How to Become a Navy Fighter Pilot - The Path to Flying Fighters! 

This is a life saver for a young 13 year old wanting to be a Navy Fighter Pilot, God bless you man!!

Thank you so much I am am a kid who wishes to be a navy pilot thanks for the advice

I did 8 years in the Navy and got out in 2011. Joined when I was 22. If I had it to do all over again, I would have gotten my degree right after high school and then right off to OCS. I really enjoyed my time as an AD in the Navy, but with my fascination in fighters, I should have pursued my dream. Short background; I was an engine mechanic on the F/A-18E (aviation machinists mate) and was also high power/low power qualled. Getting to run those engines up to afterburner was very rewarding, but I would much rather have flown them. Don't let time get away from you. If you are thinking about doing it, nut up and do it!

Woww!! Outstanding Info Man. This is my dream. To become a Naval Aviator. I will obtain my Bachelor's degree in about a year, I'll apply for O.C.S and try the best of my life to become a U.S Navy Fighter Pilot. By watching this video you just inspired me even more... Thanks for your service!...

You forgot (no disrespect) to tell how recruiters will do ANYTHING to get a curious applicant to divert getting a college education/and O.C.S. to sign those commitment papers and go Enlisted NOW instead of later. The problem with this is that most people who buy into the whole "G.I. Bill Pays For College" don't realize how long a college education can take especially after you complete your Enlisted duties and when you are older and have limited time to finish that degree in time for pilot age requirements. PLUS...the older you get > make no mistake about it, your patience for college goes down exponentially. GET YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE FIRST! ! !

I have always wanted to be a naval pilot, ever since I was about 5 and saw the first top gun, now that I’m now in highschool, I am looking on how to get into the navy and be a pilot

Excellent video! I flew UH-60s and spent 21 years in the Air Force and Army. I went the OCS route for my commission. It was all fun!

Good video. I am a lot older than you but I did very much the same you. did. F-4's and F-8;s on the west coast and Gulf of Tonkin. A great life. Thanks for rekinding the memories

This is really helpful im 16 and ive been wanting to fly for the military since i was 9 and now that im getting older im trying to find the best way for me to become a pilot thanks a lot man

I just talked to a navy recruiter yesterday and this cleared up everything thank you

thank you so much for the info! I have been a little nervous about the whole thing and you made me less nervous, thank you so much!

Thanks for all the amazing info, I’m a freshman in high school and it’s my dream to fly for the military, especially a naval aviator, and I’m going to bust my ass of in high school, currently have straight A’s since I’m shooting for the academy, and plan to keep working until I get there!✈️

Thank you so much for this valuable information! I will use it well

So helpful! I'm graduating college next year and a navy pilot is my goal. (Nice business plug at the end too ;) )

-Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Graduate with honnors and was part of the College Swim Team) -Former US Navy Submarine Warfare Officer (during 12 years) -Currently a NASA Flight Controller

Thanks you’re helping me follow my dream

Earlier this year I was offered an appointment to the USNA, and I couldn't be more excited. I'm 99% of the way to earning my PPL, but I've heard I shouldn't really disclose this information when trying to get into aviation because I will be judged harder. What is your opinion on this? I've had a passion for aviation since I was 6, and while I'm sure this is just the beginning of it, it's starting to come to life. I really don't want to mess up the one shot I have at getting a fighter slot (or any other carrier based aircraft, that is). Also this video was quite informative to me. I've gathered just about all the information I can get on this subject, but it's always good to hear another point of view and some excellent advice. Thank you for your service!

Im 14 and know how to fly the f18c in dcs fluently and precisely, and I know that it isn't going to make me autmomatically qualified to fly, but it will sure as hell help when I want to become a pilot or WSO when I get older. Thanks for the advice douggy,

thanks man for the info im looking into a few jobs between the USMC and the USN i am hoping to be able to be a fighter pilot and im just trying to get most of the information of what i need to do and you really did help thank you

Great video!

I don’t nessicarily wanna be a fighter, but I do wanna fly just pretty much all of these beautiful aircraft. Thnx for explaning!

