Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/17/2009

Question
My son just completed his 1st year at ERAU in Daytona Beach.  Unfortunately, for financial reasons, he cannot afford to return to the school.  Unfortunately, due to some bad advice, he only has 17 hours of college credit and does not yet have his private pilot license.  He will be trying to finish that up in the next few weeks at a local flight school here in the Atlanta area.  He is currently exploring enlisting in the Navy and trying to work his way into an aviation career that way.  I don't really think he is college material without some pushing from his mom and me.  Since he was in Daytona and we were north of Atlanta, that was not possible his first year of college.  He has always wanted to go Navy and fly for them, but I don't know if that will happen unless he can become an officer and get into the highly competitive flight program.  His college GPA is below a 2.5.  I guess what I am asking is what kind of options can you see for him to be able to realize his dream of flying.  According to his flight instructors at ERAU he was a natural in the cockpit, it was the classroom instruction that caused him issues.  Any suggestions that you can pass on woule be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Ray Orgeron

Answer
Hi, Ray:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist!

This is not an uncommon situation to find one's self in:  Completion of the freshman year in a flight program but, in a sense, not really "complete."  I can definitely see two issues here:

1.  Your son appears to really like aviation and aviation flight; and,

2.  Your son is having some issues with classroom-related studies and/or subject matter.  One question to ask in this area is:  Was it the subject matter being covered (such as general studies items like English, Math, speech, history, science, etc?) or was there also an issue with classroom subjects related to aviation (such as Private Pilot ground school, aviation weather and the like)?

First of all, as for going into the Navy and trying for an aviation career from there, that might well be "the long way around," depending on how your son takes to the Navy way of life (life aboard a ship, and life in the military: lots of rules, etc). My nephew went into the regular Army as a way to get to a flight career in the Army.....he made it, but, it took him nearly three years of enlisted work in the Army AFTER HE COMPLETED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE in order for him to make it to flight school.  And, remember that the Army uses Warrant Officers for the majority of their flying slots, which are primarily in helicopters.  I am guessing that, in addition to the enlistment in the US Navy, your son would also have to complete a baccalaureate degree WHILE IN THE SERVICE to be competitive for Navy flight school.

If he really wants to go Navy flight, he should consider transferring to an aviation-oriented university or college that has a Navy ROTC program with a history of getting its ROTC candidates into Navy flight school.  Or, if he is not stuck on the Navy, he might consider doing the same with an aviation-oriented school that has Air Force ROTC and a history of getting ROTC grads into flight school in the Air Force (more flying options there).  In an ROTC program of any kind, a student normally does not make a commitment to join the service for a post-baccalaureate career until the JUNIOR year in college.  By then, I think that your son would know via the ROTC classes he would have to take if the military way was for him!  If not, if he chose an aviation school, he could simply continue his aviation studies and go into a civilian aviation career after graduation and chalk up the ROTC experience as a learning experience (without having to join the military formally to find out about it).  On the other hand, if he likes ROTC and if it looks like the military is a good option AND it looks good for him to get a flight slot (there are NO guarantees of this!), then, he stays in ROTC and joins the military upon graduation.

Now one other thing:  Back to the start of my answer where I asked about what your son was having problems with:  Was  it classrooom studies in general or what?  If it is English, Math and the like, I would recommend a semester or two at a local community college taking classes that WILL transfer to the 4 year aviation school or schools that he is considering.  The community college will have a transfer center that should have that information (on what will transfer) OR the school or schools your son is considering will have that information.  Don't forget to have your son check ALL COURSES HE SIGNS UP FOR AT ANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY TRANSFER AND THAT THEY HELP HIM MEET HIS BA OR BS RERQUIREMENTS.  Also, the idea of going to a community college is that he would, hopefully, raise his GPA while there (he needs to take it very seriously!).

Finally, go on line to the University Aviation Association website at www.uaa.aero and order their COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE....it is a very good listing of over 100 colleges and universities in the USA that offer aviation.  Also, ROTC programs that are available at each school are normally listed, too.  It is a great one-stop shopping guide to aviation programs.  The cost is about $25......they also have a COLLEGIATE AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP LISTING that has just been updated that might help.  

I hope that this answer helps....

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu