Originally Posted by
terpilot
Do guys fly helicopters in the Navy? Sure, but if you work hard enough in flight school and don't want to fly Helos, then you probably won't. Naval Aviation compared to the rest of the Navy is a small group, but it's a very close knit group that is fraternal like. There's no black and white lines between jet, prop, and helo guys like there is in the Air Force between Fighter, Bomber, and Cargo pilots. Basically each service has its pros and cons, pick the one you feel most comfortable with, things will just fall in place from there.
I disagree. I'm an IP flying with VT-6 right now and the number is about 50% for helo pilots in the Navy. Chances are, you will fly helo's. The Navy's needs always come first and just because you finish #1 doesn't mean you get your first choice. I know of just a student a few weeks ago. He had a 60+ NSS and went helo's. Flew with him and he was top notch. Frustrating indeed.
I've got 15+ years AD Navy and if you think there isn't a line between helo, props, jets, give it time. You'll see it. I was a tailhooker as well, a COD driver for years. Even flew them when we stayed on the boat for the entire deployment, flying night ops with night traps. There was and is a line between the communities. Not necessarily a bad thing, it just is what it is.