I need help with a decision (I am not a Mom though)

[inROTC]

I'm sorry to be bothering you all on this forum because I am not a mother, I am in fact a student in college going through Navy ROTC right now. I have just been looking for some help on what to do, and this website looked like it was full of talkative people who liked the Navy.

I just finished my second year of college and I picked up a scholarship, but I haven't signed anything yet (I would have to sign for it in the fall). Before I was awarded the scholarship (just this past April), I had begun wondering whether or not the Navy was for me. I joined ROTC in 2010 when I got to school as a freshman because I wanted to fly the F/A-18, I think it's an awesome jet and I think I would really like flying those. What has me concerned now is that I have realized that being a pilot does not mean that you just wake up and go fly every day, that there are other responsibilities and that these responsibilities take up more time than you are flying (once you are done training, that is). I know that I would not want to fly P-3, Prowlers, or the E-2C. I think helicopters would be ok, but if I had known that I was going to fly helicopters I would prefer to fly for Army, or fly a helicopter that drops the soldiers off in a combat zone (from what I understand, Navy copters do primarily submarine related activities). I also know that I would not like to be surface warfare or submarines, I have always liked jets and I definitely want to fly, but I'm just nervous that the 10 year commitment once I graduate might turn out bad if I end up only liking flying in the beginning and that once the hype of it goes away and I just get into the day to day grind and paperwork that I won't be enjoying myself. And 10 years of not enjoying your job is a long time! I am an Aerospace Engineer and I have been doing well in school, so I'm not nervous about finding a job (already on my second internship). 

Since you all have so much respect and you all understand so much more about the Navy than I do right now, I was just wondering what you all thought. Maybe you hear your sons and daughters talk about this sometimes, or maybe you've heard other related stories. I've tried talking to my ROTC advisors (LT's), but they just talk about financial benefits or that you get to see the world (seeing the world is not a feature that really interests me, and I actually don't like moving too much to be honest). I really respect all of you here, and I respect everyone in the Navy, I think it's a GREAT service. 

I have to decide by 1 JUN what I want to do, and I've been trying to decide since January, so this is really my last shot. Thank you all so much for any help you might be able to give me here, I just want to make sure I use any resource I can to get info on what decision is best for me.

Very Respectfully,

Michael A. Estrada

[ebigirl]

WOW! You do have a big decision to make. First of all let me tell you that I am a mom whose son enlisted with the Navy as a Reserve in Nov. 2010. Your probably wondering why he went in as a Reserve. He was told that the Navy was at 130% capacity, and if he wanted to get his foot in the door he would have to go in as a Reserve. They also told him that he could switch to active duty from Reserve once he was done with bootcamp. Only a part of what he was told was true. He is NOT able to switch to active duty, and signed a 6 year contract (he has 5 years to go).

He did all of this on his own, without me or his dad knowing anything about it. He was 19 at the time. and "knew it all"!! He left for bootcamp in March of 2011 and graduated in May of 2011. My son is with the Seabees, loves anything that is hands on, and had been thinking about the Navy for years.

You don't say how old you are. Are your parent's aware that this is something you are thinking about? I will tell you what I would advise you to do if you were my child. I would encourage you to take the scholarship you have received, obtain your degree, and THEN, if your still interested in the Navy go and talk to a recruiter. With a college degree you will go in at a higher pay rate, and depending on your ASVEB scores, might be able to pick the rate (job) of your choice. Nothing is a given, and anything you receive by way of "offers" from the Navy need to be in WRITING and in your CONTRACT! If they aren't, those offers do not exist.

I hope this helps you in some way. I'm sure other mom's will chime in soon. Don't be afraid to ask questions....there are some veteran mom's on this site who are awesome! Take care, Ebigirl

[BunkerQB]

You posted a similar discussion, "Not sure what to do" on April 20.

http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/not-sure-what-i-want-to-do?...

Your question is best answer by someone who IS a FA 18 pilot or better yet, someone who tried to become a FA-18 pilot but washed out of the program. Your recruiter could not give you some idea statistically what your chances are? You are a sophomore in college.  A bit premature to call yourself an Aerospace Engineer at this point in your college career.  Your haven't even started your upper division course work yet. I am from a family full of engineers from some of the top universities in the country. My brother worked in aerospace for many years. He has a PhD in electrical engineering. I myself worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratory on simulation programs for 3 years (summers mostly) with a published technical paper. I am the dummy in the family.

However, I do believe most FA-18 pilot possess an arrogance about what they do (at least the ones I have met) - and rightly so - because to be able to fly one of those things, a man or woman must have incredible eye/hand coordination plus reflexes & physique to match.

