Need advice from those who have been through it

[maltwin1]

I need advice. My boyfriend is getting commissioned into the Marines in January and then will be heading to TBS in March and then API. I have heard different things about what to expect regarding the whole flight school process. I don't know whether to brace myself for 2-3 years of him having a very difficult work load and a lot of stress and not much time to think about anything but studying or if it is a lot like college where he will get some downtime and a chance to relax and have some fun along the way.

I just want to be as helpful as I can so I wanted to get some first hand advice.

Thanks for your help.

 

[scoober78]

I don't know whether to brace myself for 2-3 years of him having a very difficult work load and a lot of stress and not much time to think about anything but studying or if it is a lot like college where he will get some downtime and a chance to relax and have some fun along the way.

Can't speak for TBS/OCS...

However, at flight school he will definitely have to work. I'm not done, but so far I have had weeks where I probably studied 50 hours outside of classes/flights...and I have had weeks where I literally didn't crack a book. The trouble with flight school is that there are lots of variables...squadron, weather, schedule...all play a roll as to how that week shapes up. I think a good rule of thumb is to expect him to spend 2-3 hours studying for every hour flying or in the simulator...(during some phases more, and some less...or much less) There are about 100 flight hours in primary and I think a few more hours than that in the sim.

The best thing you can do is to be supportive and help out during the bad weeks...help him study, maybe pack a lunch etc...and during the weeks where it isn't so bad, be there to decompress and have fun. Its all a balance. Be patient. Good luck.

 

[Gatordev]

scoober pretty much has it. Another thing to keep in mind is that each block of training (API, Primary, Advanced, RAG) is front loaded. Once you get the hang of the basics, learning the rest of it gets easier...until the next block where you start all over again.

 

[bunk22]

A lot of it is going to depend on his ability. Some folks can handle it with little study and others will be up all night. For example, I don't think I ever spent more than 2 hours any one night studying for a flight. My roomate spent all night long studying for a flight, it just didn't click for him. If he has mucho flight time like a bud of mine did, I don't think he spent more than minutes studying. Advanced strike or helo's might be a different story, I didn't go that route.

 

[IRfly]

The trouble with flight school is that there are lots of variables...squadron, weather, schedule...all play a roll as to how that week shapes up.

I think that for myself and my family, the variability was the hardest part. The parts that were a grind weren't so bad once we got into a routine. What was rough was when we wanted to plan things two or three weeks in advance (like doctor's appts, for example), and I couldn't give her guarantees on when I'd be free.

 

[maltwin1]

Thanks for the great advice everybody. The more I hear from all of you the better I feel about what is to come. Thanks again!

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

TBS is a bit different, in that he's pretty much guaranteed to work all week from 0600 to 1900, including a few hours of "homework" a week. There will be times when he's out in the field for days at a time, and others when he'll have night training until midnight. Just remember, TBS isn't the "real" Marine Corps. Once he gets through training, a more normal life is possible.

 

[SemperGumbi]

Another thing to keep in mind is that each block of training (API, Primary, Advanced, RAG) is front loaded.

Roger that on the front-loaded comment. VERY true. By the end of the stages you really don't have to study stuff much if at all.

I'm sure every wants to toss in their two cents on this one. I know I do...

Good question. I remember even in TBS I had no idea how things worked in the flight school arena. I also had a girlfriend at the time. I can PM details about all that stuff (moving in or not) if you want, but I am no expert on such things. It was hard for us to figure out when to do stuff/if she would move out there/etc. It is like that information is a national secret at TBS.

But it gets better with every stage after that. Really. And I found that I had a lot more free time (and was less tired) during flight school. I had planty of time to spend with my lady-friend during primary. She was actually an awesome study partner. The worst weeks time-wise were just that; weeks. I think the most time I spent at base was during CPT's, which is one of the first few weeks at primary.

I could go on forever, but I won't. Again, feel free to ask any more specific questions.

Bottom line, at flight school you can be very helpful. At TBS, not as much, other than understanding that he will be busy, possibly cranky, and gone a lot

 

[A4sForever]

I need advice. My boyfriend is getting commissioned into the Marines in January .....I don't know whether to brace myself for 2-3 years of him ....

Brace yourself for THIS .... !!!

 

[kmac]

Oh great, A4s hit the "limes" earlier today than usual.