Collegestudent275
New Member
Hello everyone,
First of all I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank any pilots, fixed or rotary wing, who have conducted close air support missions during the GWOT. For your ordnance all grunts are eternally grateful, especially myself.
Anyways, I recently separated from the Army after 4 years (enlisted, E4) and am now attending college with my GI Bill, working towards a degree in physics. I have always wanted to fly fixed wing aircraft. Although I don't regret my time in the Army by any means, I did not have adequate eyesight for some time. After exiting the service, however, I had PRK surgery as soon as possible. Given the possibility of the opportunity that lays ahead, I wanted to figure out some particulars and was lucky enough to stumble upon this web forum. I have researched all of my questions, but wanted some confirmation due to my ignorance concerning the Navy and the aviation world. I am sure these questions have been asked before but the information that I have researched is somewhat inconsistent/hard to understand.
Firstly, can someone help me understand how I would go about being commissioned with the Navy. From my understanding, OCS is my only option. What is the process for being commissioned, and how does my prior service factor in? (I am 23 years old).
Second, is a degree in physics a good choice for aviation, or just a waste of time?
Thirdly, since I am 23, I am racing against the clock. I am having trouble figuring out exactly where I stand. I plan on hammering college semester to semester with no summer breaks. Even withstanding that, suppose I am 27 when I graduate college. Will I be too old, or does the 24 month age waiver apply to me? Is the age limit for the time I am commissioned or the time I enter the flight program?
Fourth, what is being a Navy officer like? Specifically, how are they treated, what are their additional duties (besides flying) like, how is the aviation lifestyle (as far as rotations, training, stress levels, amount of travel)?
Fifth, long term question, but has anyone here attended the Naval Postgraduate School, and if so, what was it like and how were they given the opportunity to attend the school.
I would be extremely grateful for any help in learning about becoming a Naval Aviator. I don't want to send the wrong impression with my questions about 'stress levels' and such. I wish to be clear that I am very familiar with the realities of military life, and am just curious about overall quality of life in the Navy. I am not a starry-eyed high school kid with far flung notions. I would very much appreciate an honest statement concerning what a Naval Aviator's life is like. I simply wish to know what to expect from the Navy in this regard.
Sincerely,
CollegeStudent275
First of all I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank any pilots, fixed or rotary wing, who have conducted close air support missions during the GWOT. For your ordnance all grunts are eternally grateful, especially myself.
Anyways, I recently separated from the Army after 4 years (enlisted, E4) and am now attending college with my GI Bill, working towards a degree in physics. I have always wanted to fly fixed wing aircraft. Although I don't regret my time in the Army by any means, I did not have adequate eyesight for some time. After exiting the service, however, I had PRK surgery as soon as possible. Given the possibility of the opportunity that lays ahead, I wanted to figure out some particulars and was lucky enough to stumble upon this web forum. I have researched all of my questions, but wanted some confirmation due to my ignorance concerning the Navy and the aviation world. I am sure these questions have been asked before but the information that I have researched is somewhat inconsistent/hard to understand.
Firstly, can someone help me understand how I would go about being commissioned with the Navy. From my understanding, OCS is my only option. What is the process for being commissioned, and how does my prior service factor in? (I am 23 years old).
Second, is a degree in physics a good choice for aviation, or just a waste of time?
Thirdly, since I am 23, I am racing against the clock. I am having trouble figuring out exactly where I stand. I plan on hammering college semester to semester with no summer breaks. Even withstanding that, suppose I am 27 when I graduate college. Will I be too old, or does the 24 month age waiver apply to me? Is the age limit for the time I am commissioned or the time I enter the flight program?
Fourth, what is being a Navy officer like? Specifically, how are they treated, what are their additional duties (besides flying) like, how is the aviation lifestyle (as far as rotations, training, stress levels, amount of travel)?
Fifth, long term question, but has anyone here attended the Naval Postgraduate School, and if so, what was it like and how were they given the opportunity to attend the school.
I would be extremely grateful for any help in learning about becoming a Naval Aviator. I don't want to send the wrong impression with my questions about 'stress levels' and such. I wish to be clear that I am very familiar with the realities of military life, and am just curious about overall quality of life in the Navy. I am not a starry-eyed high school kid with far flung notions. I would very much appreciate an honest statement concerning what a Naval Aviator's life is like. I simply wish to know what to expect from the Navy in this regard.
Sincerely,
CollegeStudent275