Do I Need a Degree to Be a Navy Pilot?
Most associate the Navy with boats, but it employs many superior pilots and aviation experts. Becoming a pilot for the Navy isn’t as simple as signing an application; it only employs the best of the best. Plan to not only complete a degree along the way, but to gain years of Navy experience before you get in the cockpit.
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Navy Pilot
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A Navy pilot uses his first-rate education and years of experience to fly Navy aircraft; he learns to land on both land and ships. The Navy also employs naval flight officers, who assist with takeoff and landing procedures. Many different types of aircraft are available to aspiring pilots, many of them cutting-edge and unavailable to civilian pilots. All potential pilots must be over 18 and meet all the Navy physical and mental fitness requirements before being eligible for the pilot training program.
Education
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A bachelor’s degree is necessary for candidates who want to become Naval pilots. The Officer Candidate School is an essential step on the path to becoming a Navy pilot. Officer Candidate School is designed to help college graduates transition from school to a position as a Navy officer. It’s only offered in Newport, Rhode Island.
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Experience
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After you finish Officer Candidate School, you must spend six weeks at an indoctrination program in Pensacola, Florida. Three phases of flight training follow the Florida program and when you graduate, you’re allowed to pilot Navy aircraft. You will be assigned to your Flight Replacement Squadron -- a type of Navy unit trained to operate a specific type of aircraft -- where you will learn even more skills before you’re fully eligible to fly on your own.
Funding
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If you’re not finished with college yet, the Navy offers a number of programs to help you financially. The Navy Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program is the suggested option for people seeking to become Navy pilots. It provides you with the money to finish college, military benefits, housing and a monthly income; you can move from that program to the Officer Candidate School. Speak to a Navy recruiter to get started.
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