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Navy vs Marines Career Path also rotc

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T

TechGuru

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I just got accepted into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and plan to major in aeronautical science(a pilot) and my specialty will be military pilot. I am going to start in Fall of 2004

Now my question is, what the difference in career paths between the Marines and Navy as an officer/pilot? Because I plan to make a career out of the military. From what I have heard, is that in the Navy you have more room for advancement but in the Marines, you are not as likely to advance as much as in the Navy.

What if I joined the Marines and after my contract with them expires, switch to Navy? Will that hurt advancement in the Navy if I was in the Marines before?

What exactly does ROTC do for you? Then for ROTC, is it better to do ROTC or first finish your four years of college (BTW I already have one year done because of duel-enrollment) then enlist as an officer in the Navy or Marines?

One more question, what is it like to be stationed on an aircraft carrier?
 
bunk22

bunk22

Super *********
pilot
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First off, congrats on Embry-Riddle. Looks like a good start to get where you need to be.

As for ROTC, it is simply one of the ways to earn your commission in the military. If you wait until you finish college, then you will have to apply through the OCS program. ROTC allows you to train and learn (somewhat) about military life. Good part is they offer scholarships that pay for tuition and books. I earned my commission through NROTC with a 2 year shcolarship. Hard to beat having your school and books paid for, especially if you attend an expensive school.

Not sure how competitive the Marines are but progressing through the ranks is pretty much automatic until O-4 and that goes for both services. Then the boards start with O-4 most likely being the easiest of the bunch. Good friend of mine made Major in the same amount of time that I made LCDR though he pinned it on immediately while I had to wait about 9 months.

Not sure how switching services (if at possible) will affect your career. My old skipper (just an awesome leader) was a West Point Grad, flew Cobra's, switched to Navy, flew E-2's, then C-2's and ended up commanding VRC-30. He's definitely not the norm though. Another good friend of mine just switched to the Air Force to fly the big boys and went from LCDR to Major. He got lucky and picked up the Air Force $250,000 bonus for 10 years. Anyway, you have plenty of time to research it.

Good luck and FLY NAVY
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C

CandKyMarine

Registered User
You need to look at your priorities. If you want to be a Marine, then go with the Marine option. If you're just interested in flying and "advancing through the ranks" as fast as possible, then the Marines are not the best option. In the Marines you'll spend alot less time flying than in the Navy, AF or Army. Switching is possible, but very difficult and generally not done in the aviation community.
 
T

TechGuru

Registered User
Thank you RealityBites and bunk22 for answering.
Now I am leaning towards Navy. My long time friend unforunately wants to go Air Force as an engineer to work on planes but his father was in the Navy for 25 years. He also got accepted into embry and is going the same time as I but can't fly because he is color blind. I'm just suprised that he doesn't want to work on an aircraft carrier.

Thank you so much once again for the answers.
 
phrogdriver

phrogdriver

More humble than you would understand
pilot
Super Moderator
Re the flt hours. The USMC will have you in the cockpit just as much as the Navy. The Navy has the "disassociated sea tour," just as the Corps has FAC tours, etc. Talk about the worst of all worlds! Army warrant officers fly a lot. Their commissioned Os hardly fly at all. The USAF may fly a little more, but that is going to vary wildly.
 
B

bor0101

Registered User
Tell me how many hours/wk does a marines helicopter pilot fly in peace time(when not deployed)? And how much free time(meaning not at work at all, but at home with his family) does he have overall? Compare this to coast guard please. Thanks! And also please compare this to the pilots of airforce pararescue
 
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