Aceleo
SNA
I was selected for SNA and I am slated to go to OCS on August 18th. I haven't taken the oath yet and I haven't received my final select letter.
However, after I submitted my Navy application, I also interviewed with NASA for an engineering position(just in case I didn't get the SNA slot). Luckily I survived the interview rounds and NASA wanted to give me an offer back in January but at the time the government shut down happened so they couldn't give me an offer. Fast forward to May, I got an SNA slot.
So here is the dilemma, I was happily prepping for OCS until NASA-JPL called me up yesterday offering me a very good engineering job with very good pay in Los Angeles. Basically a dream job for any engineer.
With NASA you get better work/life balance, live a decent social life and also earn a good salary. You can possibly live a happy family life and still have loads of fun at work.
With Navy Pilot, you get a more rewarding and challenging life. I plan on going to test pilot school and the possibility of even applying to become an astronaut in the future(I know that's some crazy dreams I got). I will lose the family connection and other social aspects compared to NASA. And also there is a chance that for some odd reason, I don't make it through flight training, I will be miserable for a couple of years with a different job at Navy. Let's just say, if I don't get to be a Pilot, there is a good chance I won't like it at the Navy. I know this is a very narrow-minded way of thinking and you gotta think "Officer first" but that's what my target goal is and if I don't make it, I won't be happy in the Navy. Also, I am quite old to be joining the Navy as a pilot. I will be 27 at OCS. The good thing is I am not married, at least for now.
In short
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Nice steady life with great job satisfaction, build stuff and send to Mars
US Navy Pilot - Risky and challenging life with very rewarding career opportunities, think Astronaut!
So I was hoping to get some thoughts on Navy Pilot vs NASA engineer. What is a more realistic feasible goal? What do current or past Pilot/NFOs think of this and what would they have done. Is astronaut even a realistic goal?
I know in the end I gotta ask myself what I truly want but for some reason, I keep going back an forth. Regardless of where I go, I will be serving this great country.
However, after I submitted my Navy application, I also interviewed with NASA for an engineering position(just in case I didn't get the SNA slot). Luckily I survived the interview rounds and NASA wanted to give me an offer back in January but at the time the government shut down happened so they couldn't give me an offer. Fast forward to May, I got an SNA slot.
So here is the dilemma, I was happily prepping for OCS until NASA-JPL called me up yesterday offering me a very good engineering job with very good pay in Los Angeles. Basically a dream job for any engineer.
With NASA you get better work/life balance, live a decent social life and also earn a good salary. You can possibly live a happy family life and still have loads of fun at work.
With Navy Pilot, you get a more rewarding and challenging life. I plan on going to test pilot school and the possibility of even applying to become an astronaut in the future(I know that's some crazy dreams I got). I will lose the family connection and other social aspects compared to NASA. And also there is a chance that for some odd reason, I don't make it through flight training, I will be miserable for a couple of years with a different job at Navy. Let's just say, if I don't get to be a Pilot, there is a good chance I won't like it at the Navy. I know this is a very narrow-minded way of thinking and you gotta think "Officer first" but that's what my target goal is and if I don't make it, I won't be happy in the Navy. Also, I am quite old to be joining the Navy as a pilot. I will be 27 at OCS. The good thing is I am not married, at least for now.
In short
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Nice steady life with great job satisfaction, build stuff and send to Mars
US Navy Pilot - Risky and challenging life with very rewarding career opportunities, think Astronaut!
So I was hoping to get some thoughts on Navy Pilot vs NASA engineer. What is a more realistic feasible goal? What do current or past Pilot/NFOs think of this and what would they have done. Is astronaut even a realistic goal?
I know in the end I gotta ask myself what I truly want but for some reason, I keep going back an forth. Regardless of where I go, I will be serving this great country.