The Errant Ensign

The Errant Ensign

Latest — Sep 24, 2022

Navy Primary Flight Training: Contacts

Contacts Phase is the first phase of Navy Primary Flight Training. It’s where you learn the basics of flying the Navy way and where you can start your NSS (essentially your GPA during flight school) off on the right foot. Although under the Charlie syllabus Contacts is only worth

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Navy Primary Flight Training: Preparation

If you’re even vaguely familiar with the current state of Navy Flight School, you’re probably well aware of the various bottlenecks currently plaguing NIFE and Primary. While waiting to start training there’s definitely some ways you can spend your time to maximize your performance once the inaugural

Back, Complete✈️

After six months of being in the blender, I can finally say I am Navy Primary Flight Training complete. I’m excited to be back writing again and have done my best to respond to all the emails I’ve gotten. My plan is to do a bunch of writing

Navy Flight School: NIFE Phase 3

Phase 3: Flight Side In case you missed my write up of Phases 1 and 2, you can access them here [https://www.errantensign.com/navy-flight-school-nife-phase-1/] and here [https://www.errantensign.com/flight-school-nife-phase-2/]. What NIFE is doing (and really well—I might add) is providing a great example of what

EE’s Book Club: Moonwalking With Einstein

Why is it so damn hard to remember some things and so easy to recall others? The key, it turns out, is the Memory Palace.

The MAF Method: Maxing Out the Navy PRT

Running has never been something I’ve excelled at, which probably explains why I never do great on that portion of the Navy PRT. I’ve always thought of myself as a below-average runner and on a scale from things I love to things I hate, I would put my

Military Finances: Navy OCS and Beyond

My experience with military finances so far has been a lot like when that one neighbor asks you to dog-sit for the week while they’re on vacation: you are happy to do it, not sure how much exactly you’ll get paid, and worry they’ve completely forgotten to

Navy Flight School: NIFE Phase 2

In case you missed it from my first post covering Phase I [https://errantensign.com/navy-flight-school-nife-phase-1/], the US Navy moved from the old program known as API and is now using NIFE (Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation) as the first stop in the journey to becoming a Naval Aviator / Flight Officer.

Navy OCS CandiO Boxes: The World Is Not Enough

CandiO boxes are a much-anticipated aspect of the Navy OCS experience, where at times you think your family couldn’t possibly send you enough chocolate to ease your addiction withdrawals. Although everyone quickly becomes familiar with what they are when they arrive at Newport, it was made clear to me

Navy Flight School: NIFE Phase 1

Congratulations on finally making it to Pensacola, Florida to start flight school. The cradle of Naval Aviation and home to hundreds of newly minted Ensigns buying brand new Tacomas and engagement rings. I’m kidding, obviously. Everyone knows if you’re smart you get legally married immediately for the BAH