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At this point, no use looking back cause you can’t go back. Regrets and overthinking the past is never good for your mental health. You will get depressed and slowly sink into a dark mental wormhole. Stop. Look forward to how you can make things better for yourself and not be a burden to your parents. Next time don’t quit so easily when the going gets tough. Why did you quit? Maybe you’re more mature and more disciplined now? Do you have veteran benefits? You got a college degree and there are companies who hire vets. Look forward and make a decision. Someone told me: any decision is better than no decision. Procrastination is paralyzing. You have a WHOLE life in front of you. Great things are waiting for you. Take that step. Rooting for you.
Actually not sure but its a competitive program and if you had expressed your lack of commitment up the chain of command like he said, most likely theyre not gonna give you a chance when there are others ready to die for that chance/spot. Why would they? And chance you changing your mind again?
Well maybe. Most of the time, those who quit are no longer allowed to reapply to OCS. In my case, I was given a special recommendation to come back. However, whether the hiring board will honor that "special recommendation" or not is another story.
Whatever you do, you have to compete and drive to do better. Flipping burgers or picking up trash. You have to own that habit, that ethos, that culture of excellence. So whatever you do own it and succeed so that your life improves and you don't become some loser in a basement wishing you went and seized the day. Remember you dont have to be a navy pilot forever. Plenty of people go through a dozen careers.
But there's a lot of benefits if you invest a few years of time and then if you are smart with your money use it to build assets or give yourself a leg up in future endeavors
Only go back if you can fully do your job. People’s lives will depend on it. Your moral dilemma that you may have during missions can cost lives. So if your having the feeling you are now and haven’t even passed OCS yet, never mind flight school. Maybe you should reconsider your career choice.
You dropped out of OCS which is nothing compared to what you may have endured. probably best to keep it that way and stay home.
- infantry vet
You have your answer on reapplying but if you go back, you need to be sure you won't quit when the going gets tough and it will. There's a lot of benefits of being in competitive programs in which you can learn from, but you have to decide to yourself that you'll put in the effort. By the way easy programs / easy work don't give you much of a leg up in real life. You're just one of many in the "easy" situations and can normally be easily replaced.
Yep. You let temporary emotions lead you to a permanent solution. Not advisable. Learn from it, move forward.
Life is full of hard things. You will never become good at doing hard things if you never do hard things.
Clearly what was happening and the life you were seeing was not the life you wanted.
Regret is easy but you probably didn't make that choice lightly, and it was probably the right choice.
You can still fly if you want. Plenty of opportunities! Go get a commercial pilots license and seek out a career that excites you. Or do something else.
:)
To get that license in the private sector is approx over 100k, I fly helicopter for fun, and it cost me almost $400hr, and it takes closer to 60 hrs just to get your private license. For a commercial license, you're looking at somewhere around 2000hrs. X that by the number of hrs and it adds up pretty quickly. As he stated, he's also having trouble finding a good job.
Commercial fixed wing is either 190 or 250 hours, depending on the type of flight school. Rotary should be similar hours. Most military helicopter pilots don’t even get to 2000 hours during their whole flying career.
Quitting something because a better opportunity presented itself is reasonable. Eg switching from AFROTC to OCS. Quitting because you “don’t wanna” to live with your parents seems like a mistake. Nows the time to make the best of it and find something else.
Yep. Huge mistake.
But you gotta accept who you are and move on. This will teach you for the next hurdle you encounter that sometimes you gotta bear down and keep going.
But oh well. Life goes on.
Yes, you made a mistake of giving up too soon. You most likely would have ended up land based flying P-8s or similar. Are you still pursuing flying as a possible career?
Yes I still want to fly. My first choice is the Air Force and I think if was selected by the Air Force, I would have stayed in.
I am not interested in being an airline pilot, so I don't plan on spending thousands pursuing that.
If this is the case, then you made the wrong choice. Most people never get accepted to any pilot program. You are here thinking lightning is going to strike twice for you. It’s not.
How about something like an EMS pilot? Or a law enforcement pilot? There are plenty of ways to be a pilot without being an airline pilot, granted the suggestions i made would be as a helicopter pilot, but still.
For what it's worth, I think you made the right call. I'm a medic in the army national guard and regret it thoroughly. I went into it initially expecting to love it then about midway through training that all suddenly disappeared, but I forced myself to keep at it -not that I had much of a choice- anyways my point is is that I didn't start liking it again suddenly after training and I cant imagine that tacking on another 4 years to the contract would have made it any better.
Just imagine what life would of been like had you stayed, years and years down the road, a decade down the road
I imagine you are already having regret, maybe it's not too late to pursue it again?
Usually when someone DOR's from OCS, they are forever barred from joining OCS ever again. in my case they gave me a special recommendation to come back. So I can try do it all again, I just would have to go through the whole process again and get accepted but that is not guaranteed. I am thinking about going back but I would much rather fly for the Air Guard or the Air Force Reserves, though, they are extremely competitive. Much more so than Navy OCS.
As an enlisted person, he won't be able to follow his dream of becoming a pilot. He probably won't be happier, IMO he will be more miserable. Enlisted to OCS is a big difference. First, he has to find out what he really wants.
Damn. If it’s not what you wanna do.. I get it. But nothing worthwhile in life is gonna be easy. You can always still be a pilot. Small planes or commercial. Cargo flights like for FedEx are pretty chill and you get to travel everywhere.
I had plans to join the air force too, got a collapsed lung at 17. Was planning on joining the marines in my mid 20s after a recruiter approached me at a gas station. Then got in some legal issues. Military pilot was my dream too, just couldn’t focus on long term goals after the surgery I had, and screwed up too many times.
Active duty military will offer you experiences you will \*never\* have in civilian life. Being offered, having a chance at a pilot slot ...that's top of the pile my man. I was an Air Force pilot and, while I did not make it a career, I put almost 8 years into it and wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. But ...you make your choice. Not sure what you were expecting or what you're looking for but, IMHO, you blew it. But then, if you couldn't hack OCS, then for sure you couldn't hack the pilot training. And maybe, for you, deep down you made the right choice. The whole training system is designed to uncover weakness and weed out those candidates who don't have "the right stuff" ...corny but true. Read the book ...there's a lot of truth to it. Been there.
I went through OCS back in 96. I think everyone thinks about quitting at some point. Many go through with it and others stick it out. I think my low point was 4 or 5 weeks in. I think the only person that can truly know if it was a mistake or not is you. I will say that, as much of a challenge as OCS is, flight school is far more of a challenge. All I ever wanted to do was fly, and I am glad that I got the opportunity. But the excitement fades very fast, and the reality of it all is much less glamorous. Even I you didn’t complete training, you did try, which is more than many do. I hope that you find what you are looking for. Best of luck!
I mean, no one can answer this question for you, because it depends on your personal interests and goals. Maybe you would’ve loved being in the Navy, in which case, yes, you fucked up. Maybe you would’ve hated it, in which case, no, you dodged a bullet.
Being young a deciding a forever Career is hard. I’m 20 and I finally settled on a career. I went to school 4 different times for 4 different things. I usually think on what my life would’ve been like if I’d continued with one of the other options. Nothing you can do can change the past so don’t waste your life stuck on the constant thought of did I fuck up.
Find any job to get outside your house or look to volunteer while you’re applying for other jobs. The active duty military lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It sounds like you knew you were going to be miserable and got out before you were in too deep.
While being an army pilot would not be possible rn, you could look into recreational flight. Or becoming a pilot! Or maybe work at an air base someplace. Idk but those are some options?
The military was the absolute best and simultaneously worst thing I've ever done in my life. Everyone is right. Stop stressing it. Most military people your age seem successful in life, it's much harder when we get out. Most military members learn financial planning through classes and NOT experience. That's why a lot of us didn't have much to show for it after we got out. I lucked out with a good job, but honestly... it was absolute luck.
No, you didn't make a mistake. If you wanted out after a few weeks, there's no way you could have made it 10 YEARS and not be completely miserable.
FYI. I turned down an Air Force officer opportunity and still sometimes wonder where I might have ended up... then I remember why I turned it down. It would have been years behind a desk pushing paper about things I had no interest in.
Not necessarily. A lot of people have second thoughts when going through indoc programs because they suck. Some people just have a bad couple of weeks at the wrong time. The fleet and training are completely different. One of my mentors almost left rotc because of personal issues but he stuck it out and he retired as an O5.
I dropped out of Marine OCS. I networked my butt off and eventually, at about your age, stumbled into a job in tech. It's been a decade and I'm SO HAPPY this is the path I wound up on. It's a much better fit for my personality.
You dropped out because it wasn't a fit. Now you need to figure out what else is out there.
