Need advice - accept pilot or stay aero engineer?

[Gengar88]

I just got the call from my recruiter for SNA! I think I have to turn him down though.
Anyone want to help talk me out of it?

I earned my BS in aerospace engineering last year, 200k in loan debt. I did everything to find a job, very rough market, and was forced to consider joining the military. I only applied to the best job, aviator.

8 months go by, finally I get a job offer with Boeing, working on B-52 CERP right now, moving to Phantom Works projects soon. Fucking cubicle office job, but fun defense programs.

Not even 3 months in with this company and my Navy recruiter dangles the pilot slot in front of me...
Initially I applied to the military because I had no other choice. I'm a high achiever, and when a peak is in sight I have to climb it. I never thought about the Military before. Now that I know that peak exists, I'd beat the shit out of myself if I passed it up - especially if I get stuck in an office job.

Long term goals are to work on new liquid fueled rocket engines/advanced propulsion. Push the envelope in aerospace, R&D. Maybe conducting tests. I want something more hands-on, less time in the office. I want PPE on, standing behind a heat shield watching something explode or work.

If both roads can lead to the same career goals, I'm taking the more adventurous scenic route.

Then the real crux is my girlfriend - she has career goals and dreams too. She's a pilot wanting to get into aerial firefighting, and while she's considering joining as a pilot with me to get to her goal afterward, what if she doesn't get accepted?

I can't tell if the regret of passing this up is worse than the regret of losing her/ruining her career dreams. I'm also worried I'll stay civilian and resent her - a lot hinges on her decision with this.

It's hard to find guidance/mentors for this. I can't find anyone who went pilot and pivoted back to advanced engineering.

Thoughts?

 

[Gatordev]

The first thing you have to ask yourself is a very simple question: do you want to be a Naval Aviator. Coming to the answer may not be simple, but ultimately it's a yes or no question. If you're answer is, "I'm not sure," there's a good chance you won't be successful initially because there's a lot of BS hoops you have to jump through before you're finally sitting in the cockpit of an aircraft.

That said, some thoughts...

Long term goals are to work on new liquid fueled rocket engines/advanced propulsion. Push the envelope in aerospace, R&D. Maybe conducting tests. I want something more hands-on, less time in the office. I want PPE on, standing behind a heat shield watching something explode or work.

While not engineering, everything else you mentioned in this paragraph sounds like "Things you can do as an aviator."

If both roads can lead to the same career goals, I'm taking the more adventurous scenic route.

So much this. Yeah, you're not an engineer doing engineer things initially, but it can be one hell of a scenic (read: awesome) route to get back there.

Then the real crux is my girlfriend - she has career goals and dreams too. She's a pilot wanting to get into aerial firefighting, and while she's considering joining as a pilot with me to get to her goal afterward, what if she doesn't get accepted?

If she isn't excepted, then she continues on with her goals. If FF is where she's headed, it's a job where everyone commutes (except maybe CalFire, which is very hard to get into) so if you two stay together, getting to her job isn't a big issue if you're stationed across the country. But first things first...she'll have to get her minimum hours before she'll be eligible and there's ways of doing that all over the country (oil and gas survey is one example).

I can't tell if the regret of passing this up is worse than the regret of losing her/ruining her career dreams.

I don't see the Navy doing that if she's wanting an aviation job. Non-airline commercial aviation is such a nomadic lifestyle that there's a lot of flex. However...

I'm also worried I'll stay civilian and resent her - a lot hinges on her decision with this.

I'm sensing that you're using her as an excuse to not having to answer the question I posed at the top.

If you like where you are and don't want to deal with being uncomfortable for a while doing something new, that's okay. Don't accept the slot. But not many get the opportunity you've been given (regardless of service). At the end of the day you need to figure out what you want...just don't think short-term only.

 

[taxi1]

If both roads can lead to the same career goals, I'm taking the more adventurous scenic route.

I’m now a PhD who does very cool engineering stuff to include energetics, having been an aviator. You can do both. Absolutely.

Even better, after active duty, I was in the reserves. You can do both at the same time.

Then the real crux is my girlfriend - she has career goals and dreams too. She's a pilot wanting to get into aerial firefighting, and while she's considering joining as a pilot with me to get to her goal afterward, what if she doesn't get accepted?

Take the risk.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Adding to the above, I think you're trying to latch onto any reasoning (civilian job, girlfriend, gf's job, etc.) with not wanting to go aviation.

At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself: are you willing to accept the fact and live with the decision of passing up aviation for the remainder of your life?

Many people regret civilian jobs and careers. Not many people regret going into Naval Aviation.

 

[flyORdie]

The first thing you have to ask yourself is a very simple question: do you want to be a Naval Aviator. Coming to the answer may not be simple, but ultimately it's a yes or no question. If you're answer is, "I'm not sure," there's a good chance you won't be successful initially because there's a lot of BS hoops you have to jump through before you're finally sitting in the cockpit of an aircraft.

That said, some thoughts...



While not engineering, everything else you mentioned in this paragraph sounds like "Things you can do as an aviator."



So much this. Yeah, you're not an engineer doing engineer things initially, but it can be one hell of a scenic (read: awesome) route to get back there.



If she isn't excepted, then she continues on with her goals. If FF is where she's headed, it's a job where everyone commutes (except maybe CalFire, which is very hard to get into) so if you two stay together, getting to her job isn't a big issue if you're stationed across the country. But first things first...she'll have to get her minimum hours before she'll be eligible and there's ways of doing that all over the country (oil and gas survey is one example).



I don't see the Navy doing that if she's wanting an aviation job. Non-airline commercial aviation is such a nomadic lifestyle that there's a lot of flex. However...



I'm sensing that you're using her as an excuse to not having to answer the question I posed at the top.

If you like where you are and don't want to deal with being uncomfortable for a while doing something new, that's okay. Don't accept the slot. But not many get the opportunity you've been given (regardless of service). At the end of the day you need to figure out what you want...just don't think short-term only.

 

[IKE]

There is also this little place in a remote corner of Maryland called U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, where you can merge a love of flying and engineering.

But like everyone above is getting at: you only get one shot at being a naval aviator; you can always pursue an academic or engineering career after. I'm almost 50, have two technical MS degrees paid for by the Navy, and will be finding technical work when(ever) I retire.

 

[ChuckMK23]

What do you want to do. The window for SNA is short. Your education and knowledge in engineering will stay with you for the rest of your career. $200k in student debt isn't bad.

Follow the path that will bring you satisfaction and happiness.

 

[sevenhelmet]

$200k in student debt isn't bad.

Say WHAT?! We have got to dispel this kind of thinking- it’s bankrupting our youth.

Payments on that student debt range from $1500 to $3000 monthly, for at least 10 years (20 is more normal). For a new college grad. The cost in deferred investments and impact to cost of living is far higher.

 

[123412131]

If you’re trying to avoid a desk-heavy role, it’s worth knowing that most test and R&D engineering jobs at large defense companies work out of cubicles and spend the majority of their time on desk work.