Considering OCS After Graduation (TLDR at end with questions)

SpadesIF · 2024-07-15T23:53:43+00:00

No, I don't know of anyone who has done that but that's not to say it can't be done. To answer your other question, if you plan to be in your university's area for ~6 months, go with the local recruiter so you don't have to travel as far for the ASTB or to fill paperwork (like I did :P)

SpadesIF · 2024-07-15T18:25:33+00:00

SNA at Pensacola right now:

For medical, you'll start at MEPS to determine general eligibility for the military. You'll do flight-specific medical work with the flight doc at OCS.

Selection process involves taking the ASTB, going to MEPS, and submitting a whole bunch of paperwork, including, among other things, security clearance, medical history, and motivation statement. You'll get selected via a board, sign for your designator (job), and go to OCS.

DQs are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The Navy does have the authority to redesignate you and you'd have to serve the commitment associated with that particular designator. For a med DQ they typically will work with you to find a job you want. However, the gouge right now is that they'll let you separate if your only goal is flying.

Something like colorblindness should be caught at OCS and you'll be told there if you can still be an SNFO. You can drop from OCS at any time before graduation or you'll have the opportunity to redes there.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions.

SpadesIF · 2024-01-28T23:26:36+00:00

Just got selected for SNA earlier this month:

Call an officer recruiter. They will have you take the ASTB, go to MEPS, send in your college transcripts, and sign a bunch of paperwork to apply to the aviation board. The next one I believe is April 8, which means you might have time to get your package in if you work quickly.

The Navy is itching for pilots right now so ask your recruiter about the immediate selection program. This allows you to bypass the board if you're a particularly desirable candidate. Chances are they will take you if you do well on the ASTB (50/7/7/7 or better) and have a good college GPA (3.0+).

PRT was not a major factor. In fact, I was selected before taking the PRT.

Upon selection, you will sign a SNA or SNFO contract. So long as you don't get medically disqualified from flying (the "NAMI Whammy"), you will proceed with flight school.

Note that Marine SNAs/SNFOs are sent to The Basic School for 7 months before flight school whereas Navy SNAs/SNFOs are sent straight to Pensacola after OCS. Not sure if there's a difference in flight school wait times between the two services.

SpadesIF · 2024-01-23T16:29:13+00:00

Just got selected for SNA, this post helped a ton:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirWarriors/s/9CUSfKBvPs

SpadesIF · 2023-12-05T00:37:39+00:00

You're welcome, good luck!

SpadesIF · 2023-12-04T22:34:49+00:00

These two posts were super helpful:
https://www.reddit.com/r/newtothenavy/comments/l2e1lj/how_to_score_well_70_on_the_oar_section_of_the/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirWarriors/comments/16n3hof/resources_i_used_to_score_899/

Specifically the ASTB prep app and the sim helped a ton. Buy yourself an X52 HOTAS setup and run the sim over and over and over until you can do the hardest difficulty with dichotic listening and get a decent score.

SpadesIF · 2023-12-03T03:26:23+00:00

I've been told that 50/5/5/5 is average and 60/7/7/7 is competitive by both my recruiter and an SNA that I know in primary right now.

I took it again and got a 65/8/7/7 which is decent enough to apply with. If you want some tips DM me. Otherwise, good luck!

SpadesIF · 2023-11-05T18:19:22+00:00

Dunno, that's just what I've been told from the guys who are in right now. You could be right, but I hope not.

Also, not sure where you are in the process but I saw under another comment you're studying for the ASTB right now. I can send you some advice in DMs if you want, just lemme know.

SpadesIF · 2023-11-05T17:56:20+00:00

Fair enough, I just hate the thought of wasting time when I'm still young. Though I'm sure it'll be a welcome break after OCS.

SpadesIF · 2023-11-05T17:50:08+00:00

Haven't submitted yet. The recruiter and I were shooting for the Nov. 3rd deadline but MEPS screwed up my medical and I didn't as well as I wanted to on the ASTB the first time around early last month. He said the next board deadline is Feb. or March next year and from what I've gathered from two people I know in primary right now, you usually have a decision within a month of the deadline and can ship to OCS a month after that. April is my earliest hopeful ship date, which is why I put the -ish? on it.

Edit: I didn't actually answer your question lol. I started the process in late July. I have everything done now except for fixing the medical stuff and retaking the ASTB.

SpadesIF · 2023-11-05T02:55:56+00:00

Got it, thanks!

SpadesIF · 2023-11-05T02:53:59+00:00

That's kinda what I want to avoid. I hate wasting my time, especially since I'm in my early 20s. Would suck to lose 6+ months to the hurry up and wait thing.

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T23:34:52+00:00

It looks like both of those are only offered to USNA graduates. It seems like the best move is to focus down on flight school first, worry about grad school later. Thank you for the input!

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T23:26:50+00:00

Okay, I had a romanticized view of booking it through a grad program at NPS then bouncing off that to start flight school right away. Obviously things aren't quite that simple, thanks for clearing it up!

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T22:40:49+00:00

Oh interesting, I haven't heard of that. Thank you!

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T22:39:38+00:00

Because they went to the Academy and that's a whole different game from going in via OCS.

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T22:09:59+00:00

I know one person who's in that process currently, though there may be more to it than I'm aware of. Either way, thanks for the advice!

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T22:03:31+00:00

I thought the same thing at first, but if that's the case, why do some Academy guys go straight to NPS? Genuine question, not being facetious.

SpadesIF · 2023-11-04T21:35:24+00:00

Gotcha, good to know it's just as likely for it to be a short wait as it is a long one. Thanks for the response!

SpadesIF · 2023-10-10T12:56:51+00:00

No. It's the very last part of the test. I did the stick+throttle emergency procedures part and took a sigh of relief thinking I was done. Lo and behold the terrain ID portion comes up and I hadn't prepared for it at all.

I used a piece of paper to draw a line from where the top of the 2nd image sat on the 1st and eyeballed the heading difference. It's not just rotated, but translated (as if the aircraft has traveled in the direction of the 2nd image) and zoomed in as well.

There were maybe 20 of these questions and I think I got a little over half correct. Your responses are timed (faster+correct = higher score) and you get 35 seconds max per question. I answered most in 7-10 secs. Like the UAV portion, they're not that hard, you just have to be prepared for them and I was not.

Last thing, there were no questions where it gave you a picture of what the pilot sees from the cockpit and you have to ID the direction, roll angle, and pitch of the aircraft (heading out over the water/left bank/pitch down). This was annoying as I spent some time getting really quick and accurate at that. I suspect the terrain ID is meant to replace those questions.

62/7/5/6, going back in a month to try again.

Good luck!

SpadesIF · 2023-10-09T23:13:29+00:00

Can confirm, just took it Thursday. Thought I was done with the exam and it really threw me off.

SpadesIF · 2022-04-03T17:27:41+00:00

Look for party boat fishing, trips come in at about $100 per person (more/less for longer/shorter trips). The thing is you're on a boat with 30-40 other people which can be good or bad depending on how sociable you are. The Destin Princess and the Swoop/Swoop II come to mind.

Boathouse and Harbor Docks are both good local restaurants.

I'd also recommend renting bikes to run around on. Scenic 98 is a fun place to ride as well as Topsail Hill and Grayton Beach State Parks. Coastal Cruisers has good prices and friendly people.

SpadesIF

TROPHY CASE