Need Advice! Stay in Navy or Not?

Question

I have been in Navy ROTC for 2 years now and I am running into a problem. I don't know why I want to be in Navy, other than to strictly fly F-18 Hornets (or the F-35). I feel that this is an inappropriate reason to join the service because I am thinking of this as more of an opportunity for myself to have a fun job, and not as an opportunity to be an officer and a leader (which is supposed to come first).

Major: Aerospace Engineering
Interests: F-18 and engineering

I do like leading, but what I don't like is managing. I heard some briefs on submarines about how officers start out walking around and just checking on their crew to make sure they are doing what they need, but that seems a lot more like managing to me. I prefer leadership that I had seen in one of my internships where a team leader manages a project and coordinates with other team members to make sure that they are finishing their parts, and then the team leader presents the results to the project leaders. That description is probably a little vague but the point is that I don't just want to walk around and make sure people are working, I want to lead a project, not lead a crew to make sure an engine keeps running or something.

I have never been a big fan about the moving aspect of Navy and deployments. I think that I could bear them if I liked what I was doing, but I've never wanted those, and I have always liked the thought of settling down somewhere after I graduated.

Basically, I'm nervous that if I decide to stay in ROTC, I commission, and lets say I even get F-18 slotted, that I will eventually hate my job because I am not in Navy ROTC for patriotic reasons, or because I like Navy over other branches, or because of any family members being in Navy (none have been in Navy before). I really chose Navy ONLY because they had F-18's, and I thought landing on carriers was cool.

So, should I stay in Navy ROTC, and just hope that I will eventually end up liking the other parts? Or should I just quit the program now and do engineering (which I also like, just not AS much as I would like to fly an f-18).

Sorry this is so long, I only have 5 days left to decide and I've already talked to several Lieutenants, family, and friends. Just looking for your advice/opinions. Please don't refer to Navy benefits, I want to do what will make me most happy in life, not what gives me the most money or benefits.

Answer 1

Drop out....stay home.

Answer 2

It is unclear if you are referring to switching over to Navy Ocs in some Engineering capacity or the civilian world as an engineer. There is an eight year active duty commitment after earning wings, so essentially, ten years after graduation. If you were to commission with an Nrotc Scholarship and go into some other field, the active duty commitment could be as little as five years. Without an Nrotc Scholarship, only three years and without an Nrotc Scholarship, those three years would earn full post 9/11 Gi Bill educational benefits that could help pay for a graduate or professional education. Three years of Navy officer managerial experience would help to gain a better position than straight out of school......

http://www.jrofficer.com/news/career-opportunities/engineering/

.....or admission to a pretty good MBA program that could be largely financed by the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon. This could set a guy up for a very comfortable life, which in turn could be the prelude to a happy life.

In terms of being an engineer for the Navy, they have been advertising for Civil Engineers and for Nuclear Propulsion Officers.

See the jobs listed at the very bottom of this web page:

http://www.dailycal.org/

The Navy obviously has other planes than an F-18. In fact 25% of Navy Aircraft are helicopters. My friend went the Navy Aviation route but just could not hack landing on carriers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_United_States_military_aircraft

Consider what a junior engineer is going to be doing compared to what an Ensign who is not an Aviator is going to be doing. Your idea of the type of managing military officers are engaged in is more like the job of NCO's as alluded to in another answer. Officers are more macro managers and financial managers not micro managers.

These videos are from a Marine Officer's perspective rather Navy, but I think they might be helpful...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mBr1UydKf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaQV0o55pOM

Good Luck!

Answer 3

You have worked this hard only to quit this far in? Some people would kill to be in the position you are in, and to have the chance you have. If this is all because you don't want to be a leader, and manage others, and have a big impact on the world then maybe you shouldn't stay in the Navy. I am enlisted in FC ATT right now, and I hear people all the time talk about how they would go undes if they could when they have the chance to be an FC. It sickens me. They got FC (a good rate) because they have the power to used their brain, and they go and say something stupid like "undes isn't that bad my friend is undes an he says it's ok". USE YOUR BRAIN, AND BE A LEADER! Do not quit because you don't want the responsibilities of a leader. I will say I am not a leader, but if I was pushed into the leader position I would try to be the best leader there is. Managing is a part of being a leader. Don't waste this opportunity.

Answer 4

Many things get idealized. Officers 'Leading' vs, 'Managing' is one.



