All about Naval Flight Officers (ep. 188)

Most people can readily explain what a #pilot is and does, but what about a Radar Intercept Officer, Bombardier / Navigator, or Tactical Coordinator?
On this episode, FPP friend and occasional cohost Matt "Flounder" Arny, former RIO-turned WSO, explains the world of Naval Flight Officers--what they are, how they're trained, what they do, and how far up the promotion ladder they can go.
To learn more about Flounder's services in management consulting and leader development, or to book him as a keynote speaker, click here: www.cas-em.com
#fighterpilot Podcast
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#navalaviation #nfo #usnavy

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Nothing but huge respect for Naval Flight Officers. My buddy was a navigator on a P-3 before becoming a Tacco. He used to always joke NFO stood for No Future Occupation, quipping at least pilots can get an airline gig.

[@leonardmoore2833]

West Coast RIO here. Thanks for telling "Goose's" story here!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome. 😎

[@Vicarium]

NFO here. While I met a few pilot members of the 'Fo Flux Flan, for the most part we respected our individual mission responsibilities and operated as a team...

[@user-kl3hi5ov1c]

P3 NFO. A lot of pilots were respectful...unfortunately the Navy less so.

[@Zone5Aviation]

“Hoot” Gibson would be a good guy to get on. F-4, F-14, Space shuttle pilot. Great career.

[@PrestonKallshian]

Loved this! Matt is a friend and we are coaching youth football together. 👏

[@PBAR_B1B]

My impression is the Navy treats pilots and NFOs much more equally/fairly than the Air Force does its pilots and CSOs. As a Bone WSO, definitely felt like 2nd class citizen.

[@Watchandcutgearchannel]

This was great to watch, you guys are great - my uncle was an F14 Rio on the Jolly rogers in the 90's "mogli" with his pilot "stiffy" ... god i miss the call signs from back in the days LOL love the podcast keep up the great work Gents

[@jhoughton-fx2sj]

Great Episode Jello!!! When I was at VFA-122, we used to joke to never trust an even set of anchors in the F/A-18F!! Keep up the great work with all of the information you present!

[@user-kl3hi5ov1c]

This is how many pilots ( and the Navy in general viewed NFOs)

[@TomcatMMCO]

Haven't seen Flounder in some time, great seeing him again. Keep up the great work on the Podcast.

[@tzisme]

As Matt Arny said..."Hopefully interesting to the listener" As I say...mission accomplished

[@johnb7490]

Great job as always. Loved the topic and guest. That was quite the career, hats off to his wife.

[@geezerider1]

When I finished primary flight syllabus in VT-10 (1971) It came time for type selection. I really wanted P3s. Long runways, per diem on deployments and solid ground beneath my feet were quite attractive. I had the grades, but the Navy didn't have any ready seats. I offered to go "on hold" for the next available slot. The detailer asked me one question: "Ensign, what part of NEEDS OF THE NAVY do you not understand. Sigh... Went Phantoms, VF-33, Indy. I met and served with some of the greatest people I have ever known and still keep in touch with several. But, I hated living on a boat and left when my time was up. I might have stayed but my wife told me that if I wanted to raise a family with her I had better be around. She was right, of course. But I sure did miss going over the top and hanging in my straps trying to keep track of wingmen and aggressors in ACM. But not so much the 7G possible aftermath...

[@Roy-qn2ie]

I love your podcasts, so great to listen to. Ow and thank you for showing the breviation and explaining it.

[@RaceBanner_]

Arny’s core ideals are adorable. As a Growler pilot it was great to deploy, get on station, and fly off the boat just about every day. Go share those with the “dunnage specialists”

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

...um...ok.

[@timgeist1450]

As an EP-3E NFO, we joked about the anchor-deficient SAMR (Single Anchor Master Race) in VQ-1 and VQ-2.

[@FlyingDutchmanPodcast]

I understand the EP-3 are being retired

[@timgeist1450]

@@FlyingDutchmanPodcast Yes, but I can't recall if the last squadron (VQ-1) is getting disestablished this year or next. Hopefully they'll make a broad invite to the ceremony since I'm here on Whidbey.

[@FlyingDutchmanPodcast]

@@timgeist1450perhaps one day you would like to be a guest on my show? Not looking for spy stuff I like the human story and the journey from first interest in aviation to where are ya now or going discussion

[@MEDGAR001]

I remember signing contract as an NFO with the Marines about 15 years ago. Its a really interesting job.

[@JG20204]

Just signed and got accepted an OCS slot for SNA in the marines !! Semper Fi family

[@rostamr4096]

Love these podcasts...

[@ponch-t7z]

Post navy career impact would be interesting to look at. My experience is that NFOs earning potential is multiples higher in private industry. And in my unscientific study but with numerous data points - the highest of all warfare specialties

[@christophercruz7932]

Great video!

[@user-dx9oz7wy7j]

Great interview with the NFO mission and opportunities. Fly Navy! ⚓✈️⚓💪 Beers to you 🍺🍻

[@tarjas]

Twice the anchors, twice the equipment where it counts (for both the dudes and dudettes). #1 NFO rule is to always make fun of pilots (easy) because, as certain as the firmness of the earth, pilots are gonna make fun of you! Fight's on!

[@keithmitchell6240]

Great stuff, Jello. With this camera angle, I always feel like you're 8 feet tall compared to guests. Maybe they just all slump :) Keep up the great work and thank you for your service. God bless.

[@TheReck12]

Surprisingly I know a lot of student NFOs who chose NFO over pilot for various reasons, myself included. I think being a pilot is cool for the clout, you don’t have to explain what you do to people, but do I actually like piloting enough for that? I don’t know, I think I’m okay with being the nerd in the back focused on the mission and computers.

[@KiDstoltz]

I just enlisted into the US Navy as a Logistics Specialist, I’m currently working on my private Pilot written test. I have one semester of college although I need a bachelors. I’m turning 26 this fall, think it’s possible that I could still make it to naval aviation?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Absolutely

[@KiDstoltz]

@@FighterPilotPodcast now that’s good news. Does the degree have to be in STEM? What’s the US Navy age limit?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@KiDstoltz those are questions for an officer recruiter but I think “no” and 30-ish.

[@indy500tabasco8]

👽👽👽👽dealing with 🙈solar eclipse and 🙊alien invasion is too hard on my 🙊civilian brain👽👽👽👽

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

...and that applies to this subject how?

[@Digital_KO]

👍

[@texxasal]

As a dissenting opinion from the guy in front, Sometimes referred to as the stick monkey, Just curious as to why the pilot of an f and g model gets paid the same as the pilot of an e model? Just make sense that the e model driver should get paid the same as both of the crewmen since he's doing exactly the same work as the f model for sure.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Yeah, that's not how ot works.

[@Mariner311]

lol... NFO - when the Department of the Navy has the funds to use Officers instead of Enlisted. Yep, I was an Aircrewman - SH-60B Crewman

[@TheReck12]

So how would you know what the responsibilities or training entails if you were on helos your whole life

[@geezerider1]

When I got my NFO wings (way back in '71) applicants had to have a degree in an approved science curriculum and minimum 2.5 GPA. The Navy wanted some assurance that we had an aptitude in math or science to hack the training syllabus. I was also ex-enlisted as a reservist.