mbless

I am currently at the USAF Academy, and am set to get a pilot spot. I have wanted to fly helicopters due to their mission and the interaction they would have with Marines unlike heavy aircraft or some other airframes.

I have heard the chances of getting helos in the AF is very rare compared to the other services. Everyone I know that went to UPT has gotten Fixed Wings even if they wanted helos, and usually only one guy out of the class would get a helo.

Some of my options that I have been presented with includes cross-commissioning into either the Marines or the Navy. I am perfectly okay with going into another service, especially the Marines. I'd rather have the opportunity to be a Marine than just an officer behind a desk if the pilot thing didn't work out.

I was just wondering if you guys had any insight on where my best chance would be to get helos. I appreciate any input you may have. Thank you.

USMCFLYR

Yes - I have heard of cross commissions from the Service Academies.
Yes - you can certainly have an opportunity to fly helicopters in the Marines (don't call them soliders btw ).
Personally - between the two - I would prefer to fly the missions most often flown by the Marines rather than the Navy helicopter pilots I have known.
The Navy missions seem to be changing and evolving though - so maybe things have changed over the last few years. I'm sure there are some on APC with first hand knowledge.
Good luck in your pursuit.

USMCFLYR

mbless

Thanks for the input.

I made the correction as quickly as I could!

So in your opinion, the Marine mission for helo pilots is more conducive for a more exciting and meaningful career than a Navy helo pilot?

I'm just trying to get a feel for how all the services treat the helo mission in comparison to the fast movers or heavy aircraft.

Thanks again.

nfnsquared

You do realize that you just insulted about 95% of Air Force officers? Another young buck who doesn't quite get it. You'll learn, hopefully. Good luck.

rickair7777

In the past USNA has traded a few graduates each year with West Point and USAFA. I do not recall any provision for the USAFA grads to go into the USMC, to my knowledge they were all commissioned in the navy.

I would ask your chain of command, someone up the food chain will certainly know the status of the swap program (if it even still exists)

rickair7777

I don't think too many of us yearned to become desk jockeys at his age...I certainly didn't and I'd be wary of anyone did. If you stick around long enough, you'll end up there eventually anyhow.

USMCFLYR

Well...I wanted to be a Marine - so yes I would rather fly helos for the Marines Meaningful? You are using some strange words here to describe your thoughts about service.
Which would you find more "meaningful"? Providing Rotary Wing CAS to Marines in contact or plucking a fellow aviator out of the water that just ejected off the pointy end of the boat?

There is no comparison between Helos and fast movers or heavy aircraft. Each has their specific mission to play in the larger role. Throughout my career I've seen people initially disappointed with the path chosen for them; yet 99% of the time when you met these same people a few years later, they are all loving their aircraft, their mission, and the people they are serving beside.

You'll have to answer many of those questions yourself - but I can promise you that if you were taken that challenge, you will find the challenge that you are looking for. One more thing....it is true in every service, but just give some thought to how far you get in that jet or helo with one load of gas, when after you land and look around and there is NO support from those other men and women whos' job it is to support those flight operations. Some of those are people who look like they are "just sitting behind a desk" but in reality they are doing a job that is just as important with 10% of the recognition.

USMCFLYR

nfnsquared

Oh brother, so if Air Force officers aren't pilots, they're desk jockeys, clearly a necessary term to distinguish them from their counterparts (pilots). Nice....

USMCFLYR

Aren't desk jockeys anyone who isn't doing whatever your job is?
Too a grunt - a desk jockey is anyone not spending a few weeks out in the field.
To a black shoe - a desk jockey is anyone not spending time on the big gray cruise ship.
To a pilot.....well you get the idea.

I'm pretty sure that desk jockey isn't just an Air Force term for non-pilots.
Unless you're just looking for it to be of course?

USMCFLYR

Hacker15e

It's only insulting if you take it that way.

Personally, I'm not looking for reasons to get butt-hurt, and certainly the word choice of a USAFA dink in an internet posting doesn't cross the threshold of being insulting in my book.

But, you're right -- he should learn a little about the right terminology to use, especially if he's going to continue with his AF career vice crossing over into the land of the jarheads. He said "an officer behind a desk" when he should have used the technically-correct term "shoe clerk".