Best route to helo pilot?

[booker75]

Hi all, I've been looking into the Marine Corps for about three months now, and I'd like to fly helicopters. I'm unsure of specifically which rotary-wing MOS to shoot for.

Which helicopters see the most combat?
Which see the least?

Thanks for helping out a wannabe.
-Booker

 

[Harrier Dude]

They all see combat, if you include getting shot at a good thing. If you want to do a lot of shooting back, ask for Cobras. If you want helos, you'll get them.

 

[booker75]

Is is possible to train for other helos after your initial mos?

And would any helo pilots in this forum like to share some of their experiences so I could gain a better understanding of day-to-day activities, whether it be overseas or state-side?

thanks again,
booker

 

[zippy]

If you want helos, you'll get them.

Hasn't really been this way recently (last 6mo-1yr or so) Lots of instances where Marines put Rotary first and got drafted into Jets.

 

[SuperStallionIP]

Is is possible to train for other helos after your initial mos?

And would any helo pilots in this forum like to share some of their experiences so I could gain a better understanding of day-to-day activities, whether it be overseas or state-side?

thanks again,
booker

Not likely. In this day and age, pretty much all type/model/series are critical, which means it is difficult or impossible to transition/convert to another airframe. The only marginal exception to this is the MV-22, but even that airframe is starting to take nearly all phrog pilots since that is the airframe that it is replacing. Manpower Department (MMOA) is heavily involved with the transition boards. If the community is considered critical for personnel(they all are for the most part), then you will not likely get to transition.

As for experiences, send me a PM. I don't want to tie up this thread with an extremely long post.

 

[pdx]

Hasn't really been this way recently (last 6mo-1yr or so) Lots of instances where Marines put Rotary first and got drafted into Jets.

Yes. I personally know of 4 Marines in a 2 month span that were in this situation. But everything changes rapidly.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Yes. I personally know of 4 Marines in a 2 month span that were in this situation. But everything changes rapidly.

Wow. That's a new one. When I was in primary there was a guy who had SH grades and wanted helos really bad. He had been stashed with a Cobra squadron before flight school. At the time, every Marine with jet mins could get jets (sort of a jet draft). The MATSG CO made him explain why he wanted helos (he was under pressure to fill all the jet slots), but in the end he said he wasn't going to make somebody go jets that didn't want them. I think that jets would be a major b!tch to get through if you didn't want them from the beginning. There were also a lot of guys who had airsickness problems and were worried about jets.

I guess times change.