Q&A for How to Become a Navy Pilot

No. Your educational merit will not affect your rank. You will still be commissioned as an Ensign, and you will still be promoted as everyone else.

Any officer jobs will require a four-year degree. Once you've obtained that, contact your recruiter. They can then send you to OCS, which is where you will learn leadership roles.

Age does matter, and you do need to work hard. People's lives will depend on you.

You must be a Navy officer to be a Navy pilot. There are many ways to become a Navy officer. Check the official US Navy website to choose a path on how you want to become a Navy officer.

It's not required and not having it won't prevent you from becoming a pilot. It's perfectly fine if you want to have a major in biochemistry, but I recommend spending your money on classes related to flying/physics/math.

During your undergrad, you should plan on taking math up to Calculus II or Linear Algebra (if you are not already majoring in it). You should also take at least two semesters of introductory physics classes, both of which will rely heavily on your fundamental understanding of math. From there, if you are capable of taking more specific classes like the physics of flight, fluid & thermal dynamics or material physics you should. These will all help you stand out. Every college or university will assign you an academic adviser who will be immensely helpful in class selection to make sure you graduate in a timely manner and have a well-built resume as a base for your career as a Naval aviator.

The Navy will pay for it if you are enlisted.

OCS is located in Newport, Rhode Island. You will be there for 12 weeks, and you will go to Pensacola, FL upon graduation.

Yes! The United States government has recently opened up all military positions to both men and women.

Yes. You can become an officer through NROTC or OCS and still be a navy pilot.

You don’t need to have a specific degree to become a Navy pilot, but a degree in a STEM-related field is preferred. You must have a bachelor's degree.

Yes, those with green cards who permanently reside in the US.

For males, the minimum height requirement is 63 inches; for females, it is 58 inches.

No. To become a commissioned officer in the navy, you need a bachelor's degree.

Color blindness is a disqualifying condition for even a private or corporate pilot license, and you can be sure that the US Navy is even more strict in their qualifications.

You can enlist at 18. From then, expect adding time at OCS, flight school, and college. This will determine your minimum age to actually fly.

It's a bit over $USD87,000. This is much higher than other salaries in the armed forces, because there is a shortage of pilots in all of the branches.

Enlistment into the U.S. Navy, or any branch of the U.S. military, by foreign nationals is limited to those who are legally residing in the United States and possess an Immigration and Naturalization Service Alien Registration Card- AKA "Green Card". In order to be commissioned an officer, you must be a native-born or naturalized United States citizen.

If you are born in the US, then you are officially a US citizen. The navy does not discriminate on ethnicity and race.

Yes, when you are in the reserve you can go to college and the navy will pay for your education.

The process for becoming a navy pilot is the same for a woman as the navy does not discriminate.

Any kind of 4 year Bachelor’s degree is acceptable to become an officer in any branch of the U.S Armed Forces.

You will need a 4-year degree, be a U.S. citizen, and be qualified for sea duty. General qualifications vary on if you are serving, if you have served before, or if you have never served.