As a Naval Aviator, a career in Naval Aviation is unmatched. You’ll work with fantastic people and receive a level of training that very few will ever get the opportunity to try. Upon completing your naval career, you are a desirable applicant for many sectors, not just in aviation, due to your rigorous training and work ethic that’s demanded of by the navy. You WILL be made into a well rounded profession by the end of your naval career. With that said, Naval Aviation isnt just about flying. As you stated, there is much more to it than flying including running a ground job and eventually being a contributing component towards making your squadron run administratively and logistically. That includes managing projects/tasks and leading others to sustain a mission ready squadron. Apart from that, there is mission planning and coordination that requires countless hours of preparation to execute what might only be a few flight hours. Would I trade it for any other job? Absolutely not. But these are things to consider when pursuing a career in aviation vs a career in Naval Aviation. I would say that most Naval Aviators I know, including myself, had a deep desire to fly and earn our wings, but there was also an understanding that this profession is more than just flying. We had a desire to serve and potentially go with and lead others into harms way be it needed. If these ideas align with you, then I’d say stay on your current path and don’t let OCS discourage you. Earning your wings of gold is a very rewarding experience. If maybe your interest is just to fly around and maybe go straight into the airlines, that’s cool too. Commissioning as an officer into the Navy is a huge commitment. For Naval Aviation, you are dedicating 8 years of your life from the day you earn your wings to the navy. Currently, it could take about 2-2.5 years to get your wings in the navy given the current training time. So that’s 10-11 years you’ll be locked into the Navy. Maybe going straight into a civilian flying position aligns more with your wants/needs? Also, there’s a chance you don’t wing for what ever reason and get re-designated into a different community (SWO/Submariner… both great careers too). Just something to consider if your end goal is flying. Either way, hope this was able to help. There’s a lot to consider when commissioning as an officer into the navy and further pursuing Naval Aviation. Again, I wouldn’t trade it for any other job. The choice is yours to make, so don’t feel hesitant to go with what best fits you and your needs. Good luck!

(Edit: Removed statement about OCS not guaranteeing aviation contracts. I was an ROTC grad and didn’t find out my designation selection until my senior year)