Naval Flight Officer

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A Naval Flight Officer in the United States Navy and Marine Corps is an officer of the line, meaning they can screen for command in the naval aviation community. After completion of schooling, they receive the Naval Flight Officer Badge. NFO is the Navy acronym for these aviators.

1 Indoctrination
2 Training
3 The Fleet
4 Past Aircraft

[edit] Indoctrination

Like Naval Aviators, NFOs attend Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at NAS Pensacola, Florida. They also receive basic aviation training up to, but not including, soloing in a primary trainer. In addition to this experience instrumentation and navigation are taught in greater depth to include visual low-level navigation, aerobatics, and formation flight. Based upon performance, preference, and needs of the Navy the student will check out of VT-4 (Warbucks) or VT-10 (Wildcats, or Cosmic Cats) (Primary Training Squadrons for Student NFO's) and be assigned advanced training.

[edit] Training

Training for a NFO is in a tiered system. After primary training is completed students are either selected for carrier aviation or "maritime" aviation (land-based, larger aircraft). Selection is based on the rank of the student in his/her class. The one graduating first gets their choice of duty and is known as the "Honorman/woman". The rest of the graduates are placed in billets according to "the needs of the navy".

For carrier aviation students their training progresses an additional fourteen weeks with their primary training squadron before being assigned to VT-86 for jet training EA-6B Prowler, F/A-18F Super Hornet, or F/A-18D Hornet. Jet training at VT-86 does not actually utilize any of those aircraft to train students. Training in specific aircraft after winging occurs at fleet replacement squadrons, which also holds true for land-based aircraft. Carrier aviation students who do not select jets are transferred to Norfolk for advanced training to prepare for the E-2C Hawkeye Fleet replacement squadron also located in Norfolk, VA.

Intermediate training for land-based aircraft typically sends student NFO's to San Antonio, TX for joint training at Randolph Air Force Base before being sent to the FRS for the E-6 Mercury TACAMO plane, the EP-3E Aries, or the P-3C Orion. Some students are currently being sent directly to the FRS for P-3Cs as part of a shorter test advanced training program before beginning the normal FRS Syllabus.

[edit] The Fleet

In the Fleet, NFOs are assigned to Navy and Marine squadrons flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet, F/A-18D Hornet (Marines Only), EA-6B Prowler, E-6 Mercury, E-2C Hawkeye, EP-3 Aries, and P-3 Orion.

In larger aircraft, like the P-3, the NFO is designated as the navigator and Tacco. In the EA-6B, they are designated as Electronic Countermeasures Operators (ECMOs) and navigator. In the F/A-18F, the position is known as either the BN (Bombadier/Navigator) or Weapons Systems Officer (WSOs). In the E-2C Hawkeye, they are designated Combat Information Center Officers (CICOs). The specific roles filled by a NFO can vary greatly depending on the type of aircraft to which an NFO is assigned.