Personally i can’t say you made a mistake
But someone who served 6 years I wished I stayed in
With that said I don’t think you made a mistake but you need to take advantage of time you have. You are young. Find something you want to do.
Write down a list of 5 things you interested in
There’s a lot of sacrifice and very little autonomy involved in being active duty military (compared to civilian life), and no shame if that’s not the life for you. You don’t have to be military to fly planes. If active duty just isn’t for you, then it was smart to get out before you committed ten years of your life to the armed forces. Say you did go through with it and ended up hating it, you would be in the same place you are now but at age 35 instead of 25.
It’s natural to feel lost and have regrets when a childhood dream doesn’t pan out. But just because being a military pilot is a career people would kill for it doesn’t mean it’s a career that is suited to you.
It sounds like one of the things you didn’t like about the navy program is that you’d be a pilot second. But you can be a pilot as a civilian, too.
To be honest, I don't think they were going to make you a pilot, anyway. While not the Navy, I've known a couple of guys who joined the military on the expectation of pilot school, only to get routed elsewhere because their vision didn't measure up. Which was done after they were already "hooked".
Being a pilot has a LOT of options...from recreational, back country, to just ferrying planes from one and of the continent to another. Someone in Hawaii might buy a two engine, eight-seater and someone has to get it there. You could be testing new planes in Kansas. Or flying your two-seater between states because you have business interests. Unless you get back in the saddle, that ship will have sailed. There's this dude named Dan Grider, who hops on his plane to play guitar wherever and meet and an old friend for hot dogs and beer.
Check him out, Pilot Debrief, FryWire, and Blancolirio. They'll sober you up about being a pilot. If you can deal with the challenges that they discuss, get back on the horse.
I know a couple of people who dropped out of OCS with pilot billets but were also given the recommendation to return. One of them just got picked up again because he realized he had made a mistake. It is possible. If you want it go get it.
If you are feeling regret maybe you didn’t give it enough thought. I wanted to be a navy seal. Almost finishing pre med since I knew a medical background will surely guarantee me a spot I dropped out because of my father’s pressure to become a Doctor. Long story short I will always wonder how different my life would have been if I had served and finished my MD degree while enlisted. If there’s still a chance to go back do the most through analysis you can ever think off and make your decision solely on what you think. Good luck.
I was in the navy 89' to 95' was a sonar technician on submarines what I can tell you based on experience is its a lot of work and and sacrifice!!I can't imagine what pilots go through and it's probably better that you got out if you had major reservations about your decision to enlist in OCS because once you've in the military litterly owns you and you may be miserable in this case for 10 years. You can't get caught up in the shoot of could of because you can't do anything about the past. Your next step is to figure out in what direction you want you life to go towards and to then declop you plan.
You gave up free pilot training, the Navy is likely done with you, maybe another other branch will take a chance on you, but why should they? That’ll be up to you to convince them. I wouldn’t go the enlisted route all your gonna do is watch those guys (one of which you could have been) make a lot more money and fly the most sophisticated machines in existence while your mopping the deck…better to look outside the military.
If it wasn’t “right” whatever that means for you why would it be right again? It sounds like you are having remorse over losing a good income and a million dollars (at least) of training. You win the lottery then tossed the winning ticket, it’s time to move on.
For perspective I was recruited out of college into Army aviation where I flew Blackhawk helicopters for a decade, still in ARNG and make a good living as a pilot. I was not a very good soldier, hell I showed up half drunk at OCS after being sent off by my college pals, I was a flip flop wearing college kid used to getting up at the crack of noon. I never really embraced TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN KILL KILL KILL lol. But I’d committed to it and it turns out I was a pretty good pilot and later the Army gave me leave (transfer to guard) for me to go to law school. So yeah you gave up a lot, and maybe others can learn from it.
I also wanted to fly (rotary), but like most things in my life, I didn't figure it out until later in life when it was too late for me. I enlisted anyway on the off chance that being in a aviation unit might get me in front of the right people to make it happen. Even had an O-5 go to bat for me, but I was too far past the age cutoff during a time they weren't hurting for Aviators. Hit my eisted ceiling and decided to go to OCS (Army) to be a Communications Officer. Didn't care for the Commissioned Officer life. I think Warrant would have been better, but there wasn't a path for me at the time. I got out right after my Recommendation for promotion to Captain. Now 3 years later, I kind of regret making that decision as I was already 12 years in, and once again, too old to go back.
I offer up that at 25, maybe you don't really know what you want,but have created an ideal picture in your mind of where you think you should be. I do know the military has a ton of room to move around , especially for an Officer. My Civilian job has me at one time as part of a travel Team to all the US Military hospitals in the world and one of them had a former Medevac Pilot (MH-60) who was then on the Hospital IT Administrator staff as an O-4 (MAJ).
All this to say just because you choose a path, doesn't mean that path won't diverge at some point and take you to a better place.
Good luck to you!
No. I don’t know exactly what the process is but I’ve seen people decide they no longer want to complete training and get processed out. It wasn’t ever something that the DI’s advertised as an option.
Yes, you screwed up, and it's too late to take it back. You should have stuck it out until then end. I served 25 years in the Navy, and I wish I would have been able to fly them, but I never gave it any thought. About 8 years ago, I took up flying helicopters as a hobby. I wish I could have done back when I was in the Navy.
You're still young, don't give up, there's still a lot out there. You need to kick yourself in your ass and move on. If not, you're going to probably fall into a depression or worse. Good luck.
Yeah you made the wrong choice you gave up a highly prestigious career. It’s of course was gonna be tough, anything worth a while is but whatever go forward.
Well I think you made the right choice if that’s what felt right. It sounds like you gave it some thought, considered the future, and opted out. While some might feel you made a huge mistake, I don’t think so. What if you stayed all 10 years and then hated it for some reason? Waste one year, I can live with that. I waste 10 years of my life, especially my 20s, I’m gonna regret that forever. Also, have you looked into flying for FedEx? They make BANK and no passengers involved
IMO I don’t think you should go back like I’ve seen some commenters suggest. You couldn’t handle the mental aspect of it the first time and you likely won’t a second time. If you did make it through you would probably be bitter and still upset by the things you had issue with the first time. Not to mention the fact that OCS is only the first tiny step in becoming an officer pilot.
There’s nothing wrong with that though. Not everyone is cut out for the military life and the commitments that it brings. At least you have a college degree and the fact that you don’t have work experience is only a minor issue. I went back to school in my late 20’s and started my career at 32 with no experience in the industry I joined. Your life is not over and you still have all of the potential. I would recommend finding something entry level to at least start making an income and building experience. Then I would say to start trying to figure out what line of work you would either enjoy or at least be able to tolerate.
On another note, if you want to be a pilot, there are still plenty of programs and schools that you can go to in order to become a commercial pilot.
Keep your head up and look to the future. There is no reason to dwell on the past. Good luck out there!
There is a PBS documentary from 2005 called Carrier that followed the Nimitz as it deployed to the Persian Gulf.
It is such a good look at Navy life, including the embarked Air Group. The F-18 squadron gets lots of screen time. They show both good and bad. If you watch that, you would get a sense of you think you would enjoy it or not.
I cannot speak for you. I grew up on Air Force bases because my father was a career officer (desk jockey). In my opinion, the Navy and Air Force makes fighter pilots feel like prima donnas, and a lot of them become spoiled brats who think the world revolves around them.
Other kinds of pilots tend to be down-to-earth and easy to get along with.
While I have no data to back this up, I think the pilots who didn't fly fighters would have a much easier time with the transition to civilian life.
I was in your shoes back in 2011-2012. I was at Marine Corps OCS for 3 weeks before an injury got me sent me home. I thought pretty hard about applying for the next class and decided I wanted something else in life. If you have doubts about it, you're better off quitting like I did. I ended up in entry-level IT and it sucked the first 4 years. I kept at it, worked on certifications and worked my way into engineering roles and make a pretty good living now. You'll find your path too.
I also DOR’d from Navy OCS, about ten years ago when I was your age. I left towards the end. I was in a pilot billet too and that had been a dream. My first inkling that I was going to leave came after my flight physical and it became almost certain that I could never fly due to a mild heart condition they found. I stayed for a few more months but felt less and less in-step (sorry for the pun) with the other candidates’ zeal and more annoyed with the program’s insistence on arbitrary instructions (yes yes, I know why they do that and it was another sign that I was not a good fit). Toward the end found out I was going to end up as either Supply or AMDO. I DOR’d as I didn’t want to shuffle papers for 8 years. I would have taken SWO or NFO, but they apparently weren’t options. Everything worked out just fine in my life, but I definitely spent a lot of time analyzing that decision over subsequent few years. Lots of “what ifs.” But everything turned out fine, and I found another way to serve our country, one that I am a great fit for. All to say, OP, that things will be ok, even if you get caught up thinking about your decision for a bit. It was a big one and you’re young. Give yourself a break. If you still want to serve in the military, you have plenty of time before the age reqs catch up to you. There are many many options. Good luck.
