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mrchainsaw · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 42 Location: IL

Right now, I'm planning on going to Naval Academy and then hopefully flying F-18s(probably Super Hornets if/once I get to that point). Just wondering how hard the selection process is for Naval Academy and being selected to fly F-18s.

Oh yeah, feel free to share any experiences too.

Cat1 · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:42 pm Post subject:

Selection for the Academy is about as straight forward as it is for any other college. Your grades are looked at a bit harder and your physical condition is also looked at (unlike regular colleges). If you have a JROTC unit in your high school I recommend you join it and stick with it for at least 2 years, it will make the transition easier and also teach you some of the finer points. The academy class work is heavy and demanding I can't attest to how hard or demanding. Though one individual I went to high school with received an appointment (full-ride scholarship) to Annapolis, this was the smartest individual I knew at the time and he told me that he nearly failed his first term because of the work load. Like any other college you will have to choose a major, blah, blah, blah. If you haven't done any more research than to come here and post this question, then you need to get started. Use your career counselor and tell them specifically that you want to be able to attend the Naval Academy; they should really be your first stop, that’s what they get paid for. In your high school studies, take MATH, as much and as high level as you can go. English classes are also a paramount; you might be a human calculator, but if you sound like a blithering idiot and can’t write a paper… Well, you get the picture.
But not to worry, there are other ways to be awarded your wings in the Navy if you are not selected for the Academy. But I won’t go into that now.

ricktobin · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

...and, you have a very good advantage, you're in the USA. Go check out the local office of the Civial Air Patrol (CAP), the sooner in your journey, the better. What a great bunch of people and you get to do things others can only dream of. My 13 y/o son just started his path to Naval (maybe Air Force) Aviation and it's beginning with private flight lessons and a hitch with the CAP.

Thankfully he has a couple of former senior ranking naval aviator relatives to keep him abreast of the in's & out's of what he needs to do to succeed.

Good luck, and don't put anything off 'til tomorrow, that you could be doing today.

mrchainsaw · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 42 Location: IL

I've done my fair share of research, but I wanted to hear how hard it is firsthand, not from the Navy.

I don't think my high school has JROTC, but I'm keeping my grades up. I plan on taking AP calculus and physics my senior year. I'll look into CAP.

ricktobin · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 1:02 am Post subject:

...and, if you have the luxury of knowing someone in the military, someone who served honorably and isn't biased towards military service one way or the other, take them with you if you ever go the route of a recruiter.

DON'T GO ALONE and DON'T SIGN ANYTHING until someone you believe to be responsible and intelligent looks it over.

Hopefully if all works out the best for you, you won't have to go this route, it'll all fall into place through whatever college (or ROTC program) you choose to go with.

wheelright · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 169 Location: KDNL/KAGS

Quote: DON'T GO ALONE and DON'T SIGN ANYTHING ...or else you might end up like Rick doing an imitation of something out of the south end of a bird for four years :P

Just kidding Rick :D This Signal Corps Geek couldn't resist.

Good luck to you mrchainsaw. I hope you stick to it and make it. It's an awesome opportunity.

Cat1 · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject:

Don't sign anything... Boy isn't that the truth!
I believe that the Academy is a 8 year off the top commitment.

Though I've heard that those Airborne guys are a bit "different" anyway.

booboobenny · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:01 pm Post subject:

i am going to the airforce planning to fly b-1s but no sure so i hear hard trainning put hea we'll get through

747-4Captain · Guest

To anyone with any aspiration to be a pilot, military or otherwise the very first thing you should do is go and get a 1st class FAA flight physical. Typically they cost $50-$60 USD. Assuming you pass without any restrictions whatever and have absolutely no general health issues whatsoever, then consider this. First your eyesight had better be exceptionally good, meaning at least 20-20 or better without glasses or contacts no astigmatism, or problems of any kind with depth perception, color vision, accomodation (near vision) peripheral vision etc. Look at your family history, are there any issues there. Because of the past, current and probable continued interest in piloting, the airlines and especially the military are really selective about pilot candidates.

Although I didn't go to any military academy, I was a Navy fighter pilot for seven years, a corporate pilot for four and have been a pilot for a major airline now for the past 28 years. My eyesight was and still is 20-10 but I must wear glasses and like most guys my age don't think the three flight physicals I take each year are that much fun.

There are many pitfalls to a career as a pilot and the biggie is your physical condition. If it deteriorates at some point you are going to wish you had another career option. In the case of pilots that usually means something in the fast-food or box-outlet store industries.