Any Navy pilots on here? Got some ?s

[SDdriver]

If there are any navy pilots on this board I would really like to talk to you. I am considering joining the Navy for aviation and would like to hear how things are from somebody that has been there. I have talked to a recruiter, but I know how that goes. Any help would be much appreciated!!!

SD

 

[stlpilot]

Give airwarriors.com a try lots of navy guys on there.

 

[MercuryPilot]

SDriver,
Glad to hear you're interested in Naval Aviation. Your profile indicates you just turned 28 so your age should not be a problem assuming you're physically qualified. The next step is to talk to a recruiter which it sounds like you've already done. The first thing you have to understand is that ALL the pilots in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are Officers. That means you have to be out of the Academy, ROTC, or Officer Candidate School.-Direct all your Navy OCS questions to a guy on this board called PatMack (he's there right now). ***You should really get it written in your contract by your recruiter that if for some reason you are not physically qualified to be a pilot that the Navy will let you go if you desire. It should also be IN WRITING from your recruiter that you are guaranteed a student pilot spot after OCS. Otherwise you may have to compete for a spot. Do not negotiate a student navigator spot thinking it will be easy to transition to pilot.***

OCS is held at NAS Pensacola, FL and will graduate you as an Ensign (the first Naval Officer rank) over the course of a couple of months.

Next up is Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API), also held at NAS Pensacola, which is ~6 weeks and consists of classes and exams in metro, aero, engines, air navigation, flight rules and regulations, etc as well as a lot of physical training both in and out of the pool.

After API you will attend Primary flight school (T-34C Turbo Mentor) at either NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL or NAS Corpus Christi in TX. Most students graduate in ~20 weeks. It is also possible to cross-train w/the Air Force by attending their Primary flight school (T-37 Tweet) at Vance AFB in Enid, OK. A very small number of Student Naval Aviators attend Primary w/the Air Force at Moody AFB, GA flying the new T-6 Texan.

Once Primary is complete you will be ranked and submit a "dream sheet" to find out which pipeline you are going to train for. Your choices will be:
Helicopters
P-3 / EP-3 (props land based)
E-2 / C-2 (props carrier based)
E-6 (heavy jet)
Tactical Jets

If you select Helos, P-3/EP-3, or E-6 you will stay at your Primary squadron for ~1 month of Intermediate training in advanced instruments, VNAV, and tactical formation.

For P-3/EP-3 you will go to Advanced training in the T-44 at NAS Corpus Christi, TX.

For the E-6 you will go to Advanced in the T-1 at Vance AFB in Enid, OK.

If you select E-2/C-2 you will do Intermediates in the T-44 at NAS Corpus Christi and then on to Advanced in either the T-2 (or T-45) at NAS Meridian, MS or the T-45 at NAS Kingsville, TX.

If you select jets you will go straight to the T-2 (and then T-45 or possibly straight to the T-45) at NAS Meridian, MS or you will go to the T-45 at NAS Kingsville, TX. Upon completion you will select an aircraft based on class rank.

Helicopter selectees stay at NAS Whiting Field for Advanced training in the TH-57 and upon completion select an aircraft based on class rank.

After earning your wings you will be off to your Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) to train in your fleet aircraft.

Hope all this helps and that others weigh in w/more info and specifics. PM me if you need more details. All of the bases listed above should have web sites w/info about the a/c and squadrons.

Good Luck!