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It's one of those guys and gals who have those funny little wings on their uniforms. Would you prefer I use "zipper-suited sun god" or "prima donna?" ;)

Thanks. It sucked pretty hard at the time, but I've been able to do some very cool things in the Navy that I otherwise would not have been able to do if I was an airdale. And yes, I was initially brought in on an SNA contract but left OCS as a SWO. Now I'm an EDO.

I honestly couldn't tell you. I was eventually NPQ'd at OCS for something unrelated so I never got far enough to address the high blood pressure. Doesn't much matter now, since I'm yet one more dude in the Navy on blood pressure meds and now drive a desk.

You should be fine. If you have a high reading, they'll do a three days of readings twice a day, and if it's still high, they'll refer you to a doc who will do some blood work and work with you to get your blood pressure down. The hard part is getting into OCS, and once you're there they will...

I was in a very similar situation as you a few years ago and here is my most recent advice on the topic: https://www.airwarriors.com/community/threads/surface-warfare-lateral-transfer-into-aviation.46256/page-2#post-931075 As far as SPECWAR goes, you need to A) Prove that you are worthy to the...

I was Mil-Mil and know a few Mil-Mil and here are my $0.02: 1. Colo works differently for Officers versus enlisted. As an officer, your timeline for hitting career milestones is much tighter and there are fewer positions. If you go SWO, you will likely be gone most of your first 4 years at sea...

My first ship was deployed when I commissioned so I checked into the DESRON and waited around Mayport for about a month until they put me on a flight to go meet her in Cape Verde. It's also likely that you'll be sent through training pipelines as your detailers, the ship's TRAINO, the ship's...

I'm all for becoming mobile infantry a la my Starship Troopers-inspired Heinleinian fantasies. On a more serious note, do we really need 11 carriers? We have the largest carrier force in the world and are the only country who operates multiple supercarriers (catapult/ramp-capable, angle-deck...

That MEM is very different from an ABET-accredited MS in Engineering. Not bad if you don't have a masters, but the dude's already got an MBA which isn't very different. Yes. Focus on getting you SWO pin first and foremost, then when it comes time to talk to your detailer about shore duty, as...

Not likely; at least not one accredited by ABET. They simply don't contain enough academic or engineering rigor. They could potentially translate into MBA credits and there's a program at NPS to transfer certain qualifications (e.g. EOOW, CSOOW, etc.) and whatnot into time served for the...

So are you asking if you'll be able to convert SWO training to college credits for a degree you will already have? You can't commission into the SWO community without a Bachelors degree. You won't perform any SWO pipeline training until AFTER you are already commissioned. Conversion of...

Very cool; thanks.

Was ist das? I thought the U2s were all solo aircraft?

If you can find it, they have a fantastic 20-year-old Speyside Single Malt.

I'm wondering this, too, considering how terrible SWO recruiting and retention numbers are.

The problem is that I like this uniform. It makes good sense and we should be allowed to wear it out in town. You airdales get your flame retardant pajamas and we get ours. I just don't want to have to deal with supply chain issues that will inevitably arise. Luckily, I'm shoreside for the rest...

Stop making these items "organizational clothing," dammit! Shipboard SUPPOs get all stupid when it comes to organizational clothing and start being very stingy with issuing them and then demanding that they get them back. All that does is hurt the blue jackets and waster supply money on uniforms...

Just don't expect it to be cheap. I ordered lunch in Luzern and it cost me 70 francs for a bowl of soup, a plate of french fries, and a beer. Albeit, this was on top of Mount Pilatus, so I imagine it's expensive to trek all of that food up there. Either way, Switzerland is muy expensive.

That's awesome. Thanks for the backstory.

How much did you pay for her? I keed, I keed. . .

A redundant statement, yes? :D

Do you have any language or cultural skills that may be in need? That's about the only way I see you getting picked up for Intel. Anecdotal Evidence: Most of the guys I know who got picked up off of the street for AD Intel did so with a Masters/PhD in a special field, had substantial language...

Why not let the Navy pay for your Masters program? You could easily be a hot shot Naval Aviator then transition to a more desk-oriented career and have the Navy pay for it and the associated Masters Degree and possibly language skills. Why the hell would you choose more debt and a possibly...

What's the story behind the Indian MiG? Are they even able to be shot off the boat?

1) Look into the PEP program: https://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/LANGUAGE_CULTURE/Pages/PEP.aspx 2) Maybe. 3) Maybe. 4) Just remember that all the helo pilots get to go back to shore during long underways to "get maintenance parts" and then mysteriously return with a small box of...

Yeah, SWOs and SWO Nukes are two different career choices and then they are both different than being a bubblehead, since all bubbleheads are nukes these days. I would have happily gone and been a submariner if I didn't have to go to nuclear power school, though. And yes, I have the distinct...

