Originally Posted by
sailingfun
In my experience those that said they don't want jets did not have the grades.
Your experience is not unique. MANY folks change their tune claiming the jet pipeline is "too hard" or "too long" or "helos looked like more fun." That is not to say that there were some who always had the goal of flying helos...
Originally Posted by
Deke999999
Back in 2002-2003 primary flight, if you had a 50 NSS or better you were going jets (USMC). For the Navy guys is was higher at the time. There were guys who wanted helos, so they would work it out with their instructors for lower grades to miss the "draft". There were many more who ended up in helos who wanted jets. At least back then.
I've been a part of almost every level of USN tailhook training. ^This is, was, and will remain true for the forseeable future. A 50 NSS simply means you had to do better in Primary than the average of the last 200 or so students through the pipeline. If you don't make that cutoff, it doesn't matter.
Originally Posted by
Packrat
Never forget you will be first and foremost a Marine Officer. Next a Marine Aviator and way down the list...whatever platform you fly.
If you are going to the Marines just to be a pilot you're making a big mistake.
Opt for the Air National Guard instead.
"Every Marine is a rifleman. Every Marine officer a platoon leader." Period.