Your awesome 😎 great intel, thank you, Kindly. Keep paying it forward

Thank you for making this

great video!

Thank you for the info!!!

I loved how you laughed and said 4 and a half after lol my 4 years turned into 4.5 too

After being enlisted and working on the flight deck, I went to a four-year college with a flight school in hopes of being a Navy pilot. It broke my heart that not many of us didn’t pass the OCS test, so that was pretty much the end of it. But after hearing how long it takes to become a military pilot, I’m glad i didn’t do it.

This video helped me so much... i am only 15 and I would like to be a pilot in the service..

Thanks for the help I'm only 14 and I know this is what I want to do.

I recently completed my officer selection packet for the navy and sent it in yesterday and the officer boards are today! I did the same thing as you, went to a regular college, took a little extra time than usual but still got the degree. Took the ASTB. Got the average scores and had some strong letters of recommendation. Selected NFO and Naval aviator and SWO cuz they require 3 jobs to pick but my first 2 were NFO and NA. Now I’m just waiting until we hear back. How long did it take for you to get notice that you were selected? I’m hoping to hear back in 2-3 weeks but the chief says it could be much longer. Love to hear back from you man. You really helped me out on how to start and achieve my naval aviation dreams.

Thank you for this information I want to be a navy fighter pilot and I want to also be in the blue angels.

my entire family decades of people in my family have all been officers in the navy my grandfather flew the hellcat in WWII and my dad and brother both flew the F-18, I'm only 16 and M going to become a pilot I wanna go to OCS and get that pilot slot after Pensacola training and texas training of course but It's my dream and dreams do come true baby

Heading to OCS in two days :)

Thank you sir

Andy Stumpf retired as a Naval Officer but was not college educated. I believe the Navy had some unknown or not well known program for a pathway to become an officer without a degree. Not sure if it had to do with him being a SEAL but he's an officer without a college education.

Most straight forward video I've seen on the process. When you say you need to make an officer recruiter guarantee a flying contract, what would be considered a guarantee? Do they need to have it written down? Signed? Is there some kind of specific process to get a guarantee?

There in your country is very easy to become a fighter pilot, my dream was to be a fighter pilot in Brazil but ended up giving up, here we have to do a very difficult public tender and is very competitive with extreme bureaucracy are ... many who want to become pilots, but there are very few fighters in the end we realize that most everything there is military son or indicated ...

Waiting on the pilot board to give me a select or non select currently, and this was very helpful. Thanks for the video!

This finally took stress of my shoulders

I am currently finishing up college and my 4 year degree. I did not do ROTC but I plan on becoming an infantry grunt in the Army. I was looking into piloting for the navy afterwards. I was wondering what my outlook looks like. I consider myself pretty smart. I have good awareness and keep my mind sharp in stressful situations but not by any means a genius academic. The infantry is my priority but I was wondering if that would act as a boost to my qualifications on top of my 4 year degree and so on.

I have spoke to a Navy recruiter & since I was little I always wanted to fly fighter jets with the Air Force or as my uncle calls them the “chair force”. Thank you for the information & thank you for your service

Great video. Thanks. I always wondered how it was done and how long it took.

1. ROTC commission is automatic but if u graduate and don’t take the commission u have to pay back the navy, navy flight contract academy/rotc is non existent and it’s a hit or miss random selection when u graduate, so it’s a betting game rn

I know it’s been 6 years since this vid but I’m a girl who really REALLY wants to be a fighter pilot. And I know it’s going to be a tough grueling road but that is my goal. And thank you for this video.

Thx

I get bachelors in spring!

Thank you for this information, about to graduate high school and trying to find out the best strategy to get into a seat (whether it would be Air Force or Navy, maybe even Marines)... This helps a lot, because I figured that you had to go through a specific college for ROTC and the college I got accepted into does not have a ROTC program for Air Force or Navy (only Army).

Hey Doug, I was curious if the navy considered technical degrees (ie computer engineering, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry etc.) over other bachelor degrees to become a naval aviator? Is this the case, or does the type of college degree you have not apply to becoming a naval aviator? Thanks!

i wanna be navy pilot because i will have a chance to become an astronaut

Thanks for the information I really appreciate it Becoming a naval aviator is my dream job 😁😁

Are they still offering Navy OCS Aviation Contracts? I was under the impression that only Marine Corps OCS does.

