Marines
07-31-2007 | 04:34 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Walmart Greeter
Got this in an email from a buddy of mine. Its funny, just remember Marine pilots are Naval Aviators, too, so most of the below applies.
The question of today - WHETHER TO BECOME AN AIR FORCE PILOT......
OR A NAVAL AVIATOR......
********************************
The piece is written by Bob Norris, a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about U.S. Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off".
In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following:
10 January 2006
Young Man,
Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"
Air Force Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.
Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black Shoes(surface warfare) and Bubble Heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.
Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.
Banzai
P.S.: Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.
The question of today - WHETHER TO BECOME AN AIR FORCE PILOT......
OR A NAVAL AVIATOR......
********************************
The piece is written by Bob Norris, a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about U.S. Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off".
In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following:
10 January 2006
Young Man,
Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"
Air Force Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.
Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black Shoes(surface warfare) and Bubble Heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.
Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.
Banzai
P.S.: Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.
Plenty of threads have already addressed this "rivalry" and I wont go there again(Hacker I know you're out there somewhere). The bottom line is Sig is right if you want to do the part time gig, the ANG is really the only way to go. To my knowledge any USN/USMC reserve outfit, like Sig has said, requires you to already have your wings in that service or have had similar training in the AF/CG(e.g. Coast Guard Herc guy gets picked up for the USN reserve C-130 outfit in Andrews, F-15/F-16 guy gets picked up by a reserve Hornet squadron), you get my point. I would seriously caution you on using the Military as a stepping stone to build time. There must be a greater good out there in your mind before you sign the dotted line. The willingness to deploy for however long your reserve/Guard unit deploys must be there not to mention service to the country. I have met plenty of dudes in the Club across the world who were doing just that and bad mouthing/complaining while doing it. That's their perogative certainly, but I don't necessarily think its the best means to an end. Again, my .02.
07-31-2007 | 05:49 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 328
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From: HMMWV in Iraq
07-31-2007 | 10:30 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Spartan
As far as the Marines, if you have to ask, it ain't for you. You had better want to be a Marine first before a Marine pilot because you will be, by default, a Plt or Co commander who happens to fly aircraft.
The bottom line is no matter which branch you try and fly in, you better want to be there to serve your country first. There's a lot of BS to deal with along the way and you will burn out fast otherwise.
07-31-2007 | 11:12 AM
#14
Thread Starter
Blue Light Special
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Learjet 45 & G-IV
yeah I have absolutely no problem with wanting to serve my country, I would take pride and honor to do so. I have wanted to be a solider ever since I was a little kid and in no way would use it as a "time building" method.
07-31-2007 | 05:05 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
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Hi MC713,
I am a Marine pilot of 11 years and have flown helicopters and fixed wing (not jets). Most of the threads are right on. As for the reserves, most USMC are grabbing only guys that were prior in the USMC and not new hires off the street. There are too many active duty guys leaving to that can fill the reserves and the USMC reserve program is still in the developing stages. As for new hires for the other services, they are getting deployed "activated" quickly after they become winged aviators for some time. I train a lot of AF C-130 and C-17 guys. While I have really enjoyed my time, I even am going to depart the pattern and fly for the reserves in a training command (a potential good deal). Things change constantly right now and knowing what I know, I would keep pressing ahead with the civilian route unless you can get on with a AF guard unit and then be prepared to deploy several times. I you and your family are prepared for this, then best of luck if not...standby. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
I am a Marine pilot of 11 years and have flown helicopters and fixed wing (not jets). Most of the threads are right on. As for the reserves, most USMC are grabbing only guys that were prior in the USMC and not new hires off the street. There are too many active duty guys leaving to that can fill the reserves and the USMC reserve program is still in the developing stages. As for new hires for the other services, they are getting deployed "activated" quickly after they become winged aviators for some time. I train a lot of AF C-130 and C-17 guys. While I have really enjoyed my time, I even am going to depart the pattern and fly for the reserves in a training command (a potential good deal). Things change constantly right now and knowing what I know, I would keep pressing ahead with the civilian route unless you can get on with a AF guard unit and then be prepared to deploy several times. I you and your family are prepared for this, then best of luck if not...standby. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
07-31-2007 | 06:45 PM
#17
Smells like teen spirit
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 216
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From: Mil and Civ
The guard is no longer a weekend flying club. Heavies fly a lot and have more opportunities to get deployed. Fighter currency requirements will have you at the squadron 7-10 days a month. So, if you think you're gonna do 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks in the summer forget it. You'll also have 2-4 years of full-time training and seasoning in the guard before you become a "part-timer".
The one unfortunate thing that you're off on is the seasoning days. We're broke...especially in the AF and Navy. I think 2 years maybe the max you'll see...and anymore than that of orders is really pushing it.
07-31-2007 | 06:47 PM
#18
Smells like teen spirit
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Mil and Civ
07-31-2007 | 06:51 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Spartan
My 4 year comment was for fighters including UPT, IFF, and RTU. Seasoning right now is still 2 by 256 day sets of orders...for now anyway.
08-01-2007 | 02:31 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: HMMWV in Iraq
Hey, that's no secret, I'm open to any and all options. I think I'd be crazy to pass up the chance at any flying squadron less than 30 miles from my house, particularly F-22's. If Langley had F-16's, C-17's or C-130's, you would have gotten the same PM (if that was what you flew).
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