Marine Officer - Naval Flight Officer

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Capt John Paul Cimina

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<span> <p> <img style="float: none;" src="http://assets2.marines.com/assetmgr/image/disp/inline/size/460x259/id/5016" alt="Naval Flight Officer (NFO)" /><h2>Naval Flight Officer (NFO), Capt Cimina</h2>Cimina2TrainingMOS 1:26<br /> <br /> Capt John Paul Cimina:<br /> I left The Basic School with an aviation contract and from The Basic School I went to Pensacola, Florida, and that´s where I started flight training. My MOS is 7588, which is an Electronic Counter Measures Officer in the Prowler. The Prowler´s mission is electronic warfare. So, what that means is we deny, degrade or delay the enemy´s ability to use the electromagnetic spectrum, walkie-talkies, radars. And we can either listen to it, we can jam it or we can destroy it. And some missions do one of those things and some missions do all of them.<br /> <br /> An NFO´s job is to work with a pilot in order to accomplish the mission. My job in the Prowler is to operate the weapon system in the aircraft. I do all the navigating in the jet, I work the radios in the aircraft. We work a lot with Marines on the ground; we work a lot with special ops forces. And together, the pilot and I work to accomplish whatever mission we set out to do that day. And it´s a great opportunity because everything that we accomplish in the Marine Corps we do together, we do as a unit. Marine Corps offers the opportunity to better yourself and to excel as an individual. But the mission is accomplished as a team. And that´s how it works in the aircraft-just like how it works on the ground.<br /> <hr /><h2>The Prowler</h2>Jet noise.<hr /><h2>The F/A-18</h2>Jet noise.<hr /> </p> </span>

Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) operate the advanced weapons and electronic systems on board F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers. The division of labor between the pilot and the NFO allows the pilot to focus on flying the aircraft and the NFO to focus on the weapons systems. The NFO often has the best situational awareness of the battlefield, and at times leads entire aviation missions.

As with pilots, NFOs can also be assigned to leadership positions within the squadron such as Operations Officer or Maintenance Officer.

Specialized Training

Aviation Preflight
Indoctrination
Pensacola, FL
6 weeks
Primary Flight Training
FL, TX or OK
22 weeks
Advanced Flight Training
Pensacola, FL
14-49 weeks

Beyond Your First Tour

After your first tour, you may be assigned to a billet available to all officers, such as recruiting duty, instructor duty at The Basic School or series commander at one of the Marine Corps Recruit Depots. Later in your career, you may be assigned to Expeditionary Warfare School or Command and Control Systems Course, or seek an advanced degree. This pattern of assignment is designed to expand your knowledge of the Marine Corps and overall strategic operations before you take on increased responsibility within your MOS.

As an NFO, you may also do a tour with an infantry or tank battalion as a Forward Air Controller, coordinating with aircraft to accurately time and target munitions.

Marines. The Few. The Proud.

Naval Flight Officer (NFO)

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Specialized Training

Beyond Your First Tour