Marine Reserviest to Marine Pilot??

[jarhead7242]

I am a LCpl currently in the Marine Reserve, I am also a college student at San Diego State. I want to know the correct path that I should follow to become a Marine Pilot. I have heard of several different ways of earning a commission and only one way of getting a guaranteed a aviation spot and flight training. This is through the PLC(Platoon Leader's Course)program.

My questions are:
1. Are there any pilots out there that have taken this route or know of any one who has taken this route?
2. What other options do I have and who should I talk to in order to discuss my options?
3. Where can I get material to study for any qualifying tests that I might have to take?
4. What are some of the minimul requirements that I need to have physically and mentally(test score wise)to be qualified?
5. If I am commissioned will I have to keep my primary MOS?
6. Should I just talk to my OSO???

 

[topher1235]

1.
2. Talk with both you areas OSO and the NROTC unit at SDSU. There's a SSGT who was in my platoon at OCS who's attending SDSU, if he's around talk to him. SSGT Traffican.
3. Check out the ARCO ASTB books from the library, don't purchase them, becuase you won't need to.
4. You need a 4/6 on the ASTB, check the NOMI website for the physical requirements. Also your OSO will have all this info.
5. No once commissioned, you'll be competing for an MOS if a ground contract while at TBS just like everyone else. If on an air contract, you'll have an MOS of 7599 if your an SNA, but you'll put down your top five choices just for fun anyways.
6. My recomendation would be yes.

 

[EA-6B1]

2. If you're considering other branches of the military to fly, you have the USN, active duty AF, ANG/AFR, and CG
3. There's a study guide on this website that has helped a tremendous amount of people on the USMC/USN air test (ASTB).
4. If you're a Marine, work towards atleast a 270 pft for PLC. Make sure that you're applying for PLC-Aviation. If you're not, then most OSO's should be able to do a component change (from ground to air) after your first increment of PLC.
6. Yea, ask an OSO all of these and he'll probably have better and latest info.

Good luck to you. If you are wanting fly a desired airframe (for example, fixed wing vs. rotary wing) then make sure you realize that roughly 60-70% (if not higher) of the pilots in the Marine Corps are Helo pilots. So, when it comes time to select your aircraft in flight school, you can select which airframe you would like, but it all comes down to the NEEDS OF THE CORPS. I just reiterate what I've been told time and time again. Just wanted to make sure that you know that. Oh yea, the latest word is that both Helo and Fixed wing pilots are both 8 year committments. I'm not trying to pass out bad gouge. This is just what I've gathered. Again, good luck to you in whatever you decide, and anyone please correct me if I'm wrong. God Bless and Happy Holidays.

 

[Taxman2A]

Originally posted by jarhead7242
I am a LCpl currently in the Marine Reserve, I am also a college student at San Diego State. I want to know the correct path that I should follow to become a Marine Pilot. I have heard of several different ways of earning a commission and only one way of getting a guaranteed a aviation spot and flight training. This is through the PLC(Platoon Leader's Course)program.

My questions are:
1. Are there any pilots out there that have taken this route or know of any one who has taken this route?
2. What other options do I have and who should I talk to in order to discuss my options?
3. Where can I get material to study for any qualifying tests that I might have to take?
4. What are some of the minimul requirements that I need to have physically and mentally(test score wise)to be qualified?
5. If I am commissioned will I have to keep my primary MOS?
6. Should I just talk to my OSO???

1. I'm not one of them, but there are several that are commonly on this site-- jboomer and E5B are priors who are in flight training right now.
5. No, once you are commissioned you will be assigned the MOS 7299. This MOS means that you are a basic Lt with a flight contract. If you are a ground contract like myself you will be assigned the MOS 9901, and NFO contracts are assigned 7280.
6. Yes,questions 2,3, and 4 could best be answered by an OSO.