Navy vs Air Force

[eddie]

I guess I can kind of see where he's coming from (I get annoyed by these threads too) because when I first decided to say "fuck engineering" and go be a military pilot, I looked at all the services like I would have for a civilian job going "what can the <insert service here> do for me?" but after really delving deep into the culture and a slight bit of the history of the services and learning about each one, I determined that the Navy was the BEST fit for me and there is no way in HELL I could join the AF (after being in AFROTC for a day, it was crystal clear!).

One thing is certain, if you log enough hours on this site, you WILL drink the, "officer first, pilot second / I don't mind the P-3 draft" kool-aid.

 

[AllAmerican75]

One thing is certain, if you log enough hours on this site, you WILL drink the, "officer first, pilot second / I don't mind the P-3 draft" kool-aid.

Don't knock the kool-aid, it tastes great.

 

[zippy]

One thing is certain, if you log enough hours on this site, you WILL drink the, "officer first, pilot second / I don't mind the P-3 draft" kool-aid.

:sleep_125

Be exposed to it? Yes. Drink it? That's your own choice...

Eddie, the following isn't directed at just you...

Lots of whining about the idea of selecting P-3s lately... must be that time of the year again. If the idea of flying P-3s, helos, E2/C2, Jets, or any other platform that you don't want scares you that much- Withdrawl you applications for commissioning programs, or if already in training, DOR now and ensure you won't get selected for them. Seriously, stop being little bitches about things you really can't control... you sound like a bunch of whiney Air Force chodes.

 

[Harrier Dude]

I guess I can kind of see where he's coming from (I get annoyed by these threads too) because when I first decided to say "fuck engineering" and go be a military pilot, I looked at all the services like I would have for a civilian job going "what can the <insert service here> do for me?" but after really delving deep into the culture and a slight bit of the history of the services and learning about each one, I determined that the Navy was the BEST fit for me and there is no way in HELL I could join the AF (after being in AFROTC for a day, it was crystal clear!). The coast guard didn't interest me and the Marine Corps was my 2nd choice but I suck at PT, and my vocabular extends beyond "Yut", "devil dog", "oohrah", "semper fi".

I know that you're still in the moto stage of being in the navy......being an Ensign and all. There's nothing wrong with that.

But don't make it sound like it's a cut and dried good/bad deal for all of the wannabees out there. We're all on the same team here and, rivalries aside, you could be happy in any of the services.

Of course we all have our "perfect fit", but at the end of the day, I would be a hell of a lot happier flying C-17s in the air force, Hercs in the Coast Guard, P-3s in the navy, or Chinooks in the army than flying a desk on civvie street.

They're all varying degrees of "cool" for me, and all much better than not serving at all. I'm most happy flying jets in the Marine Corps, but it's not like the other services/airframes would be a life of misery and despair.

To all the wannabees out there, look at everything, apply where you can, take what you can get, and be happy.

 

[Lobster]

I want to know why I should choose the Navy over the Air Force. I would absolutely love to fly off carriers and be stationed on the coast. My only problem is the college I want to go to only offers AFROTC and I really don't want to end up being stationed in the middle of nowhere. I have been leaning toward NROTC until I talked to some AF pilots. I understand that I may be on a ship for 6 months. I am extremely motivated to be a fighter pilot and I have what it takes up to this point in my life. I have better than 20/20 vision, I have above a 3.0 GPA, physically fit, love to fly, and I will fight for my country. Next fall I will be a senior in high school so I really need to decide quick on which I want to do. If someone in naval aviation could tell me why they chose the Navy, it would greatly be appreciated.

Would you really want to wear blues and look like you're going to work to drive a bus? Whites look better...look good, feel good, play good...air force pilots also have to wear a scarf with their flight suits

 

[Picaroon]

My suggestion is to base your opinion off of some solid research into the service culture, traditions, history and lifestyles and figure out which one would fit you best. DO NOT base your decision on "time to train", "ROTC unit locations", " Your preference of F-16 to F-18" or other such nonesense.

This is going to be the next 10 years of your life, so base it on important factors. Not the "flavor of the week" bullshit.

At least for me, I also consider what might happen to me were I to NPQ from SNA at NAMI. Obviously we all hope that won't happen to us, but it happens to some people. If the AF NPQ'd me from what I've seen you become a second class citizen when you aren't a pilot. The Navy has a lot of interesting and varied things outside of pilot that one can go for. Admiral Fallon was an NFO and, from the stuff I've read here, a lot of different jobs are rewarding.

Disclaimer: The above represents the research and opinions of a wannabe with no actual experience with the military beyond the recruiting office
Also, I don't mean to disrespect the AF or anything else. Jesting from winged guys aside (they're entitled), I'm sure the AF has a lot of great and qualified people just like every branch does.

Plus there's also BDCP for the Navy :icon_glas

 

[hornsfan]

Also, I dont know if youve considered the Academies at all, but Navy has the advantage if youre sure you want to fly. Reason being that USNA puts out nearly as meany pilots as USAFA does (not sure of the exact numbers), but competition for those slots is tougher in CO Springs. Lots of people at USNA are excited about other options (Marine Ground, SpecWar, EOD, Subs etc) so theres less competition for the pilot slots. Also (again not sure of exact numbers) there seem to be a lot more pilot slots per student at the Academy vice NROTC.

Plus, thinking long term, the Navy has been more resistant to the adoption of UAVs than has the Air Force. See here:
http://www.aviation.com/technology/080602-ap-navy-pilots-and-uavs.html

You may have a better chance of actually flying in 10 years in the Navy vice the Air Force. Just a few thoughts...