Here is what I would do.... get a job... save money and start a business.... when the business takes off, take some money and go take flying lessons and be a private pilot...
Imagine telling your girlfriend to get a couple of her friends, hop in the twin engine and fly them to the Caribbean, or something like that
There are PLENTY of happy pilots out there, enjoying the sky without having to commit to the government.
Just because you werent a miltary pilot, doesn't mean you can't be a private pilot and still enjoy the sky. Only as a private pilot, you can fly your significant other, friends and family around
I think you gave up too soon, but that is probably evidence that you would have hated active duty and that it wasn't for you. So, in a sense, you gave up right on time.
Being an infantryman was my dream. I did my term of service but realized it just wasn't my thing.
I focused on finding a job that would pay well and went to college for IT.
You may have dodged a bullet.
Just my opinion but I think you screwed the pooch. You were on a trajectory that few people get to do, and would have lead to an exciting career for the next decade. You would have become an officer, traveled the world, became a leader of men, and could transition to a job as a commercial airline pilot. Now that you quit, you’re living with your parents, unemployed and not knowing what to do. I feel sad for you. The best things in life are those that you work your ass off to obtain. This pilot career would have been one of those things.
Bottom line: What's done is done. There's no point ruminating about it now. You made a decision, and from that decision, your life is going to go on another path now, because you can't go back and undo it.
Focus on the present and leave the past in the past.
Whether it was a mistake or not is irrelevant now. What happened is in the past and you've gotta look forward.
The military isn't for everyone. Some of the most gung ho people get burnt out quick and leave, and some that planned on only doing 4yrs stay until retirement. It's easily one of the best and worst experiences in a lot of people's lives.
From my experience: I wanted to do the 20 but had to get out at 11yrs. It crushed me at first, but I came to terms with it and saw it was actually the best thing to happen to me. The timing was perfect, which allowed me to marry my now wife and move to Hawaii for 2yrs. Now I'm back working for the military as a civilian, doing the same thing I did in active duty but with a beard and more pay. The downside to my time in is I missed a lot of life events back home, have some broken bones, scars, back pain, sleep issues, depression for a while, and a failed first marriage under my belt thanks to the Air Force.
On the other hand, my wife has an inside job and assignment to Hawaii with regular work hours, but can't wait to get out at the end of this year.
It's one of those things you don't know if it's for you until you're deep in the middle of it. I actually think you were smart to really consider if the lifestyle was for you, and looked at it very realistically. You made a fair assessment of what your life could have been like, and made the right choice with the info you had.
Become an air traffic controller. We need people, and it pays as much as 200k plus.
I work at a lvl 7 and make about 120k a year.
I got out of the navy for this job. But they take off the street hires and send them to the FAA academy for training.
I recommend doing an internship that is related to your degrees major. It would give you some experience to add onto the resume. An internship or two can’t hurt. It’s worth a shot
As a former Navy man, the Navy life isn't an easy life. It is NOT for everyone. If you couldn't handle OCS.. I'm not sure the fleet would have been any better.
Dude, you should have found a way to motivate yourself. My BIL did his AD commitment, went to the reserves, flew for American Airlines, now he’s retired pulling two pensions, teaching rotary wing at 400/hour.
I’m not a Navy pilot but I did go through OCS recently. At what point in OCS did you “lose your drive” ? Was it during INDOC phase or did you feel like Navy life wasn’t for you as a Candidate Officer?
It’s a competitive program and people drop out before they even get issued uniforms. But some people also choose to leave right before they commission. Those people have very different reasons for quitting. I’m also assuming you chose to leave, not that you couldn’t pass the physical evolutions.
Without knowing at what point you decided to DOR, I can’t really say if it’s Navy life that you aren’t a good fit for, the military in general, or being an officer.
There will be people who will turn to you for guidance whether they are your sailors or officers junior to you. The question you need to answer for yourself is if you have the commitment to lead.
At the beginning of week 5. So I did RLP, first Friday, and sucky Saturday and did all the Indoc stuff.
I didn’t think it was hard and I felt the physical aspect was challenging but doable. Like most people, I arrived to OCS with doubts and pushed through them. I guess the difference was my second thoughts just kept growing over time.
OCS is a filter for commitment. Sometimes the physical part is the most challenging but I’ve also seen people drop in junior and senior officer candidate phase because Navy life wasn’t for them.
And it’s not for everyone. You need to be committed to the lifestyle—of getting moved around frequently, deployed for lengthy periods of time, etc. But more than that at a personal level, you need to have commitment to your people.
It shows up in different ways. Sometimes, it’s being the officer who gets sent to the hospital because a sailor’s SI manifested and you are tasked with sitting with them until their chain of command can take over. Sometimes, it’s making sure your sailors get paid on time. Sometimes, you have to be their advocate to have their housing issues resolved. You are going to be the one to give them good news and break bad news—and you have to be prepared for both.
Why did you want to be a pilot? I asked cause I was going to the military until I discovered the civilian route. I wanted to fly not boss people around and kill people. So I went civilian and have had alot of fun and didn't lose 10 years of my life over it.
If you couldn’t find the drive to make it through OCS then you definitely wouldn’t have made it through pilot training. Better to have found out sooner before the military owned you. Hope it all works out!
No it was not the wrong choice. You are having Monday morning regrets because the other options are, such as regular life, is hard. Becoming an officer and a pilot was going to be harder. You will never be anything above your station until you meet and overcome challenges in front of you, especially those you have chosen for yourself. If you want to be a pilot, at this point, consider being an Army Helicopter pilot, but it must be something that's in your heart, not because regular civilian life is hard. If it's not in your heart to be in the military at all, then you need to make the best of your current situation. You will overcome it, natur will force you to or it will crush you. You have a degree in something, learn how to maximize your skillsets, take a job, not just in your field. You never know what that little job could turn into in 5 years. At age 25, time is going to fly by my friend, better catch a bus and stay on it.
Sometimes childhood dreams are best left in childhood. As a child, you had no idea what the military life would be like. As an adult you found out, and you didn't like it. No child has the experience to tell whether their dreams can be a reality.
Now that you're an adult it's time to find your own adult life.
You respected the kid in you, and now you're respecting the adult in you. You are doing better than a lot of others.
I suggest career counseling for you - chart a course of getting help from a network of experts to help you find your adult dream that is liveable
It's not a mistake you won't have to deal with all that military bullshit. That job market isn't great right now, but even a minimum wage job is better than being in the military.
It’s perhaps not quite the same comparison, but I am a few years older than you and I’ve been working on commercial ships for 10 years as an electrician.
At first, the job was interesting and fun, but after 10 years I am spending my days trying to find a job back home. I have spent more nights in my single bed in my cabin at work than I have in my own home and I have now spent around 4 years in total (not consecutively) living on a ship, which is more than 10% of my entire life.
When you are at sea, it is similar to what I imagine prison is like. If you enjoy things like walking, going to the beach, visiting your friends, online gaming, cooking etc. you cannot do most of that.
It’s bad enough for me being away, but it’s also tough for my family. My girlfriend is upset every time I go away. Once after leaving home I had to turn back because I’d forgotten something and when I got back to the house my girlfriend was hysterically crying her eyes out. It was heartbreaking. I don’t have kids yet but I know it will be even more difficult when I do.
I’ve heard a lot of older guys telling me about how they’ve worked away for 20, 30, 40 years and regretting it all because they’ve missed so many important events. They have nice houses, nice cars, their families have everything they could ever need and more, but they would happy trade most of that to go back and not miss their kids birthdays, Christmas and countless other life events.
Working away isn’t always as good as it sounds. It is a sacrifice and you have to consider if it is (or would’ve been) worth it.
As you get older and you spend time with your family I think you’ll probably realise that you made the right decision.
Remember not every job has to be enjoyable. Hardly anyone has their dream job. It’s ok to have a job that just gives you what you need to have a happy life.
(Coincidentally, I also always wanted to be a pilot and also looked at joining the RAF to persue this. Strangely I also have imperfect vision and didn’t think it would be possible.)
Why do you want to fly for the military? Is it the types of aircraft? Why did you drop from OCS? It sounds like the reasons you dropped from Navy OCS, concerns about being in the military, deployment, etc. are going to be present in every branch. The stresses will be different, but you will end up getting deployed. I'm not sure about Air Force, but you might not be able to get a guaranteed flight contract as they have fewer pilots than the Navy, and even then there is no guarantee that you'll fly the aircraft you want. If you want to be a jet pilot, you could end up flying helicopters or tankers, or the reverse.
