Turning down Pilot slot for Other Service

[ATbullfrog]

I applied to the USN for a pilot slot and I have just been notified that I have been selected and have been given an OCS date. However I am considering turning it down to go through the entire pilot application process again with the USMC. These are my reasons:

1) The USMC aviation platforms are more widely focused towards combat roles (Rotary, Jet, Tilt). I feel that there is more of a chance at getting the chance to see combat with the wider scope of platforms in the USMC then the USN, which I would only be interested in Jets. I feel that this is a fair justification.

2) I have been recently been more exposed to the roles that the USMC has in the aviation community. My goal in joining the military is to be an officer and see combat. I don't think that the USN gets a chance to see as much combat as the USMC does.

3) Aviation Flight school is difficult for both communities. When looking at this decision I am considering the situation of me "failing" flight school. Shitty mentality, however I want to take it into account. If I fail out of flight school in the Navy I would be stuck lateraling to SWO. In the USMC, I would get the chance to go into infantry which is more desirable in my case.

4) I am in the 290+ PFT with USMC, and I would have a strong chance of getting an OCS slot.

5) I would rather be an officer in the USMC than the USN. I think that this is reason enough for the thought of this decision.



These are the questions for the group:::
1) How often does the Navy see combat in the aviation community (dropping warheads on foreheads). From people that I have talked to the USN is has fleet defensive missions. The USMC supports infantry and therefore gets the chance to be in combat more. I can't remember the last time I heard of Navy Jets fighting in the war against terror. Thoughts?

2) What is the chances of getting into infantry if I fail out of Aviation School? I understand that they are a breed of their own.

2) How stupid is this? Truly my first thought is that this is retarded and un-wise. However it is a 10 year commitment - I want to be in a service that fits.

3) Would the USMC pickup that I "quit" out of the USN flight selection program.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

5) I would rather be an officer in the USMC than the USN. I think that this is reason enough for the thought of this decision.

I think you’ve already made your decision.

If your overall goal is to see “combat”, go Army or Marine Corps.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Also, your profile says you’re 32. Do you have an approved age waiver to apply for naval aviation?

 

[ATbullfrog]

I am in my 20's, Don't know why it says that.

 

[Brett327]

I can't remember the last time I heard of Navy Jets fighting in the war against terror.

You should read more. Every VFA squadron that has deployed to 5th Fleet since 2001 has been dropping bombs on bad guys. Oh, and the first A/A kill since 1999 that happened over Syria in 2017? Navy guy, off the boat.

You sound like a good fit for the Marines, but at least base your decision on accurate information. At this point you don't know what you don't know.

 

[HAL Pilot]

I applied to the USN for a pilot slot and I have just been notified that I have been selected and have been given an OCS date. However I am considering turning it down to go through the entire pilot application process again with the USMC. These are my reasons:

1) The USMC aviation platforms are more widely focused towards combat roles (Rotary, Jet, Tilt). I feel that there is more of a chance at getting the chance to see combat with the wider scope of platforms in the USMC then the USN, which I would only be interested in Jets. I feel that this is a fair justification.

2) I have been recently been more exposed to the roles that the USMC has in the aviation community. My goal in joining the military is to be an officer and see combat. I don't think that the USN gets a chance to see as much combat as the USMC does.

3) Aviation Flight school is difficult for both communities. When looking at this decision I am considering the situation of me "failing" flight school. Shitty mentality, however I want to take it into account. If I fail out of flight school in the Navy I would be stuck lateraling to SWO. In the USMC, I would get the chance to go into infantry which is more desirable in my case.

4) I am in the 290+ PFT with USMC, and I would have a strong chance of getting an OCS slot.

5) I would rather be an officer in the USMC than the USN. I think that this is reason enough for the thought of this decision.



These are the questions for the group:::
1) How often does the Navy see combat in the aviation community (dropping warheads on foreheads). From people that I have talked to the USN is has fleet defensive missions. The USMC supports infantry and therefore gets the chance to be in combat more. I can't remember the last time I heard of Navy Jets fighting in the war against terror. Thoughts?

2) What is the chances of getting into infantry if I fail out of Aviation School? I understand that they are a breed of their own.

2) How stupid is this? Truly my first thought is that this is retarded and un-wise. However it is a 10 year commitment - I want to be in a service that fits.

3) Would the USMC pickup that I "quit" out of the USN flight selection program.

Awesome... a wannabe war hero....

 

[ATbullfrog]

Not that - Id rather not go through flight school for 2 years and be stuck doing stupid shit unrelated to flying for 8 years.

 

[Brett327]

Not that - Id rather not go through flight school for 2 years and be stuck doing stupid shit unrelated to flying for 8 years.

