Talked to NAMI three times and told no three times. They were very helpful and understanding but just couldnt be done. I have been active duty enlisted ET1 for eight years and have a bachelor's degree. Ultimate goal is to commission just having a tough time deciding what to put as designation one and two for OCS. I have always wanted SNA or SNFO and didnt give much thought to other designators until recently. My understanding is if you get pro rec for your first choice the other communities dont even look at it. For aspiring and current officers if you could not do pilot or NFO what community would you go into? Ive narrowed it down to three for me.
Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO)
Pro:
1. Not an aviator but still get to work in aviation.
2. Relatively good quality of life underway and inport compared to SWO. Not standing multiple watches underway and inport (dont know if AMDO even stand watches underway?) , if part of squadron dont have to worry about GQ, DC, and other ship company events (used to drive me crazy as a black shoe seeing all the airdales just chill during GQ or leaving our spaces trashed after they left and we had to clean it).
3. Large prior enlisted community.
Cons:
1. Might suck seeing all the other officers get to fly and I cant. If there is only one or two AMDO in a squadron could get loss career wise if your DH/XO/CO dont know the career progression of AMDO.
2. Every officer does admin work but most of AMDO seems to be admin. Unlike pilot, NFO, SWO, and IW officers who learn specific jobs related to their warfare specialty the AMDO seems to be more of a support role.
3. Im not an aviation maintainer so my enlisted experience may not be as relevant compared to SWO.
4. Not as many duty station options compared to SWO. Limited to squadrons and big decks.
SWO
Pro:
1. Direct combat role vice support. Sounds the most exciting outside of pilot and NFO. Not limited to admin and support like AMDO but can drive the ship as OOD, stand watch in CIC as TAO, be a Chief Engineer, etc.
2. Best choice for port visits and and duty stations. Small boys visit many of the ports big decks cannot and with a large community there is a better chance to get stationed where I want due to sheer numbers.
3. Lots of direct leadership at all levels. Being the XO and CO of a warship as an O4 or O5 compared to a department head as an AMDO would be very appealing.
4. As a black shoe my enlisted experience in areas such as 3m, DC, GQ, INSURV, etc. would be relevant.
Cons:
1. Command can be hit or miss. SWO seems to be a community living on two extremes. People either seem to like being a SWO or hate it. People say SWOS eat their young, back stab, are unprofessional compared to aviators, etc.
2. Quality of life would be the hardest. Lots of watches underway and inport, irregular sleep schedule underway, having to sleep on the ship on duty days, more time underway compared to squadron commands, sounds like one of the most stressful officer communities.
SWO-IW (information warfare). I really dont know too much about this community compared to others. Seems to be a community that is still defining its role in the Navy.
Pros:
1. Technical oriented. As an ET some of the stuff they cover wouldnt be too alien to me.
2. Lots of variety in assignments after initial SWO tour. Can be attached to submarines, surface ships, even have a few aviation billets, and IA/GSA.
3. Large prior enlisted community.
Cons:
1. Lots of staff duty from what one my interviewing officers told me
2. Like I said dont know too much about this community to list alot of pros and cons. I can get a visual picture of what a SWO and AMDO does but I cant get a visual on what an IW who is at FT. Meade or one of those other super secret squirrel places do.
Ive been switching back and forth between listing AMDO or SWO first. SWO sounds fun and exciting but am afraid the quality of life and leadership issues may be so bad I would become very disgruntled. AMDO is still aviation and is the safe bet in terms of quality of life but I may get bored with it. Least with SWO and SWO-IW I wouldnt be limited just to admin type work.
Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO)
Pro:
1. Not an aviator but still get to work in aviation.
2. Relatively good quality of life underway and inport compared to SWO. Not standing multiple watches underway and inport (dont know if AMDO even stand watches underway?) , if part of squadron dont have to worry about GQ, DC, and other ship company events (used to drive me crazy as a black shoe seeing all the airdales just chill during GQ or leaving our spaces trashed after they left and we had to clean it).
3. Large prior enlisted community.
Cons:
1. Might suck seeing all the other officers get to fly and I cant. If there is only one or two AMDO in a squadron could get loss career wise if your DH/XO/CO dont know the career progression of AMDO.
2. Every officer does admin work but most of AMDO seems to be admin. Unlike pilot, NFO, SWO, and IW officers who learn specific jobs related to their warfare specialty the AMDO seems to be more of a support role.
3. Im not an aviation maintainer so my enlisted experience may not be as relevant compared to SWO.
4. Not as many duty station options compared to SWO. Limited to squadrons and big decks.
SWO
Pro:
1. Direct combat role vice support. Sounds the most exciting outside of pilot and NFO. Not limited to admin and support like AMDO but can drive the ship as OOD, stand watch in CIC as TAO, be a Chief Engineer, etc.
2. Best choice for port visits and and duty stations. Small boys visit many of the ports big decks cannot and with a large community there is a better chance to get stationed where I want due to sheer numbers.
3. Lots of direct leadership at all levels. Being the XO and CO of a warship as an O4 or O5 compared to a department head as an AMDO would be very appealing.
4. As a black shoe my enlisted experience in areas such as 3m, DC, GQ, INSURV, etc. would be relevant.
Cons:
1. Command can be hit or miss. SWO seems to be a community living on two extremes. People either seem to like being a SWO or hate it. People say SWOS eat their young, back stab, are unprofessional compared to aviators, etc.
2. Quality of life would be the hardest. Lots of watches underway and inport, irregular sleep schedule underway, having to sleep on the ship on duty days, more time underway compared to squadron commands, sounds like one of the most stressful officer communities.
SWO-IW (information warfare). I really dont know too much about this community compared to others. Seems to be a community that is still defining its role in the Navy.
Pros:
1. Technical oriented. As an ET some of the stuff they cover wouldnt be too alien to me.
2. Lots of variety in assignments after initial SWO tour. Can be attached to submarines, surface ships, even have a few aviation billets, and IA/GSA.
3. Large prior enlisted community.
Cons:
1. Lots of staff duty from what one my interviewing officers told me
2. Like I said dont know too much about this community to list alot of pros and cons. I can get a visual picture of what a SWO and AMDO does but I cant get a visual on what an IW who is at FT. Meade or one of those other super secret squirrel places do.
Ive been switching back and forth between listing AMDO or SWO first. SWO sounds fun and exciting but am afraid the quality of life and leadership issues may be so bad I would become very disgruntled. AMDO is still aviation and is the safe bet in terms of quality of life but I may get bored with it. Least with SWO and SWO-IW I wouldnt be limited just to admin type work.