Pilot Slots

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AFAhopeful6201

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Hi, my DS is applying to the USNA. He's not set on his major yet but knows he wants to also be a pilot. What percentage of pilot applicants get a slot and what would be some reasons why someone would not get a pilot slot?
 
AFAhopeful6201 said:
Hi, my DS is applying to the USNA. He's not set on his major yet but knows he wants to also be a pilot. What percentage of pilot applicants get a slot and what would be some reasons why someone would not get a pilot slot?
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The vast majority of folks who want to fly are able to get pilot slots.

Some reasons that they might not?

1. Pecommissioning Physical - happens more than you'd think. This is a pretty detailed physical close to the end of your precom path.
2. Community selection process:
  • Aviation Selection tests - used to be the "AQT/FAR" but now a different name.
  • They look at academic performance, order of merit and interest
  • Potential "Nuke Draft" - sometimes the needs of the Navy preempt the individual's wishes.
To get the aviation community to want you is a good plan. Get involved in Aviation clubs/activities in the yard
Ask for and take an Aviation cruise.
 
Do not compare numbers with USAFA, as I see you posted a dupe post there.

At USNA, the competition for the aviation slots is among those who are qualified for and want aviation. Others in the class put submarines, surface warfare, EOD, Marine ground, SEAL, etc., ahead of aviation.

Your son should focus on the service, culture, mission, operating environments and types of airframes he wpukd would be working with post-service academy. Then work backwards.
 
Not sure if this will be helpful or not, but here goes. FWIW, DS graduated in 2020 with a USMC Air Contract. He's currently in San Diego, CA learning to fly F-35s. Some thoughts:
  • Make sure DS is good at math. Seriously. Math is constantly being applied. You'll hear about the whole "poli-sci and fly" thing, but don't buy in. DS was an aero major, and it's been a solid advantage, particularly in primary flight school.
  • Eyesight is no longer an issue for most cases. DS had terrible vision and got scraped while at USNA. 2 weeks of suck to fly airplanes for a living was a good trade.
  • Be prepared to talk about planes A LOT. Seriously. Every time I'm around DS and his peers, they are ALWAYS talking about airplanes.
  • USMC Air v Navy Air: Totally different missions. DS was drawn to the USMC mission, despite is adding more time onto his contract (6 months at The Basic School to become a Marine officer). Your DS will figure this out if continues on this path.
  • The pilot pipeline has been slow. Am sure there's lots of threads elsewhere on this. For example, DS graduated USNA in 2020, and his service commitment clock JUST started ticking when he arrived in San Diego a few months ago. So 4 years to get to get to the Fleet Replacement Squadron. So he has to want it.
 
Besides the solid answers above - Order of Merit.

The Perform well in academics, pro knowledge, PRT. Avoid honor offenses.

Edit: As @OldRetSWO actually wrote. ;)
 
Poli sci and fly works too. Can confirm. In flight school now, and I’m doing pretty well. Study something you are passionate about, not something just because you think it’ll help you get a pilot slot. A good GPA will go a long way for selection, and you’re much more likely to achieve excellent grades in a subject you enjoy, not one you hate.
 
Main reason not to get pilot slot is medical. Second is order of merit (grades, conduct, etc.).

Had a 2/C who was hung-ho on being a pilot. Wrecked his knee in the Notre Dame game. Pilot/NFO dream down the drain. Went USMC ground.

Finally, plans and goals change. One of the reasons they do Protramid is to expose mids to the variety of options.

Anyone entering USNA should be fully prepared (accepting of) more than one option upon graduation. Great to have a goal in mind, but flexibility is key when dealing with the military.
 
Networking. Spending legit authentic time with aviation mentors.
Keep your order of merit up, applying for and doing summer trainings like Powered Flight, showing up for briefings and seminars detailing navy aviation options.
Make sure that you have shown the powers that be that naval aviation is important to you and you have done the work.
 
USNA grad C/O 2019 went in wanting to fly to fly F35 off of carrier decks. Then he wanted be attack helos in USMC. He is now flying USMC C130's moving people and cargo. He still became a pilot but what changed? His goals and desires while at USNA. Mainly he enjoyed his time in leadership roles and one way to have leadership as a pilot is to command a C130 crew.
 
Agree 100% with Ivy22. My firstie son set to graduate next week was a Poli Sci major and is headed to Pensacola for flight school. Early on in his tenure at USNA he was told exactly what Ivy22 posted......pick a major you're passionate about, not just because you might think it will open certain doors in the future. Because as what was posted, if you pick a major you don't like as much, you're more likely to be miserable.
 
Current poli sci and fly practitioner along with @Ivy22 here. To answer your initial question, most of those who apply get a flight spot. However, year to year, it can vary. My year had a surplus of applicants. Two years before me, the amount of applicants matched up roughly to the slots available. Those who I saw get denied it were generally those who didn't have stellar statistics and also did not do much to demonstrate their interest.

As @Heatherg21 said, networking is a huge part of Service Assignment. Granted, you have to hold up your end of the bargain: Do well in school, pass the PRT, don't get in trouble, etc. But, X factor is showing your interest in a community. Are you going to every fleet fly in? Do you schedule times to go meet with military staff/faculty and talk about their careers? All of them were operators in a past life. They are not career administrators or academics. Heck, even some of the senior officers move onto major command after their USNA tour. People will remember names and faces and it is more difficult to deny someone you know wants to be part of your community than someone you know nothing about. Also, people will sometimes shy away from the senior level (O-5/O-6) crowd. I have found they are actually the most excited to talk to MIDN. All of them are there because they want to develop the next generation (i.e. you). Also, talking about their career allows them to take a break from whatever staff/academic work they have on their plate.

Major is not an influence in Service Assignment outside of your QPR. What I mean by that is that your QPR goes into your Order of Merit and if you do a major you are good at (and hopefully you like), then it will bode well for your Order of Merit. There are myths that say that you have to be an Aerospace Engineering major to go Pilot or a Nuclear Engineering major to go Subs. Not true at all. I have seen English majors go Subs. I have seen Aerospace Engineering majors go SWO.

In addition to Navy Pilot, I would also do a little exploring into USMC Pilot and NFO. Both provide flying opportunities to Navy Pilot. NFO has gotten more competitive as it has gotten a "face lift" at USNA. It very much had the "not good enough to be a pilot" connotation when I arrived. Now, it it is very much advertised (as it should) as a very integral part of Naval Aviation. They are the weapons/sensor employment experts. Depending on the platform, pilots are flying as a means to allow NFOs to do their work. USMC Pilot offers another chance to get a pilot slot, but they are very selective in who they choose. The main difference between the USN and USMC is how they approach Service Assignment. The USN is very focused on different communities (SWO, Subs, Aviation, etc.). The USMC is very focused on picking good future Marine Officers with less of an emphasis on their specialization. In other words, you have to be all in being a Marine rather than being a Pilot.
 
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