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A
fab job as a Navy Pilot
Ever dream of flying the
most technologically advanced jets off a carrier, patrolling the skies
looking for enemy submarines, or rescuing people in helicopters?
Imagine having a secure job with full benefits and excellent pay.
Sound good yet?
How about traveling around
the world at the expense of the U.S. military? Sound even better?
If so, then think about joining
the United States Navy as an Officer and pursuing a career as a Naval Aviator.
Where else can you have this much fun? Especially while getting paid
to do a job that you love and that is rated second to none!
Becoming a Navy pilot is
a competitive field to get into; however, those who succeed have a very
rewarding lifestyle.
It all starts in school.
First, you have to be dedicated and receive good grades. You will need
to attend college, including at least the last two years at a four year
institution. (You can attend a two year junior/community college for the
first two years.) Roughly a 3.0 or B average is needed to
be considered competitive.
You will also need to take
the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) given by your local Naval/Marine
recruiter and pass a physical from the Military Entrance Processing Station
(MEPS).
After graduating from college
the prospective Navy/Marine officer candidate attends Officer Candidate
School (OCS) in Pensacola, Florida, known to many as the "Cradle of
Naval Aviation." This is a 13 week school that will prepare you to undergo
the transformation from civilian life to military life.
You will learn many things
at OCS including:
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Teamwork
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Naval History
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Seamanship
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Military Law
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Weapon Usage
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Physical Fitness
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Leadership
This program is for those who
are not already commissioned officers or those who have not graduated from
the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Upon successfully completing
OCS, the newly commissioned ensign attends a school called Aviation
Pre Indoctrination or Advanced Pilot Indoctrination (API) also
located in P-cola. There the aspiring aviator spends six weeks learning
about topics such as:
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Meteorology
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Federal Aviation Regulations
(FAR's)
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Aerodynamics
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Flight Physiology
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Land and Water Survival
The end of API marks the beginning
of flight training. The pilot candidate can choose to attend
primary flight training in either NAS Whiting Field (located in sunny Florida
just outside of Pensacola) or Corpus Christi, Texas.
Another route, especially
for those with prior flight experience is to participate in Joint Specialized
Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT). This program is affiliated
with the United States Air Force.
During primary flight training,
you can expect to learn how to:
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Talk on the radios
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Solo
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Fly in formation
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Perform aerobatics
Primary flight training is the
most important step in determining your career path in the navy.
Selection for the pipeline of your choice (e.g. jets, props, helos) depends
on first and foremost the needs of the Navy, then your flight grades, and
finally luck.
After primary, the pilot
goes onto intermediate and advanced flight training. Those that select
jets will most likely attend NAS Meridian in Mississippi, or NAS Kingsville in Texas.
Those that select props will go to NAS Corpus Christi
in Texas. Those selecting helicopters will undergo advanced flight training in NAS
Whiting Field in Florida.
Finally it's graduation day.
After about two years of training you will receive the coveted "Wings
of Gold."
Click
here to find a career you can be passionate about
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