My favorite quote: "Remember you're being hired as an officer first and a pilot second. Unfortunately for us the word officer is spelled with the word office." Sadly, this applies to all officers. If only I could spend the rest of my career doing small boat ops while smoking cigars; life would...

So I can't comment on the aviator stuff, but in a previous life I used to work as a contractor at NASA "flying" satellites for one of the programs at Goddard Spaceflight Center and have many friends working for private space agencies (SpaceX, Boeing, etc.). My $0.02: It's going to depend...

And may God have mercy on your soul; that morning gate traffic is the worst. But seriously, best of luck.

Don't worry too much; and focus on getting in shape and taking care of yourself so you're ready for OCS. The docs could NPQ you, they could run you through a bunch of tests in order to generate a waiver, or they could simply not see it as a problem. All of those things are out of your control...

I have extensive experience with NAMI and flight physicals and from my experience, nothing from my DODMERB made it to OCS or past the initial accession into the Navy. When I arrived in Newport, everything was started over from a clean slate but you will have to bring all of your medical history...

I just shamelessly stole it from Reddit. Having never served on a carrier and never made an approach to the boat, you could tell me that the Skipper himself says that and I'd believe you.

Good to know that the recruiters are spun up on this and have it worked into the recruiting process. The CEC dudes I went through OCS with back in 2011 and 2012 pretty much all had to do it on their own. I guess it's not a terrible thing to make them do it on their own because it helps separate...

When I was there, the class we Candio'd and did Indoc for had 2 SEALs and 2 EOD bubbas. The DI and RDC turned to the EODC and SOC guys and handed them the keys to make sure their companies were up and ready for PT in the morning and to handle some smaller other things like getting the...

Have you reached out to talk to anybody in the CEC community? Small communities like CEC can be very selective and typically like to get to know the people their bringing into the fold. They will often require a Letter of Recommendation from someone in the community. I'd highly recommend you go...

Sort of. You need to take the temperature of the wardroom and you CO/XO. It's purely a matter of finesse and politics. My biggest recommendation is to never commit openly to not wanting to be a SWO. You'll see plenty of fellow JOs who aren't sure they want to make the Navy a career. Your CO/XO...

The cool kids are all investing in VR headsets and fleshlights these days. Very choice if you have the means. In regards to sock recommendations, the Fox River Fatigue Fighter socks are some of the best I've worn. They've been great for long days underway when I'm on my feet for nearly the...

You do understand that as an officer you may be the one GIVING those orders, right? You may very well find yourself in a situation where you either have to kill other human beings or send your Sailors to their doom (entering a burning/flooding space, going up against terrible odds at sea in...

Flight physicals can take a while to complete (fasting for blood work, meds to do eyeball exams, etc.) and it could be weeks to finish all of the tests and then submit paperwork if you need waivers (and you will likely need waivers. I haven't met a single person in the Aviation community who...

Actually, I went to VMI. I've heard Kings Point is nice, though.

There's no difference. In fact, I would take a DDG that's an independent deployer (all the ships in Rota, a few in each fleet concentration area) over anything. You'll get more sea time (crucial for getting qualified) and won't have to play silly strike group games (which can kill your chances...

Indeed; maybe I need to work on my internet sarcasm. I've actually even been in this dude's shoes, trying endlessly through OCS and then trying to lat transfer into the aviation community. I'm more than happy to help the dude if he has specific questions. In fact, I believe I've posted endlessly...

I'm late to the party but I'll weigh in with my $0.02: Do NOT enlist! You will be miserable. I know quite a few guys and have had the privilege to lead quite a few Sailors who were in their mid to late 30s when they enlisted. Not a single one made it past their initial enlistment. A few of them...

Don't forget those ballin leather jackets with the comfy-looking collars.

Here's a handy-dandy guide: 1) When you check in, tell everyone how you're really just here to get in and get out with your pin as quickly as possible so you can be an aviator. SWOs are very helpful and compassionate people. 2) Be lackadaisical in getting your quals, they don't really matter...

I highly recommend downloading the AMEX app and using the lounge finder it has. It works phenomenally and even provides directions on how to find each lounge.

I agree, but they were complicit in it all. I hate to be the typical burnt-out, bitter, former-SWO, but my first ship was literally home to all the negative stereotypes of the SWO community.

Yeah, Ensign AllAmerican75 wasn't as well-versed in these types of things. Since I left that ship, I've vowed that I wouldn't let shit like that fly ever again.

This is the truth right here. If you find yourself loving being out to sea but hate the stifling SWO culture and low pay of the US Navy, happily resign your commission and apply to join the Military Sealift Command. This will entitle to wonderful benefits such as continued employment as a...