mtsupilot09

Hi all, as some of you remember I was considering going into the Marines through their PLC program. For those of you who don't know my situation, here are the basics: current college freshman at MTSU studying aerospace administration with a business minor, I've always dreamed of being a naval aviator, after talking to a Marine recruiter and flying with them in their King Air, I'm considering their PLC program. I understand that this isn't the route to build high flight time, and that's ok with me. I know all the technical jargon, but I'd really be interested in talking with as many of you naval aviators as possible about lifestyle. Just tell me what your life was like while you were in the Navy or the Corps. What you flew, your pay, how it affected your marraige/family, etc. Thanks a lot in advance guys, I certainly appreciate your advice.

Chandler

Bigflya

My first advice to you is fly Navy, not USMC. The Marines are an extremely proud and professional organization and I have the utmost respect for them but they are always left at the bottom of the barrel in the military budget game. I would also say that greater than 50% of their pilots fly helos. If flying 15 combat loaded, hard charging marines into a hot LZ while max performing your helo is your bag then do it. You have a better shot at fixed-wing in the Navy. The biggest aircraft the Marines fly is C-130's and they do not have many. They may have all transferred to reserve squadrons but I'm not sure. Another question you should ask is if you are given an aviation guarantee. You may be competing for a slot and could get ground, supply, intel, etc and still be committed to at least four years of active duty in a job you may not want. Remember, as a Marine you are a rifleman first, your job second. Pay and bennies are good and so are advancement oppurtunities. O1 to O3 are automatic based just on time in service. Two years to make O2, and two more to make O3. After that your record will determine advancement after five more years as an O3. Same base pay food allowance for equal ranks across all services. Then variances by location for housing allowance. Pilots get flight pay ranging up to $850 month based on yrs of flying service. Don't get married anytime soon. If the Marines wanted you to have a wife they would have issued you one. It is much easier going on deployments, detachments, last minute tasking, etc. when you do not have anyone at home asking when your coming home/leaving again. I would say family commitments is the #1 reason guys punch out. This holds true for the Navy too. Life as a Navy pilot has been great. You will go places you've never heard of, do cool things, make life-long friends, and get paid to do it. Oh and you will be flying too. Grades and extra curiculars are key. Your life begins now wether its the military, med/law school, or whatever so get the best grades you can. BTW, see if you are med qualified to fly (20/20 vision correctable, no asthma, bad joints, serious knee injuries etc.) You must be aeromedically qualified before you ever get the flight billet so if you think you may have an issue, ask to talk with a flight surgeon before you sign anything. If your college has a NROTC unit, you should go over and talk to them. You can take the Naval Science courses, be a part of their unit and not be on scholarship. You may be able to apply for one in following years. Good luck.

atsfdx

Sounds great! I'm a 21+ year Navy Retiree now with FedEx. Did it the hard way. Enlisted at 17, college degree at night, then AOCS. I flew H-46's, C-12's, C-9's and then Gulfstream IV, all thanks to the Navy, and now collect a check every month. I agree with quaileman about the Navy over the Corps. No disrespect. But if I had to do it over again, I would probably go USAF. I believe their airplanes are better, they're more specialized, and the Bases are well-equipped and seem to guarantee a better quality of life. I have been removed from the military only a couple of years and have few regrets. All of the pay and advancement opportunities discussed above apply to e all military services. The rise to O-4/O-5 in the USAF may require a graduate degree but the military can provide time and money for that as well. Good luck with your career.

Herc130AV8R

It's great to get the advice from retirees but I suggest you talk with some current Navy pilots who have felt the brunt of 9/11. You are going to get a more accurate picture of what your life will be like if you join. This war on terror aint going away for a while and it will have a direct impact on your Navy "experience" if you join. Good Luck!

mtsupilot09

Are there any current navy guys out there willing to speak to me?

jzeppelin

I'm been a Navy pilot for 10 years now, flying P-3's and now C-9's. I've really enjoyed my time in the Navy. The flying has been good, the people are great, and the pay is pretty nice at this point (I'll make 6 figures this year). A lot of that is luck. It all depends on what platform you choose and then what command you're assigned to. I know that if I had it to do again, I'd do it all the same. One thing, though. If you're considering the Marines, understand this: even as a pilot, you will most likely spend a year or more on the ground (i.e. with a rifle, not flying) in Iraq or Afghanistan. Just something to consider.

calcapt

Not current Navy but previous Navy fighter type. Navy is a good gig but you have to be smart about it these days. As jzeppelin indicated, your choices will make a big difference in your happiness and achieving your goals. When I went in, flying fighters and chasing the old Top Gun image was foremost in many minds. I went that route and realized that if my goal was to build time and avoid the more hostile side of things I had definately chosen the wrong path. Carrier life is tough on marriages and dangerous. There is a more civil side in Naval aviation that doesn't involve landing on ships like C-130's, P3's, C-9's and others. I agree also with avoiding marine aviation. They are very good but their options are more limited and you can't escape the ground ops side of things. I think the commitment now is 10 years after you get your wings which comes out to about 12, so consider that in your plans. Being a Naval aviator will get you a nice plaque for your wall and some respect from future employers. The question is if the twelve years is worth the benefits. Good Luck my friend!

