Just returned from an awesome trip to Pensacola, FL (paid for by Uncle Sam, you better believe it.) It was to get my flight physical as I wrap up my application process.
- Sunday: Fly from Reagan to Pensacola, hang out at a USO office with some free food and magazines in the airport. Meet 9 other Aviation candidates and stay on base.
- Monday: Wake up early! Blood tests, urine analysis, heart and eye tests, and chest and face x-rays. “Did you need your face x-rayed?” Was a joke of the day… any of us with seasonal allergies needed a sinus x-ray done. All my tests seemed to be fine!
- Tuesday: Anthro tests–they test your height, length of arms and legs while seated, and so forth, to see if you’ll fit in a cockpit. Other tests for candidates who didn’t pass yet. Get to see the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum. It was a massive shrine to heroic Marine and Navy pilots from the last century of wars.
Naval Aviation Museum Interior: Old Blue Angels
A great museum, definitely recommend checking it out if in the area.
- Tuesday night: celebrating with all the candidates and some Marines at a local bar! Everyone passed their physicals!
- Wednesday morning: fly back to DC
I had a blast, just getting to hang out with Marines and aspiring Marine aviators. Working in IT with a bunch of nerds (my usual weekdays) can’t compare to the energizing atmosphere of ten young patriotic, manly, motivated, cocky future pilots. Several had been to OCS already and had plenty of tips and advice to share.
The whole visit, getting to stay on base, and meeting guys who will hopefully be at OCC-202 with me was exciting! I definitely know this is what I want to do as a career, this is the organization I want to be a part of, and I can’t wait to get in.
I hear you – can’t wait to earn a shot at attending OCS and beyond. The boards are being held either this week or next for my district. Hopin’ and prayin’.
Wow! Are you serious? Consider yourself lucky..my application is in, but I was told today that I won’t hear back before late August! Can’t wait.
Ahh man, what region are you in? I met a guy from St. Louis who was selected already, granted that his boards met back in April (what he said).
I’m out of the Pittsburgh OSO.
I’ll talk to my OSO and get to the bottom of this…thanks for the info.
No problem. I’ve been told by my OSA that boards meet the second or third week of this month. I’m still trying to get a grasp on the entire thing. From what I understand, boards convene on a given date and applicants from all recruiting districts nationwide are in that pool. How does that sound to you?
It’s funny how big of a rumor mill trying to figure out selection boards dates can become.