Which Branch?
01-17-2013, 04:17 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: Walmart Greeter
Posts: 694
Originally Posted by LU Flyer
Sounds like the ANG is something in need to really consider in one way or another. I appreciate all the great information and your opinions.
Singapore sounds like a good time btw
Singapore sounds like a good time btw
Remember one thing regardless of which branch you end up with; You're an Officer before you're a pilot. Take care of your people and they will take care of you. Be a person, and be humble.
Fly safe, Fly Navy!
01-17-2013, 10:28 PM
#22
Get me outta here...
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: Boeing right seat
Posts: 1,541
1) Your airfield is mobile and visits cool places. Yes,... over the course of 6-9 months, you will get to stop at a couple of places. Very nice. In the mean time, I'll do my two months deployed to Cyprus,... roll through Germany for a conference for a week enroute back home,... maybe grab and airshow,... take some leave in Hawaii... all of this during your "mobile airfield tour" on the floating gray prison. At least you get to eat sliders. Yum.
2) being stuck aboard ship means you can't blow your paycheck so easily, so when you DO hit said cool/exotic places you have a fist-full of cash to take full advantage. Really? No wonder those Navy pilots seemed so bummed to divert into Osan when I was there. They really hated getting off of the ship and having to spend their cash. I think it brought a tear to their eye. I noticed their sadness as they taxied out to depart back to the ship.
3) Best chance to get actual combat experience (ie. a President's first question in a crisis is, "Where is the nearest carrier?")So, the Navy jets got most of the kills during the Gulf War? Kosovo? And they are getting how much comparative combat time in Afghanistan?
4) Naval/marine aviators can do anything an AF jock can do, PLUS land on a pitching deck (something an AF guy cannot do and isn't qualified to do). Well, they cannot fly the U-2. Nor can they do formation/section landings. Nor can they walk on the flightline without a cranial. Or wear an ejection seat harness that is actually comfortable to wear, unlike the Harry Houdini contraption that was designed in the 1960's that y'all wear in your ejection seat aircraft.
5) Every civilian girl knows what Top Gun is...not so "Red Flag", etc.
Not "every civilian girl"... just the ones that live near Fallon. I'm sure Fallon doesn't hold a candle to Vegas... you know Vegas, right? It's where Red Flag is held.
6) There is no better looking uniform than Class A Navy whites or Marine Dress Blues. I cannot argue for the AF uniform. You win this one.
7) Location-wise, Annapolis is far better place to spend 4 years than being stuck up in the cold mountains of CO. To each their own. I'll take snow skiing, flying in open airspace, and avoiding the East Coast, personally.
...no offense to the AF guys. None taken.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I actually tried to become a Navy pilot first... but they would not waive my eyesight, and the AF did.
Some of my very favorite friends are Navy/Marine pilots,... but I wouldn't change a thing.
I have no doubt that, had I gone Navy, it would have been just as good as my AF flying career has been.
2) being stuck aboard ship means you can't blow your paycheck so easily, so when you DO hit said cool/exotic places you have a fist-full of cash to take full advantage. Really? No wonder those Navy pilots seemed so bummed to divert into Osan when I was there. They really hated getting off of the ship and having to spend their cash. I think it brought a tear to their eye. I noticed their sadness as they taxied out to depart back to the ship.
3) Best chance to get actual combat experience (ie. a President's first question in a crisis is, "Where is the nearest carrier?")So, the Navy jets got most of the kills during the Gulf War? Kosovo? And they are getting how much comparative combat time in Afghanistan?
4) Naval/marine aviators can do anything an AF jock can do, PLUS land on a pitching deck (something an AF guy cannot do and isn't qualified to do). Well, they cannot fly the U-2. Nor can they do formation/section landings. Nor can they walk on the flightline without a cranial. Or wear an ejection seat harness that is actually comfortable to wear, unlike the Harry Houdini contraption that was designed in the 1960's that y'all wear in your ejection seat aircraft.
5) Every civilian girl knows what Top Gun is...not so "Red Flag", etc.
Not "every civilian girl"... just the ones that live near Fallon. I'm sure Fallon doesn't hold a candle to Vegas... you know Vegas, right? It's where Red Flag is held.
6) There is no better looking uniform than Class A Navy whites or Marine Dress Blues. I cannot argue for the AF uniform. You win this one.
7) Location-wise, Annapolis is far better place to spend 4 years than being stuck up in the cold mountains of CO. To each their own. I'll take snow skiing, flying in open airspace, and avoiding the East Coast, personally.
...no offense to the AF guys. None taken.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I actually tried to become a Navy pilot first... but they would not waive my eyesight, and the AF did.
Some of my very favorite friends are Navy/Marine pilots,... but I wouldn't change a thing.
I have no doubt that, had I gone Navy, it would have been just as good as my AF flying career has been.
01-18-2013, 03:01 AM
#24
On Reserve
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Position: C-130J, Left Seat
Posts: 20
Although I'm AD AF and wouldn't change a thing, you can apply for OCS with the marines with a contract for pilot training with college out of the way. There are many options to consider, each with its positives and negatives. Just be wary that you may not get picked up for a full time job with the guard and will have to bum to get some flight time with the unit.
