Former Hillsborough High student and athlete Anthony Jenkins is one of the few selected to become a Navy pilot.
Following his graduation from the University of Arizona and commissioning as an officer into the Navy this May, Mr. Jenkins will be given a chance to realize his dream in one of the most rigorous flight programs in the world.
”It’s the only thing I have wanted to do my whole life, and I was speechless when I got the news that it was going to actually happen,” he said.
In his senior year of high school, Mr. Jenkins was awarded a full Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Arizona where he is studying engineering as well as playing lacrosse. Over four years, Mr. Jenkins achieved a 3.5 grade point average in systems engineering, averaging a course load of more than 20 credits per semester. He graduated with more than 160 credits next May.
In the spring semester of junior year, Navy Midshipmen undergo a process know as “service selection” where they apply and compete against each other for their desired field of duty.
”There are four main routes that you can go throughout ROTC,” Mr. Jenkins said.
Of the four — surface warfare (ships), nuclear power (submarines), special warfare (SEAL/explosive ordinance disposal) or aviation (pilot/flight officer) — he chose aviation and was selected by the board.
In order to apply to be a pilot, Mr. Jenkins, 22, was required to take a battery of tests. He scored in the top 5 percent of the nation, earning a perfect score comparable to that of 2,400 on the SAT.
After graduation in May, Mr. Jenkins will spend his first six weeks of flight school in Pensacola, Florida, learning the basics of aerodynamics and survival skills, followed by six months of “primary” flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas.
From there, he will select his final platform from a multitude of aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet, C-2/E-2 Greyhound/Hawkeye, P-8 Poseidon and SH-60 Seahawk.
The following 18 months will be spent learning how to fly and operate his specific aircraft in a multitude of scenarios, ultimately learning how to land aboard a ship.
”I chose the Navy because of the boat,” he said. “It’s regarded as the hardest feat of all aviation to land on an aircraft carrier, and I want to be the best. The next step for me is to get a Tailhook platform.”
In order to be selected for “Tailhook,” or planes that use an arresting hook to land on an aircraft carrier, Mr. Jenkins will have to graduate at the top of his flight school class, both in the air and in the classroom.
In October, he was selected by his commanding officer and unit staff for an award as his region’s top naval aviation candidate this year.

