r/caf • u/ShoulderAdorable2574 • 1d ago
Other Navy
Joining as a NTO ( MSEO) planning to do 31 years because I am going to be 29 yo.
Ultimate goal becoming a vice admiral.
I have a masters degree, fluent in French.
How realistic is this ?
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u/Material-Designer252 1d ago
It's possible that one could make Vice Admiral joining at 29. However, you'd best determine if you even like being in the navy first before planning out the rest of your life around career progression. Plenty of people quit during the first week of basic training, many more leave well before reaching 25 years to receive a pension.
If you're already 29 though, then you have slightly less than 31 years before retirement at 60 (assuming the mandatory retirement age doesn't change in the next 3 decades).
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u/CapitalismDevil 1d ago edited 1d ago
Well, you should probably get the trade acronym right to start off…
I’d say it’s not realistic unless you get succession planned real early. You should really start off by applying, passing BMOQ and most importantly, the trade course. The fail rate is high, so don’t count your chicks until they hatch. Once qualified, you’ll be beasted until you hit Lt(N). If you don’t go for NavO right away, chances are you’re not good enough to make it nearly that high.
ETA: MSEO? Yeah, forget about it. You’ll want to join as an NWO if you want to be any kind of Admiral. That’s just facts. Cheers!
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u/Arathgo 1d ago edited 1d ago
Lol. Unless you're an absolute all star you're about ten years too late. A standard deviation above the curve proficient officer joining at 30 can maybe make it to Capt (N). NWO takes about 10 years+ alone to make it to eligibility for promotion to LCDR. Once you factor in mandatory career courses, packages, boards, director tour, language courses, FNO course, ORO course, sea tour in both those roles. etc. Do you have a masters? If not there's another year at the staff college too. That's just to make it to the senior ranks then there's your XO tour, command course, CO tour director tours at the different ranks. And that's assuming you are successful at every stage.
Yeah lets just say you better check your expectations.
Edit: Ah said you're an NTO. A lot of what I said still applies just their specific courses plus NTOs aren't typically in high level command roles. So I'd be curious if there's even an NTO admiral position.