What you need to know about the process
Ladies & Gents,
S-3 War Hoov FO turned officer recruiter a.k.a liar. Here's the skinny.
Not too much has changed in the application process. The main differences are that the process has moved from ADDOCS and FINDOCS, to PRODOCS and MEDOCS. It's basically the same thing, just the check-off list makes a lot more sense. You need everything except your medical documents and your PRT to send up to the board for a PROREC.
What you need to know about becoming an Naval Aviator in today's Navy, from an officer recruiters perspective:
First things first, take the ASTB and do well. How does one do well on the ASTB? The Navy's technical, so's the ASTB, coincidence? It helps if you have a BS from college. For those
underwater basket weaver liberal arts majors you can still compete with engineers, but you're going to need to get crash course in
basic Physics and Calc before you take the test. Instead of studying for the ASTB using ONLY the MFAT study guide,
which is a piece of **** but unfortunately is the only thing out there right now, hit the same book store and get the
GRE, GMAT, and FAA private pilots licence study guide. Not only will you brush up on lost collegiate skills, it'll keep you in the test mindset. Take a minimum of TWO WEEKS to study for the test, and by no means go in and take the test without first talking to a recruiter or looking at the MFAT study guide. You've only got three chances, put your best foot forward each time.
The ASTB is a kick in the nuts, so study hard. Out of the 200 applicants that have taken the test since I've been recruiting I can say maybe a ten percent were competitive for aviation. Since applicants have been using the methods above (GRE, GMAT, FAA..etc) they've improved their scores dramatically! Couple that with flight time, and I've frequently seen scores jump 10 points, which can make the difference of getting aviation and not getting it.
EVERYONE NEEDS FLIGHT TIME! Everyone needs flight time. There said it twice. If you don't have flight time and your ASTB scores are low, you're not getting in regardless of your GPA. You may know a friend or somebody that had a 2.0 with no flight time and a 45 on their ASTB that's flying Super's, well that rarely happens, if ever, and if somebody tells you that, report them to a security officer to have their clearance yanked, seriously it rarely happens and you aren't the exception. I just recently put in 3 Pilots with under a 3.0 GPA but they all had flight time and thier ASTB scores were around 60. Moral of the story, ASTB scores and Flight time MATTER! Flight time is expensive, so be creative, go to ground school, and get Microsoft simulator, make the best of your time in the air. Tell your instructor what you want to do and make him hold your feet to the flames. You may not enjoy it at first, but it'll pay off in the end (ASTB scores will reflect it!!)
So you're putting in a package and studying and getting flight time. OK that's way too much **** to do; how do I limit this? Step one: There's a great website out there you're recruiters should be refering you to it's called
www.navyguides.com. There's another posting on here about it. It's a great guide, they have everything you need to know about the application process, and most importantly how to cut the time IN HALF! Buy it borrow it, do what you have to do to get your hands on it. Follow it step by step, don't think it'll do all of the thinking for you. I can't tell you how much of a good impression it leaves on your recruiter when you walk in with everything you need, add good ASTB scores, the boards will think Jesus in his second coming has applied to for Naval Aviation.
Bottom line, you have to put in the hard work to get aviation. It may take some money to get flight time, but if you don't do it somebody else will. If you don't study, some body else will, you get the picture. Maximize your time by getting the good study guides and proper application materials. It'll save you and your recruiter tons of time, and your package will be that much stronger.
If you're in the San Diego are and you have questions about this posting please contact me at
zachary.guerra@navy.mil, Best of luck.
Fly Navy,
Zach "Meat" Guerra
LT USN
S-3 Vikings
