// Officer Designator · O-1 to O-10 · NATO OF-1 to OF-9

NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICER (1320)

The URL community of Navy weapons-and-sensors officers in multi-crew tactical aircraft.

Insignia

Designator

1320

Abbreviation

NFO

Community

Unrestricted Line

Paygrade Range

O-1 to O-10

NATO Range

OF-1 to OF-9

OVERVIEW

The 1320 Naval Flight Officer (NFO) designator identifies Unrestricted Line officers in the U.S. Navy who serve as the non-pilot aircrew on multi-crew tactical Navy aircraft. NFOs operate the radar, weapons, sensors, and tactical-data systems aboard the F/A-18F Super Hornet (Weapons Systems Officer), EA-18G Growler (Electronic Warfare Officer), E-2D Hawkeye (Naval Air Crewman), and P-8A Poseidon (Mission Commander) — and provide essential warfighting capability that a single-seat pilot cannot.

NFOs train at NAS Pensacola through API and Primary NFO Training, then split into Strike, Maritime, or Airborne Command-and-Control pipelines based on community needs and student preference. Successful NFOs earn the gold NFO wings — a near-twin of the pilot's "Wings of Gold" but with crossed lightning bolts instead of a shield.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Operate weapons, radar, and tactical-data systems aboard a fleet aircraft
Lead a flight, division, or squadron as a tactical leader
Serve as Department Head, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer of a fleet squadron
Maintain currency in primary platform and tactics

HISTORY

The Naval Flight Officer designator was established in 1965 to consolidate the Navy's various non-pilot aircrew specialties — Bombardier-Navigators, Radar Intercept Officers, Tactical Coordinators, and Airborne Electronic Countermeasures Officers — under a single designator and career path. Before 1965, these officers were classified under various restricted-line subcategories with limited command opportunity and inconsistent training pipelines.

The community came of age during the Vietnam War aboard A-6 Intruder and F-4 Phantom crews, and again during Desert Storm aboard the F-14 Tomcat, where the NFO Radar Intercept Officer was integral to the long-range AIM-54 Phoenix engagement. In 1996 the U.S. Navy authorized NFOs to command operational squadrons, ending decades of pilot-only squadron command and bringing the NFO community to full operational parity within Naval Aviation. Today NFOs lead carrier air wings, expeditionary squadrons, and joint commands across the fleet.

COMMISSIONING SOURCES

USNA
NROTC
OCS
STA-21

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)~6 weeks
NAS Pensacola, FL
Same API as Naval Aviator candidates.
2. Primary NFO Training~6 months
NAS Pensacola, FL
T-6A Texan II syllabus emphasizing navigation, instruments, and crew coordination.
3. Advanced NFO Training~6 months
NAS Pensacola, FL or NAS Whidbey Island, WA
Strike, Maritime, or Airborne Command-and-Control pipeline.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

O-1/O-2
NFO Flight School
API and Primary/Advanced NFO Training at NAS Pensacola.
O-2/O-3
Fleet Replacement Squadron + first sea tour
Platform conversion and assignment to a fleet squadron.
O-4
Department Head
Operations or Maintenance Department Head in a fleet squadron.
O-5
Squadron XO / CO
Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of a fleet squadron.
O-6
Air Wing or Functional Wing Commander
Major-command tour at the Air Wing or Functional Wing level.

RELATED DESIGNATORS

RELATED BASES

How to address

Same as the underlying officer rank — e.g., "Lieutenant Smith." NFOs are addressed by their callsign within the squadron ready room.

Prerequisites

Pass the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB-E) and flight physical (Class I or II)
Successful completion of Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)
Successful completion of Primary and Advanced NFO training
Earn designation as a Naval Flight Officer

Common assignments

Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in an F/A-18F Super Hornet squadron
Electronic Warfare Officer in an EA-18G Growler squadron
Mission Commander or Tactical Coordinator in a P-8A Poseidon squadron
Naval Flight Officer in an E-2D Hawkeye Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The 1320 designator identifies an Unrestricted Line officer in the Naval Flight Officer (NFO) community — the non-pilot tactical aircrew who operate weapons, sensors, and electronic-warfare systems aboard Navy aircraft.

Yes. Since 1996 the U.S. Navy has authorized NFOs to serve as Squadron Commanding Officers and Air Wing Commanders, on full parity with Naval Aviators.

NFOs serve in every multi-crew Navy aircraft, including the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeye, and P-8A Poseidon.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02

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