If i enlist into the US NAVY now?

[dimboazz]

My goal is to become a pilot or a naval aviator can i enlist and work my way into the naval academy my family does not know any congressmen or atleast i do not know or any high goverment people like senators or anything like that .Is there a way to achive my goal?

[Lt Col USAFR]

In my opinion, there is only one drawback to enlisting first. Once people get settled they tend to stay settled. While you are doing your job, and living day to day, it is easy for other opportunities to pass you by.

I say this as something to consider so that if you choose this path, you take full advantage of being prior enliste by learning the Navy (or other service), getting your education and leveraging that to a comission and flight training.

Make a plan and stick to it. Do your enlisted job extremely well, and show leadership capabilties by taking on extra challenges. Do that with your eye always on the goal of becoming a pilot.

You should also explore the more traditinal path of getting your degree first and becoming an officer.

Get involved with civil aviation early too. hang out around airports and talk to pilots.

If you want to go to a Service Academy, you do need a congressional appointment letter. If you have all the other qualifications, that is easy to get. the hard part is being qualified and getting selected over all the competition.

Good luck.

[Mrsjvb]

that's going about it the long way. a very small number of slots are reserved for Enlisted personnel to attend the Academy. but when you figure that less than 30% of all who apply actually get offered a seat period...

what is your High School GPA? do you have Honors or AP courses? have you played a varsity sport? do you have leadership roles either in school(president of a school club) or in the community?

the congressional letter is only a teeny part of the process.

Your other options include NROTC in college or enlisting then applying for STA-21.

[Garrett H]

Yeah, there is a such a program for enlisted personnel but it's very competitive. There are a number of routes to a commission, not just the academy. Officers from the academy tended to be a little snobbier in my opinion.

[tmcs1959]

After selection, Student Naval Aviators are assigned to Advanced Flight Training in their particular pipeline. Student Naval Aviators selected for jet training will be reassigned to Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas or Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi.

Those selected for propeller aircraft training will be assigned to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and those selected for helicopter training will be assigned to NAS Whiting Field.

The Naval Aircrew Badge, it is authorized for personnel who have undergone extensive training in Flight Operations of Naval Aircraft.

Such training includes Weapons Management, Electronic Warfare, and Water Survival. Contrary to most other services, Naval Aircrewmen do not receive their wings after Aircrew School. Rather, they receive their wings only after completing their NATOPS (Naval Aviation Training Procedures) qualifications on their assigned airframe.

The Naval Aircrew Badges are issued in a single degree with no upgrade devices authorized. A Naval Enlisted person who has qualified for his or her Naval Aircrew Badge places the initials "NAC" in parentheses after his or her rate and rating; for example, a Chief Cryptologic Technician Interpretive, after having qualified for their NAC Badge, is identified as a CTIC(NAC).

Officer Aircrew members are Naval Flight Officers, and receive the Naval Flight Officer Badge.

Upon entering the United States Navy, receive a rating in the Aviation Field. Get shore station, so you can take some college courses after your duties are performed.

Request to take flight lessons, if your Command can see your determination, they will more than glad to assist a Sailor with a "Can Do" demeanor.

[ED Ski]

they do not need to "know" a congressman. Most congressmans websites have a link foir the proceedures to get their nomination for the academy.

Apply. Also apply for ROTC

By all means you can become a pilot through the enlisted ranks as well.

The Navy, is no different than any other professional organization in that they would rather promote from within. That is why there are a great many pipelines to go from Enlisted to officer, very few to go from Civilian to officer.

Explore ALL your options.

The benefit to enlisting is that everything you do is college accredited, from Basic Training, through going to work each day. Couple that with many of the programs that they have to complete your degree while active, and the programs such as STA-21 and others that can get you into the officer ranks and into flight school, the opportunity is certainly there.

Good Luck