USN State of CNATRA Flight Surgeon Training/Syllabus in 2026

[ChuckMK23]

Asking for help in getting a rundown of current flight surgeon *flight* syllabus/pipeline/training in 2026.

I've been pulled into a working group to reimagine USAF Flight Surgeon training. Currently contractor delivered with a dedicated fleet of Cirrus SR22 aircraft.

I could use some help in getting a snapshot of the current USN 2026 syllabus and pipeline, including syllabus hours, etc. I'm seeking the flight training portion, not the NAMI pieces.

Feel free to PM or answer in this thread.

Thank you in advance, fellow A-dubs.

 

[Griz882]

You’ll get better answers from the smart guys here, but maybe this can help you get started.

Client Challenge

 

[ChuckMK23]

You’ll get better answers from the smart guys here, but maybe this can help you get started.

Client Challenge

Thx Griz!

 

[Dontcallmegump]

No flying at all for any medical types at NIFE. They only do the basic academics (nav, weather etc.) class 2 swim quals and the physio course over at NSTC.

I think many of them then go over to TW-6/VT-10, but im not sure which doc types do and dont.

 

[BarryD]

You can probably find the no shit CNATRA MCG somewhere on the VT-10 website (CAC required)

From a few years ago:
Docs did all of T-6A FAM ground school, IRRC all of/a few of the sims (which is only like a whopping 5 for SNFOs in FAMs regardless) and then like 2 flights in the T-6A, which would normally be done on an O/I. Then they go to Whiting and fly with the HTs (no idea what the details are), then are off to the fleet.

@KODAK and @jollygreen07 can probably speak to the VT-10 side more accurately

 

[ChuckMK23]

So the days of Student Flight Surgeon soloing in the VT's are a thing of yesteryear it sounds....

 

[BarryD]

So the days of Student Flight Surgeon soloing in the VT's are a thing of yesteryear it sounds....

Given that SNFOs haven’t soloed an orange and white plane for like 30+ years I can’t imagine the last time a doc that wasn’t a prior 1310/dual qualled type

 

[ChuckMK23]

I don't remember SNFO getting any front seat time in VT-10.

However SFS routinely went solo in T-34C in VTs back in the day.

 

[BarryD]

I don't remember SNFO getting any front seat time in VT-10.

However SFS routinely went solo in T-34C in VTs back in the day.

People as recently as recently as me have gotten front seat time at VT-10 (first 5ish flights were in the front seat). That has gone the way of the Dodo I believe. Ironically, I think I got more time in flight school at the controls when I was in the back than I did in the front seat.

I remember hearing somewhere that SNFOs used to solo in the T-34, but it may have just been a pretty thorough contacts syllabus in the front seat.

Regardless, obviously the FS syllabus was may more robust back then and if they were soloing T-34s

 

[TimeBomb]

Not germane to the original question, but the requirement for a SNFS to solo in order to get FS wings went away before I went through in 1991. Some lucky SNFS students could solo at that point if the stars aligned, but that was very rare. I understand the drive toward minimizing flight hours for SNFSs, but the 12.2 hours of front seat time at HT-8 was one of the highlights of my career. It was also possible back then to get some stick time in the fleet, which was a blast as well. My son gripes that his FS is not a feature in the squadron, but instead stays camped out in the clinic. I believe is a direct consequence of the conscious decision to minimize the SNFS flight experience.
V/R

 

[Gatordev]

Not germane to the original question, but the requirement for a SNFS to solo in order to get FS wings went away before I went through in 1991.

I was going to say, that hasn't been a thing for at least the last 26 years.

I will say that seeing a SNFS event (or multiple ones) on the schedule was always welcome for two primary reasons...more stick time and their gradesheets were SUPER easy.

but instead stays camped out in the clinic. I believe is a direct consequence of the conscious decision to minimize the SNFS flight experience.

While a bit dated now, what I saw was that this was also a result of a limited number of docs and an ever-growing number of patients as the squadrons grew.