Days from raising right hand, serious doubts or just cold feet?

[WanaBe]

I'm currently a few days from raising my right hand for NFO, with an OCS start date not far from that.

I originally applied for Pilot and NFO, and was incredibly fortunate to be selected for both. I immediately accepted Pilot (I wanted to be a Navy Pilot since I was a kid), however when I took the vision test after being selected, my eyesight had slipped to 20/50 and I was DQ'd. (I had taken the original physical more than a year earlier.)

I was a little more than disappointed when that happened, but I figured being a Naval Flight Officer was still a fantastic career, and assumed I'd quickly get over my disappointment of not being a pilot. I thought about declining the NFO slot, getting PRK surgery and reapplying, but after researching that option the future prospects of getting selected again would be slim. So I accepted Naval Flight Officer, and started preparing for that course.

However, now I'm a few days away from raising my right hand, and I'm having doubts. Mentally, I know this is a great opportunity, and I'm incredibly fortunate to be in this position. But something in my gut isn't sitting right.

In particular, two things keep resonating in my head. (Please excuse the terminology; I'm just trying to best represent what was said.) One thing is that every active pilot I talked to said that they wouldn't have settled for NFO. And one NFO I talked to specifically said that if I took the NFO slot, I'd be settling, and that "sometimes it's better to never get what you want than it is to settle."

I know that in order to embrace being an NFO, I need to separate myself from wanting to be a Pilot. But I still cringe a little bit inside when I think about the fact I'll never be a Pilot.

I have about 100 hours flying single engine, which I know is a relatively minor amount. But it was enough to create a love for flying.

I want to be a great NFO, and I know I need to shake the desire to be a pilot in order to do that. And if anyone has any advice on how to do that, I'd be forever appreciative.

Thank you.

 

[tonio]

Aviation in the military, seriously it cannot get any better than that? I have not been in your position and I am sure someone who has been will chime in. I'll speak as someone who can only view the action from the sideline, (29 and too old) the opportunity you have is a blessing, make the most of it. This is no offense to you personally, but if your gut feels like anything other than pilot is unacceptable then maybe you should be questioning more than becoming a NFO. But I just think what has you questioning is your desire to be in the Pilot seat, I think over time you'll get over it and be perfectly fine.

 

[nzachman]

You have to ask yourself if you give up NFO and if you don't get selected for pilot, what would you do next for a civilian job? Would you be happy with flying a desk if you so choose?

You have been given a tremendous opportunity but it is understandable to have your feelings. If you want to be a pilot and your recruiter thinks you have a shot then go for it. But you are gambling, especially in these times. So, do you feel lucky?

 

[wlawr005]

Hey...stop worrying about what you might be able to do and go hit OCS in the mouth. After that, roundhouse kick the NFO pipeline. Do the best with the opportunity that you have already been given. Either way, you are going to be a Navy Officer, and that should be the real reason you take the oath in a few days. I promise that if you pour yourself into your new career, you will come to love it...

 

[phrogpilot73]

If I couldn't have been a pilot, I would have been an NFO. Remove the job you're doing and ask yourself this - "Do I want to serve as an officer in the United States Navy?" If you answer yes, than who cares about what job you have? You still get to serve alongside some of the finest Americans you'll ever have the chance to meet.

Plus, the NFO to pilot transition is not entirely unheard of. I have a classmate from USNA that started life as an ECMO and is now an MH-60S pilot. I also know a guy who's wife started life as an E-2C NFO, and she's going through the MH-60S FRS.

If it was me, I'd raise my right hand in an instant.

 

[candidate2010]

I used to think that Pilot was the only way to go but after meeting a few of my brothers friends that are NFO and extremely proud of it I've definitely reconsidered. My bro is a pilot and they have some pretty hilarious exchanges about which one is better. You have an awesome shot, I would take it. You can always be the pilot of a 172 or whatever you've accumulated hours in...I second wlawr005: go kick OCS in the mouth and be extremely grateful!

 

[MIDNJAC]

Plus, the NFO to pilot transition is not entirely unheard of. I have a classmate from USNA that started life as an ECMO and is now an MH-60S pilot. I also know a guy who's wife started life as an E-2C NFO, and she's going through the MH-60S FRS.

