My family is contemplating about visiting San Diego from the 20-25th and I was wondering about the possibility about visiting Miramar or the surrounding Naval bases--maybe even including El Centro. I've applied and been working hard to obtain a Marine OCS pilot slot and currently awaiting my flight physical, I would love to see first hand what aviation and base life is all about in the Marines.

The little bit of information I found about visiting Miramar is that it is usually closed to the public except on the first and third Thursdays of the month where a short 30-45 minute tour is available. As the Naval and Marine bases being one of the main reasons for our visit, I was looking at the possibility for something a little more in-depth and behind the scenes to give me a better look.

Please let me know if you have any ideas

Thanks

 

If you are in the process of competing for a OCS slot then you should work with the local OSO who should be able to arrange a tour for you and your family.

USMCFLYR

 

Unless you can get out to the flight line, there's not too much to see at miramar other than a bunch of buildings. I think the jarheads even redecorated the "historic" top gun O'club. Even less to see at el centro, I wouldn't waste the gas. Naval Air Station North Island has more to see, you can get pretty close to the terminal ramp plus historic buildings and the big aircraft carriers (if you can get on base).

There is an airplane museum adjacent to miramar that's open to the public, as well as the aircraft carrier USS Midway tied up downtown, which is now a museum, with many airplanes.

MCRD is usually open on Thursdays for graduation, not sure if you need an invite to get on base though. They have a museum and you can get a glimpse of entry-level USMC "lifestyle" there...

Don't forget the Aerospace Museum in Balboa park.

Also if you take a harbor tour will get to see lots of large grey navy hardware.

 

Yup, not much to see. Maybe you can watch the flightline from Base Ops, but that's about it.

 

Seriously, don't even waste the time/gas to drive to El Sweato.

 

El Centro can be like a mini-airshow at certain times with the different types of aircraft involved and activities, plus add in the possibility of seeing the Blues perform at certain times of the year!

USMCFLYR

 

I'll look into that and see what he can do.

Seems the only thing worthwhile to see is the Navy base, reconsidering the visit now. Appreciate the advice.

 

Depends on how motivated your OSO might be or what connections he has.
The OSO might contact the base PAO who might in turn arrange a visit to one of the squadrons.
The OSO might have an aviation background and still have contacts on base who could arrange the same.
The OSO might even be a 'grunt' who (although hardly willing to admit it) might have friends who are stationed at MCAS Miramar who might provide a flight line visit.

Of course all of these things usually take a little time and are usually done for a group of individuals, but I've given MANY A tour to friends of friends and authorized visitors in my time.

USMCFLYR

 

So can Yuma. But if you go at the wrong time, nothing to see but cows farting...

 

We had a trip to SAN this past spring and the boss's wife set up a tour of Miramar; she simply called the Press/PR office and they set something up for us. We had a young LCpl drive us around in a van and show us the highlights...which others have noted ain't much. We did get to see a few flying Ospreys and Hercs/F18s doing TOLs which was kinda cool, and TopGun O-club that has been redone, the McDonalds that really drew the ire of the young Marine because "its BS that they push this 'fit to fight' crap and have Big Macs on base" and pink building "that belongs to the Navy".

While nothing spectacular it was a neat experience, and if you're considering Marine OCS (BZ to you, I decided that was a wee bit too hardcore for me my senior year of college) it'll probably be worth your while either way.