a Helicopter Pilot. The only reason I was not put on this recent board for pilot was because my recruiter told me I did not pass my depth perception for pilot at MEPS. However, I got retested at an optometrist as my recruiter instructed so I could petition a retest at MEPS. I passed the finest level of depth perception at the optometrist and have 20/10 vision, so I am determined I will pass my depth perception when I retest at MEPS.
So my current dilemma is, do I accept NFO, or turn it down to try for pilot in October after I retest at MEPS.
I am also concerned I won't be competitive for pilot, with a B.S. in Environmental Science, GPA 3.29, with an OAR 60 6/6/7. In honest I did not study as much as I should have for the OAR, so IF turning down NFO does not reflect poorly upon me, I could actually study and retest for a more competitive score. I do have leadership experience as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of two student chapters of professional research societies at a major state university as well as extra curricular activities in sports, martial arts, and mountaineering, but I'm not sure how much that helps, if at all.
If I turn down NFO now, will that look badly on me when I apply for pilot in October? Or Reapply for NFO later? Are there any bennefits to going into Naval Aviation now vs waiting 8-16 months, depending IF I get picked up at the next board, or the board after that. I am also pushing the age limit a little bit, as I will turn 27 in November 2019.
Do NFOs get any stick time outside of primary? I heard there used to be Naval aviation clubs where aviators could get some stick time. Do those still exist?
In short, I would love to make a career in Aviation for the U.S. Navy, maybe switch to Intel if the door opens. But my heart is in flying helicopters for the U.S. Millitairy.
Thank you for your time and honest input!
I just got offered NFO and am incredibly honored by the opportunity. However, my initial goal was Naval Pilot Officer as a Helicopter Pilot. The only reason I was not put on this recent board for pilot was because my recruiter told me I did not pass my depth perception for pilot at MEPS. However, I got retested at an optometrist as my recruiter instructed so I could petition a retest at MEPS. I passed the finest level of depth perception at the optometrist and have 20/10 vision, so I am determined I will pass my depth perception when I retest at MEPS.
So my current dilemma is, do I accept NFO, or turn it down to try for pilot in October after I retest at MEPS.
I am also concerned I won't be competitive for pilot, with a B.S. in Environmental Science, GPA 3.29, with an OAR 60 6/6/7. In honest I did not study as much as I should have for the OAR, so IF turning down NFO does not reflect poorly upon me, I could actually study and retest for a more competitive score. I do have leadership experience as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of two student chapters of professional research societies at a major state university as well as extra curricular activities in sports, martial arts, and mountaineering, but I'm not sure how much that helps, if at all.
If I turn down NFO now, will that look badly on me when I apply for pilot in October? Or Reapply for NFO later? Are there any bennefits to going into Naval Aviation now vs waiting 8-16 months, depending IF I get picked up at the next board, or the board after that. I am also pushing the age limit a little bit, as I will turn 27 in November 2019.
Do NFOs get any stick time outside of primary? I heard there used to be Naval aviation clubs where aviators could get some stick time. Do those still exist?
In short, I would love to make a career in Aviation for the U.S. Navy, maybe switch to Intel if the door opens. But my heart is in flying helicopters for the U.S. Millitairy.
Thank you for your time and honest input!