I spent 10+ years as a Marine Avaitor...... most of the statements are true. There is certainly going to be overseas deployments - period. Some you can take your family - most you cannot. (I was lucky and got to fly out of Hawaii for three years (with family), then off to Japan (without family). If you have a family in the Corps, plan on spending long periods of time without them (on or off the boat).

My advise to you would be, don't make your goal to be a jet pilot - make you goal to be a Marine Officer first, then avaitor, then jets. When you get to TBS (even with the flight contract, the competition is tough - but tons of fun (if you like that kind of stuff)). When you get to flight school, you could be number one in your class and at your winging and aircraft selection date, on that day, there could be a helo draft..... guess what you are now a helo driver..... no jets for you. that's just the way it happens.

The life of the Marines is a difficult one, yet a rewarding one. I will say, that after a long while (for me anyway) it becomes time to leave. The constant deployments (especially for the jet guys), the lack of good equipment that the other services have, and the constant "more with less" mantra that the Marines are famous for - became tiresome for me.

I will say that I am finishing up my career as an Aviator in a Navy Reserve Squadron now, flying there on my days off from the airlines. The squadron jets are great, the guys are great, but it will never be the Marines. You will never have that Esprit de Corps again - anywhere.

For me, the Marines were the best thing I ever did - full of sacrifice, discipline, and reward.


For what it's worth,
Aloha


PS - if the babe can't see herself with a military man - she is goingto hate the Corps - it's like the military on steroids. Make sure that she fully understands what it means to be married to a Marine before you aske her to marry her.