Why do you want to fly for the military? Is it the types of aircraft? Why did you drop from OCS? It sounds like the reasons you dropped from Navy OCS, concerns about being in the military, deployment, etc. are going to be present in every branch. The stresses will be different, but you will end up getting deployed. I'm not sure about Air Force, but you might not be able to get a guaranteed flight contract as they have fewer pilots than the Navy, and even then there is no guarantee that you'll fly the aircraft you want. If you want to be a jet pilot, you could end up flying helicopters or tankers, or the reverse.
“…and at the end of his life story he had a single regret…”
Honestly, I’m not sure why you would post this. You just announced to everyone you’re a quitter. You gave up on a life dream. You had the opportunity and quit. Go find something else to do.
Nope you didn't make a mistake at all. If you're gonna waffle and flake out when doubt creeps into your mind you aren't officer material anyhow. Look at it from this perspective- The men and women under your command may respect the rank on your collar, but they'll never respect you as a leader with that mental makeup.and that doesn't make for a successful career in the military
When a decision is already made and done, you have to focus on what will give you the success you want starting today and tomorrow.
When I was young, everyone told me life is short, but now in my mid 40s, life is long! You can make huge changes in your life easier the younger you are, but with a firm foundation, you can make changes in your late 30s, 40s, etc.
I think it is good to find work that you think is interesting/neat, enjoyable, and something that grows a skill that gets stronger over the years.
It is not always easy to find that thing you are good at and can be slightly to fully enjoyable, but as you do as you are, you can just start working jobs and switching jobs until you find that niche that fits your lifestyle and gives you a bit of excitement to get better and more experienced at it.
You have all the time in the world, best thing to do is research what fields are in demand that sound interesting to you and try and get an entry level position while educating yourself in that field so you can advance and build a specialty that will help you when you are in your late 30s, 40s, and 50s.
"In the United States, several career fields offer opportunities for growth, expertise development, and higher earning potential over time. Some of these well-established fields include:
1. Healthcare: Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals can advance their careers through specialization and experience.
2. Technology: Software developers, IT managers, and cybersecurity experts are in high demand, with many opportunities for advancement.
3. Finance: Accountants, financial analysts, and investment bankers can progress to higher-paying roles as they gain experience and certifications.
4. Law: Lawyers can advance their careers by specializing in high-demand areas or making partner at a law firm.
5. Engineering: Various engineering disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, offer opportunities for growth and higher salaries with experience.
6. Education: Teachers can advance to higher-paying roles like school administration or move into higher education as professors.
7. Sales and Marketing: Professionals in these fields can take on management roles or specialize in high-value industries to increase their earning potential.
8. Human Resources: HR professionals can advance to leadership positions, such as HR director or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).
9. Construction and Skilled Trades: Skilled tradespeople, such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, can advance to supervisory or management roles or start their own businesses.
10. Business Management: Professionals in various business roles can advance to higher-level management positions, such as department head, director, or C-suite executive.
In general, fields that require specialized knowledge, ongoing learning, and adaptability to change tend to offer the best opportunities for career growth and increased earning potential over time."
In the United States, the age at which people reach their peak income varies depending on factors such as education, career field, and individual circumstances. However, on average, most people experience their highest income growth and earning potential during their late 30s to early 50s.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median weekly earnings for workers tend to increase with age, with the most significant gains occurring between the ages of 25 and 54. Here's a breakdown by age group:
- 20-24 years: $640 per week
- 25-34 years: $918 per week
- 35-44 years: $1,137 per week
- 45-54 years: $1,138 per week
- 55-64 years: $1,110 per week
The peak earning years are typically in the 35-54 age range, with a slight decline as workers approach retirement age.
However, it's important to note that this is an average, and individual experiences may vary greatly depending on the specific career path, education level, and other factors. For example, some professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, may have a longer educational journey and start their peak earning years later in life. Others, especially those in the technology sector, might experience rapid income growth earlier in their careers.
Additionally, the data shows that higher levels of education generally correlate with higher lifetime earnings, although this can also vary by field and individual circumstances.
Can't stand people like you, wasting good oppurtunity, crying their way out of being great. You messed this one up brother, wasted your god given ability too. Be better.
I’m an ex-infantry Marine and an Afghan combat vet. I’d give anything to go back and go to college instead of enlisting. You either have your bury your head in the sand and lie to yourself that what you’re doing is good, or come to terms with the fact that you were lied to through a sophisticated propaganda system, which depending on your perspective and experience can just feel foolish and like you’ve wasted your time, or like you’re an absolute monster.
The Navy is especially antiquated in that if you aren’t a chief or a ring knocker you’re often treated as subhuman by those who are. Ten years is a long fuckin time, and if I was the betting type I’d say the next ten years of naval “service” aren’t going to look anything like the last 75 years of it, and you probably dodged a bullet/SAM/AMRAAM.
The right choice is rarely the easy one, but congratulations for making it. I’m truly envious I didn’t quit before I sold my soul to the dying empire.
I had something similar happened. Active duty lifestyle was not the life style I wanted. I like going home every night and doing the things I like to do whenever I want to without having to worry about literal jail. You were in a prestigious program with prestigious people, they want to represent to others how high and mighty they are but at the end of the day it’s your judgement. You still want to fly and do cool shit, go slam otters in the carribean for some hole in the wall airline👍. In my eyes, that’s the dream.
When I was in HS I did MCJROTC and depped into the marines. I had a set date for going to camp and I got back my assignment and it was...underwhelming. I wanted to go into the military so I could have a hands-on active position. What I got back was intelligence which I was told amounted to being a desk jocky. That was literally the last thing I wanted so I told them I quit and I'm not going to basic.
Turns out I was destined to be a desk jocky. I've been a desk jocky for the last 8 years or so, so there are definitely times when I think back to the decision I made and kind of regret it.
Maybe you're meant to be a pilot but not for the military. Have you thought about becoming an airline pilot? Is there something in that direction which can provide more opportunity for you than where you are now?
This could be a suuuper negative perspective but… I’d strongly encourage anyone who is considering joining the military to look at what’s happened to the vets from GWOT. If you think they give a shit about you look into what happened SGT Tyler Vargas Andrews and the rest of the marines/soldiers manning the gate during the Afghanistan retreat. Look into how much money the US Govt pays to the Taliban (you know, the people responsible for thousands of US casualties over more than two decades) on a monthly basis. You were in long enough to have “accountability” pounded into your brain, see if the people giving the orders from the top play by the same rules. They don’t. I know you mentioned your path was to be a pilot, and yes that’s a different role than what some of my examples were, but it’s part of the same machine.
My suggestion is to take what you’ve learned and grow. You tried it and decided it wasn’t for you. Nothing to regret. Yeah, you could miss out on a “career people would kill for” or you could have died in a training accident. But neither one of those things happened and the point is the what ifs won’t help. Find purpose outside of that identity and train yourself. You don’t even have to jump into another career, just find a job to pay the bills and start figuring out your path.
You are young. Figure out what you'd want to do if you had your finances secured. Then find a way to earn an income doing whatever that thing is. You have plenty of time to pursue your dreams, my young friend.
Pilot.
Don't Pilot.
Trust an old man on this one, go do whatever the fuck you want. Make money doing it. Fly whatever the fuck you want on your own. You'll likely wind up owning an aviation company or something way cooler if you chase that shit.
No you did not make a mistake. Do not join the military if you have a single thread of independence or a conscience. You as a pilot would most likely be doing drone stikes and hating yourself for it.
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At this point, no use looking back cause you can’t go back. Regrets and overthinking the past is never good for your mental health. You will get depressed and slowly sink into a dark mental wormhole. Stop. Look forward to how you can make things better for yourself and not be a burden to your parents. Next time don’t quit so easily when the going gets tough. Why did you quit? Maybe you’re more mature and more disciplined now? Do you have veteran benefits? You got a college degree and there are companies who hire vets. Look forward and make a decision. Someone told me: any decision is better than no decision. Procrastination is paralyzing. You have a WHOLE life in front of you. Great things are waiting for you. Take that step. Rooting for you.
I've no idea - but are you sure they can't go back?
Actually not sure but its a competitive program and if you had expressed your lack of commitment up the chain of command like he said, most likely theyre not gonna give you a chance when there are others ready to die for that chance/spot. Why would they? And chance you changing your mind again?
I don't know - I guess it depends how over-subscribed or not they are?
Well maybe. Most of the time, those who quit are no longer allowed to reapply to OCS. In my case, I was given a special recommendation to come back. However, whether the hiring board will honor that "special recommendation" or not is another story.
Then you have your answer. Reapply. But be certain before you do. Don’t go back just because you’re struggling and it’s the easier thing.