THANK YOU! Currently attending Embry and was going to do commercial but starting to feel that going that route isnt for me. Now i just wanted to reaffirm what you stated, do I need to get my flight ratings first before enlistment or can i just get a bachelors and do the flight training through the military?

Thanks for the video it was pretty helpful. I had a question that and was wondering if you knew anything on the topic. But long story short I'm in the navy (fairly new) **enlisted as an AT w/ a degree in Econ w/a poor GPA to back it up..just like u I was just a "regular" college guy I've been in the process of preparing for OCS by applying to online grad schools to boost my GPA while I'm currently serving...I guess my question to you is "is there anything that I can do while enlisted that makes me more marketable for a NFO/Aviator contract?" Thanks in ahead

Can you make a video about what are the requirements

Gotta love OCS.

Hey thanks for the tips. Just started college and was wondering how good my grades need to be? I have heard many different things from people. I can understand once you're in to do your best so you place where you want, but how big a role does my college grades take in getting in. Thanks

I'm 17 years old this is my senior year I've always wanted to join the navy and I'm talking to my recruiter right now I'm trying to get in as a navy nuke for about 4 years and after ward I want to go to college and become and naval aviator this guide really helped me and do you guys think I'll make it

What happen if you go the LDO route which I had put my package in for way back in 04 but didn't make board for it

Hey Douggy Mac, I'm currently attending PA school on the Navy Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), and will graduate with my Master's in 2019. Afterwards, I'll go to ODS and owe the Navy 3 years working in Primary Care. I love medicine, but I've always wanted to become a Naval Aviator. My question is, is it possible to go from being a staff corps officer to getting a shot at being an aviator? I know the Navy recently started allowing PAs to enter aerospace medicine to become the flight surgeon for a squadron, which would send the PA through API and then primary flight training as part of the pipeline. Is that my best bet, or would it be possible to transition from the Medical Service Corps to becoming an aviator? My thought is that they wouldn't want to take a trained medical provider away from practicing medicine. Am I correct in assuming that my best bet is to get selected for an aerospace medicine assignment? Thanks for the help!

hello sir....thank you for your service.....can you please tell me more about the marketing job you do instead?...thank you. .

Hello, I have had people tell me (including my cfi) that you are more likely to become a pilot in the Navy than the Air Force. Any thoughts?

Hey Brian great video, I'd like to know what's the fitness level expected for military pilots is there a higher level demanded for them

You talked about making sure you get aviation slot through a recruiter but do you know if you are able to get a guaranteed slot if you are already in the naval reserves?

By the time I graduate I'll just be turning 29. I do have prior service as a mech, and now work for Boeing on FA-18's and it's always been my dream to fly one. What do you think my chances are?

how do I get the guaranteed flight contract. in other words, what do I need to offer the recruiter because I need the ROTC scholarship to pay for college and I slacked off the first two years of highschool.

Thanks for the video! Do you need to have some sort of background with aviation before going to flight school?

hi thanks for all the help but in the video at the 2nd minute and 25 seconds you said that "you'll learn how to fly whatever aircraft you're put into" does that mean you don't get to choose what you want to fly, cause i would love to fly some type of jet as a fighter

i know im super late to this video, but i feel with the release of the new top gun movie more peopple will be watching this video. and i know a few things have vhanged sinve this video. My question to anyone that can anwswer it is in your opinion what is the toughness that it takes to be a naval fighter pilot (from pilots) I know the marines are physicaly tough and so are the army and navy espeically their specalial forces units. But what kind of human perseverance does it take to pull 7-9 g's in a dog fight.

What path is more likely to guarantee a slot as a fighter pilot the Navy or Air Force, I am currently going to a flight school (embry riddle) and I am highly considering becoming a pilot in the military. The other thing is if you make it clear to your recruiter that you want to be a pilot and you get guarantied that, if for whatever reason they determent you are not fit or healthy or qualified do you have to option to leave the military or will they put you in some other job you do not want.