I can not tell you from personal experience since my son was one of those undesirable (in your opinion) nuke officers on a sub.  I do know more candidates wash out of the nuke and aviation programs than any of the others. 

I am assuming you would like to take advantage of the NROTC scholarship offered by the Navy but only if you get to fly FA-18 and nothing else.  Unfortunately, the guarantee you are looking for does not exist. I would not recommend joining the Navy if you couldn't suck it up and become a competent surface warfare or sub officer, in case you don't make it through the aviation pipeline. By the way, those officers who fail out of nuke prototype are dismissed from the Navy. You either make it or you don't.

Depending on your age (can not be older 22 on the first day of your "bootcamp" they called it Basic Cadet Training at West Point), you should consider applying right now to one of the service academies (West Point, Annapolis, Air Force). If you graduate in top of your class (rank based on military and academic grades), you'll be able to select you specialty. It's really about the only guarantee route I can think of.

Of course, if you are supremely confident about your abilities (sounds like you are), you should just go for it and don't look back. Good luck.

[judy r]

You are very smart to question your decision now and look at the future and what you might be doing and yes you are probably right (not a jockey mom) you would work your way up to the ultimate goal of jets. If you dont like to move around not really interested in traveling 6 to 8 mos out of a year then I dont think the military is for you. Finish your degree then reassess your situation.

[Angie]

Keep in mind if you fail out of school (it does happen) that you will get sent to the Navy as enlisted and odds are will have a chip on your shoulder as you have to serve Enlisted to pay back the Navy the money spent on your college.  Are you ready to do that?  Don't say it won't happen to you (I hope it doesn't) I have seen it happen and those that it happened to normally had issues and acted as though they where better than everyone else, 'cause they where going to be an Officer.  Yep even saw two get in trouble and get kicked out, than they had to pay back the money themselfs.  So READ what you sign before you decide.

[inROTC]

thanks so far for all your help, you all have such amazing advice. 

@BunkerQB, I actually forgot about that, but luckily this has had amazing responses that have helped too. I just sent Craig a friend request, I hope we get to talk soon, thanks for helping there too.

[BunkerQB]

The bottom line is if you really want to fly FA 18, be single minded, work your ass off, go for it. Take an honest assessment of yourself. If you have the eye-hand coordination, if you think you could take the physical & mental stress, if you have the reflexes - then do it. It doesn't matter what anyone advises - they are not in your shoes. Give it your all - if you fall short, so what? You will know where you stack up. You may just make it. I have two sons (27 & 23), we disagree on virtually everything.  But I do tell them if you want something, you give it 100% and then some. And if you don't make it, you'll survive - at least you took a shot at your dream. You don't want to say to yourself one day, "I could have been a contender." (From On The Water Front). You may figure out that the process (the journey) is more valuable then the end result (whatever it may be).  I have been asked often by younger colleagues how I did it all - being a successful full time professional, a mother, a wife and managed a slew of building projects. The truth is there were times when I wasn't sure how I was going to do everything.  The tenth day when you have been existing and trying to function on 3 hours of sleep and hold it all together can be pretty nerve racking. You have to be driven. You don't take NO for an answer. "Failure" is not in your vocabulary. 

Do you think you have what it takes?

BQB.

P.S. The ball is in your court. I am going to keep my lip zipped from this point forth.

[ebigirl]

inROTC; That's a tough thing for Bunker to do, zipping her lip! I agree with her 200%. Only YOU know what the best thing is for YOU! Good luck.

Bunker; LOL!!

[BunkerQB]

Hey!  Moi?

[Craig]

Yes you!.....  ~ha

You'll constantly hear "Your zipper is open".....

[inROTC]

Ok then last question.

 

If I stay and someone asked me why I stayed in ROTC, the only reason I could give right now is that I just want to fly F-18's. Is that something you see common in people you've seen who are pilots? It makes me feel a little guilty because for example, when you apply to the online scholarship application, it asks you why you wan to be an officer. And yes I like leading, but the leading I like is more technical, like a Chief, not manegerial. So most of the reason is just because you need to be an officer to fly planes. Is this normal?

[Angie]

 "And yes I like leading, but the leading I like is more technical, like a Chief, not manegerial."  ummm you really have a missguided idea of what Chiefs in the USN do :~}  Chiefs are technical and manegerial, with a slash of baby sitting the jr enlisted and jr officers tossed in their for good measure.

 

If you go Officer you have to EARN the respect of Chiefs...that is NOT just given.

[inROTC]

The kind of leadership position I like is one where you get to teach people something or you get to lead a team in a task. I was told at my school that Officers do more paperwork, and that the Chief's handle task leading and technical knowledge of the sailors, and that as an officer it is your job to just make sure that it is getting done, but not to actually do it yourself. Is that not right?