<p>Two years ago we took a quick tour of the Naval Academy. I seem to recall being told at that time that most USNA graduates get their first choice career path. Did I mishear or misunderstand? Do most graduating midshipmen who desire aviation get aviation if they medically qualify? </p>
<p>I searched for a thread on this topic but only found a few comments buried in other threads suggesting that career choice chances depend on where a midshipman ranks in his or her graduating class.</p>
<p>Service Selection is largely based on class rank, so if you want to fly but your rank is low, you're probably going to be dissapointed on Service Selection Night.</p>
<p>Class rank is the most importatnt and then aviation aptitude test, given that you qualify medically. It's getting harder with the availability of PRK, many more now qualify medically.</p>
<p>If you want be be a Naval Aviator, and attend an Academy, statisitically, your percentages are bettter graduating from Kings Point than USNA. You will be competing against fewer Mids who want to fly. This year it looks like there will be eight slots, but there are only 10 or twelve Mids competing for those slots. You still have to meet the same quaification standards, but the pool is smaller.</p>
<p>That being said, if you also want to study Economics, Political Science, or anything other than Marine Transportation or Marine Engineering, then the Naval Academy is a better fit.</p>
<p>This year there were 260 pilot slots for approximately 350 or so mids who put in for pilot at the academy. Most people got it without a problem, however, there are still a large number who didn't get their pilot slot. For those that don't, Naval Flight Officer is easily attainable, and many end up with that. So while pilot may be competitive, getting some type of aviation slot is fairly easy.</p>
<p>-Not trying to knock on FOs with this post, just stating the reality for service selection</p>
<p>We have a friend who is an NFO ancdon his way to becoming CO of an aircraft carrier so if you go NFO, you'll get many of the same opportunities for command that pilots do.</p>
<p>Order of Merit, being the most important determinant in service selection is misinformation.</p>
<p>Most communities have other methods of finding who should be a pilot, submariner, or Marine.</p>
<p>Aviation uses the whole person concept and takes practically everything you do at USNA into account. OOM does factor in, but that won't, per se, "break you". Aviation slots go from 1 to 9xx. Additionally, to even be considered for Pilot/NFO, you must pass on the ASTB exam.</p>
<p>Marines use Leatherneck as a strong determinant.</p>
<p>The best thing is to do your best and get involved in leadership positions, activities, sports, etc.</p>
<p>Also remember that you go to USNA to serve in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps....you aren't going to USNA to become a pilot (though, that would be "icing on the cake")</p>
<p>Wish they would have been that gentle with us in my day. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Aviation slots in the 9xx's? Utterly unheard of. Pilot slots always vanished around 3xx or so. You guys are lucky to have such opportunities. Take advantage of them!</p>
<p>Zaph, how many pilot slots did they have back then? I know from talking to grads from the late 90s that almost everyone who wanted pilot got it, because PRK was not around yet</p>
<p>Just had dinner with some "parents of usna alumn" this weekend- and several who had sons go on to pilot slots... the word being passed around is that the hard part was not getting a pilot billet, but staying in once you got there...apparently the attrition rate is high (medicals, aptitude, testing, vision, etc)....</p>
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Zaph, how many pilot slots did they have back then?
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<p>I seem to remember fewer than 200 or so. I can't remember exactly, but pilot slots were quick to go. The only exception during my tenure was the class of 1989, which for some reason got unlimited billets; if you were physically qualified, you flew. Man, there were some ecstatic Mids running around that night!</p>
<p>OP, There are some people having this same discussion on the air warriors website. They might have some good info. for you.</p>
<p>can i get the link to that?</p>
<p>the website is <a href="http://www.airwarriors.com%5B/url%5D">www.airwarriors.com</a></p>
<p>PackMom, I read Airwarriors pretty regularly, and post there very occasionally. In which Forum, or title, are they discussing getting an Aviation Slot?</p>
<p>I thought I had read it under either the paths to commision heading or the NROTC but I looked just now and can't seem to find it. The thread I was reading had several posters commenting on their selections. A couple said they had put swo as first choice but were assigned avaition instead. Sorry I can't come up with the thread.</p>
<p>Thanks for looking. I would recommend to anyone interested in Naval Aviatiion to check out Air Warriors, but read for a while before you post. They don't suffer fools or newbies lightly. Kind of like being a plebe I guess?</p>