I was just selected as an NFO and will be graduating in May '12. I'm sure the information I'm looking for is in here somewhere, but I can't find clear answers to my questions. As an NFO, will I still learn to fly at primary. Will I actually get to pilot a T-34 or T-6, or will I only be doing navigation, etc.? Also, are NFOs selected to do ground tours as forward observers? What other opportunities are open to flight officers?
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NFO Training
- Thread starter nycam12
- Start date
http://www.airwarriors.com/community/index.php?threads/summary-of-nfo-flight-school.4217/
start by "navigating" your way to the above link. It starts way back when and works it way to the present.
start by "navigating" your way to the above link. It starts way back when and works it way to the present.
Right on. However it's not uncommon for Marine NFO's to do a FAC tour. You can do almost anything a pilot does as a ground tour, it just depends on your preferences.
Brett is spot on. I knew an F-14 RIO that did a ground FAC tour attached to ANGLICO. He was ordered there as an LNO, but weaseled his way into doing ground FAC missions, and yes, it derailed his career...he retired as a LCDR.
-ea6bflyr
It'd help if we knew whether you're Navy or Marines.
Navy - no, not really. It has been done and will be done in the future, but it's not at all common. It's not like you email the detailer and tell him you want to be a FAC/JTAC. Based on conversations with some of the guys who've done it, getting attached to the Teams as a FAC is like becoming an astronaut - there's a long process of resume-building and pissing excellence required to even be considered. And once you disappear down that hole, you're never coming back to 'regular' Naval Aviation. That being said, those guys I met didn't mind that part at all...they'd gone native and had the surfer-hair, big watch, terminal tan thing down pat.
There are ANGLICO billets...I even knew a SWO who did it, and was getting ready to jump into Haiti before the invasion was called off. But there aren't that many billets, and it's even more of a rabbit hole than NSW.
As noted, yes, Marine aviators (pilots and FOs) are expected to do air officer tours as part of normal career progression.
Navy - no, not really. It has been done and will be done in the future, but it's not at all common. It's not like you email the detailer and tell him you want to be a FAC/JTAC. Based on conversations with some of the guys who've done it, getting attached to the Teams as a FAC is like becoming an astronaut - there's a long process of resume-building and pissing excellence required to even be considered. And once you disappear down that hole, you're never coming back to 'regular' Naval Aviation. That being said, those guys I met didn't mind that part at all...they'd gone native and had the surfer-hair, big watch, terminal tan thing down pat.
There are ANGLICO billets...I even knew a SWO who did it, and was getting ready to jump into Haiti before the invasion was called off. But there aren't that many billets, and it's even more of a rabbit hole than NSW.
As noted, yes, Marine aviators (pilots and FOs) are expected to do air officer tours as part of normal career progression.