 

[HackerF15E]

your chances of being promoted are greater. I have no numbers to back that up, but it's what I'm seeing right now.

Since the numbers of Field Grade Officers are federally regulated/mandated, I don't see how this is possibly true.

 

[HackerF15E]

air force pilots also have to wear a scarf with their flight suits

Seriously? C'mon.

 

[ACowboyinTexas]

Ryan,

My last deployment, I had an F-16CJ driver as my roommate. He was doing an exchange tour with my FA-18 squadron. We were both department heads. He catagorically and unequivocally stated that he enjoyed his time in the Navy flying the Hornet more than he had his time in the Air Force flying the F-16, and he had plenty of combat time in both platforms.
That being said, he also went back to the Air Force is now commanding an F-16 squadron. He was a great guy and is living proof that it's the people not the service. There are great ones and notsos in all of them.
For what it's worth, though, his hot wife always said she liked our official functions because we looked so hot in our summer whites. Fly Navy!

 

[Lobster]

For what it's worth, though, his hot wife always said she liked our official functions because we looked so hot in our summer whites. Fly Navy!

Chicks dig the uniform

 

[P3 F0]

Since the numbers of Field Grade Officers are federally regulated/mandated, I don't see how this is possibly true.

How should I say this? I'll be blunt: I'm at the point in my career where making O-5 is a slim possibility. And I'm a good officer, almost always getting the #1 competitive ticket (I failed to get it where I needed it most, though, out of my initial squadron).

I'm now seeing a lot of AF guys, many of whom would have had a tough time making O-4 in the Navy, sailing past me and putting on silver oak leaves. This leads me to two conclusions: making O-5 in the AF is not tied to a career path, as it is in the Navy (that's a good thing), and also that making O-5 in the AF for the second-runners is a real possibility (whereas it's more the exception than the rule in the Navy). I know this: with my level of performance, I'd be making O-5 were I in the AF. Thus my statement, which was admittedly poorly worded. And again, this is just my personal experience.

Also, Hacker, aren't you and AF pilot? I make a huge post digging on your service and the only nitpick is my comment about promoting? I'd love to hear what you have to say about all this--don't hold back because this is a Navy forum. You have a perspective we (or at least I) haven't heard much from in this thread.

 

[busdriver]

Wink, of course I read the posts above about joint service.

I was making a general observation about this site (Baseops is just as guilty) where students make comments about the other service. As if the culture at Randolph/Vance/Pensacola/Rucker is indicative of the operational world of their respective services.

I don't know a damn thing about operational life in the Navy, but I will agree with P3_FO, in my limited experience in the AF there does seem to be an under lying current of micro management. That said, there are plenty of us fighting that tendency. Unfortunately, it seems like getting promoted in the Air Force is more a function of not having black marks and checking the right boxes (why this is I dont' know). As a result, the micro-managers get further than they should. I've seen the system work and kill the career of those types, but I've seen plenty of those types succeed. I've also witnessed some of the good guys swing to the "dark side" and "lose their minds." Obviously there are good and bad people everywhere and there are varying amounts of politics involved in various communities. Also bear in mind, these are the opinions and observations of a mid-level O-3, so I don't get to see things from the level or depth of experience of a more senior officer.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Unfortunately, it seems like getting promoted in the Air Force is more a function of not having black marks and checking the right boxes (why this is I dont' know). As a result, the micro-managers get further than they should. I've seen the system work and kill the career of those types, but I've seen plenty of those types succeed. I've also witnessed some of the good guys swing to the "dark side" and "lose their minds."

Maybe the Marine Corps and the Air Force aren't that different after all. Well, aside from the fact that our uniforms are cooler.

 

[caflyer]

I think you pretty much answered your own question. Here is my .02 cents, I just graduated and commissioned out of the U of Utah NROTC and selected for pilot. I had a lot of friends that were AFROTC and many of them trying to get a pilot slot. However, only a couple actually got it. I dont know how the AF selects their pilots but these were guys with much better GPA them myself and very well rounded guys who really deserved it. Its very competitive in the AF as far as I know. But, everyone in my class out of NROTC that were trying to get pilot got it. Actually everyone before this who were trying for pilot all got it as well. I dont know how it is at other Units though. Also, I spent last year on the Kitty Hawk with a Prowler Squadron and got to go up on a couple flights. There is nothing better in this world then being able to experience a cat shot! The Trap is not bad either... Anyway, in my opinion you will probably do some cool flying in the AF...but at the end off the day you will still be in the AF. Ill leave you with this, I knew a old Delta Captain, who was a retired Naval Aviator with some 1000+ traps(something like that), who said that he was flying with his co-pilot, who was an AF retired C-17 pilot that told him a story about his scariest landing was in really heavy fog with almost 0 vis. The Naval Aviator looked at him and didnt even say a word.

It sounds like you already know which service you want. I had my heart set on the AF but it looks like I might be heading for the Navy which would be great as well. The latest AF board for OTS had 722 people apply of which only 27 were selected for a rated position (Pilot, Nav, or ABM). I tested in the top 3% for pilot applicants and was selected for my second choice as Nav. I know some who didn’t get selected for either but were picked up by the Navy as Pilot! Reason: The AF is downsizing where the Navy is business as usual. My opinion, all services kick ass and no service can survive without any other.

-Chris
USAF OTS Nav Select 0803