Aviation in the Marines

[NuSnake]

if your only goal is to become a commercial pilot you shpould really take a step back and rethink your options.....Officer 1st, pilot 2nd(from what I hear and read anyways, I'm not an Officer yet)

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
--Edmund Burke

 

[Jester]

It's o.k. to join the Marine Corps because you want to fly. I'm tired of people that haven't even recieved a commission, gone to ocs, or been accepted into the program preaching about being an officer 1st and a pilot 2nd. I bet that most of the people with air contracts wouldn't be in the Marine Corps if they didn't have that contract. Lets get real people. It's perfectly fine to join the Marine Corps for no other reason than to fly. Just as long as you recognize what the Marine Corps is about and what you will need to go through before starting your flying career. I commend anybody that wants to fly in the Marine Corps vice the Navy or Airforce. We all join the Marine Corps because we want the honor of being a member of the best fighting force in the world. There are a lot of benefits to flying in the Marine Corps vice other services. You will recieve great leadership training and you will become more well rounded as an aviator in the USMC than in other services. Also, there is nothing wrong with wanting to maintain flight status after your initial tour, I want to as a flight instructor. Just understand that there is a big probability that your B-billet will have nothing to do with flying. Another thing, it is o.k. to think about a commercial flying career after your time in the Marine Corps. Just recognize your probability of flying helos and that a transition to a commercial flying career might not be as smooth as you would like. Bottom line, if you want to join the Marine Corps to fly, go for it. Just research what the Marine Corps is about and make sure you recognize what the Marine Corps will require from you.

Semper Fi,
Jester
2nd Lt at TBS

 

[Pat1USMC]

Well said. The amount of posts from sophomores in college who have just signed up for the program who are making all types of philosophical comments on being a Marine have gotten out of hand. It is awesome to be psyched to be a Marine, but there are too many posts now from people thinking they have a ton of experience because they have just run they're first PFT. I'm afraid some of them have a warped view of what the Marine Corps really is. So if you've asked a question on this board, listen to the Marines that have been through it and have experience, and take the other candidates' responses with a grain of salt.
Semper Fi, and good luck to all candidates.

 

[Adrenaline Rush]

I am guilty of what you speak about Pat1USMC..But wouldn't u rather have someone who might be accepted come in with the attitude officer first, pilot second..

"And on the 8th day the Marines took over the globe and have been runnin it ever since"

 

[jason12]

Well i think that flying is what this forum is all about....after all this Site isn't called 'OfficerWarriors' i think it goes without saying that everyone on here wants to fly...and there is nothing wrong with being in the military to do something you enjoy...I believe that the 2 should go hand in hand, you should want to be an officer who is a pilot or NFO or whatever, not supremely one over the other, why sign up if you're going to be miserable in what you're doing? And i'm gonna go out on a far limb here and say that half of the pilots in any armed service really wanted to be pilots first, you don't go through all the training that's involved and push yourself to the limits because it is some random Job, you do it because you want to, being a leader as well is an added bonus of having others look up to you and trust you to make decisions that could endanger or save their lives....so If you wanna be a pilot good for you...guess what, you get to be an officer too!

"IF ONE ADVANCES CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF HIS DREAMS,
AND ENDEAVORS TO LIVE THE LIFE WHICH HE HAS IMAGINED, HE WILL MEET WITH A SUCCESS UNEXPECTED IN COMMON HOURS."

 

[EA-6B1]

I'm with Jason12. I'm not going to sign up for something I'm not going to enjoy and look forward to. I look at it like this. What an awesome job to have... be able to fly and be an officer. And you get paid to do it. My $.02.

"For he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows greatest."
- Meteu -

 

[wildflyin69]

I dunno...Office Warriors is a pretty catchy name....

"Push the stick foward, the houses get bigger; pull back, the houses get smaller... unless you keep pulling back, then they get bigger again."

 

[46Driver]

The amount of posts here by lieutenants who haven't been to the Fleet yet and waxing philosophical has gotten outa hand.... Sorry, I couldn't resist. I had FIGMAC too when I was a lieutenant, but y'all are gonna realize in a decade or so that your EGA and privilege of being an Officer of Marines are more special than your Wings of Gold. Adrenaline Rush has his priorities right. And to all, good luck at OCS, TBS, and Flight School (trade places with you if I could - well, maybe not OCS....)

 

[HighFlyer55]

Jester thanks for the advice! What type of plane are you hoping to fly? How is the basic school treating you? A lot of people tell me it is a lot of fun, others say its a pain in the ass. Also do you have any regrets as of right now?? Thanks again

 

[Orthok]

Two things that caught my eye while reading over your responses if someone could address them.
1. Concerning the flight contracts: What testing is done before you sign the contract to see if you have what it takes to go to flight school, and at what point are you a Marine whether or not you pass the tests.
2. Where can i go for something in writing about what this program can offer? (online, recruitment office, etc)
3. What are the chances of being assigned to rotary or non-fighter planes? What can i do to help me get into a fighter?

