-
Please take a moment and update your account profile. If you have an updated account profile with basic information on why you are on Air Warriors it will help other people respond to your posts. How do you update your profile you ask?
Go here:
Edit Account Details and Profile
Marine or Naval Aviation?
- Thread starter fitz
- Start date
edit: unnecessary
A4sForever said:
LOL, it's troo, it's trooo! The following is a A4s No BS story. I worked Air-to-Air Missile requirements in Pentagon in mid 90s, which meant I had to interfere daily with USAF counterparts in building and at Langley. I got to know them very well and respect their professionalism and their golf game(s). We traveled a lot together and saw a lot of USAF bases and their deluxe golf courses. One colonel I traveled with always built in a game or two to every trip. The staff folks were allowed a half day off every week to....you guessed it, hit the links. One LtCol who was an F-15 driver retired and went to work as a golf pro. It is a serious part of their culture and seems to be as important as getting thier advanced schools and getting that star and wreath on their wings.
I think it's interesting that people always seeem to put the Navy or Marines question under the Marine forum. What answer do you really expect to get when you direct your question to one group in particular. It'd be like going to the DNC and asking them if you should join the Republicans. Granted, it doesn't matter much since Navy guys can read the thread too, but I think a more neutral forum would serve you better.
Oh yeah. . . Fly Navy!
Oh yeah. . . Fly Navy!
Instead of trying to decide between Navy and Marine Corps air, just pick between the Navy and Marine Corps. Look at each service and decide which one offers what you want to experience. Also, talk a look at the career paths beyond just the first flying tour.
The first year for a future Navy pilot vs. a USMC pilot will be much different. If you go the Marine route, you will start out going to The Basic School, and will spend a lot of time doing stuff that has pretty much nothing to do with flying. It's a great way to build quality Marine Officers, but if you want to get in the cockpit right away, it may be something you want to consider.
If you go Navy, you will go right into flight school as soon as you finish OCS. Flight school for Navy and Marine pilots is all the same. Not just the same type of program, the same squadrons, bases, everything. I am Navy, and my on-wing in Primary was a Marine Corps Captain. No sweat. If you go Marine Corps, your first squadron with nothing but Marines will be after you get wings.
The first fleet tour is pretty similar for Navy and Marine pilots. USMC Hornet pilots have a really good chance of deploying on aircraft carriers as just another squadron in the air wing. Navy helo pilots deploy on troop carriers and fly logistic and SAR support with the Marine Air/Ground Task Force that was talked about earlier.
After your fleet tour, things really start to change. I know that Marines can become instructors at flight school, but I really don't know what their other options can be. Navy pilots can be instructors, evaluators at Top Gun or Weapons School (for helo bubbas). Navy types can also serve on an admiral's staff, go to their air wing as a support officer (a non flying job) or go be an NROTC instructor.
Both the Navy and Marines have lots of great options for their pilots. No doubt, each one will have something that you will want to do. Find out the lifestyle that suits you. Blue or green, you can't really go wrong. Both kill the enemy by the thousand so it's all good.
The first year for a future Navy pilot vs. a USMC pilot will be much different. If you go the Marine route, you will start out going to The Basic School, and will spend a lot of time doing stuff that has pretty much nothing to do with flying. It's a great way to build quality Marine Officers, but if you want to get in the cockpit right away, it may be something you want to consider.
If you go Navy, you will go right into flight school as soon as you finish OCS. Flight school for Navy and Marine pilots is all the same. Not just the same type of program, the same squadrons, bases, everything. I am Navy, and my on-wing in Primary was a Marine Corps Captain. No sweat. If you go Marine Corps, your first squadron with nothing but Marines will be after you get wings.
The first fleet tour is pretty similar for Navy and Marine pilots. USMC Hornet pilots have a really good chance of deploying on aircraft carriers as just another squadron in the air wing. Navy helo pilots deploy on troop carriers and fly logistic and SAR support with the Marine Air/Ground Task Force that was talked about earlier.
After your fleet tour, things really start to change. I know that Marines can become instructors at flight school, but I really don't know what their other options can be. Navy pilots can be instructors, evaluators at Top Gun or Weapons School (for helo bubbas). Navy types can also serve on an admiral's staff, go to their air wing as a support officer (a non flying job) or go be an NROTC instructor.
Both the Navy and Marines have lots of great options for their pilots. No doubt, each one will have something that you will want to do. Find out the lifestyle that suits you. Blue or green, you can't really go wrong. Both kill the enemy by the thousand so it's all good.
I think that's pretty good advice, overall. Still ... there are shades of Blue and Green.Bevo said:
When I did not think it possible to fly (eyes) I wanted to be a Marine --- infantry. I love ships, but I did not necessarily want to spend the next 20 or so years on them. This was after two afloat Middie cruises, so I had a modicum of exposure to shipboard life.
When I struggled through with a shaky 20/20, I wanted to be a Naval Aviator (emphasis on N-A-V-Y) rather than Marine Air. Lots of reasons back then ... mission, equipment, basing, the BOAT.
Today ... ??? In aviation ??? I'd probably be very much at home in either service -- Marines or Navy. Especially since Marines seem to go wholesale to the BOAT --- that's they key for me. Carrier Navy.
But not flying ??? I'd still rather be a "Leader of Men" (I loved that ad campaign -- had a big poster in my college room) than drive boats.
