F-18 Marines or Navy?

[super hornet]

I just took my astb and did well on that and am training to take my PFT. I’m trying to figure which service will give me a better chance of getting behind the stick of an F-18, either navy or marines? Does anyone know the demand for jet pilots in both services? I know that you are selected for each pipeline based on how well you do in primary but I have heard that they stick you where they need you. Also, I talked with a former marine helo. pilot and he said that there are more spots in the jet pipeline around October after you graduate your primary flight school. Is that true? Any info would help out a lot....

 

[nocal80]

its impossible to say right now which service you would have the best chance of getting jets in. I would have to say that the statement about there being more jet slots in october is bs, when they need jet pilots there are jet slots, no matter what time of year. Of course he is talking about the beginning of the fiscal year, but I didn't seem to notice that being a factor in selection out of primary when I went through. I have heard of it being a factor in platform selection after you get winged. i.e. they have x number of hornet, cobra, whatever slots per year and they may be all out of one or they may have a lot of slots to fill in one community if your selection is at the end of the fiscal year. the point is that the needs of each service change so much so quickly that right now the Marines may be taking more jet guys, but in 1 month, 6 months, or a couple of years it could be the opposite. If you do get jets out of primary you are probably more likely to go hornets if you are in the navy, because by the time you get there they will be practically all hornets and supers on the tac air side.

 

[NavyLonghorn]

Bad gouge removed.

 

[squeeze]

Remember, youll fly your fleet aircraft for two years, and then likely (unless you are a RAG instructor) not touch it for another 5.

uh... what?

 

[jamnww]

Remember, youll fly your fleet aircraft for two years, and then likely (unless you are a RAG instructor) not touch it for another 5.

IMO, this is complete BS, every current indication is that pilots stay in the cockpit for a good 4 yrs right off the bat...depending on the availability of replacement pilots and the needs of the service...

 

[Spin]

Agree with nocal80 ... you got so much more to worry about now than what you're going to fly .... like getting accepted to either service (haha).

It's good that you know what you want but don't let that be your driving force. You'll just set yourself up to be miserable if you don't get what you want. Keep an open mind .. you might get in the plane and realize that you HATE to pull G's and that Jets might not be right for you. Remember ... right now you only have an outsiders view of what an airframe is like.

 

[Wolfpack02]

Do flight sims count?

 

[NavyLonghorn]

Roger on the bad gouge.

 

[Fly Navy]

Everyone I've talked to has told me 2 year sea tour and then off to instruct or go to a ROTC unit or do whatever you end up doing. I'm speaking for the Navy, but, is that bad gouge?

Very bad gouge.

 

[super hornet]

thanks guys, good advice. I’ll keep my fingers crossed but like what spin was saying, I hope I have a good application to even be selected...

 

[Gatordev]

Very bad gouge.

And this thread suspiciously sounds like a What % gets jets...or at least it's corollary. Your sea tour will be at least 36 months. Longer if you extend, which happens for various reasons, at least on the Navy side. The Marines seem to have a different way of doing detailing, and can stay at their sea tour longer. A salty Marine will have to explain that one.

Edit...
Damn you Fly! That's what happens when I get distracted by watching Z4 videos over the 'net.

 

[phrogdriver]

2 years is only if you get s**tcanned and sent somewhere. Expect 3-4 years in your first fleet tour, Navy or Marines.

 

[Fly Navy]

I love positive G's, I connot explain why I love them, I just do. Once I hit 5 G's, everything else just felt, ??. You guys know.

Uh....

 

[Brett327]

Dude, are you for real???? Just......., just stop.

I've heard of vitamin-G, but this guy is ridiculous! :icon_tong

Brett

 

[eddie]

Isn't 5 G's a lot? Where else could you pull that but in military aircraft?

EDIT: AHA!! The not-to-be-trusted wikipedia does say this:

"For instance, most civilian aircraft are capable of being stressed to 4.33 g"

"A typical person can handle about 5 g (50 m/s²) before this [blackout] occurs."

Any truth to this?