Thank you again for all this information, its good to find a place that can help me with my decision

 

[klostman]

Hey, I'm not gonna lie, when I first got interested in joining the USMC, the first thing I saw was little piece of paper that said "guaranteed aviation contract." Thats initially what got me interested in joining the Marines. It a good marketing tool if you ask me.

When I talked to my OSO the first thing he said was, "your not trying to impress some girls are you?" He went on for about 45 minutes on what it means to be an officer and and then talked about the aviation aspect. I think when we hear candidates on the forum (myself included)preach about officer first, pilot second, maybe its because our OSO's have literally beat it into our heads that we are going to be officers and leaders first, pilots 2nd or even 3rd. They're not gonna send up an applicant who just wants to be a pilot; they want to make sure they want to be a Marine Corps Officer.

Not everyone on here always wanted to be a Marine their whole life. Me, I just stubbled upon it and thank God that I did because I KNOW this is what I want to do. The best thing applicants/candidates can do I think is just go in with a positive attitude and confidence knowing you can do this. Sorry to ramble on, just my measly .02 Good luck to everyone and Semper Fi!

 

[jason12]

I agree klotsman, i mean its not just a few people in the world who wanna be pilots only, i mean obviously the armed services understand that people who wanna fly are gonna try to do whatever they can to get into a cockpit (and i don't mean those cool quarter machines outside the grocery store, although they do offer a thrilling ride, i hope the real thing isn't as cramped, nor is it painted pink and yellow!) but i digress, as i was saying.....the services know people wanna fly and they know that offering a guaranteed aviation contract will draw people to their service that want the opportunity to fly, now i'm not saying i want to fly more than anyone else in the world, but i will tell you this....if i can get a guaranteed flight spot....whatever the service branch is i'm going to respect their codes and ethics, regardless of the name of the particular service....So i think that knowing you're an officer goes without saying, and if you're a competent person you will understand the responsibility that is placed upon you prior to entering the service, and if you don't then.....after OCS you surely will.....good luck to all you future pilots!!! i know i can't wait

"IF ONE ADVANCES CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF HIS DREAMS,
AND ENDEAVORS TO LIVE THE LIFE WHICH HE HAS IMAGINED, HE WILL MEET WITH A SUCCESS UNEXPECTED IN COMMON HOURS."

 

[Adrenaline Rush]

Jason you make very valid points..But another valid point is that you have to be prepared for the chance of not being a pilot ,, medical issues attrition whatever..how are you gona deal with that?? and can you?? i think those are very important questions to ask yourself, to see how much being a Marine, a Sailor , an officer means to you

"And on the 8th day the Marines took over the globe and have been runnin it ever since"

 

[jason12]

good point Rush, but also you'll be trained in those positions to understand them and handle them, and that's why i'm just giving some validation to the argument of joining to become a pilot, you have to be responsible enough to handle the tasks at hand of being an aviator, as well as assume the risk of not being qualified for one reason or another and having to accept another job. Its all a chance you take, but i'm just saying i think its ok to say hey i wanna sign up to be a pilot...I mean are there any other jobs?? lol... I completely concur with you Rush, put your mind to it and you can accomplish anything you want, but if for some chance your luck falls short, be responsible and respectful to those paying you to serve your country and accept the position given to you with the honor and dignity that all servicemembers should have

"IF ONE ADVANCES CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF HIS DREAMS,
AND ENDEAVORS TO LIVE THE LIFE WHICH HE HAS IMAGINED, HE WILL MEET WITH A SUCCESS UNEXPECTED IN COMMON HOURS."

 

[phrogdriver]

Orthok

1. The ASTB is the exam the services give to see if you have basic aptitudes for flt. You become a Marine officer after you complete Officer Candidates School and receive your commission. If you go to OCS during the summers in college, you'll have to wait until you graduate from school. Then it's TBS, API, etc, etc.

2. I believe the USMC recruiting website is www.marines.com. If that's bum scoop, try www.usmc.mil, then take the links to recruiting. Be sure to get an Officer Selection Officer, or "OSO," and not just a Marine recruiter.

3. Since the only "fighter" plane in the Corps is the F/A-18, your chances of getting "fighters" are pretty slim. Don't try to say the Harrier is a fighter. It's *A*V-8B. No offense. Point being, if you actually are born to be an AVIATOR, you'll fly whatever takes you from "the surly bonds of earth." Those who are wedded to a particular platform are usually more interested in it because it sounds or looks cooler. To put things in perspective, the USMC is mostly helos. The Army is almost exclusively helos. The Navy is also over 1/2 helos, with a good chunk of the rest being maritime patrol. The USAF has very few helos, but what proportion of its aircraft are fighters? Not very much. I'm not saying this to piss on your parade. I'm all for people who want to fly, just not if their goals are just to be cool. Just think about all that, and if you're still ready to go, then call the OSO.


Phrogs phorever