<p>To those interested in becoming aviators that have received an offer of appointment to both the USNA and USAFA and have made the choice; which did you choose and why?</p>
<p>I only applied to USNA, so I might be out of line here, but I figured at navy there is the option of being a pilot, but there are also so many more options not available at the other academies. I want to fly, but also like having other oppurtunities just in case something happens I dont get stuck in a desk job. I see myself much more as a Naval officer than any other branch, plus flying off of ships is way cooler than off the ground.</p>
<p>USNA has more pilot slots than USAFA.</p>
<p>I don't know how good/bad your vision is, but that could play a role in your decision. I personally cannot fly in the USAF because my vision is bad enough that they won't correct it. However, in the USN my eyes are still within the PRK correctable limits. So I would be able to be a naval aviator. Furthermore, if I don't qualify for PRK in some way, shape, or form, I can still be a Naval Flight Officer and get to ride in the back of the jets. Furthermore, if I can't get a pilot slot then I can go SWO or Subs, which would be neat as well. The Navy offers me more than the USAF did--in aviation, leadership, and a host of other personal reasons why I decided why USNA was a better fit for me than USAFA.</p>
<p>Interestingly, a lot of people who go to USAFA want to be pilots, yet there are a limited number of slots. At USNA, a lower percentage of people want to fly (not everyone goes into the Navy to fly...unlike the Air Force). While aviation is still competitive, your chances of flying for the Navy are statistically greater.</p>
<p>And like berny said, flying off of carriers is a lot cooler than flying off a paved runway. And the Blues are better than the T-Birds. Hands Down.</p>
<p>I was appointed to both USNA and USAFA. I was dead-set on going to USAFA for my entire life until I weighed my options...and I decided that USNA was the superior choice for me. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Come on, everybody! This is EASY!</p>
<p>Do you want to spend your military career wearing a bus driver's uniform?</p>
<p>CASE CLOSED! GO NAVY! :D</p>
<p>Sorry. I just couldn't resist! ;)</p>
<p>Amen to what fiterace said. I'm no expert on USAF, but for a fact USNA has more DIVERSE opportnities coming out of it.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Zaphod and bernyb10. My daughter looked at all the academies and USNA just seemed to always come out on top. The opportunities are so diverse. Also, I have been to the USAFA campus and USNA. My OPINION - USNA hands down, no contest.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses, but here's the deal. I already have a private pilot's license and am planning on aviation, so I'm not concerned with the diverse opportunities in other specialties. Secondly, I plan on making a career out of the military so I'm not so much concerned with the surroundings and quality of life for four years at the academy but the 20+ years after.</p>
<p>My son is in the same shoes as you. He has his pilots license and received an appointment to USAFA. He concluded his chances of flying were better at the USNA because they have more slots available. He prefers to have a carrier as his home base rather than an air field. He also has poor vision and was not pilot qualified at USAFA. At USNA he can have the PRK. He also shares Zaphod's concern and does not want to wear a bus driver's uniform for the rest of his life!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Thanks for the responses, but here's the deal. I already have a private pilot's license and am planning on aviation, so I'm not concerned with the diverse opportunities in other specialties. Secondly, I plan on making a career out of the military so I'm not so much concerned with the surroundings and quality of life for four years at the academy but the 20+ years after.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Okay, all joking aside...</p>
<p>A word of caution.</p>
<p>I know you are "planning" on aviation. So is everyone else. I said this in one of my original threads, and I'll say it now. Don't go to USXA because you want to be a pilot. Go to USXA because you want to be an OFFICER who just happens to be a pilot.</p>
<p>So many things can happen between I-Day and graduation day. Eye strain from studying has ruined more than one Midshipman's/Cadet's dreams. Poor grades have accounted for a good heaping pile more. Don't allow yourself to put on blinders and only see what you want to see. You must plan for alternatives. </p>
<p>Additionally, you may be planning on a military career now, and that is completely honorable and praiseworthy, but things change. I and many friends went in "planning" to do full-run careers, and we ended up getting out after our commitments were completed (some bailed earlier). Again, plan for alternatives.</p>
<p>In short, always choose the option that, in turn, generates the most options in the future. Options are good. It's when you're stuck where you are with no options that life gets ugly quick.</p>
<p>Think about it.</p>
