From there on out, graduates of the academy must be commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy and acquire enough flight experience to stand a chance and be part of the TOPGUN programme, with only 1% to 5% making the cut.

Getting into the U.S. Navy's TOPGUN (United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program) is exceptionally difficult, as it is reserved for the "best of the best" in the Naval Aviator community. First, you must successfully complete Navy flight school—a multi-year process with a high attrition rate—and be selected to fly a strike fighter like the F/A-18 Super Hornet or F-35C. Once in an operational squadron, a pilot must demonstrate superior tactical proficiency, leadership, and instructional potential. TOPGUN does not take "applications" from students; instead, squadron commanders nominate their top-performing pilots who have completed at least one full deployment. Only a handful of these elite aviators are selected for the intensive 9-week course at NAS Fallon, Nevada. In 2026, the complexity of modern stealth technology and electronic warfare has made the mental and tactical requirements even more rigorous, meaning students are expected to not only be master pilots but also master "tactical engineers" capable of teaching complex maneuvers to the rest of the fleet.