02 MARCH 2026, SNA/SNFO

[JDillon]

What are yalls reasoning for picking SNA over SNFO or vice versa? I feel like each has pros and cons. Want to hear what you guys say.

 

[fighter-cat22]

What are yalls reasoning for picking SNA over SNFO or vice versa? I feel like each has pros and cons. Want to hear what you guys say.

They call it “No Future Occupation” for a reason!

Jokes aside, I prefer driving over being a passenger. Also, post military career opportunities do tend to be better for aviators.

 

[Jowen872]

That’s it 100%. There was a guy who had the same thing happen in the September board. Great scores and everything but the MJ experimentation (no waiver) DQ’d him from ISEL. Submit for the regular board and you should be good to go.

why can’t they just say that then? When I was putting together an ISEL packet I asked him abt it and he showed me the intelligence ISEL form thing and the pilot one side by side. Intel had a line specifically about “no illegal drug use” while the pilot one did not. If it’s an issue I feel like they should put the same thing for both or at least say something. It makes it confusing not only for applicants but also for recruiters who probably weren’t told that. Sorry for the rant. Inefficiencies bug me .

 

[JDillon]

They call it “No Future Occupation” for a reason!

Jokes aside, I prefer driving over being a passenger. Also, post military career opportunities do tend to be better for aviators.

I saw that quote on a old post from 2004 and was like oh god I hope times have changed

 

[Jowen872]

What are yalls reasoning for picking SNA over SNFO or vice versa? I feel like each has pros and cons. Want to hear what you guys say.

Career down the line

 

[Jowen872]

I saw that quote on a old post from 2004 and was like oh god I hope times have changed

It’s more of a joke than anything really. It just doesn’t lead into airlines. There’s plenty of good contracting positions for people with FO experience

 

[fighter-cat22]

why can’t they just say that then? When I was putting together an ISEL packet I asked him abt it and he showed me the intelligence ISEL form thing and the pilot one side by side. Intel had a line specifically about “no illegal drug use” while the pilot one did not. If it’s an issue I feel like they should put the same thing for both or at least say something. It makes it confusing not only for applicants but also for recruiters who probably weren’t told that. Sorry for the rant. Inefficiencies bug me .

My grandfather told me that if things start to make sense in the military, then something is wrong. Former USN CAPT.

 

[Jowen872]

My grandfather told me that if things start to make sense in the military, then something is wrong. Former USN CAPT.

That’s very fair…

 

[JDillon]

It’s more of a joke than anything really. It just doesn’t lead into airlines. There’s plenty of good contracting positions for people with FO experience

I see I see. Screw it let’s go SNA. We must avenge the September board massacre of ‘25.
I am locking GMA back into the cage

 

[Jowen872]

I see I see. Screw it let’s go SNA. We must avenge the September board massacre of ‘25.
I am locking GMA back into the cage

That was you?

 

[JDillon]

Yes. Back from Exile

 

[Low_GPA_High_AOA]

That’s it 100%. There was a guy who had the same thing happen in the September board. Great scores and everything but the MJ experimentation (no waiver) DQ’d him from ISEL. Submit for the regular board and you should be good to go.

That… would be me and someone else that got I Sel mj rolled to regular board but got selected with a 9/9/9 4.0 lol

 

[Low_GPA_High_AOA]

why can’t they just say that then? When I was putting together an ISEL packet I asked him abt it and he showed me the intelligence ISEL form thing and the pilot one side by side. Intel had a line specifically about “no illegal drug use” while the pilot one did not. If it’s an issue I feel like they should put the same thing for both or at least say something. It makes it confusing not only for applicants but also for recruiters who probably weren’t told that. Sorry for the rant. Inefficiencies bug me .

Don’t worry my recruiter did the same exact thing because it was never communicated clearly to them, he pushed for me to go I Sel and I missed the regular board for last May and then got rolled into the September massacre… and now I’m here waiting for FY27 after learning that FY26 is donezo and March is no more so I’m just gonna get back into civilian flight school meanwhile and get my IR and maybe even commercial or CFI if the wait drags on

 

[Jowen872]

Don’t worry my recruiter did the same exact thing because it was never communicated clearly to them, he pushed for me to go I Sel and I missed the regular board for last May and then got rolled into the September massacre… and now I’m here waiting for FY27 after learning that FY26 is donezo and March is no more so I’m just gonna get back into civilian flight school meanwhile and get my IR and maybe even commercial or CFI if the wait drags on

We’re doing the exact same thing man. What do u fly at your flight school?

 

[Low_GPA_High_AOA]

We’re doing the exact same thing man. What do u fly at your flight school?

Haven’t flown in a year and a half at this point I’ve only flown 172S’s throughout my PPL so I’ll just keep flying those for IR, it’s the budget option too haha, six packs and sprinkle in some G1000 every week. I heard IR is pretty much the only thing that 100% transfers over to navy flight school down the line and everything else they reteach you.