Navy vs Air Force

[HackerF15E]

Pretty funny, actually.

 

[DanMa1156]

I took a crap earlier which gave me time to think.

I think the Marine team would win. It would consist of:

8 - PFCs and LCpls to row
1 - Sgt to steer
1 - SNCO to sneak around the AF/Navy dock and "acquire" a better boat
1 - Lt to go to a staff meeting and hit the gym

Hey not fair! That's 2 more people than the Navy got!

But yeah, good joke.

 

[UMichfly]

Nah, the Marines would lose because the SNCO would bring back a bike instead of a boat and then the LCPL's would all drown trying to "adapt and overcome" by riding the bike on the water.

 

[Immy]

Question

Hi, I'm rather new here, really enjoy this site though. A lot of great information for noobs like myself.

Anyways, my question is:

Is it easier to fly in the Navy(Marines included) or the Air Force?

By that I mean get selected for a pilot slot...

And another...is it easier to get a fighter slot in the Navy or Air Force?

I know this is a naval aviation board but I figured maybe there's a couple AF guys out there who can give some insight.

Thanks a lot, and I apologize if this has been asked before..

 

[TheBubba]

Hi, I'm rather new here, really enjoy this site though. A lot of great information for noobs like myself.

Anyways, my question is:

Is it easier to fly in the Navy(Marines included) or the Air Force?

By that I mean get selected for a pilot slot...

And another...is it easier to get a fighter slot in the Navy or Air Force?

I know this is a naval aviation board but I figured maybe there's a couple AF guys out there who can give some insight.

Thanks a lot, and I apologize if this has been asked before..

Yes, they have been asked... and those are unanswerable questions. All of them depend on the needs of the individual service at the time you go through the application process and flight training.

Instead of trying to game the system and picking a service based on you chances of getting jets, you should be looking at the service cultures. The Navy, USMC and USAF have different cultures and missions... each service approaches officership and flying differently. What you should be researching is which service culture fits you the best.

That being said, will you be happy no flying Hornets, Vipers or Eagles? What if you end up AF flying Bones or CJs? What if you end up Navy flying P-3's or Prowlers or Helos? What about as a Marine flying Cobras or Hercs? None of the above are fighters, but all are possibilities. Will you be happy or will you be the kid going through helo advanced with a chip on your shoulder b/c you're not flying Hornets?

-Bubba

 

[jt71582]

TheBubba gave great advice. Just to emphasize looking at the respective cultures of the services, take a look at this link. It may be a little romantic, but it will give you some kind of idea what all these Navy bubbas are talking about:

http://www.ussokcity.com/navyvsaf.html

The truth is, getting a fighter slot is going to be a very competitive and selective process. Provided you are medically qualified and score high enough in primary, along with meeting any other requirements for the job, you still may not get what you want just based on "the needs of the Navy", or AF. Sooooo, keeping that in mind, choose which environment fits best for you. This forum will provide a TON of information about all things military aviation. Good luck!

*BTW, I am NOT an officer in the Navy, I'm just trying to help you out. Keep that in mind when taking in this information. Listen to the winged guys - they've been there!

 

[FLYTPAY]

What if you end up AF flying Bones or CJs?

F-16CJ isn't a bad deal but you omitted the dreadful UAV possibility. The bottom line is that all of the services are different, all are great ways to serve your country, the only thing you can control WRT what you fly is your motivation and your performance to attain what you want.

 

[Tom]

A better question is which bears are best?

 

[TheBubba]

F-16CJ isn't a bad deal but you omitted the dreadful UAV possibility. The bottom line is that all of the services are different, all are great ways to serve your country, the only thing you can control WRT what you fly is your motivation and your performance to attain what you want.

UAV's.. heh... you actually call that flying? My 15 yo brother in law could do that... hell, any kid with a PS3 can do that.

 

[Ryan-90]

Why the Navy over Airforce

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.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

What school is it? If there is NROTC at a nearby University you can do it there, that's what I did. Also, having done NROTC, it sounds to me like the best deal going right now is BDCP. Get paid to go to school without all the BS.

 

[Ryan-90]

What school is it? If there is NROTC at a nearby University you can do it there, that's what I did. Also, having done NROTC, it sounds to me like the best deal going right now is BDCP. Get paid to go to school without all the BS.

Nowhere in Arkansas has NROTC. Trust me...I would be there in a heartbeat. I want to go to University of Arkansas but they only offer AFROTC.

 

[picklesuit]

If someone in naval aviation could tell me why they chose the Navy, it would greatly be appreciated.

My biggest draw to the Navy was that they seemed to give us more latitude to think for ourselves, in all ranks. This is evidenced in the different flight pubs...our 3710 tells us what we can't do, the rest is fair game...the Air force 201/202/217/-1 etc. lists everything you CAN do and the rest is off limits. As far as flying goes, I can't really speak much to the difference between the two, I am only in advanced and haven't been operational as a pilot. I flew primary at Vance AFB in OK. The actual flying was pretty fun, we had a good plane, but the daily ground shit outside of flying was pretty crappy. They treated us like little kids (many posts on this, I won't go into detail)

The Navy is more of the "big boy" program, they hand you the books, tell you what to know by the next flight, and expect you to know it.

I have really enjoyed my 4+ years in the Navy, both as an E and an O. It has yet to be run like the corporation the AF has become (okay, I am obviously a little biased, bear with me)

If nothing else is swaying you, the deciding factor should be cool movies.

Watch Top Gun, then watch Iron Eagle...you decide

 

[bluesig1]

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.

Kinda sounds conceded, like your the golden child of aviation. But what do I know. Anyways theres more ways to get in besides NROTC, you got direct commision after college, or BDCP. On a side note I can think of anywhere between 50-100 real reasons why Naval aviation is better than Air Force aviation. Which includes everything from more responsibility at lower ranks, to not having ascots. This website also may be Bias, who knows.

 

[Ryan-90]

My biggest draw to the Navy was that they seemed to give us more latitude to think for ourselves, in all ranks. This is evidenced in the different flight pubs...our 3710 tells us what we can't do, the rest is fair game...the Air force 201/202/217/-1 etc. lists everything you CAN do and the rest is off limits. As far as flying goes, I can't really speak much to the difference between the two, I am only in advanced and haven't been operational as a pilot. I flew primary at Vance AFB in OK. The actual flying was pretty fun, we had a good plane, but the daily ground shit outside of flying was pretty crappy. They treated us like little kids (many posts on this, I won't go into detail)

The Navy is more of the "big boy" program, they hand you the books, tell you what to know by the next flight, and expect you to know it.

I have really enjoyed my 4+ years in the Navy, both as an E and an O. It has yet to be run like the corporation the AF has become (okay, I am obviously a little biased, bear with me)

If nothing else is swaying you, the deciding factor should be cool movies.

Watch Top Gun, then watch Iron Eagle...you decide

haha thanks man. I knew some of that about the Navy and that's what really caught my attention. I love the fact that they kind of "think for themselves" when it comes to air combat.