+1 and I know of 3 NFO transition guys off the top of my head who have come through here in the last year. A couple of these types are even members on this board

 

[PR1 H]

Much like phrog said... you can always apply for pilot later. Get your ass in a cockpit and be happy with it. I would kill to be in either seat to be honest. I always wanted to be a pilot, but didn't apply myself in high school and didn't have the money for college. Since I've been in, unfortunately I've been in high tempo commands and have only completed a little college. Hind sight is 20/20 and I wish I would have done better in school when I had the opportunity, but I knew better than my parents in all the times they said if they could go back and do it again they would and for me to not waste the opportunity. Now, here I am, watching my aircrews go out and do the thing I would love to do, regardless if they have a stick in their hand or not. Time has slipped by and unfortunately the Flying CWO program came out about 2 years to late for me to get onboard that way as well. I unfortunately have to ride a desk or rig gear in the shop. If you've got the opportunity to fly and have a blast and it's something you love... for fuck sake man... do it!

 

[PhrogLoop]

...go hit OCS in the mouth. After that, roundhouse kick the NFO pipeline. Do the best with the opportunity that you have already been given.

The only thing I would add is that this may be the first of multiple times in your career that you're looking for one assignment and get another. Some of us wanted jets and got props or helos, some wanted San Diego and got Norfolk, but the VAST majority of us are very happy with how and where we ended up. And the beauty of the Navy is that every 3 years or so, the whole process starts all over again. In no time, you realize how lucky you are to be wearing brown shoes. Good luck!

 

[CommodoreMid]

To echo these points, do you think you'll be one of those NFOs who is bitter about not being a pilot? I know a lot of NFOs who wanted to be pilots and while disappointed at first, they saw how awesome the party can be in the back. I'm also blind, but even if I had the eyesight, I still would have chosen NFO because I love being able to focus everything on the mission itself. If you go in with this attitude, you'll do fine, but I've met a couple NFOs in my short time so far that are bitter about going for 2 anchors instead of 1 on their wings, and I won't lie, it pisses me off. It's one thing to be in your second choice job; it's another to be in your second choice job and constantly let people know that it was your second choice.

And as others said, getting picked up for pilot later is a possibility, but I really suggest reading around this forum to see what NFOs do on each of the platforms, what the training is like, and if you think you'd enjoy it.

 

[FlyBoyd]

The current CO of VQ-4 is a transvesFO. We got winged together. He is one of the finest officers I have served with to date. Note: I didn't reference his pilot skills. He is good but he is an officer first...as you will be.

Change your screen name to "NFOgonnabe," raise your hand and check back with us after OCS.

 

[OUSOONER]

Yeah, one of my really good friends got NFO and he was fully qualified for a pilot slot. He even had his CFI license, good grades, pretty good ASTB, no med problems...the whole lot, but I guess the one month he went up for the board he got NFO instead. He was bummed at first, but once OCS started, he got more excited about the prospect of it all and now he loves it down in Pensacola at VT-4.

 

[SteveG75]

He is good but he is an officer first...as you will be.

Exactly, Naval Officer first, NA/NFO second.

You can conceivably get to 20+ years with just three flying tours after flight school, ie. JO, Deptartment Head, CO/XO. In fact, more flying tours might hurt your chances of getting to 20+ based on the Navy's need for well-rounded officers. So, you will need to embrace those staff and ship's company tours as well.

So, the question really is: Are you ready to be an officer in the world's best Navy?

 

[SynixMan]

I'm no a FO, so I can't espouse the virtues of that career path. I can, however, tell you to make sure it's something you want to do before you go to OCS. There *will* be times you are pushed to your breaking point, mentally or physically. If it isn't something you want bad, it's going to go poorly.

Two final nuggets. One, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Your foot is in the door now, closing that door now seems like a bad idea to me. Two, FOs are just as much officers, and from what I heard, they too get flight pay for the all important hookers, blow, and making SWOs jelous. :icon_smil

Best of luck in your decision.

 

[RadicalDude]

I've met a couple NFOs in my short time so far that are bitter about going for 2 anchors instead of 1 on their wings, and I won't lie, it pisses me off.

+1