Giving up my AF pilot slot for a Marine slot? (opinions please)

[cessnapilot]

I am a recent pilot OTS pilot select. I took my FC1 two months ago, it was approved by the flight surgeon one month ago. I expect to get a class date soon, maybe, but I do not expect to go to OTS until summer/fall of next year. When I was looking at all my options last year I took the ATSB in addition to the AFOQT. I told the marines I was pursuing the Air Force and that was the end of my time with the marine recruiter. A week ago a Marine Captain called to ask if I had been selected. We ended up talking for a bit and he said he could nearly assure me a pilot slot and I could begin OCS in January. All this is just a thought right now. It could be all for nothing if I am currently committed to the Air Force. I thought at some point the Air Force will put some formal commitment in front of me which I sign, when I get a class date.

Myself: 23, no girlfriend, no attachments, incredibly independent. PPL and working on my instrument, In great athletic shape, I have been a rugby player for 8 years.

Air Force: Downsizing do not need me, plenty of pilot applicants. Higher quality of life, better equipment, minority chance fighters, majority chance heavies. (I’d be happy with both). Pilot first. Slim chance of washing out during OTS.

Marines: Growing, it appears as though they need pilots. Less conducive family life, older equipment. Minority chance jets, majority chance helo’s (I’d be happy with both) Marine first, pilot second. Higher chance of washing out during OCS/TBS.

I understand the philosophy of being a marine first. I believe this appeals to me. I also like the marine’s aviation mission, supporting marines on the ground. I would be shooting for 18’s or E-6’s but I believe I would be happy in helo’s everyone who has them seems to be satisfied. IF, big IF, I gave up my pilot slot I would be giving up a guarantee in hopes of getting another one, something that could really bight me in the ass. I’d have to get another physical, LOR’s, interview etc. What is everyone’s opinion on the matter. I want to fly and serve our country. Let me have it, flame me if you must… “you chose the AF stick with your dicision.” My father thinks it’s the wait for a class date that has me considering and not that I like the marines. He may be right and I should not make a drastic move to begin a couple months earlier and get out of the crappy job I currently have.

 

[BILLDO]

If the wait is your biggest problem, and you have no problem rolling the dice with the chance the Marines won't accept you, hey, then go for it.

Personally, I'd keep my Air Farce slot, be happy with all the positives the AF has to offer, and not stress another second about whether or not I can get accepted, let alone complete the training, the Marines have.

And last but not least, I love the Marine Corps, prior to this I never applied to the Air Farce, because whether it's true or not, I always viewed them as a bunch of pansies. We did have one of them fail the 1.5 mile run a while back....I guess that's a big accomplishment?

Good Luck, and if your recruiter is as honest as mine, if he says he can get you into the January OCS class, he means it. But, your going to freeze your testicles off.

Edit: Marines don't have E-6's, we have EA-6B's, the Navy has E-6's.

 

[brd2881]

I think your views of the advantages of the AF are right on....the Marines however, you may suffer alot more in the way of tougher training, but the brotherhood and comraderie is second to none. I agree with Bill though, you are taking a big risk to make the jump since you already have a contract with the AF. Joining the Marines was one of the best choices I ever made, lots of other guys and girls will tell you the same because they truly feel that way. In the end man, its all about your priorities...and what you ultimately want out of a military career....I wouldn't even worry about the a/c you may fly yet.

 

[zippy]

A week ago a Marine Captain called to ask if I had been selected. We ended up talking for a bit and he said he could nearly assure me a pilot slot and I could begin OCS in January.


IF, big IF, I gave up my pilot slot I would be giving up a guarantee in hopes of getting another one, something that could really bight me in the ass. I want to fly and serve our country.

Nothing wrong with weighing your options. If you think you might want to be a Marine, go throught the application process. Unless you get a garunteed flight contract with the Marine Corps, I wouldn't walk from the Air Force if I were you (you said yourself you want to fly and serve our country).

A guy in my Primary class right now had an ANG slot (I think it was for 16s) lined up for him, but the Navy came through with a pilot slot form through OCS and he took that because he wanted to be a Naval Aviator more then an Air Force Pilot, so your not the first to have such thoughts.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Malice 1]

I went through the same thing. I graduated from Marine OCS, and the Marines played games with me for over a year before I got a concrete date for TBS. I seriously considered switching to another service. I'm glad I didn't.

You've already got your foot in the door of a pretty good room. Don't throw it away just to save yourself some downtime.

Plus: I'm pretty sure none of your paperwork would transfer. Do you really want to relive the beauracratic nightmare of getting accepted to another branch of service?