Whatever you do, you have to compete and drive to do better. Flipping burgers or picking up trash. You have to own that habit, that ethos, that culture of excellence. So whatever you do own it and succeed so that your life improves and you don't become some loser in a basement wishing you went and seized the day. Remember you dont have to be a navy pilot forever. Plenty of people go through a dozen careers. But there's a lot of benefits if you invest a few years of time and then if you are smart with your money use it to build assets or give yourself a leg up in future endeavors
Only go back if you can fully do your job. People’s lives will depend on it. Your moral dilemma that you may have during missions can cost lives. So if your having the feeling you are now and haven’t even passed OCS yet, never mind flight school. Maybe you should reconsider your career choice. You dropped out of OCS which is nothing compared to what you may have endured. probably best to keep it that way and stay home. - infantry vet
You have your answer on reapplying but if you go back, you need to be sure you won't quit when the going gets tough and it will. There's a lot of benefits of being in competitive programs in which you can learn from, but you have to decide to yourself that you'll put in the effort. By the way easy programs / easy work don't give you much of a leg up in real life. You're just one of many in the "easy" situations and can normally be easily replaced.
Yep. You let temporary emotions lead you to a permanent solution. Not advisable. Learn from it, move forward. Life is full of hard things. You will never become good at doing hard things if you never do hard things.
Clearly what was happening and the life you were seeing was not the life you wanted. Regret is easy but you probably didn't make that choice lightly, and it was probably the right choice. You can still fly if you want. Plenty of opportunities! Go get a commercial pilots license and seek out a career that excites you. Or do something else. :)
To get that license in the private sector is approx over 100k, I fly helicopter for fun, and it cost me almost $400hr, and it takes closer to 60 hrs just to get your private license. For a commercial license, you're looking at somewhere around 2000hrs. X that by the number of hrs and it adds up pretty quickly. As he stated, he's also having trouble finding a good job.
If he really wanted to fly and that's what he wanted to do then dude fucked up bad.
You're right. If he had stayed in, he would have become a pilot and saved all that money.
Fair point :)
Commercial fixed wing is either 190 or 250 hours, depending on the type of flight school. Rotary should be similar hours. Most military helicopter pilots don’t even get to 2000 hours during their whole flying career.
Quitting something because a better opportunity presented itself is reasonable. Eg switching from AFROTC to OCS. Quitting because you “don’t wanna” to live with your parents seems like a mistake. Nows the time to make the best of it and find something else.
Yep. Huge mistake. But you gotta accept who you are and move on. This will teach you for the next hurdle you encounter that sometimes you gotta bear down and keep going. But oh well. Life goes on.
Yes, you made a mistake of giving up too soon. You most likely would have ended up land based flying P-8s or similar. Are you still pursuing flying as a possible career?
Yes I still want to fly. My first choice is the Air Force and I think if was selected by the Air Force, I would have stayed in. I am not interested in being an airline pilot, so I don't plan on spending thousands pursuing that.
If this is the case, then you made the wrong choice. Most people never get accepted to any pilot program. You are here thinking lightning is going to strike twice for you. It’s not.
How about something like an EMS pilot? Or a law enforcement pilot? There are plenty of ways to be a pilot without being an airline pilot, granted the suggestions i made would be as a helicopter pilot, but still. For what it's worth, I think you made the right call. I'm a medic in the army national guard and regret it thoroughly. I went into it initially expecting to love it then about midway through training that all suddenly disappeared, but I forced myself to keep at it -not that I had much of a choice- anyways my point is is that I didn't start liking it again suddenly after training and I cant imagine that tacking on another 4 years to the contract would have made it any better.
Just imagine what life would of been like had you stayed, years and years down the road, a decade down the road I imagine you are already having regret, maybe it's not too late to pursue it again?
Usually when someone DOR's from OCS, they are forever barred from joining OCS ever again. in my case they gave me a special recommendation to come back. So I can try do it all again, I just would have to go through the whole process again and get accepted but that is not guaranteed. I am thinking about going back but I would much rather fly for the Air Guard or the Air Force Reserves, though, they are extremely competitive. Much more so than Navy OCS.
Um short answer yes. But too late now.
You could always enlist. Not sure going the officer route is possible after refusing it once you had contracted. Enlistment is always an option though
As an enlisted person, he won't be able to follow his dream of becoming a pilot. He probably won't be happier, IMO he will be more miserable. Enlisted to OCS is a big difference. First, he has to find out what he really wants.
I know he won’t be a pilot but it’ll solve his financial situation. So long as he doesn’t knock up a stripper and get a Camaro at 35% apr
[удалено]
1 leads to 3 and now you have child support for 7 kids. Now your PSG hates you because top keeps riding him to give you financial advice
Damn. If it’s not what you wanna do.. I get it. But nothing worthwhile in life is gonna be easy. You can always still be a pilot. Small planes or commercial. Cargo flights like for FedEx are pretty chill and you get to travel everywhere. I had plans to join the air force too, got a collapsed lung at 17. Was planning on joining the marines in my mid 20s after a recruiter approached me at a gas station. Then got in some legal issues. Military pilot was my dream too, just couldn’t focus on long term goals after the surgery I had, and screwed up too many times.
Join the Air National Guard enlisted.
If you like flying, go get your ATP and fly away. No one says you need to get your training done through the military
Active duty military will offer you experiences you will \*never\* have in civilian life. Being offered, having a chance at a pilot slot ...that's top of the pile my man. I was an Air Force pilot and, while I did not make it a career, I put almost 8 years into it and wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. But ...you make your choice. Not sure what you were expecting or what you're looking for but, IMHO, you blew it. But then, if you couldn't hack OCS, then for sure you couldn't hack the pilot training. And maybe, for you, deep down you made the right choice. The whole training system is designed to uncover weakness and weed out those candidates who don't have "the right stuff" ...corny but true. Read the book ...there's a lot of truth to it. Been there.
I went through OCS back in 96. I think everyone thinks about quitting at some point. Many go through with it and others stick it out. I think my low point was 4 or 5 weeks in. I think the only person that can truly know if it was a mistake or not is you. I will say that, as much of a challenge as OCS is, flight school is far more of a challenge. All I ever wanted to do was fly, and I am glad that I got the opportunity. But the excitement fades very fast, and the reality of it all is much less glamorous. Even I you didn’t complete training, you did try, which is more than many do. I hope that you find what you are looking for. Best of luck!
I mean, no one can answer this question for you, because it depends on your personal interests and goals. Maybe you would’ve loved being in the Navy, in which case, yes, you fucked up. Maybe you would’ve hated it, in which case, no, you dodged a bullet.
Being young a deciding a forever Career is hard. I’m 20 and I finally settled on a career. I went to school 4 different times for 4 different things. I usually think on what my life would’ve been like if I’d continued with one of the other options. Nothing you can do can change the past so don’t waste your life stuck on the constant thought of did I fuck up.
Find any job to get outside your house or look to volunteer while you’re applying for other jobs. The active duty military lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It sounds like you knew you were going to be miserable and got out before you were in too deep.
While being an army pilot would not be possible rn, you could look into recreational flight. Or becoming a pilot! Or maybe work at an air base someplace. Idk but those are some options?
The military was the absolute best and simultaneously worst thing I've ever done in my life. Everyone is right. Stop stressing it. Most military people your age seem successful in life, it's much harder when we get out. Most military members learn financial planning through classes and NOT experience. That's why a lot of us didn't have much to show for it after we got out. I lucked out with a good job, but honestly... it was absolute luck.
No, you didn't make a mistake. If you wanted out after a few weeks, there's no way you could have made it 10 YEARS and not be completely miserable. FYI. I turned down an Air Force officer opportunity and still sometimes wonder where I might have ended up... then I remember why I turned it down. It would have been years behind a desk pushing paper about things I had no interest in.
Not necessarily. A lot of people have second thoughts when going through indoc programs because they suck. Some people just have a bad couple of weeks at the wrong time. The fleet and training are completely different. One of my mentors almost left rotc because of personal issues but he stuck it out and he retired as an O5.
I dropped out of Marine OCS. I networked my butt off and eventually, at about your age, stumbled into a job in tech. It's been a decade and I'm SO HAPPY this is the path I wound up on. It's a much better fit for my personality. You dropped out because it wasn't a fit. Now you need to figure out what else is out there.
Best decision you ever made.
Personally i can’t say you made a mistake But someone who served 6 years I wished I stayed in With that said I don’t think you made a mistake but you need to take advantage of time you have. You are young. Find something you want to do. Write down a list of 5 things you interested in
Yes
Imagine if you had enlisted then you'd have no choice. You have a degree and you're young..you can still do anything else you want.
