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College Student to OCS

Ed Curran

Member
I served five years in the Marine Corps as an Intel Specialist, highest rank Sergeant. My first deployment was to AFG and my second was attached to the 26 MEU with BLT32 aboard the USS Kearsarge. I got out shortly after that deployment and am now about to start at James Madison University.

I know my question could be answered by a recruiter but I wanted to hear it from you all. I also checked through the threads and couldn't really find anything that fit my situation.

What should I be doing while in school if I want to become a Naval Aviator? I am majoring in Business Management and have been swimming with a former SWICC vet I met at school so I can get my swimming up (I was an Iron Duck).

Will my Business major hurt my chances since it is not some type of Engineering Degree? I saw a bunch of posts saying major doesn't matter at all, as long as your GPA is strong.

Is there anyway I could secure a spot at OCS now so I don't risk not being selected? I don't know what I would do since I want to be a Naval Officer so bad. I really liked what they did on the Kearsarge and I think I would be a great fit. I am just nervous I won't get a selection since I cannot do NROTC (they don't have it at JMU).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm willing to put all my chips into whatever it takes to improve myself to become an Officer. Thanks!
 

mb1685

Well-Known Member
What should I be doing while in school if I want to become a Naval Aviator?

Study your butt off for the ASTB and keep your GPA up. Based on my years of reading this forum and based on the word of the two recruiters who post actively here, ASTB is king for aviation, followed by GPA.

Will my Business major hurt my chances since it is not some type of Engineering Degree?

Nope.

Is there anyway I could secure a spot at OCS now so I don't risk not being selected?

I believe you can apply during your senior year.

How old are you? Since you're prior service, you can get up to 24 months added to the maximum age for pilot. I believe with 5 years of service you should be eligible for the full 24 months. That means you'll have to commission before you turn 29 rather than 27.
 

Ed Curran

Member
Thanks for the great reply mb1685!

I found an ASTB study book in my girlfriend's car, she is currently in the Navy. I'll see if I can grab that from her and use it to study for that exam.

I am 24 years old right now, I should be either 26 or 27 by the time I graduate. I push through summer semesters so that I can get my degree done ASAP. Ill have to speak with my advisors about projected graduation because the summer semesters keep me in between typical grades.

Do you have any sources available for me to study Naval History? In the USMC we were inundated with knowledge and history but it was the kind of stuff you had to get from your NCOs and SNCOs rather than Google. Any history from a real Navy POV would be great. Is there also a source I could study that alot of NROTC and Academy Midshipmen get? Similar to history but more technical information?
 

mb1685

Well-Known Member
The ASTB subforum here is the best source of ASTB study information on the net. Poke around in there (including reading through the 'ask your questions' and 'my experience' megathreads, which have lots of good gouge) and you'll be off to a good start. You'll find links somewhere on the subforum to online flash cards with some naval history and nautical terms, but I'd say that naval history is probably one of the subjects you should study the least (second to reading comprehension, which I feel is difficult to effectively study for). You'll likely have a lot more questions about aviation in your Aviation & Nautical Information subtest. I think I only had 3 or 4 naval/nautical questions and they were pretty simple (ship terminology and naval aviation history).
 

jpham89

ProRec Y SNFO
Contributor
Hi there!

Good to hear another Marine wants to go Navy Aviation! To save you some trouble, I have attached a few links that I have found throughout this website. It isn't everything but it's a good start.

http://www.cram.com/flashcards/astb-aviation-nautical-information-test-anit-comprehensive-4718163
http://www.cosi.org/downloads/activities/simplemachines/sm1.html
http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/intro.htm

Send me a message with your e-mail and I'll send you a compressed file with guides and practice tests you can look at (or anyone that's reading this for that matter). If you browse the forum more, you'll find new ones that aren't in this. Keep in mind though that there are still a lot of great resources out there, such as prep books. A few members may say it isn't worth it; others think they're worth it. It's your prerogative.

I've taken the ASTB back in February 2015 with two days worth of studying using guides a lot less than what I have now. I ended up getting a 49 3/4/4 -- not impressive but whatever. I suggest making a schedule and sticking to it -- 1-2 hours per day for a month would do it. It seems like that's what everyone else is doing.

If you have anymore questions, post away! We're all in this together.
 

Lukess

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone.

Well I am looking to go the same route also.
4 years in the Marines as a Scout Sniper (High shooter graduate)
2 deployments (last one was to Afgan)
Honorable discharge.

I'm currently a senior pursuing a degree in Health Science (around 3.0 gpa right now).
23yrs young. Graduating next fall and I'm just about to start working on my package. I have read around this website for a bit and found some useful information, but I got a few questions of my own.

How many packages are sent in to each board?? I've seen some forums here and it looks to be about 15 per board.

What is the news on" better chances of flying"? I want to be a Naval aviator but I've heard the Corp has better chances. Not trying to say that any of them is an inferior choice but after 4 yrs in the Marines in 29 Palms (us priors know of this hell hole) I see the green weenie trying to f**K me at every corner. I guess the main goal is to fly.

What is the deal with tattoos?
 
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