The career path of a naval aviator:
2-3 Years: The first two to three years in the Navy will be spent in flight school. The exact amount of time spent in flight school depends on what pipeline you are assigned to after primary. This also includes time spent at the RAG (replacement air group) which is the squadron that teaches you how to fly your assigned aircraft.
3 Year Sea Duty: Once you are qualified on your assigned aircraft you will be sent to a fleet squadron where you will remain for the next three years. During your time here you will deploy and fly on a regular basis.
3 Year Shore Duty: After your three years is up at the fleet squadron you will be moved to shore duty consisting of any number of flying or non-flying billets. You could be assigned anywhere from a RAG squadron to help instruct the new pilots about their aircraft to a NROTC unit. There are other possibilities as well, some that allow you to fly, some that do not.
2 Year Dissociated Tour: After you have completed a three year shore duty you will be switched back to shore duty where you will hold a nonflying billet with a squadron. You will be assigned as a department head, for example: Safety Department, Maintenance Department, Admin, etc.
After this tour it depends on many different factors where you go. To be eligible for command later on in your career you must have a master's degree so some aviators use this time to go and earth their masters. You could also be assigned as an aid to a government official or sent to XO/CO school if you have already attained you master's degree. After that there is no set career path; everything depends on what you want, your fitness reports up to the present time and then needs of the Navy.
2-3 Years: The first two to three years in the Navy will be spent in flight school. The exact amount of time spent in flight school depends on what pipeline you are assigned to after primary. This also includes time spent at the RAG (replacement air group) which is the squadron that teaches you how to fly your assigned aircraft.
3 Year Sea Duty: Once you are qualified on your assigned aircraft you will be sent to a fleet squadron where you will remain for the next three years. During your time here you will deploy and fly on a regular basis.
3 Year Shore Duty: After your three years is up at the fleet squadron you will be moved to shore duty consisting of any number of flying or non-flying billets. You could be assigned anywhere from a RAG squadron to help instruct the new pilots about their aircraft to a NROTC unit. There are other possibilities as well, some that allow you to fly, some that do not.
2 Year Dissociated Tour: After you have completed a three year shore duty you will be switched back to shore duty where you will hold a nonflying billet with a squadron. You will be assigned as a department head, for example: Safety Department, Maintenance Department, Admin, etc.
After this tour it depends on many different factors where you go. To be eligible for command later on in your career you must have a master's degree so some aviators use this time to go and earth their masters. You could also be assigned as an aid to a government official or sent to XO/CO school if you have already attained you master's degree. After that there is no set career path; everything depends on what you want, your fitness reports up to the present time and then needs of the Navy.