I started out with Part 61 and ended with Part 141. I found the standardized cirriculum of the -141 to be more conducive to my way of training. You don't have to go to a pilot mill to find good -141 training. I trained out of a local FBO at the airport where I went to school. I didn't know it then - but looking back at the cirriculum now I see that it was very similar to the military training I later received - complete with *off-wing* check rides and progress checks with other instructors. Good stuff.

USMCFLYR