I did 20+ years on boomers. Each of my NECs were very highly focused. My primary NECs required 18 months of schooling. I have never met an officer who had any idea what I did on subs. I worked in the Navigation Center. My department Head was the Navigator. Each Nav spent most of his time in the wardroom, and rotating watchstations back in Maneuvering. Navs do focus some attention on the QMs and navigational charts. But it is when we surface that the Nav gets to 'shine' and do his thing. But they were always lost in my computer center.



So I never felt like any Officer ever did much to 'lead' anyone. We each had our jobs. We each knew our jobs, and underway some crewmen could function happily for weeks without any interfacing with any officer.



Equipment breaks and gets fixed. Repair parts must be purchased and that always meant going to see the Nav to sign a chit. I could make-up a story about what the part does, they could not tell. But it was a feature of the wardroom interplay, that they needed to be able to brief the CO about the repairs we were doing. On one boat we had a CO who would walk through the boat, and ask about repairs. So he could try to trip up the JOs. After a career of 20 years on four boats, I only knew of that one CO who did that. Most of the other COs, I am not sure if they could find the Nav Center.



Officers fraternize together, removed from the crew. I am at a loss to picture any 'team', or 'team-

work', or how any officer functions as a 'team-leader'.



As I began senior, I scheduled periodic training, and refresher schools for the men in my division. And I posted those schedules for everyone to see. Any officer could walk through to review those schedules, but it they did, it was when the crew was not present.



The idealized notion of 'Leadership' or 'Team-leader' is lost on me. But then I am only career Navy.



''Management' in terms of budgeting and signing chits for repair parts, I can see. But that rarely requires any interaction with subordinates.



You speak of flying. I have never stepped on a carrier. Carriers have lots of pilots. Regular officers are in charge of each division [A-gang, deck], Nuc officers hold all DivO positions back aft. Chops only work in supply. Navs only work in Nav [mostly physics Phds]. So who do the pilots 'Lead'?



Pilots have their own quarters, briefing rooms and mess. they are not DivOs.



I do not mean to argue with you. I mean only to clear up a confusion.



I question what form 'Leading', 'Team-Leader', or 'Manager' would take for a pilot. A pilot flies his/her aircraft.



You mentioned: 'leading a crew to make sure an engine keeps running or something'. The crew of techs who would be a$$ deep in jet parts are highly trained. If you did any form of 'leading' in their presence, a chief would quickly show-up to take you by the arm and lead you away from them, before you made a fool of yourself. Consider how many college degrees would likely in within that crew of techs. Possibly more than in your wardroom. Unless you somehow had experience rebuilding jet engines [which is unlikely], your leadership would be out of place.



I am not chewing you out here. I only mean to keep you firmly based in reality.



Get your degree, go fly an F-18 and have fun. :)

Answer 5

Most officer jobs in the Navy are boring most of the time. That's a fact of life. And most of what officers do is far more management oriented than anything hands on like you want. At least not as a pilot, and not until you become much more senior.



I'm concerned because you have really high goals for the Navy, and there's a lot of stuff that you don't have control over. There's some unrealistic expectations at work.



You could be the most ridiculous candidate they've ever seen at API and P-Cola. Guess what? No Strike seats for selection. Heck, not even any fixed-wing slots. The world needs SH-60 drivers, too. Up cyclic, down collective away!



It's nice to want to be a FAG (Fighter-Attack Guy), but how do you know you wouldn't enjoy driving E-2s? Or -60s? Or even C-2s/P-8s? How well do you know those communities?



Basically, right now I would honestly tell you to probably pull chocks and leave, because I just think you've programmed yourself that ("If I do this one thing, it will be awesome!") when that's not necessarily true. It might be awesome...or it might not. You never know. There's so many factors that are outside of your control that to make that the requirement is almost bound to set you up for disappointment at some area. If you're willing to open yourself to more options, I'd be willing to say stick around.



One thing I would mention-after about 5 years of fleet time, no matter what most people wanted to do, they generally like what they do. As a SWO, I've met tons of Fallen Angels who came to the boat hating life and ended up finding something they really enjoyed about ship-driving and sticking around for more of it.

Answer 6

there is not any assure you may even have the skill to reenlist so if I have been you, i could basically concentration on the present difficulty that's first honestly enlisting then getting by your contract.

Answer 7

If u drop out you will regret it for the rest of your life