<p>Good points! Does the Navy really have that many more options than the Air Force for Academy grads? Also, I keep hearing everyone say that the USNA has more aviation slots available but somehow that doesn't make sense to me. I have seen the breakdown for which areas USNA graduates from last year chose (200+ aviation, 200+ surface warfare). I cannot find any information on how many aviation slots are available for Air Force Academy grads.</p>
<p>Well, I can't speak for the number of pilot slots and such. I refer simply to the diversity of communities.</p>
<p>Air Force has pilots, missileers, and.......... support? (Please feel free to chime in with the list. I'd love to see it.)</p>
<p>Navy, OTOH, offers all the following:</p>
<p>USN Pilot
USN NFO
USMC Pilot
USMC NFO
USMC Infantry
USMC Armor
USMC Others
Surface Warfare (Conventional)
Surface Warfare (Nuclear)
Submarines
Special Operations
Special Warfare
Meteorology
Supply Corps
General Unrestricted Line
Oceanography</p>
<p>and now, even NASA!</p>
<p>(Granted, things like Meteorology, Oceanography, GURL, and Supply Corps were pretty restricted to women and those with medical issues. Don't know about now.)</p>
<p>So, while comparing NUMBER may be risky, look at VARIETY. Air, Land, Sea, Undersea, Space, Logistics, Sciences; Navy has an INCREDIBLE range to offer.</p>
<p>Now, women must choose a warfare specialty just like the men, unless they are NPQ. No more GURL (Generaly Unrestricted Line -- admin) either!</p>
<p>I was wondering about that as I typed it. ;)</p>
<p>The Air Force Academy also offers PRK, are yall saying it doesn't?</p>
<p>"USNA has more pilot slots than USAFA."</p>
<p>Get your sources right before you post bogus info.</p>
<p>There seems to be alot of heresay out there; PRK, Pilot slots, best uniform etc. O.K. I'm Army but I will admit the Navy has the best outfits. I just want my son to get accurate, substantiated info so he can make the best informed decision possible; it is the most important one thus far in his life.</p>
<p>hey i got into both USAFA and USNA. I got recruited HARD CORE by USAFA to do my sport for them (heeh dont wanna giveout TOO MUCH information about myself), so i was definitely leaning towards them (despite the fact that ive had three family members go to USNA before myself). the reason i actually decided was because of the ENORMOUS opportunites that USNA offered. for example it wasnt a choice between flying a desk and flying a plane...at usna you can chose from two different SERVICES. there are so many more opportunities here. dont get me wrong, USAFA is a great school too and i almost went there. if youknow for certain that you want to fly, and you want to be in the air force, then go there. but if you arent quite sure what you want to do besides serve your country, go usna and you can pretty much whatever your heart desires.</p>
<p>I agree with imatnavy. That was the thing that swayed me towards wanting to go to USNA over USAFA--the enormous career possibilities afterwards, not just pilot/nav/support.</p>
<p>Someone asked about PRK at USAFA vs. USNA. From my research, only 10% of USAFA's pilot slot allocations can be PRK. Furthermore, the applicant must be at -5.50 diopters or under. That rules me out. </p>
<p>However, at USNA there is no max quota and the Navy will correct up to -8.00 diopters, given the vision is correctable to 20/20. I'm still in the game in this case. Furthermore, to be an NFO a person can wear glasses; they need only be correctable to 20/20. The Air Force is considerably more strict in this aspect of pilot/nav selection.</p>
<p>The above influenced my decision on a personal level. If this doesn't apply to you, then fine. It does make a difference for me. </p>
<p>USAFA does have more pilot slots per se than USNA (about 200 more), but the slots are equally if not more competitive than at USNA. What do you do in the Air Force? Fly...and support (in a simplified manner of speaking). What do you do in the Navy/Marines? Air, SWO, Sub, SEAL, Marine Air and Ground...see Zaphod's post above.</p>
<p>A lot of the decision depends on a person's individual situation and career goals. If you want to be a pilot go to USAFA. If you want to be a leader and an officer who happens to fly, go Navy.</p>
<p>Here is a good thread on a different forum that addresses the same issue. This was posted on a Navy thread so the posts may be a little biased, but there are still some good ideas and interesting perspectives:</p>
<p>Posted this on another thread -- still worth the read</p>
<p>Interesting stuff on where to fly</p>
<p>NAVY vs AIR FORCE</p>
<p>Bob Norris is a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about US Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off." In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following: </p>
<p>12 Feb 04 </p>
<p>Young Man, </p>
<p>Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. </p>
<p>Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?" </p>
<p>USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one. </p>
<p>Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black shoes (surface warfare) and bubble heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore. </p>
<p>Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado. </p>
<p>PS: Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.</p>