Naval Aviator Command

[jpotter1996]

I’m in the process of becoming a Naval Aviator. I’ve heard that most officers are in command of 10-20 troops right out of OCS. Is this true of aviators? What type of command opportunities can an Aviator expect to encounter over his career?

 

[robav8r]

@jpotter1996 you might want to don some hearing and eye protection, you’re gonna need it ?

 

[Brett327]

There’s a difference between leading troops, which you’ll do as an Aviator in your first squadron, and command, which is usually done by a select group of O5 and above.

 

[jpotter1996]

Thank you for the clarification! Can you elaborate on the leadership roles?

 

[Mos]

The first 1 - 2 years, you're not in charge of anybody. You're basically a student, learning fundamentals of flying. You don't lead people until you're a few months into your first sea tour with an operational squadron.

 

[wlawr005]

I’m in the process of becoming a Naval Aviator. I’ve heard that most officers are in command of 10-20 troops right out of OCS. Is this true of aviators? What type of command opportunities can an Aviator expect to encounter over his career?

If you stand out and do well in OCS, you may be selected even for leadership even prior to that. Only the top performers earn the right to become Candidate Officers and lead other Officer Candidates during the final weeks of OCS. Becoming a Candidate Officer taps you early for the Lead Ensign job at API.

 

[Notanaviator]

Quaere et invenies

 

[Sonog]

If you stand out and do well in OCS, you may be selected even for leadership even prior to that. Only the top performers earn the right to become Candidate Officers and lead other Officer Candidates during the final weeks of OCS. Becoming a Candidate Officer taps you early for the Lead Ensign job at API.

This is brilliance

 

[SynixMan]

If you stand out and do well in OCS, you may be selected even for leadership even prior to that. Only the top performers earn the right to become Candidate Officers and lead other Officer Candidates during the final weeks of OCS. Becoming a Candidate Officer taps you early for the Lead Ensign job at API.

You speak the truth. Sustained superior performance is the key to command. If you look at past board performance, the best indicator of command potential is API Lead Ensign. I think it approaches 100% selection rate. It really opens a lot of doors for your career that regular folks just don't understand.

 

[TAMR]

You speak the truth. Sustained superior performance is the key to command. If you look at past board performance, the best indicator of command potential is API Lead Ensign. I think it approaches 100% selection rate. It really opens a lot of doors for your career that regular folks just don't understand.

And don't all Lead Ensigns get jets?

 

[Swanee]

And don't all Lead Ensigns get jets?

Ask Princess Melanie...

 

[HuggyU2]

And don't all Lead Ensigns get jets?

No, but they are selected at a rate better than 42%... which is nice.

 

[Jim123]

Somebody please tell me that this fine tradition has continued now that I'm retired and I no longer have a navy.mil address to receive the latest viral email from the latest "that guy." The going rate for these things–the API lead ensign, princess Melanie, the kid who emailed PERS43 about why he deserved to select VR out of primary, and one or two more I've forgotten about–seemed to be about once every two to three years.

 

[Brett327]

They’re still out there. There was a guy a few years ago that didn’t like that he got an exped Growler squadron (vs CVW squadron) out of the RAG. He complained pretty emphatically to the RAG CO ( who himself was an exped CO), then when he didn’t like his CO’s answer, went VFR direct to the CDRE.

Cue The Rolling Stones.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

They’re still out there. There was a guy a few years ago that didn’t like that he got an exped Growler squadron (vs CVW squadron) out of the RAG. He complained pretty emphatically to the RAG CO ( who himself was an exped CO), then when he didn’t like his CO’s answer, went VFR direct to the CDRE.

Cue The Rolling Stones.

Was this "guy's" name Brett?