Seeking Advice

[jcarr17]

Ok first off, I wish to preface this by stating, I WANT TO BE A MARINE. My parents were both enlisted marines, I have nothing but the highest respect for the corps, and I wish to engage in the unique service, commitment, and training afforded to being counted among the few.

If I were to take a ground mso, would I be able to ever fly, if only for non-mission critical tasks, meaning, would I be allowed the chance to learn to fly anything?

What paths have you heard of people taking who have a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering?

I am currently 28 years old, 3.5 graduate gpa, 3.3 undergrad gpa, I wear glasses, I am in top physical shape, no criminal/drug/medical problems. I assume my age and my vision are disqualifying factors to getting a potential pilot contract.

I WANT TO BE A MARINE. What path would you suggest? I understand it is ultimately my choice, I am just looking for advice.

Thank you.

 

[phrogdriver]

By "mso," I think you meant MOS, right?

In a ground MOS, your only flying will generally be riding in the back of a helo or C-130. We don't generally invite grunts to come up front and wiggle the sticks for a while. That's our agreement:"You guys live in the field for days on end, hump 100lb packs, and bayonet the bad-guys; I'll sleep in and preserve my crew rest." I think that deal works for everybody concerned.

There are a limited number of fleet accession slots each year for ground officers wanting to become aviators. Don't count on getting one, though.

 

[SETX07]

If all that stuff about wanting to be a Marine is dead on then go see an Officer Selection Officer at your local office. If you want a ground contract your probably in perfect position to have one. Talk to him and he'll probably fix you up with some paper work and a pft to start the process to goto OCC. Go there and kick ass. Simple.

 

[Zilch]

You sound like a guy I'd want in my platoon next time I go up. Go for it!

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

Talk to your OSO about going to grad school after commissioning, before TBS. It'll increase your rank/pay when you actually start out. Don't expect them to pay for school, though. If you want the GI Bill, you'll probably have to wait for grad school at a later date.

 

[HeyJoe]

Talk to your OSO about going to grad school after commissioning, before TBS. It'll increase your rank/pay when you actually start out. Don't expect them to pay for school, though. If you want the GI Bill, you'll probably have to wait for grad school at a later date.

He already has a Graduate degree in EE, why would he want to delay to go after another one. At 28 years old, he needs to get with it.

 

[BigIron]

I have a feeling that if you showed up at an officer recruiter's office, you will soon be undertaking the process and signing paperwork soon thereafter. Important thing is that you find an officer recruiter very soon.

 

[Afterburner76]

Ok first off, I wish to preface this by stating, I WANT TO BE A MARINE. My parents were both enlisted marines, I have nothing but the highest respect for the corps, and I wish to engage in the unique service, commitment, and training afforded to being counted among the few.

If I were to take a ground mso, would I be able to ever fly, if only for non-mission critical tasks, meaning, would I be allowed the chance to learn to fly anything?

What paths have you heard of people taking who have a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering?

I am currently 28 years old, 3.5 graduate gpa, 3.3 undergrad gpa, I wear glasses, I am in top physical shape, no criminal/drug/medical problems. I assume my age and my vision are disqualifying factors to getting a potential pilot contract.

I WANT TO BE A MARINE. What path would you suggest? I understand it is ultimately my choice, I am just looking for advice.

Thank you.

I think the question we need to ask is... what service are you looking at most?

 

[Rustbucket]

I agree with everyone else, find the OSO in your area. If you don't know where they're at, just go into an enlisted recruiter and ask them, but know that they're going to try to get you to change your mind and go E. Start getting in shape now for a PFT. First off, it can't hurt to be in shape, second they are going to want to knock one out ASAP anyway. As far as having a Master's they honestly aren't going to care. You could have a degree in underwater basketweaving and they'll train you to fly a plane if that's what you end up doing. Remember it's up to the needs of the Marine Corps that determines what you end up doing. Just be in shape so you don't get hurt at OCS.

 

[OleMissF18Wife]

I am currently 28 years old, 3.5 graduate gpa, 3.3 undergrad gpa, I wear glasses, I am in top physical shape, no criminal/drug/medical problems. I assume my age and my vision are disqualifying factors to getting a potential pilot contract.

Okay, my husband was 27 when he got to flight school and there were other guys there older than he was so I don't think age will be a big factor.

Granted it will take you a year to complete both OCS and TBS prior to getting to flight school but if you take the ATSB and get a good grade and negotiate well through the OSO you should be able to get a tenative flight contract. My husband had his before he left college but he had already taken his ATSB and confirmed his NFO contract before even leaving for TBS. But it ultimately comes down to the needs of the Marine Corps at the time you sign on the doted line. Out of our ROTC class at Ole Miss all of the Mustangs that applied for the flight program were accepted and 6 out 10 cadets that applied got in too. But we had a very vigorous ATSB prep class they all took (our MOI was a C-130 bubba so anything other than flight was not a option *lol*)

My husband wore glasses too, so we knew right away that he wouldn't get a pilot slot but they snapped him up right away for an F-18 NFO slot.

Then when we got to the RAG in San Diego they cut his eyes and now he could apply to the pilot program because his vision is perfect now so that shouldn't be an issue either.

Also the Marines are currently suffering a shortage of NFO's right now and since the JSF is rumored to be delayed past their 2012 delivery date that means the two seat Delta's are going to be in service at least another 5-8 years so NFO's are not going to be a thing of the past anytime soon.

So, you could view going FO as an opportunity to fly just as my husband did, get through flight school, apply for vision correction (which they had out like Motrin now) at the RAG, do your first tour as a FO and then apply to pilot program (can't remember the name of it!!) and hopefully get selected.

Either way your going to end up in the air, as my husband always said "up in the air in a jet is still up in a jet whether it's in the front seat or the back I don't give a s*it"

~OleMissF18Wife

 

[Brett327]

Okay, my husband was 27 when he got to flight school and there were other guys there older than he was so I don't think age will be a big factor.

Since he's not a prior enlisted like your husband, he won't be able to take advantage of the age waivers he was eligible for. Age is definitely going to be a limiting factor for this guy.

Brett