01-18-2013, 04:19 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by HuggyU2
1) Well, they cannot fly the U-2. Nor can they do formation/section landings. Nor can they walk on the flightline without a cranial. .
If anybody decides to pick a service based on the ability to do section T/Os or formation landings, that person should be beat about the head and shoulders. Btw OP - they do them all the time when land based.
-Full disclosure.
I spent 3 years in AF ROTC
01-18-2013, 04:42 AM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: Walmart Greeter
Posts: 694
Originally Posted by HuggyU2
1) Your airfield is mobile and visits cool places. Yes,... over the course of 6-9 months, you will get to stop at a couple of places. Very nice. In the mean time, I'll do my two months deployed to Cyprus,... roll through Germany for a conference for a week enroute back home,... maybe grab and airshow,... take some leave in Hawaii... all of this during your "mobile airfield tour" on the floating gray prison. At least you get to eat sliders. Yum. Don't forget about Barney Clarks
2) being stuck aboard ship means you can't blow your paycheck so easily, so when you DO hit said cool/exotic places you have a fist-full of cash to take full advantage. Really? No wonder those Navy pilots seemed so bummed to divert into Osan when I was there. They really hated getting off of the ship and having to spend their cash. I think it brought a tear to their eye. I noticed their sadness as they taxied out to depart back to the ship. Really?? Osan. Seems to me in my 3 yrs in Japan with CVW-5 Osan was nothing more than a X-country destination to go shopping until the USAF rules/curfews put the stop to that. You make Osan sound like a garden spot...I'd rather cruise for 4 months and have 5 days of luxory in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney to name a few than sit in my Q room at OSAN AB.
3) Best chance to get actual combat experience (ie. a President's first question in a crisis is, "Where is the nearest carrier?")So, the Navy jets got most of the kills during the Gulf War? Kosovo? And they are getting how much comparative combat time in Afghanistan? Did you really just open your fly and talk about kills in combat?? I have an idea, let's total up all the ordnance expended from USAF jets vs USN/USMC jets in OIF/OEF/Kosovo/Gulf War and then we'll talk.
4) Naval/marine aviators can do anything an AF jock can do, PLUS land on a pitching deck (something an AF guy cannot do and isn't qualified to do). Well, they cannot fly the U-2. Nor can they do formation/section landings. Nor can they walk on the flightline without a cranial. Or wear an ejection seat harness that is actually comfortable to wear, unlike the Harry Houdini contraption that was designed in the 1960's that y'all wear in your ejection seat aircraft. Why can't we fly it, because we didn't buy it? I know 2 USN dudes that interviewed and flew U2s so clearly its not a training thing I reckon. Space suits are so comfy right? Last I checked the section approach to a section landing was still part of the USN F/A-18 FRS syllabus, I did them in Japan and here in CONUS.
5) Every civilian girl knows what Top Gun is...not so "Red Flag", etc.
Not "every civilian girl"... just the ones that live near Fallon. I'm sure Fallon doesn't hold a candle to Vegas... you know Vegas, right? It's where Red Flag is held. I'm not a TOPGUN bro, but I'm pretty sure Iron Eagle wasn't about Red Flag...just what I want to do is go support a Red Flag event and sit through 8 hours of debrief, when i could sit through Air Wing Fallon debrief or a TOPGUN LFE debrief and still make it to Tahoe and enjoy it.
6) There is no better looking uniform than Class A Navy whites or Marine Dress Blues. I cannot argue for the AF uniform. You win this one.
7) Location-wise, Annapolis is far better place to spend 4 years than being stuck up in the cold mountains of CO. To each their own. I'll take snow skiing, flying in open airspace, and avoiding the East Coast, personally.
...no offense to the AF guys. None taken.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I actually tried to become a Navy pilot first... but they would not waive my eyesight, and the AF did.
Some of my very favorite friends are Navy/Marine pilots,... but I wouldn't change a thing.
I have no doubt that, had I gone Navy, it would have been just as good as my AF flying career has been.
2) being stuck aboard ship means you can't blow your paycheck so easily, so when you DO hit said cool/exotic places you have a fist-full of cash to take full advantage. Really? No wonder those Navy pilots seemed so bummed to divert into Osan when I was there. They really hated getting off of the ship and having to spend their cash. I think it brought a tear to their eye. I noticed their sadness as they taxied out to depart back to the ship. Really?? Osan. Seems to me in my 3 yrs in Japan with CVW-5 Osan was nothing more than a X-country destination to go shopping until the USAF rules/curfews put the stop to that. You make Osan sound like a garden spot...I'd rather cruise for 4 months and have 5 days of luxory in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney to name a few than sit in my Q room at OSAN AB.
3) Best chance to get actual combat experience (ie. a President's first question in a crisis is, "Where is the nearest carrier?")So, the Navy jets got most of the kills during the Gulf War? Kosovo? And they are getting how much comparative combat time in Afghanistan? Did you really just open your fly and talk about kills in combat?? I have an idea, let's total up all the ordnance expended from USAF jets vs USN/USMC jets in OIF/OEF/Kosovo/Gulf War and then we'll talk.
