As a 3rd potential option to consider, I could see a case where it would not be the worst thing in the world to enlist at age 18, do really really well in that enlistment, begin a BA/BS degree online during that enlistment, get out completely at the end of your enlistment, finish your BA/BS degree as a civilian, and apply to OCS for NA/NFO prior to age 27. It's doable, and it may be a best-of-bad-options for certain 18 year olds who don't have any money or scholarships for college and/or need to get away ASAP from a bad neighborhood where your "friends" are heavily into drugs/crime/gangs. But the timelines are very tight, there is way more risk of not making it (i.e. if you receive poor enlisted evals), and it's not any easier than simply going for OCS as a 22 year old college senior with a high GPA and high ASTB.
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Nuke to pilot help
- Thread starter Stockmeyerdylan
- Start date
It's certainly doable...it's just kind of the equivalent of someone saying they just got on a bus from Chicago to LA because they heard it was a good way to get to Tokyo. I mean...you're kind of going the right direction but it's not a direct path, and if your goal is to go to Tokyo then first step is to get off the bus and start looking for plane tickets. If you're ok with going to LA and spending an unknown amount of time there first, then fine.
I'm not overly concerned about pissing off a recruiter. As a DIVO I've had to deal with plenty of the bullshit they're spewing. I don't know what the OP went in saying, however, if that's his goal, he's going about it the wrong way. If a recruiter said this was a good path to that, he's full of shit and needs a course correction anyways. The correct precedent is to give good information and not blowing smoke up someone's ass.
I understand not everyone is ready for college straight out of HS, nor does everyone have the means. However, community college is a very cheap path initially, and then looking at options to transfer into a NROTC unit further down the road. Does it require dedication? Yes, however, if that is truly his goal, that's the straightest path to the goal.
We all know of multiple stories of young people told by enlisted recruiters that the fastest/best/surest/only way to a commission is by enlisting first. It's a common theme.
Yes....This....
And Rufio, I get where you're coming from, but until you guys (recruiters in general) start attaching your personal recall number to undesignated airman Timmy's service record, I'm pretty comfortable with folks telling interested parties to be cautious. You know what's worse than a dead-beat shithead in the Line Shack? A young man sitting in the Line Shack with a 35 on the ACT who was told by the recruiter that this was "a good way to build experience" and that transitioning to Nuke or Corpsman or Pilot would be no problem.
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I went from enlisted mechanic SNA. While I would love to talk about how much my enlisted experience has helped so far (and it has somewhat), I can also attest to all the stars that need to align to get to a cockpit before they start calling you greybeard.
For me, I was completely uninterested in going to college right out of high school, and had I tried, I'm sure I would have ended up doing more partying than studying. For me, going enlisted route was the right choice.
For me, I was completely uninterested in going to college right out of high school, and had I tried, I'm sure I would have ended up doing more partying than studying. For me, going enlisted route was the right choice.
exNavyOffRec
Well-Known Member
I have posted many times here how going from enlisted to officer is not easier and I hate it when people with degrees enlist with the intent on going officer. This young man is a different case, he has no degree, hasn't started college, and seems like he made no plans to go to college right after HS.
I would be interested to hear what the OP's HS GPA was and why he decided to enlist vice going to college.
exNavyOffRec
Well-Known Member
I never put a person in the USN who I wouldn't have minded running into years down the road because I know I did it right, I had no problem telling another recruiter he was doing it wrong, whether they were USN, USMC, USAF or USA
No matter how good a recruiter does his job there will always be those that turn into shitheads due to one reason or another.
BTW I have looked up a kids recruiter and called him to go WTF, the kid was a idiot, wasn't qualified to enlist so never should have been in the USN
FormerRecruitingGuru
Making Recruiting Great Again
In the end, tons of good points. We don't know the OP, and aside from his original post hasn't really provided any clarification on his background. Maybe his enlisted recruiter gave him the runaround, maybe not? We really don't have any information other than the initial post.
Not all recruiters are shitbags.
Not all recruiters are shitbags.
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FormerRecruitingGuru
Making Recruiting Great Again
Exactly. Maybe the OP was all onboard going enlisted, but wants to know from the Priors on how to go officer. Get a head start and all.
My son enlisted in 2006 at 18 and entered the nuke program. His long term goal was to become a pilot. February 2016, he winged. Ten years of busting ass is all it took. And some luck and good timing. He STAR reenlisted to stay in the US (and for the bonus) because shore duty was required for STA-21 (to be picked up). He was selected in FY10 when @30 pilots were picked up. Last year there were only 5 or so picked up. The fleet brief on the STA-21 page used to publish results. I looked just now --- no results published from last year.
The Navy provided a structure and discipline that was very beneficial.
While STA-21 is a great way to get a commission, the chances to get selected are minute. Last year @70% (35 of 50) selected were nuke to nuke. In FY 10 there were 850 qualified applicants for 200 slots. The number selected the last few years has been @ 50.
Enlisting is a difficult decision because it's a lot of work. However, you will get paid for it. And you get some attractive educational benefits.
My son received first class pay while attending college. He graduated and received his commission in 2013. He had zero debt.
In today's environment, if you need the money (or like getting a paycheck), going to school while enlisted is a good way to go. From a sheer numbers perspective, OCS is a better option than STA-21. My 2 cents.
The Navy provided a structure and discipline that was very beneficial.
While STA-21 is a great way to get a commission, the chances to get selected are minute. Last year @70% (35 of 50) selected were nuke to nuke. In FY 10 there were 850 qualified applicants for 200 slots. The number selected the last few years has been @ 50.
Enlisting is a difficult decision because it's a lot of work. However, you will get paid for it. And you get some attractive educational benefits.
My son received first class pay while attending college. He graduated and received his commission in 2013. He had zero debt.
In today's environment, if you need the money (or like getting a paycheck), going to school while enlisted is a good way to go. From a sheer numbers perspective, OCS is a better option than STA-21. My 2 cents.
I'm not saying STA-21 is not a good option, hell that's how I got my wings. However, it's not a reason to enlist. We don't know the OPs circumstance, as has been pointed out he hasn't put much out there. So, maybe this is all moot and he's not really watching this thread. A lot of this is *gasp* speculation. What I put out wasn't gouge, it is dependent upon circumstances. If the OP puts more out there then I'd be happy to comment, but at this point I think the thread has pretty much run its course.