So it’s basically the same as the airforce in terms of getting fly in the first place

and for the most part i willl be able to pick my aircraft and where i will be stationed if ill be the top of my class?

Thx man. One question does the fighter pilots go through the Gas/NBC chamber cause I'm a kid that want to got the navy fighter pilot selection and the chamber is kinda scaring me a lil

Really hope you’re still responding to messages! Hope you see this!

hey doug i always wated to be a navy pilot in my life since my greatfather fly in the vietnam war put somathing is wrong

Hey I’m a little late to this video but was wondering where did you go to college before you became a pilot? I am on the younger side of high school and have always wanted to fly planes (preferably fast and small ones) but don’t know where I should go or what I should major in to get closer to my dream. Any tips?

Is flight training considered as active duty time

I really wanna be a pilot but I kinda also wanna be MWD trainer, because I do plan on going into the police force once I enter the civilian world

What are good study materials for the ASTB-E im studying but not a lot of info

can you test for a pilot slot more than once when you are an officer

Question. How is a navy pilot graded with they’re landing’s?

I was thinking about going to everglades university and studying aviation and aviation science to get a slight upper hand, this a good idea?

hey I had a question I'm currently in college NROTC and love being a Midshipman, but my degree is very time consuming and nrotc on top of it so far has slowed my abilities and performance both in the unit and in school. I am a college programmer and do not have a 4 year scholarship and for a couple of months now have been thinking about going the OCS route in order to become an officer and hopefully someday fly jets. should I start talking to my officer recruiter now or should I wait until after I complete my degree?

When I join I want anything but big wings

I really want to become one but I don’t have perfect vision, but I can still see pretty good. Would I still be able to be one, and yes I know this is over 5 years later

Hi doug, I already on Dep just waiting for my shipout day on feb. can i still transition to be a pilot? and i have a 4-yr college degree. How do i do this? -hope to hear from you. Thanks

Hello sir I wanted to know about vision are they strict on that

Can you do a medical program and become a pilot at the same time? I want to become a doctor, but I also want to be a pilot :(

I have an Associates in Instrumentation, Bachelors in Applied Arts & Science, was an I&C Tech for two years now been a Nuclear Metrologist for 6 months...I just turned 27...in decent shape, my BMI is probably 20-24%. Undergrad GPA was Magna Cum Laude. How competitive do you think it would be for me? Wondering before I reach out to an officer recruiter. Located in South Texas. Thanks!

Only question I have is do you have to be extremely tall to be a fighter pilot? I’m currently enlisted in the marines and aspiring to go officer but I’m not entirely sure what’s the height requirement. I am only 5 foot tall and I looked it up online heard mixed stuff even in fact said marines don’t have a height limit. I haven’t been able to ask a pilot around here or just too nervous to make a fool of myself in front of them. Please and thank you.

What if I'm already an instrumented rated pilot. Would I still have to start from scratch on the learning how to fly process?

Is there any difference between the word piolot and aviator. Cuz I heard that navys call the word "pilot" that whe usally I use as aviator.

What is you want to be in a two seater plane

How do you go about negotiating with a recruiter to stay on the fighter pilot path

Is there anything you can do if you are put with an aircraft you don’t particularly want to fly? I know you said everyone enjoys what they do but just out of curiosity

Hey man I am about to join rotc next year and I would love to be a jet pilot however yu explained it does not always happen that way. My question is if I were to fly helicopters for the navy. when i get out are you still able to know how to fly planes or would i only know how o fly helicopters? seems like a dumb question but my goal after i get out of the navy is to be a private jet pilot for companies, pro sports teams or musicians. So I was wondering. thanks man

Would getting a B.S. in Aerospace Administrations and Operations with the Professional Pilot program at my University help me significantly?

If I want to fix the aircraft should I go into the navy or Air Force?

and did you have to ever go into combat was that all your missions or not all the time

Hey is the ASTB just like the ASVAB but with aviation qs added in? Im specifically concerned with how hard the math is. It's just easy solve for X right?

When do you get a call sign?