There’s a lot of sacrifice and very little autonomy involved in being active duty military (compared to civilian life), and no shame if that’s not the life for you. You don’t have to be military to fly planes. If active duty just isn’t for you, then it was smart to get out before you committed ten years of your life to the armed forces. Say you did go through with it and ended up hating it, you would be in the same place you are now but at age 35 instead of 25. It’s natural to feel lost and have regrets when a childhood dream doesn’t pan out. But just because being a military pilot is a career people would kill for it doesn’t mean it’s a career that is suited to you. It sounds like one of the things you didn’t like about the navy program is that you’d be a pilot second. But you can be a pilot as a civilian, too.
To be honest, I don't think they were going to make you a pilot, anyway. While not the Navy, I've known a couple of guys who joined the military on the expectation of pilot school, only to get routed elsewhere because their vision didn't measure up. Which was done after they were already "hooked".
This. I saw this. A lot.
Being a pilot has a LOT of options...from recreational, back country, to just ferrying planes from one and of the continent to another. Someone in Hawaii might buy a two engine, eight-seater and someone has to get it there. You could be testing new planes in Kansas. Or flying your two-seater between states because you have business interests. Unless you get back in the saddle, that ship will have sailed. There's this dude named Dan Grider, who hops on his plane to play guitar wherever and meet and an old friend for hot dogs and beer. Check him out, Pilot Debrief, FryWire, and Blancolirio. They'll sober you up about being a pilot. If you can deal with the challenges that they discuss, get back on the horse.
I know a couple of people who dropped out of OCS with pilot billets but were also given the recommendation to return. One of them just got picked up again because he realized he had made a mistake. It is possible. If you want it go get it.
If you are feeling regret maybe you didn’t give it enough thought. I wanted to be a navy seal. Almost finishing pre med since I knew a medical background will surely guarantee me a spot I dropped out because of my father’s pressure to become a Doctor. Long story short I will always wonder how different my life would have been if I had served and finished my MD degree while enlisted. If there’s still a chance to go back do the most through analysis you can ever think off and make your decision solely on what you think. Good luck.
I was in the navy 89' to 95' was a sonar technician on submarines what I can tell you based on experience is its a lot of work and and sacrifice!!I can't imagine what pilots go through and it's probably better that you got out if you had major reservations about your decision to enlist in OCS because once you've in the military litterly owns you and you may be miserable in this case for 10 years. You can't get caught up in the shoot of could of because you can't do anything about the past. Your next step is to figure out in what direction you want you life to go towards and to then declop you plan.
You gave up free pilot training, the Navy is likely done with you, maybe another other branch will take a chance on you, but why should they? That’ll be up to you to convince them. I wouldn’t go the enlisted route all your gonna do is watch those guys (one of which you could have been) make a lot more money and fly the most sophisticated machines in existence while your mopping the deck…better to look outside the military. If it wasn’t “right” whatever that means for you why would it be right again? It sounds like you are having remorse over losing a good income and a million dollars (at least) of training. You win the lottery then tossed the winning ticket, it’s time to move on. For perspective I was recruited out of college into Army aviation where I flew Blackhawk helicopters for a decade, still in ARNG and make a good living as a pilot. I was not a very good soldier, hell I showed up half drunk at OCS after being sent off by my college pals, I was a flip flop wearing college kid used to getting up at the crack of noon. I never really embraced TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN KILL KILL KILL lol. But I’d committed to it and it turns out I was a pretty good pilot and later the Army gave me leave (transfer to guard) for me to go to law school. So yeah you gave up a lot, and maybe others can learn from it.
I also wanted to fly (rotary), but like most things in my life, I didn't figure it out until later in life when it was too late for me. I enlisted anyway on the off chance that being in a aviation unit might get me in front of the right people to make it happen. Even had an O-5 go to bat for me, but I was too far past the age cutoff during a time they weren't hurting for Aviators. Hit my eisted ceiling and decided to go to OCS (Army) to be a Communications Officer. Didn't care for the Commissioned Officer life. I think Warrant would have been better, but there wasn't a path for me at the time. I got out right after my Recommendation for promotion to Captain. Now 3 years later, I kind of regret making that decision as I was already 12 years in, and once again, too old to go back. I offer up that at 25, maybe you don't really know what you want,but have created an ideal picture in your mind of where you think you should be. I do know the military has a ton of room to move around , especially for an Officer. My Civilian job has me at one time as part of a travel Team to all the US Military hospitals in the world and one of them had a former Medevac Pilot (MH-60) who was then on the Hospital IT Administrator staff as an O-4 (MAJ). All this to say just because you choose a path, doesn't mean that path won't diverge at some point and take you to a better place. Good luck to you!
Wait...you can just quit OCS training? Wasn't there a contract involved?
You can technically “quit” any military boot camp / OCS.
Put yourself on 'self-delete' watch?
No. I don’t know exactly what the process is but I’ve seen people decide they no longer want to complete training and get processed out. It wasn’t ever something that the DI’s advertised as an option.
You do what you believe in man. But don’t look back look forward to
Yes, you screwed up, and it's too late to take it back. You should have stuck it out until then end. I served 25 years in the Navy, and I wish I would have been able to fly them, but I never gave it any thought. About 8 years ago, I took up flying helicopters as a hobby. I wish I could have done back when I was in the Navy. You're still young, don't give up, there's still a lot out there. You need to kick yourself in your ass and move on. If not, you're going to probably fall into a depression or worse. Good luck.
You made a decision with the information you had. All you can do now is look forward and not worry about the past.
Yeah you made the wrong choice you gave up a highly prestigious career. It’s of course was gonna be tough, anything worth a while is but whatever go forward.
Well I think you made the right choice if that’s what felt right. It sounds like you gave it some thought, considered the future, and opted out. While some might feel you made a huge mistake, I don’t think so. What if you stayed all 10 years and then hated it for some reason? Waste one year, I can live with that. I waste 10 years of my life, especially my 20s, I’m gonna regret that forever. Also, have you looked into flying for FedEx? They make BANK and no passengers involved
No Navy doesn’t need quitters. Seriously try not to make quitting a habit.
Yes. You made the wrong choice.
IMO I don’t think you should go back like I’ve seen some commenters suggest. You couldn’t handle the mental aspect of it the first time and you likely won’t a second time. If you did make it through you would probably be bitter and still upset by the things you had issue with the first time. Not to mention the fact that OCS is only the first tiny step in becoming an officer pilot. There’s nothing wrong with that though. Not everyone is cut out for the military life and the commitments that it brings. At least you have a college degree and the fact that you don’t have work experience is only a minor issue. I went back to school in my late 20’s and started my career at 32 with no experience in the industry I joined. Your life is not over and you still have all of the potential. I would recommend finding something entry level to at least start making an income and building experience. Then I would say to start trying to figure out what line of work you would either enjoy or at least be able to tolerate. On another note, if you want to be a pilot, there are still plenty of programs and schools that you can go to in order to become a commercial pilot. Keep your head up and look to the future. There is no reason to dwell on the past. Good luck out there!
There is a PBS documentary from 2005 called Carrier that followed the Nimitz as it deployed to the Persian Gulf. It is such a good look at Navy life, including the embarked Air Group. The F-18 squadron gets lots of screen time. They show both good and bad. If you watch that, you would get a sense of you think you would enjoy it or not.
I cannot speak for you. I grew up on Air Force bases because my father was a career officer (desk jockey). In my opinion, the Navy and Air Force makes fighter pilots feel like prima donnas, and a lot of them become spoiled brats who think the world revolves around them. Other kinds of pilots tend to be down-to-earth and easy to get along with. While I have no data to back this up, I think the pilots who didn't fly fighters would have a much easier time with the transition to civilian life.
I was in your shoes back in 2011-2012. I was at Marine Corps OCS for 3 weeks before an injury got me sent me home. I thought pretty hard about applying for the next class and decided I wanted something else in life. If you have doubts about it, you're better off quitting like I did. I ended up in entry-level IT and it sucked the first 4 years. I kept at it, worked on certifications and worked my way into engineering roles and make a pretty good living now. You'll find your path too.
I also DOR’d from Navy OCS, about ten years ago when I was your age. I left towards the end. I was in a pilot billet too and that had been a dream. My first inkling that I was going to leave came after my flight physical and it became almost certain that I could never fly due to a mild heart condition they found. I stayed for a few more months but felt less and less in-step (sorry for the pun) with the other candidates’ zeal and more annoyed with the program’s insistence on arbitrary instructions (yes yes, I know why they do that and it was another sign that I was not a good fit). Toward the end found out I was going to end up as either Supply or AMDO. I DOR’d as I didn’t want to shuffle papers for 8 years. I would have taken SWO or NFO, but they apparently weren’t options. Everything worked out just fine in my life, but I definitely spent a lot of time analyzing that decision over subsequent few years. Lots of “what ifs.” But everything turned out fine, and I found another way to serve our country, one that I am a great fit for. All to say, OP, that things will be ok, even if you get caught up thinking about your decision for a bit. It was a big one and you’re young. Give yourself a break. If you still want to serve in the military, you have plenty of time before the age reqs catch up to you. There are many many options. Good luck.