4) Naval/marine aviators can do anything an AF jock can do, PLUS land on a pitching deck (something an AF guy cannot do and isn't qualified to do). Well, they cannot fly the U-2. Nor can they do formation/section landings. Nor can they walk on the flightline without a cranial. Or wear an ejection seat harness that is actually comfortable to wear, unlike the Harry Houdini contraption that was designed in the 1960's that y'all wear in your ejection seat aircraft. Why can't we fly it, because we didn't buy it? I know 2 USN dudes that interviewed and flew U2s so clearly its not a training thing I reckon. Space suits are so comfy right? Last I checked the section approach to a section landing was still part of the USN F/A-18 FRS syllabus, I did them in Japan and here in CONUS.
5) Every civilian girl knows what Top Gun is...not so "Red Flag", etc.
Not "every civilian girl"... just the ones that live near Fallon. I'm sure Fallon doesn't hold a candle to Vegas... you know Vegas, right? It's where Red Flag is held. I'm not a TOPGUN bro, but I'm pretty sure Iron Eagle wasn't about Red Flag...just what I want to do is go support a Red Flag event and sit through 8 hours of debrief, when i could sit through Air Wing Fallon debrief or a TOPGUN LFE debrief and still make it to Tahoe and enjoy it.
6) There is no better looking uniform than Class A Navy whites or Marine Dress Blues. I cannot argue for the AF uniform. You win this one.
7) Location-wise, Annapolis is far better place to spend 4 years than being stuck up in the cold mountains of CO. To each their own. I'll take snow skiing, flying in open airspace, and avoiding the East Coast, personally.
...no offense to the AF guys. None taken.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I actually tried to become a Navy pilot first... but they would not waive my eyesight, and the AF did.
Some of my very favorite friends are Navy/Marine pilots,... but I wouldn't change a thing.
I have no doubt that, had I gone Navy, it would have been just as good as my AF flying career has been.
01-18-2013, 06:45 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,205
ANG
AF Reserve
AD.
Fighters in Navy spent a lot of time gone. USAF has fleets (C-5, etc) that rarely deploy. That means home all the time except for trips or short deployments. Never met a dad that said "I love leaving my kids/family". There's a price to be paid for doing some of the cooler stuff. Figure out the balance that you want.
Get instrument training. Get some acrobatic training. Instrument training is a higher priority. Both will help you get through pilot training but instrument training will REALLY help you get through pilot training.
Good luck.
AF Reserve
AD.
Fighters in Navy spent a lot of time gone. USAF has fleets (C-5, etc) that rarely deploy. That means home all the time except for trips or short deployments. Never met a dad that said "I love leaving my kids/family". There's a price to be paid for doing some of the cooler stuff. Figure out the balance that you want.
Get instrument training. Get some acrobatic training. Instrument training is a higher priority. Both will help you get through pilot training but instrument training will REALLY help you get through pilot training.
Good luck.
01-18-2013, 09:54 AM
#28
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Posts: 7
Army
There are some advantages to flying with the army. They do offer flight school to those with associates degrees. Granted the chances are slim of getting a fixed wing slot before you have been flying 10 years or so. However, the flying is enjoyable and completely different than fixed wing. Everyone has their preferences but I enjoy it much more than fixed wing as you are more involved in the act of flight. The probability of getting a job that actually pays a living wage out of the military is much better for rotary wing guys. 1500 hour guys in the EMS community pull in about 65k in my hometown. And I live in a low cost of living area. Schedule is 7 days on 7 days off with no hotels as you are home after your shift. Go to any of the EMS operators webpages and they are truly short of pilots. For example, one operator has 50+ openings right now. I'm not a recruiter for anyone just letting the young guy know there are other options other than AF, NAVY, USMC, and CG. If your heart is set on fixed wing I would push you away from the Army. If your heart is to get air under your butt, it is another option.
01-18-2013, 12:53 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by iflyhelos
There are some advantages to flying with the army. They do offer flight school to those with associates degrees. Granted the chances are slim of getting a fixed wing slot before you have been flying 10 years or so. However, the flying is enjoyable and completely different than fixed wing. Everyone has their preferences but I enjoy it much more than fixed wing as you are more involved in the act of flight. The probability of getting a job that actually pays a living wage out of the military is much better for rotary wing guys. 1500 hour guys in the EMS community pull in about 65k in my hometown. And I live in a low cost of living area. Schedule is 7 days on 7 days off with no hotels as you are home after your shift. Go to any of the EMS operators webpages and they are truly short of pilots. For example, one operator has 50+ openings right now. I'm not a recruiter for anyone just letting the young guy know there are other options other than AF, NAVY, USMC, and CG. If your heart is set on fixed wing I would push you away from the Army. If your heart is to get air under your butt, it is another option.
You are MUCH more likely to fly helos in at least the USMC and USCG than you are fixed wing.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
