OCS How to Pick Between Pilot or NFO?

[ActionJ117]

Hello all,

I am a 22 year old college graduate studying for the ASTB in hopes of applying to OCS. I am also in contact with an officer recruiter, and I have had the luck of speaking in-person with several veteran naval aviators about careers in the Navy.

My dilemma is that I find the work of both the pilot and the NFO very interesting. Part of me thinks that learning stick-and-rudder flying would be very appealing, but I also think the tactical and systems-oriented work of an NFO also sounds super compelling. I especially find the work of NFOs in the strike community to be compelling (electronic warfare in growlers, and strike-fighter tactics in hornets.) Mastering strike tactics and rader seems like very interesting work, though I do understand that most NFOs are in the P8 and in the E-2.

I have done some reading on this forum, and can say that at least from my perspective on the outside, NFOs and pilots have very similar career oppurtunities and both do interesting work. Also, I think regardless of what I do, I would enjoy being around the motivated and intelligent people who choose to join naval aviation.

I suppose my one concern is that if I went NFO, I would wish I went pilot and possibly vice-versa. I do not want to be in the pipeline and engaged in some bureaucratic battle to transfer over from one side to the other, so I want to make a clear-eyed decision now. From my reading on this forum it seems like some people become NFOs because something disqualified them medically from being a pilot, and some chose NFO voluntarily. How common is it to pick NFO over pilot? Is this questioned in the fleet? And what reasons are there? I would appreciate any guidance on this decision I could get.

 

[Mos]

Do you still get three preferences? If you find both interesting (as it seems you do) then I'd recommend listing both.

The biggest difference is one is flying the plane and has the potential for an airline career on the outside. If that's important for you, then prioritize the pilot preference. Have you done any flying? If not, you might consider seeing if a nearby flight school has a "discovery" or "fam flight" experience. It's not essential you do that, but might give you a better sense of whether you'd like to be in control of an aircraft.

I knew my eyes would by disqualifying for being an aviator, so it wasn't a consideration. I've been happy with my career as an NFO and haven't had a strong desire to control the plane, but everyone is different. On my aircraft, certain auto pilot modes will actually fly the plane toward whatever maneuver I plot in the mission computer so I kind of do fly the plane, in a manner of speaking.

 

[SynixMan]

I’ve literally never met a pilot who wanted to be an NFO. I know plenty of NFOs who wanted to be pilots after they fixed their eyes.

I’m not saying you can’t have a meaningful and rewarding career in the Navy as an NFO, but outside of the military the job really doesn’t exist. Meanwhile there are plenty of pilot jobs of all types after the Navy. Choose wisely.

 

[Fallonflyr]

Go single seat and you can do both.

 

[wink]

outside of the military the job really doesn’t exist. Meanwhile there are plenty of pilot jobs of all types after the Navy. Choose wisely.

...cuz the line of NFOS at the unemployment office wraps around the block? Meanwhile, NFOS with post Navy careers outside the airlines are less likely to be furloughed or have their career interrupted by loosing their medical certificate.

If a dude wants to be an airline pilot the I don't recommend NFO, although it can happen . If pro pilot is not a goal, no need to shy from NFO for post Navy career considerations.