Aviators/NFO here, why did you choose the Navy over the Air Force?

[whitesoxnation]

His experience with Navy/USMC jet pilots led him to conclude that they are tactically behind the state-of-the-art, if you will.

I think it would be interesting to look at the differences between the USAF, USMC, and USN T&R manuals.

As for the USAF -

When every Friday is LFE Friday...
When it isn't a big deal to launch a division...
When strat tankers, AIC, EA, emitters, etc, are all easy to come by...
Your service operates different TMS (or MDS...) so training with other platforms is NBD...
When your jet has an AESA the size of a crud table...
Most importantly - when your job is to be lethal at employing your aircraft...
... and you get the amount of hours, simulator, and study time needed to do so...

... what would one expect?

 

[whitesoxnation]

I think it would be interesting to look at the differences between the USAF, USMC, and USN T&R manuals.

As for the USAF -

When every Friday is LFE Friday...
When it isn't a big deal to launch a division...
When strat tankers, AIC, EA, emitters, etc, are all easy to come by...
Your service operates different TMS (or MDS...) so training with other platforms is NBD...
When your jet has an AESA the size of a crud table...
Most importantly - when your job is to be lethal at employing your aircraft...
... and you get the amount of hours, simulator, and study time needed to do so...

... what would one expect?

To add, my perspective is that a lot of the above are lacking/true as a Marine. I know the USN is different.

 

[RobLyman]

I just meant when I do the math for actual number of people sent to fly helos when assignments are made, Navy seems like they have way more slots: people who want it than the AF does.

And the shiny gold wings help.

If you want the best shot at being a helo pilot, the math works best in the Army. Other than landing on a boat, the most challenging things I've done in a helo have been while in the Army. Maybe Marines would be a good choice for you.

 

[HAL Pilot]

^ But Army wings are not shiny gold...

 

[Jim123]

^ But Army wings are not shiny gold...

It's been said that Air Force wings are made of lead. I think I learned that from Gunnery Sergeant Foley, along with a lot of other words of wisdom.

 

[papacarter]

A little info from my little part of the world, I am very involved in the VFW, of the recently separated say less than 5 years (retired or just got out), the USN, USMC, USA all complain about living conditions, where you have to live, and often about the deployments. The USAF guys enjoyed the living conditions, but not only didn't like the deployments but also the OPTEMPO, most of the USA, USMC, and USN guys wouldn't mind going back, but most of the USAF guys wouldn't think of going back. Just my input from the people I know.

OTEMPO?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

OTEMPO?

You know you can google/search what it means, right?

 

[Pags]

After watching four pages of this go by and reflecting on why I picked one over the other I think in the end it doesn’t matter as most of the perceived differences are shades of grey. Go with whoever gives you the opportunity. Once you get through officer training and flight school you’ll be so indoctrinated in to that service that you’ll forget about why you ever considered going with another service.

 

[Austin-Powers]

"Even though"

Hey man, if we see each other down the line, I'll take that helo slot if you won't.

hey now hey now I didn't say it was a bad thing, and back off it's mine

 

[Austin-Powers]

Any NFOs can shed light on what it is like to work with CSOs/ABMs?

 

[Recovering LSO]

As for the USAF -

When every Friday is LFE Friday...
When it isn't a big deal to launch a division...
When strat tankers, AIC, EA, emitters, etc, are all easy to come by...
Your service operates different TMS (or MDS...) so training with other platforms is NBD...
When your jet has an AESA the size of a crud table...
Most importantly - when your job is to be lethal at employing your aircraft...
... and you get the amount of hours, simulator, and study time needed to do so...

... what would one expect?

And yet they're all leaving.

 

[croakerfish]

Not in either of my two Navy squadrons. One was overseas and utilized a "CD IGS", and my current one just.... doesn't.

I just left your JO squadron and did a 2 hour sit-down HIGS class every year.

 

[picklesuit]

I had IGS every year I was flying. Not sure how that doesn’t happen elsewhere as keeping your instrument rating is kind of a big deal in the 3710...

 

[Judge Q]

=

If you want the best shot at being a helo pilot, the math works best in the Army. Other than landing on a boat, the most challenging things I've done in a helo have been while in the Army. Maybe Marines would be a good choice for you.

I'm definitely considering Army too, just to the extent the thread was another "Navy vs. Air Force" one, I threw my thought process out there.

And I'm still a jewelry whore.

Thanks for the advice though, I appreciate it.

 

[BACONATOR]

I just left your JO squadron and did a 2 hour sit-down HIGS class every year.

Glad to see something has changed. At least they "had a course" back in my day. Current squadron just seems to ignore that we ought to do a ground school. Kind of troubling, particularly in an airframe that is virtually all IFR flying.