 

[nocal80]

ok obviously I come from a biased standpoint having just become a winged naval aviator a month or so ago, but I'll try and be as objective as possible. If you're interested in naval aviation and the USMC, definitely start the application process. You don't have to commit to anything yet. Do you already have a guaranteed AF pilot slot? If you don't you should absolutely start the process for the Marines, and you might want to even if you do. As far as OCS and TBS go, yes the attrition rates at OCS are high, but not as high as some would lead you to believe, and a good percentage of those who attrite don't really want to be there in the first place. It sounds like you are an athlete, which would help a lot at OCS. Being a strong PTer makes the transition at OCS a lot easier because there is less attention on you, and you are less likely to break down and get hurt. Yes, there are the occasional medical drops for sprained ankles, broken feet, torn ligaments, shoulder injuries, etc, but I'm sure the risk is no greater than playing rugby or really any kind of active, outdoor lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, it's a formidable challenge but not something you can't do if you put your mind to it. TBS sucks but there is virtually no attrition, just don't poke your eye out running through the woods. Its good though in the sense that you get a feel for how the Marine Corps fights as a whole and what life is like for guys on the ground, and you do get to do some cool ****. If you went to OCS in Jan, you could be in Pensacola for flight school by september, which is probably the same time you would start flight school for the AF. I don't know much about AF flight training, but from what I have heard it is very structured. I think its almost automatic that you will have wings in one year. Maybe some of the guys on here who went through AF primary can answer some more questions, but I've been told they are at work every day for 10-12 hrs or so regardless of whether or not they are on the flight schedule. It gets you through faster but didn't really appeal to me. In navy flight school, if you're not scheduled, you got the day off and as soon as you are done debriefing a flight you can go home and have a cold one. Yes, navy flight school can take longer depending on the pipeline. Helos/props takes about a year. Jets took me a little less than two. They just had too many students and not enough intstructors, which made for some long delays in training. I guess by the end of this year they will have that straightened out and the strike syllabus(jets) will only be 10 months, making the total time about 16 months. It will always take longer to train Navy/USMC strike pilots because of the syllabus. I could be wrong, but I don't think the AF does any bombing or ACM during T-38's and instead they do all of that in their version of the FRS while learning F-16's, F-15s, etc. And then of course their is carrier qualification, which adds at least a couple months to the syllabus. But believe me, trapping on the boat and then getting launched off the cat will probably be the coolest thing you will ever do in an airplane. Talk to some AF guys about their training. Interservice rivalry aside they do a great job and are extrememly professional. But if I had to do it over again, I'd still go for the wings of gold. Sorry for ramblin' on. PM me if you have any questions about the Marines or flight school.

 

[cessnapilot]

I'm a lucky guy to have to make this decision. I do have a pilot slot guarantee with the AF. I consider going through the politics of bureaucracy of the marines because it doesn't appear to be as much as with the AF.(the only thing that might crossover is my MEPPS physical) I was accepted in June to the AF and I wont go to OTS until summer if I'm lucky. The fact that the marines can get my application processed, accepted, physical approved and off to training shows me that they dont have as much BS in their pipeline as the AF. If I go to the AF I will try to train at Pensacola with the Navy/Marine program as it appeals to me better and the chance of getting T-38’s is higher. I want to fly an ea-6's(that 4 man crew sounds bad ass) or 18's off a carrier first, i want fighters second, i'd be damn happy flying heavys in the AF or helos in the marines 3rd. I'm willing to take the riskier job with helos compared to heavys. I feel I'd be happier at the end of the day dropping marines at the front line than flying equipment across the world. I feel I should tell me AF recruiter if I go after the marines. I think he will be pissed and make me give up my guarantee with the AF. I will let you guys know what I decide, thanks for all the advice; keep it coming.

 

[zippy]

I wouldn't say anying to him, its none of his concern. Didn't you say before when you mentioned you were applying to the AF also, that the Marine recruiter stoped dealing with you? You don't want to put yourself in a situation where you don't get to fly with either service do you?

If you want to go through the Marine Corps application process then fine, but plan on going to OTS, UPT and being in the AF until you have a reason not to.

 

[danthaman]

I believed since I was a little kid that I was going to fly for the Air Force. After being in the Air Guard for six years and then finding out what the Marines were about, I didn't even apply to AF. I went straight to the Marine OSO. I am not by any means saying that is what you should do, but maybe think about it. I saw the potential in the Marines to get a lot more out of my career than I think the Air Force could offer. If the flying is all you care about, then the AF is a great choice and I would keep that slot.

 

[BILLDO]

If I go to the AF I will try to train at Pensacola with the Navy/Marine program as it appeals to me better and the chance of getting T-38’s is higher.

Just to squash the rumor, you don't have a better chance of getting T-38's if you go to Whiting. I know a lot of guys who think they are straight tracked into the C-130 if they train with the Navy, though I'm pretty sure that's a bunch of bs as well. AFTER you decide what you want, train where you think you'd be happiest, not where the "they get more of this" crap leads you.