Pilots aren’t the only Officers behind our aircraft. Naval Flight Officers are the navigators, the lookouts and the weapon operators inside naval aviation. Whether you’re hunting submarines from a P-8 Poseidon, navigating an E-2 Hawkeye through enemy territory or dropping bombs from the backseat of an F-18 fighter jet—it’s your skills that make the mission possible.

Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) are an important component in an exclusive, world-class group of Officers. This job will require you to perform at the best of your ability in your aircraft at all times. Making use of your advanced training and unparalleled knowledge to provide the utmost safety and security in the world’s skies. As an NFO, your responsibilities include:

• Studying aerodynamics, aircraft engine systems, meteorology, navigation, flight planning and flight safety
• Training and specializing in EA-18G Growler electronic countermeasures aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye early warning and control aircraft or the new P-8A Poseidon antisubmarine aircraft
• Electronically detecting and tracking ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles

As a Naval Flight Officer, missions and assignments can be anywhere around the globe. This includes working from carrier battle groups, or other sea-based platforms, and at Naval Air Stations or other locations on shore.

Those pursuing a Naval Flight Officer role must first attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI, and then complete a six-week air indoctrination course at Naval Aviation Schools Command, in Pensacola, FL. From there, prospective NFOs attend primary flight training.

NFO candidates then request an aircraft pipeline and enter the intermediate phase of flight training, which builds upon basic flight and navigation training. The final phase is advanced naval flight training, focusing on mission specifics. After completion, candidates are awarded their “wings of gold” and report to their respective Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRSs) for further training specific to their aircraft.

Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.

Post-Service Opportunities

Specialized training received and work experience gained in the course of service can lead to valuable credentialing and occupational opportunities in related fields in the civilian sector.

Following your initial flying tour as a Naval Flight Officer, you can attend the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA, where you may be able to earn a master’s or doctoral degree while being paid full-time.

Opportunities for further education within this platform include:

• Navy College Program
• VOLED Assistance Center
• VOLED Region Advisors
• The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
• Navy War College (NWC)
• USAF Air University Air Command and Staff College

Currently, this position in the Navy Reserve is open only to prior or current military aviators.

Serving part-time as a Navy Reserve Sailor, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling,Naval Flight Officers in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes.

For annual training, Naval Flight Officers may serve anywhere in the world, whether on a ship at sea or at bases and installations on shore.

Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Navy Reserve Sailors.

Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) – or the equivalent of that.

NFOs in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Your prior experience as an Officer satisfies the initial leadership training requirement – so you will not need to go through Officer Training again.

A four-year degree is required to work as a NFO. Candidates seeking an Officer position in this community must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a technical field.

All candidates must also be U.S. citizens, willing to serve worldwide and qualified for sea duty.

General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you’re currently serving, whether you’ve served before or whether you’ve never served before.

America’s Navy is approximately 450,000 Sailors, 300 ships and submarines, and 3,700 aircraft strong. Water and salt flow through our veins in the same proportion as the sea. That mighty force is the lifeblood of the greatest Navy ever to sail unstoppably upon it, slip stealthily beneath it or fly unchallenged above it. And we defend with honor, courage, and commitment every hour of every day. We are America’s Navy. We are forged by the sea.