Even if you're successful at becoming a Marine Naval Aviator, you're gonna get stuck doing a lot of stupid shit not related to aviation.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

I applied to the USN for a pilot slot and I have just been notified that I have been selected and have been given an OCS date. However I am considering turning it down to go through the entire pilot application process again with the USMC. These are my reasons:

1) The USMC aviation platforms are more widely focused towards combat roles (Rotary, Jet, Tilt). I feel that there is more of a chance at getting the chance to see combat with the wider scope of platforms in the USMC then the USN, which I would only be interested in Jets. I feel that this is a fair justification.

2) I have been recently been more exposed to the roles that the USMC has in the aviation community. My goal in joining the military is to be an officer and see combat. I don't think that the USN gets a chance to see as much combat as the USMC does.

3) Aviation Flight school is difficult for both communities. When looking at this decision I am considering the situation of me "failing" flight school. Shitty mentality, however I want to take it into account. If I fail out of flight school in the Navy I would be stuck lateraling to SWO. In the USMC, I would get the chance to go into infantry which is more desirable in my case.

4) I am in the 290+ PFT with USMC, and I would have a strong chance of getting an OCS slot.

5) I would rather be an officer in the USMC than the USN. I think that this is reason enough for the thought of this decision.



These are the questions for the group:::
1) How often does the Navy see combat in the aviation community (dropping warheads on foreheads). From people that I have talked to the USN is has fleet defensive missions. The USMC supports infantry and therefore gets the chance to be in combat more. I can't remember the last time I heard of Navy Jets fighting in the war against terror. Thoughts?

2) What is the chances of getting into infantry if I fail out of Aviation School? I understand that they are a breed of their own.

2) How stupid is this? Truly my first thought is that this is retarded and un-wise. However it is a 10 year commitment - I want to be in a service that fits.

3) Would the USMC pickup that I "quit" out of the USN flight selection program.

So why did you even apply to the Navy again?

 

[DanMa1156]

Not that - Id rather not go through flight school for 2 years and be stuck doing stupid shit unrelated to flying for 8 years.

Maybe a Marine can chime in on this, but my perception is the amount of Marines that continue flying after their first tour is less than Navy as a percentage. Of all the Marine pilots I know from my Academy company that graduated in 2010, I do not think any of them flew past their first tour for what that's worth.

Separately, on the combat thing, read what Brett said. VFA has been involved in it since day one. When I was in the Middle East, Navy jets were dropping approximately 30% of all ordance. The USAF was nearly almost all the rest; the Marines were a small slice of that pie. To be fair - that's partially a capacity game - the USAF is much larger presence in the air than the USMC.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Not that - Id rather not go through flight school for 2 years and be stuck doing stupid shit unrelated to flying for 8 years.

Bull shit. Your post was “I want combat”, “I want combat”, “I want combat”....

While the military is obviously there to fight when needed, there is so much more to serving in the military than combat. Whether you are on a combat deployment or not, you’re going to be flying. There is stupid shit in both combat and non-combat deployments and it a part of doing business.

Your post was full of young, immature bravado.

 

[DocT]

Maybe a Marine can chime in on this, but my perception is the amount of Marines that continue flying after their first tour is less than Navy as a percentage. Of all the Marine pilots I know from my Academy company that graduated in 2010, I do not think any of them flew past their first tour for what that's worth.

I flew all 8 years I was in the fleet. I tried to do the the other Marine shit but had to stay flying due to MOS manning. I can say that’s also true for many of my peers in VMM land

Bull shit. Your post was “I want combat”, “I want combat”, “I want combat”....

While the military is obviously there to fight when needed, there is so much more to serving in the military than combat. Whether you are on a combat deployment or not, you’re going to be flying. There is stupid shit in both combat and non-combat deployments and it a part of doing business.

Your post was full of young, immature bravado.

All Marines start with immature bravado. Sounds like a fit to me. ?

 

[taxi1]

Have you had this conversation with a USMC recruiter? Curious as to their thoughts...

 

[Crazy Legs]

I had many of the same thought processes as you in determining which branch to pursue. Like others have stated, I think you've already made your decision.

 

[FinkUFreaky]

Can anyone answer his question regarding declining the Navy OCS offer and how that would affect USMC selection? I honestly don't know, but would think it would be a negative at the board. A strong personal statement as to why you changed your mind might help. That said:

OP, if you put in the effort flight school isn't THAT hard. I wouldn't think about the repercussions from attriting and what other options there would be. NPQ from NAMI? Yeah, I'd give that some consideration. It happens to some people. Most* attrites from flight school though either aren't meant to be there or more often didn't put in the effort. It does sound like you want marines, so go for your goal. But yes VFA has been dropping plenty of "warheads on foreheads" if that is your goal.