P-3Bubba

Im an East Coast P-3 guy that is currently deployed to Iraq. I dont know how much you know about P-3's but in Mar 04' the Navy enacted a flight hours restriction, limiting each airframe to 86.4hrs a month. They also reduced the pilots per squadron to 30 in an effort to maintain a level of currency in the squadron pilots. This is how it really worked. With a limited amount of flight hours on the airplane pilots are getting less hours and needed experience. There are less people to do the "ground" work of the squadron so you get even more paper-work which makes you even more task saturated on a daily basis. The extra work is a result of having about 10 less people in the squadron, and all of that while still having all of your responsibility in the air. Your sole purpose as an aviator is to qualify as a co-pilot, then patrol plane pilot and ultimately a patrol plane commander. It takes about 2yrs to make PPC.

When OIF fired up everyone was calling for the P-3, so out we came. They started allowing planes to fly more than the 86.4, which is good, but they also began extending to places all over the world. That means youre living in a tent and eating MRE's side by side with Marines. Im not saying thats bad, but thats not what a typical P-3 deployment used to be like. A typical Sigonell, Italy/Puerto Rico deployment of yester-year would consist of detatchments for up to 3 weeks to places like, Norway, Spain, Greece, Germany, Ecuador and even back home for a little bit. Today's post 9/11 world puts people and airplanes anywhere they are needed regardless of the particular service.

On another note, the Army has complained enough to the DOD that the Navy is not pulling their fair share of weight in this OIF/OEF thing, so now there is such thing as a 1yr set of orders to Afghanistan and Iraq as a ground liason officer. Some of those people are being trained as IED Intradiction officers, and Im still trying to figure out what that has to do with the aviation contract I signed. Im about to finish a 6 moth deployment to some pretty well talked about areas, and now Im sweating a 1yr set of orders back to those places.

Im all about my service to the country and my time in the Navy has been a great experience. The people that you meet and the friends you make are what make you want to go to work. You will make life-long friends with people from all over the country and world, but life in the military, and even more true post 9/11, is always changing. Whats true of the Navy and Marines typical lifestyles of yesterday will change tomorrow.

Good luck with your decision.

HeavyDriver

Marine first...Aviator later...If your lucky they might have a training slot for you...If your lucky you might get fixed wing...If your lucky you might get to fly a Marine aircraft after you get your Wings...It's all about the Marines needs...Not yours...There is a chance you might be sent to a Tank command after OCS...I wish you luck with your dreams...Cheers

RedeyeAV8r

Chandler , I believe we have had this discussion before.

Many post above offered various opinions. Some are accurate others are less accurate.

I was a Marine and was commissioned through the PLC program. It is a great program, but no cake walk. If you decide to go Marine by PLC or OCS and you want to Fly........ensure the following.

First.....Get a Flight Guarantee in writing before you sign. You will have to take a battery of tests and medicals first but do it.

Second.....Someone said it.....You are always a MARINE 1st! Pilot second.
The Aviation Guarantee will get you "TO" Flight school but not ensure passing....that is on your dime!

Third...You will have to excel in flight school to get a Jet slot. There is a 60% + chance you could get a helicopter slot.

Fourth You probably won't get as much flight time as in the Airforce or Navy........Note I said probably. There are ways to get a lot.....instructor tour.

Fifith as I said it before.Chicks dig Marines.....(even the widebody ones )

If you can drive to Pensacola and get on base to look at the Naval Aviation Museum, it is worth it. You might see my name on an Airplane and a couple plaques.

When you drive around the base you will see a plethora of young Marine 2nd lts and Navy Ens's walking aroun with books in their hands. Stop and speak with them. Tell them what you are trying to do. You just might find what you are looking for!

You might look at the Navy's OCS Aviation Cadet program. It is similar to the Marine OCS program except you have to wear that "Good Humor Man" uniform and get yelled at by Marine Drill Instructors...(Richard Gere gets chewed out by Louis Gossett Jr in Officer & a Gentleman)................If you are going to get yelled at by a Marine DI anyway........you might as well get to be called a Marine when you are done......instead of a Squid .

No offense to my fellow Honorable squids. I know a bunch of former squids and a couple active Admirals. They are good guys too!