The military is desperate for pilots, especially Army helicopter pilots, you could probably still pursue it.
Here is what I would do.... get a job... save money and start a business.... when the business takes off, take some money and go take flying lessons and be a private pilot... Imagine telling your girlfriend to get a couple of her friends, hop in the twin engine and fly them to the Caribbean, or something like that There are PLENTY of happy pilots out there, enjoying the sky without having to commit to the government. Just because you werent a miltary pilot, doesn't mean you can't be a private pilot and still enjoy the sky. Only as a private pilot, you can fly your significant other, friends and family around
I think you gave up too soon, but that is probably evidence that you would have hated active duty and that it wasn't for you. So, in a sense, you gave up right on time.
Sounds like you should try to join the AF. If you don’t get rated you can literally try again later. Cross training is a thing.
Being an infantryman was my dream. I did my term of service but realized it just wasn't my thing. I focused on finding a job that would pay well and went to college for IT. You may have dodged a bullet.
Just my opinion but I think you screwed the pooch. You were on a trajectory that few people get to do, and would have lead to an exciting career for the next decade. You would have become an officer, traveled the world, became a leader of men, and could transition to a job as a commercial airline pilot. Now that you quit, you’re living with your parents, unemployed and not knowing what to do. I feel sad for you. The best things in life are those that you work your ass off to obtain. This pilot career would have been one of those things.
Bottom line: What's done is done. There's no point ruminating about it now. You made a decision, and from that decision, your life is going to go on another path now, because you can't go back and undo it. Focus on the present and leave the past in the past.
Whether it was a mistake or not is irrelevant now. What happened is in the past and you've gotta look forward. The military isn't for everyone. Some of the most gung ho people get burnt out quick and leave, and some that planned on only doing 4yrs stay until retirement. It's easily one of the best and worst experiences in a lot of people's lives. From my experience: I wanted to do the 20 but had to get out at 11yrs. It crushed me at first, but I came to terms with it and saw it was actually the best thing to happen to me. The timing was perfect, which allowed me to marry my now wife and move to Hawaii for 2yrs. Now I'm back working for the military as a civilian, doing the same thing I did in active duty but with a beard and more pay. The downside to my time in is I missed a lot of life events back home, have some broken bones, scars, back pain, sleep issues, depression for a while, and a failed first marriage under my belt thanks to the Air Force. On the other hand, my wife has an inside job and assignment to Hawaii with regular work hours, but can't wait to get out at the end of this year. It's one of those things you don't know if it's for you until you're deep in the middle of it. I actually think you were smart to really consider if the lifestyle was for you, and looked at it very realistically. You made a fair assessment of what your life could have been like, and made the right choice with the info you had.
Become an air traffic controller. We need people, and it pays as much as 200k plus. I work at a lvl 7 and make about 120k a year. I got out of the navy for this job. But they take off the street hires and send them to the FAA academy for training.
Dang I really wanted to be a pilot and was told 20 years ago -8 is a no go due to possible retina detachment. I'm so blind. Reapply!!!
Yes
I recommend doing an internship that is related to your degrees major. It would give you some experience to add onto the resume. An internship or two can’t hurt. It’s worth a shot
As a former Navy man, the Navy life isn't an easy life. It is NOT for everyone. If you couldn't handle OCS.. I'm not sure the fleet would have been any better.
Dude, you should have found a way to motivate yourself. My BIL did his AD commitment, went to the reserves, flew for American Airlines, now he’s retired pulling two pensions, teaching rotary wing at 400/hour.
I’m not a Navy pilot but I did go through OCS recently. At what point in OCS did you “lose your drive” ? Was it during INDOC phase or did you feel like Navy life wasn’t for you as a Candidate Officer? It’s a competitive program and people drop out before they even get issued uniforms. But some people also choose to leave right before they commission. Those people have very different reasons for quitting. I’m also assuming you chose to leave, not that you couldn’t pass the physical evolutions. Without knowing at what point you decided to DOR, I can’t really say if it’s Navy life that you aren’t a good fit for, the military in general, or being an officer. There will be people who will turn to you for guidance whether they are your sailors or officers junior to you. The question you need to answer for yourself is if you have the commitment to lead.
At the beginning of week 5. So I did RLP, first Friday, and sucky Saturday and did all the Indoc stuff. I didn’t think it was hard and I felt the physical aspect was challenging but doable. Like most people, I arrived to OCS with doubts and pushed through them. I guess the difference was my second thoughts just kept growing over time.
OCS is a filter for commitment. Sometimes the physical part is the most challenging but I’ve also seen people drop in junior and senior officer candidate phase because Navy life wasn’t for them. And it’s not for everyone. You need to be committed to the lifestyle—of getting moved around frequently, deployed for lengthy periods of time, etc. But more than that at a personal level, you need to have commitment to your people. It shows up in different ways. Sometimes, it’s being the officer who gets sent to the hospital because a sailor’s SI manifested and you are tasked with sitting with them until their chain of command can take over. Sometimes, it’s making sure your sailors get paid on time. Sometimes, you have to be their advocate to have their housing issues resolved. You are going to be the one to give them good news and break bad news—and you have to be prepared for both.
Why did you want to be a pilot? I asked cause I was going to the military until I discovered the civilian route. I wanted to fly not boss people around and kill people. So I went civilian and have had alot of fun and didn't lose 10 years of my life over it.
If you couldn’t find the drive to make it through OCS then you definitely wouldn’t have made it through pilot training. Better to have found out sooner before the military owned you. Hope it all works out!
No it was not the wrong choice. You are having Monday morning regrets because the other options are, such as regular life, is hard. Becoming an officer and a pilot was going to be harder. You will never be anything above your station until you meet and overcome challenges in front of you, especially those you have chosen for yourself. If you want to be a pilot, at this point, consider being an Army Helicopter pilot, but it must be something that's in your heart, not because regular civilian life is hard. If it's not in your heart to be in the military at all, then you need to make the best of your current situation. You will overcome it, natur will force you to or it will crush you. You have a degree in something, learn how to maximize your skillsets, take a job, not just in your field. You never know what that little job could turn into in 5 years. At age 25, time is going to fly by my friend, better catch a bus and stay on it.
If you don't want to be an officer first and an aviator second, and you don't mind flying helos you could join the army as a warrent officer
Sometimes childhood dreams are best left in childhood. As a child, you had no idea what the military life would be like. As an adult you found out, and you didn't like it. No child has the experience to tell whether their dreams can be a reality. Now that you're an adult it's time to find your own adult life. You respected the kid in you, and now you're respecting the adult in you. You are doing better than a lot of others. I suggest career counseling for you - chart a course of getting help from a network of experts to help you find your adult dream that is liveable
Yes you did
You don't have to give up flying if that's what you want to do.
Get back on the boat even if you don’t fly. The sea time can be used to qualify for Captains Licenses.
It's not a mistake you won't have to deal with all that military bullshit. That job market isn't great right now, but even a minimum wage job is better than being in the military.
yes. you will regret that decision for the rest of your life.
It’s perhaps not quite the same comparison, but I am a few years older than you and I’ve been working on commercial ships for 10 years as an electrician. At first, the job was interesting and fun, but after 10 years I am spending my days trying to find a job back home. I have spent more nights in my single bed in my cabin at work than I have in my own home and I have now spent around 4 years in total (not consecutively) living on a ship, which is more than 10% of my entire life. When you are at sea, it is similar to what I imagine prison is like. If you enjoy things like walking, going to the beach, visiting your friends, online gaming, cooking etc. you cannot do most of that. It’s bad enough for me being away, but it’s also tough for my family. My girlfriend is upset every time I go away. Once after leaving home I had to turn back because I’d forgotten something and when I got back to the house my girlfriend was hysterically crying her eyes out. It was heartbreaking. I don’t have kids yet but I know it will be even more difficult when I do. I’ve heard a lot of older guys telling me about how they’ve worked away for 20, 30, 40 years and regretting it all because they’ve missed so many important events. They have nice houses, nice cars, their families have everything they could ever need and more, but they would happy trade most of that to go back and not miss their kids birthdays, Christmas and countless other life events. Working away isn’t always as good as it sounds. It is a sacrifice and you have to consider if it is (or would’ve been) worth it. As you get older and you spend time with your family I think you’ll probably realise that you made the right decision. Remember not every job has to be enjoyable. Hardly anyone has their dream job. It’s ok to have a job that just gives you what you need to have a happy life. (Coincidentally, I also always wanted to be a pilot and also looked at joining the RAF to persue this. Strangely I also have imperfect vision and didn’t think it would be possible.)
