So, I'm applying for STA-21 this coming cycle, and I'm torn between Pilot and Nuclear option. I'm pretty sure I'd love them both and I can' decide. I'm taking my ASTB next thursday, and based on those scores i'll probably make my final decision, but I'm still unsure of whether or not I'm competitive in either option, let alone a nub nuke wannabe going up against the rest of the fleet.

I'm two months into A-school and sitting relatively pretty with a solid 3.65 GPA. I Volunteer for at least a couple hours almost every weekend, have my rifle quals (which doesnt sound like much, but only like 1% of the students here have the rifle ribbon so it helps you stand out a little bit), and have a 1490 SAT score (770 Math/720 Verbal). On the down side, I failed pretty miserably at college before I joined the Navy (2.4 GPA). Oh, and i have a good low on the PFA in case it matters.

I'm not asking for expert opinions here, but can someone out there with a working knowledge of STA-21 give me some guestimates on whether or not i'm competitive for either Nuke or Pilot, and if Ive got a chance at both, which one i'd be more likely to get picked up as. Also, what type of ASTB scores would i need to be competitive against the rest of the fleet.

Ive been debating between these two options for almost a month now and i still can't decide, so any insight would be very hepful. (Catherine, this means you! )

What the board looks for changes every year. It used to be they picked up more junior people, but it seems like it's shifting to more experienced people that have proven they can cut it in the fleet (no offence meant by this, but things are different out there than they are in school).

That said, pilot is over-manned so slots are harder to come by and most people want it (have you given any thought to NFO?-hint). A word to the wise: as a pilot or NFO your entire career is contingent on physicals, which are quite strenuous. When adam went to ME to get his initial flight physical done, he saw an O5 that looked scared about his own flight physical. They reject it, and you're done. Adam's not even cleared at this point, has to get re-examined every year prior to comission. However, the NFO physical is slightly easier than the pilot one.

As a nuke applicant you have an advantage, because there are fewer people allowed to apply. Not only do you have to ba a nuke to apply, but you also have to be a student or staff at the schools. This is why Adam is a NFO, it is a field that really anyone can apply to. He wanted to be a Nuke officer and go back to subs, but couldn't apply for it where he was, despite being qalified EOOW on NR1. He is now petitioning to get changed over to Nuke from NFO, but despite his stellar nuke backround (and already interviewing the the Admiral successfully once) it's a crapshoot. We'll see.

You may hit problems with your college backround, I'd recommend explaining how you've grown from that experience in your personal statement. If you'd like, Adam has put in a few packages for STA and NR1 and has learned how to write and organize personal statement and what they want to see, I'm sure if you send it to me he could review it for you.

Adam is technically a college dropout with a GED and a less than stellar backround (long story) but through hard work he was able to be picked up. Just took a few tries and working his @$$ off, each time improving his package. GRaduated top 25% all three schools, qualified EWS as an E5, and was selected to NR1. Every time he was rejected he did that much more work to make his package look better, and eventually it paid off. Don't get discouraged if you're not selected just continue to work at it and eventually hard work will overcome previous troubles.