Questions for Marine Pilots

[Buckatuna]

OK, OK...Not thinking

Sorry to offend, but it wasn't intentional. I thought on the military side of this board we all had thicker skin about such innocent oversights.
Since you went through the same Navy flight school as me, and you know I'm a Marine, my comments should have not insulted anyone at all.
I have no regrets for my previous post...


Bucka

 

[ck130]

I knew what you meant .. but since you threw up such an easy softball I couldn't help myself..besides I 'm not clever enough to figure out how to put that little smiley face at the end of the sentence. Open to instruction.

ck130

 

[firstthird]

you click on the little smiley face to the left of the text entry box, I hope since this is my first smiley face attempt.

and a successful one at that.

 

[Guardflyr29]

My question is, what's a Coastie Herc driver doing in a string titled "question for Marine Pilots" in the first place?

 

[BobbyB]

Back when i was about to start primary flight training, a Harrier dude flying for the Blue Angels told me "go jets. Remember that there is a program for helo guys to transition to jets, but it doesn't go the other way." As far back as I can remember, there hasn't been a single hornet guy to go to helos. But I can think of at least 5 helo guys in jets right now.
If you are already a Marine, do what it takes to get to flight school and then work your butt off. If you have jet grades you can get anything. If you don't make the jet cut, you won't get jets. Period. Finish number one, you will probably get your choice of jets or helos. Finish number one in Kingsville or Meridian (jet training) and you will probably get Hornets AND your choice of coast. Lifestyle is about the same in the Navy or Marines, lots of deployed time. You may be unlucky and spend you time MOSTLY deployed. If that bugs you, don't do it. A carrier deployed hornet guy will spend 9 of 12 months deployed during a deployed year, and then home for 6 months or so before the cycle starts again with CQ's, and work-ups. That will be for 3 years, a break of some sort for a year or two then back to the squadron again before your contract is up. Hope this helps.

 

[46Driver]

I think there was one or two guys who actually went from tactical jets to helos but the only reason that happened was due to back problems (i.e. - they could not fly ejection seat aircraft anymore) - then again, I might be mistaken.

 

[pony251]

MarineGrunt, concur with what is being said here. The Corps has more helo's than fixed wing and they are all multi-crew. You can do the math and figure out where most guys are going. Be the #1 guy and hope for the best. As for your other question, most of my time in the fleet was spent either deployed, on det, or at school. Regardless, you are away from home, ALOT! The most family time I ever got was when I was attached to an infantry battalion on my Air Wing appreciation tour. The boat(carrier) is the place to go if you want to put warheads on foreheads. You are a Marine and you know the sacrifices it entails. Looking back on it all I wouldn't change a thing. Look into the blue side (air force guard or reserve) if you're interested. I know everything inside you says you'll never do it, but it is definitely worth a look. That being said, several of my friends are trying to do the guard thing and it is pretty slim pickings on the pointy nose side right now. PM me if you want more details.

PS- JB and ORGAN, good to see some Beaufort guys still around out there.