Hello everyone- new to the forum.

So here's the deal- I'm at the Air Force Academy with the goal of flying fighters eventually-although any aircraft would be great. Right now I'm an instructor pilot for the soaring program here and I'm on track to UPT so far. However, I don't really like alot of things I see in the AF.

At the base I've been to for a few weeks, the morale and discipline throughout seems very poor- it seems many join to go the "easy" way or just to have the government pay for their college. I joined to fight and I want to be around others who joined for the same reason.

The Marines seem like a much "tighter" force. I just have a few questions about actual life in the Marines-specifically about flying. How does being a pilot in the Corps work? Are you out to sea most of the time (not including deployments)? And where are most of the bases? I would assume they're mostly in coastal areas- but I really don't know much about the Corps at this point. Any enlightenmet would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

You are at the AF Acadamy and you want to fly in the Corps?

I bet that will go over big as a turd in the punch bowl.

I would keep your thoughts to yourself for now, could work out bad for you if it does not work out at all. I would contact the Marine OSO in that area just to see if it's possible, may not be.....

Dont you have to like serve in the AF for like 4yrs after graduation from the academy.

quote:

The Marines seem like a much "tighter" force. I just have a few questions about actual life in the Marines-specifically about flying. How does being a pilot in the Corps work? Are you out to sea most of the time (not including deployments)? And where are most of the bases? I would assume they're mostly in coastal areas- but I really don't know much about the Corps at this point. Any enlightenmet would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Jeff - it depends on what you fly. Unlike the Air Force, in the Navy and Marine Corps all pilots go through fixed wing training first, then get broken down into Jets, Helos, Tiltrotors (V-22), or Props.

Props is C-130, and obviously they do not spend any time at sea. You could be stationed at Cherry Pt, NC; Mirimar, CA; or Futenma, Okinawa.

Jets would be either F-18A/D's, EA-6B's, or AV-8B's. If you are in an F-18A squadron you will probably do some time on a Navy Aircraft Carrier, the D's do not. Not sure if the Marine EA-6B's go out on the Navy Carriers anymore or not. Harriers go out on the Amphib's (LHA's or LHD's). Could be stationed at Mirimar, CA; Cherry Pt, NC; Beaufort, SC; Yuma, AZ; or Iwakuni, Japan.

Helo's would be either AH-1W's (Cobra), UH-1N's (Huey), CH-46E's (Phrogs), CH-53D's, and CH-53E's (Shitters). Cobras, Hueys, 46's, and 53E's are at Camp Pendleton, Ca; Mirimar, Ca; New River Air Station, NC. There are two 46 squadrons in Okinawa also. The CH-53D's are all in Hawaii. ALL go on the boat, and all but the 46's go on six month rotations to Okinawa.

V-22's are only in New River, NC at the moment, but within a few more years will be on both coasts, in Hawaii, and on Okinawa.

I might have left some bases off; Marines that have been stationed with some of those units will correct me if that is the case.

It sounds like you want to fly jets, but make sure you understand that you can only be guaranteed a flight slot in the Marine Corps. The only guy that is usually guaranteed his first choice out of flight school is the #1 grad. Because of the comparatively small number of jet slots compared to props/helo's, most end up in those pipelines. You will also have to attend The Basic School at Quantico for six months before you go to flight school. Just make sure you understand that going in.

For those on here that don't know; every year there are several graduates of the service academies that are allowed to cross-commission into other services. There usually isn't anything negative associated with those that go that route.

* edited to add: There is also a website called airwarriors.com that has some great information about the training pipeline for each community.

quote:

Originally posted by RonMann:
I bet that will go over big as a turd in the punch bowl.

Hmm,,
I was thinking more like a fart in a Space Suit.



But as far as fighting,,,,
oh, yes sir, you'll get to do that all right.
The Air Force only sends a very very few of its Enlisted folks into combat, or even within a few hundred miles of it. They normally just send thier Officers into battle.

With that sort of arrangement, the Enlisted folk's sense of discipline, moral, and comaraderie is less important than you might think. The AF only needs them happy and fit enough to keep the airplanes and all that electronic stuff yawl got 'fixed & flyable'.

.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: WingerEd,

quote:

Originally posted by jeffhaub:

In the past the Marine Corps has had some officers serving as instructors at the AFA. Look him up and if not there might be a squid officer teaching there who could help put you in touch with the local Marine Corps OSO.