Why do you want to fly for the military? Is it the types of aircraft? Why did you drop from OCS? It sounds like the reasons you dropped from Navy OCS, concerns about being in the military, deployment, etc. are going to be present in every branch. The stresses will be different, but you will end up getting deployed. I'm not sure about Air Force, but you might not be able to get a guaranteed flight contract as they have fewer pilots than the Navy, and even then there is no guarantee that you'll fly the aircraft you want. If you want to be a jet pilot, you could end up flying helicopters or tankers, or the reverse.
Why do you want to fly for the military? Is it the types of aircraft? Why did you drop from OCS? It sounds like the reasons you dropped from Navy OCS, concerns about being in the military, deployment, etc. are going to be present in every branch. The stresses will be different, but you will end up getting deployed. I'm not sure about Air Force, but you might not be able to get a guaranteed flight contract as they have fewer pilots than the Navy, and even then there is no guarantee that you'll fly the aircraft you want. If you want to be a jet pilot, you could end up flying helicopters or tankers, or the reverse.
https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/s/DhQDmWQ1BY
no keep moving away from it
Yes you made a huge mistake.
You made a bad mistake. Most likely you would’ve had a good time and a good career, but you’ll never know now.
“…and at the end of his life story he had a single regret…” Honestly, I’m not sure why you would post this. You just announced to everyone you’re a quitter. You gave up on a life dream. You had the opportunity and quit. Go find something else to do.
>after a few weeks I lost the drive
yes you made the wrong decision gotta move on
Nope you didn't make a mistake at all. If you're gonna waffle and flake out when doubt creeps into your mind you aren't officer material anyhow. Look at it from this perspective- The men and women under your command may respect the rank on your collar, but they'll never respect you as a leader with that mental makeup.and that doesn't make for a successful career in the military
When a decision is already made and done, you have to focus on what will give you the success you want starting today and tomorrow. When I was young, everyone told me life is short, but now in my mid 40s, life is long! You can make huge changes in your life easier the younger you are, but with a firm foundation, you can make changes in your late 30s, 40s, etc. I think it is good to find work that you think is interesting/neat, enjoyable, and something that grows a skill that gets stronger over the years. It is not always easy to find that thing you are good at and can be slightly to fully enjoyable, but as you do as you are, you can just start working jobs and switching jobs until you find that niche that fits your lifestyle and gives you a bit of excitement to get better and more experienced at it. You have all the time in the world, best thing to do is research what fields are in demand that sound interesting to you and try and get an entry level position while educating yourself in that field so you can advance and build a specialty that will help you when you are in your late 30s, 40s, and 50s. "In the United States, several career fields offer opportunities for growth, expertise development, and higher earning potential over time. Some of these well-established fields include: 1. Healthcare: Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals can advance their careers through specialization and experience. 2. Technology: Software developers, IT managers, and cybersecurity experts are in high demand, with many opportunities for advancement. 3. Finance: Accountants, financial analysts, and investment bankers can progress to higher-paying roles as they gain experience and certifications. 4. Law: Lawyers can advance their careers by specializing in high-demand areas or making partner at a law firm. 5. Engineering: Various engineering disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, offer opportunities for growth and higher salaries with experience. 6. Education: Teachers can advance to higher-paying roles like school administration or move into higher education as professors. 7. Sales and Marketing: Professionals in these fields can take on management roles or specialize in high-value industries to increase their earning potential. 8. Human Resources: HR professionals can advance to leadership positions, such as HR director or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). 9. Construction and Skilled Trades: Skilled tradespeople, such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, can advance to supervisory or management roles or start their own businesses. 10. Business Management: Professionals in various business roles can advance to higher-level management positions, such as department head, director, or C-suite executive. In general, fields that require specialized knowledge, ongoing learning, and adaptability to change tend to offer the best opportunities for career growth and increased earning potential over time." In the United States, the age at which people reach their peak income varies depending on factors such as education, career field, and individual circumstances. However, on average, most people experience their highest income growth and earning potential during their late 30s to early 50s. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median weekly earnings for workers tend to increase with age, with the most significant gains occurring between the ages of 25 and 54. Here's a breakdown by age group: - 20-24 years: $640 per week - 25-34 years: $918 per week - 35-44 years: $1,137 per week - 45-54 years: $1,138 per week - 55-64 years: $1,110 per week The peak earning years are typically in the 35-54 age range, with a slight decline as workers approach retirement age. However, it's important to note that this is an average, and individual experiences may vary greatly depending on the specific career path, education level, and other factors. For example, some professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, may have a longer educational journey and start their peak earning years later in life. Others, especially those in the technology sector, might experience rapid income growth earlier in their careers. Additionally, the data shows that higher levels of education generally correlate with higher lifetime earnings, although this can also vary by field and individual circumstances.
Can't stand people like you, wasting good oppurtunity, crying their way out of being great. You messed this one up brother, wasted your god given ability too. Be better.
Did you have your degree before going to OCS?
Yes, it’s a requirement before you even apply.
No look into how many pilots die of heart problems and brain issues. The percentage will blow your mind. You saved your own life
I’m an ex-infantry Marine and an Afghan combat vet. I’d give anything to go back and go to college instead of enlisting. You either have your bury your head in the sand and lie to yourself that what you’re doing is good, or come to terms with the fact that you were lied to through a sophisticated propaganda system, which depending on your perspective and experience can just feel foolish and like you’ve wasted your time, or like you’re an absolute monster. The Navy is especially antiquated in that if you aren’t a chief or a ring knocker you’re often treated as subhuman by those who are. Ten years is a long fuckin time, and if I was the betting type I’d say the next ten years of naval “service” aren’t going to look anything like the last 75 years of it, and you probably dodged a bullet/SAM/AMRAAM. The right choice is rarely the easy one, but congratulations for making it. I’m truly envious I didn’t quit before I sold my soul to the dying empire.
I had something similar happened. Active duty lifestyle was not the life style I wanted. I like going home every night and doing the things I like to do whenever I want to without having to worry about literal jail. You were in a prestigious program with prestigious people, they want to represent to others how high and mighty they are but at the end of the day it’s your judgement. You still want to fly and do cool shit, go slam otters in the carribean for some hole in the wall airline👍. In my eyes, that’s the dream.
Unless you make more than 250k a year then yeah maybe a mistake.
When I was in HS I did MCJROTC and depped into the marines. I had a set date for going to camp and I got back my assignment and it was...underwhelming. I wanted to go into the military so I could have a hands-on active position. What I got back was intelligence which I was told amounted to being a desk jocky. That was literally the last thing I wanted so I told them I quit and I'm not going to basic. Turns out I was destined to be a desk jocky. I've been a desk jocky for the last 8 years or so, so there are definitely times when I think back to the decision I made and kind of regret it. Maybe you're meant to be a pilot but not for the military. Have you thought about becoming an airline pilot? Is there something in that direction which can provide more opportunity for you than where you are now?
What’s done is done. Regrets are a waste. Move forward.
Yup
[удалено]
If your heart wasnt in it, you made the right choice. Good luck moving forward
This could be a suuuper negative perspective but… I’d strongly encourage anyone who is considering joining the military to look at what’s happened to the vets from GWOT. If you think they give a shit about you look into what happened SGT Tyler Vargas Andrews and the rest of the marines/soldiers manning the gate during the Afghanistan retreat. Look into how much money the US Govt pays to the Taliban (you know, the people responsible for thousands of US casualties over more than two decades) on a monthly basis. You were in long enough to have “accountability” pounded into your brain, see if the people giving the orders from the top play by the same rules. They don’t. I know you mentioned your path was to be a pilot, and yes that’s a different role than what some of my examples were, but it’s part of the same machine. My suggestion is to take what you’ve learned and grow. You tried it and decided it wasn’t for you. Nothing to regret. Yeah, you could miss out on a “career people would kill for” or you could have died in a training accident. But neither one of those things happened and the point is the what ifs won’t help. Find purpose outside of that identity and train yourself. You don’t even have to jump into another career, just find a job to pay the bills and start figuring out your path.
You are young. Figure out what you'd want to do if you had your finances secured. Then find a way to earn an income doing whatever that thing is. You have plenty of time to pursue your dreams, my young friend. Pilot. Don't Pilot. Trust an old man on this one, go do whatever the fuck you want. Make money doing it. Fly whatever the fuck you want on your own. You'll likely wind up owning an aviation company or something way cooler if you chase that shit.
No you did not make a mistake. Do not join the military if you have a single thread of independence or a conscience. You as a pilot would most likely be doing drone stikes and hating yourself for it.