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Navy Surface Warfare Officer?

moveslikemorgan

moveslikemorgan

Standing By
In all honesty, every designator is going to have its pros and cons. At the end of the day, I'd take everyone else's opinion with a grain of salt and make the SWO experience yours. Don't go into with a tainted perspective as a result of the opinions of others. That's a pretty surefire way to end up miserable, IMO.
 
J

JWL

Member
What do you like about being a SWO DH? The command opportunity?

Also, is it safe to assume that SWOs travel more than most other military communities?
 
LetsFly

LetsFly

New Member
The service commitment for SWOs is about half of what it is for pilots - at least out of USNA. When you think about signing a minimum of 10 years of your youth away that becomes a significant factor for a lot of folks.
 
Python

Python

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
LetsFly said:
The service commitment for SWOs is about half of what it is for pilots - at least out of USNA. When you think about signing a minimum of 10 years of your youth away that becomes a significant factor for a lot of folks.
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I can't think of a better way to spend my 20s.
 
D

desertflyer

Well-Known Member
I don't understand why so many communities bash each other. I'm sure it's just good fun in the Navy, but from the outside looking in, it honestly kills the Navy's ability to attract talented individuals do to jobs that need to be done. I see people bashing on SWOs and NFOs all day long in here, and it does play a factor in whether people decide to join the Navy. Even as a pilot you need good SWOs and NFOs, so why does everyone constantly bash them and the profession? If you don't believe it makes a difference, just take a look at the current state of the Navy. Short on pilots, short on NFOs, a 40% attrition rate in flight school, and ships crashing into merchant ships. Maybe if everyone talked about the benefits of being a Naval Officer, rather than just ragging on every other community, the Navy could attract more individuals to apply and ultimately increase the quality of officers all around.

Just my .02 cents, I feel it needs to be said.
 
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Python

Python

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
desertflyer said:
I don't understand why so many communities bash each other. I'm sure it's just good fun in the Navy, but from the outside looking in, it honestly kills the Navy's ability to attract talented individuals do to jobs that need to be done. I see people bashing on SWOs and NFOs all day long in here, and it does play a factor in whether people decide to join the Navy. Even as a pilot you need good SWOs and NFOs, so why does everyone constantly bash them and the profession? If you don't believe it makes a difference, just take a look at the current state of the Navy. Short on pilots, short on NFOs, a 40% attrition rate in flight school, and ships crashing into merchant ships. Maybe if everyone talked about the benefits of being a Naval Officer, rather than just ragging on every other community, the Navy could attract more individuals to apply and ultimately increase the quality of officers all around.

Just my .02 cents, I feel it needs to be said.
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I'm not sure if you've been seeing the OCS threads, but there are still vastly more applicants than available spots. Retention might be an issue, but accession definitely is not an issue. Plenty of talented people are attracted to this job and apply.

I promise, ships crashing into each other has nothing to do with the communities giving each other shit. It's all in good fun and just like many stereotypes in life, theres always a little truth built in.
 
D

desertflyer

Well-Known Member
Python1287 said:
I'm not sure if you've been seeing the OCS threads, but there are still vastly more applicants than available spots. Retention might be an issue, but accession definitely is not an issue. Plenty of talented people are attracted to this job and apply.

I promise, ships crashing into each other has nothing to do with the communities giving each other shit. It's all in good fun and just like many stereotypes in life, theres always a little truth built in.
Click to expand...

I've seen the threads where the Navy is accepting 60-90% of applicants. Isn't it usually more competitive?
 
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croakerfish

croakerfish

Well-Known Member
pilot
desertflyer said:
I don't understand why so many communities bash each other. I'm sure it's just good fun in the Navy, but from the outside looking in, it honestly kills the Navy's ability to attract talented individuals do to jobs that need to be done. I see people bashing on SWOs and NFOs all day long in here, and it does play a factor in whether people decide to join the Navy. Even as a pilot you need good SWOs and NFOs, so why does everyone constantly bash them and the profession? If you don't believe it makes a difference, just take a look at the current state of the Navy. Short on pilots, short on NFOs, a 40% attrition rate in flight school, and ships crashing into merchant ships. Maybe if everyone talked about the benefits of being a Naval Officer, rather than just ragging on every other community, the Navy could attract more individuals to apply and ultimately increase the quality of officers all around.

Just my .02 cents, I feel it needs to be said.
Click to expand...

If shit-talking is enough to turn you away, this isn't your line of work anyway.
 
Gatordev

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
desertflyer said:
a 40% attrition rate in flight school,
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Hardly.

The Navy, and specifically the officer corps, is a group of professionals doing professional work. Some communities take that a little more seriously in maintaining some standard than others. Shit talking is one tool used to enforce that standard before things get more formal.

If you've seen the shenanigans that the Surface Community has executed first hand over the years, and specifically those that have put aviators in harm's way, you'd understand why we poke at them. The far more depressing part is when you're actually on the ship and you give them shit and they don't even realize the gravity of the shit-giving.

croakerfish said:
If shit-talking is enough to turn you away, this isn't your line of work anyway.
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As croakerfish said, the Navy is a team sport, so it's not going to be hand-holding and hugs 24 hours a day. If I'm bringing up the rear of whatever evolution that's being conducted, I WANT someone to tell me, and not just get a pat on the butt and a "good job."
 
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