Flying for Navy, Marines or Air Force?

The Marine Corps is growing by 22,000 people, and are in the process of transitioning the entire CH-46E fleet to V-22 Ospreys. Not much downsizing going on there.

Sounds like downsizing to me.

Downgrading maybe...

The Guard and the Active Duty AF are two different beasts.

I won't go active duty AF right now, but I am pledging Guard units (and doing the Navy thing)... From what I have seen and heard the Guard is still okay if you get into a state with strong congressmen. Units like Fort Smith, SC, Burlington etc... are going to be around for a while. FWIW my old man was an AGR guy for almost 27 years in the Air Guard. Even though his last tours were at ACC at Langley he still deployed with his unit (Syracuse) on their rotations to the desert.

Anyone else think that Kbay and Phrog should get a room?

Phrog - did DASC say something? Sorry, I wasn't listening.

All I heard was "Be-Bong... Static... ...port complete." Proper reply: "Wilco."

There may have been some hot ranges in there somewhere, but I wasn't paying attention...

Exactly. Don't blame me when that MANPAD I tried to tell you about sends you spinning into the deck.

But I digress....

Air Force....HARUMPH!....Bitches....HARUMPH!....No more lattes in ready room!.....HARUMPH!

I wasn't paying attention because you guys were busy telling me about a GTL that went cold while you were talking, and an RPG airburst behind me

I rushed the Swampfoxes but was picked up to come back through as a Naval Aviator. On Guard deployments, you still have to deal with AF bureacracy. I was in the CAOC in Qatar working with Viper Guard units daily. When was the last time your dad deployed? and ask him if he knows Yogi.

I hate to burst any young'ns bubbles here, but a lot of what ryno posted is true for the navy as well. However, how well you deal with it is all a matter of attitude, like hackerf15e said. The other-than-flying stuff wears you down after a while.

Of my 5 peers from my fleet tour (the 5 JO's with whom I did 2 deployments) I was sure that 4 of the 5 of us would stay for 20 years. Fast forward 4 years to now and ALL 5 of us have gotten out.

Still, I wouldn't trade my 10 years in the Navy for anything. Don't let Ryno's or anyone elses words discourage you from going in the Navy, Marines or Air Force (in that order ). If you go Army you are just plain nuts.

The BS is there in every service, Marines and Navy included, and it has always been there and always be there. There is no way around it and not much you can do to change the system. But like others have said, have the right attitude and it will be a lot better.

And as shocking as it may seem, the Marines don't get everything right, including doing the right thing for their people. Just ask the Mairines deployed to Iwakuni where their per diem is going, it ain't in their pockets. So while Navy guys deployed alongside them are being paid what is legally theirs the Marines use it as their own personal piggy bank. That is not a 'smart' way to use funds, it is stupid and very shady. And I can throw several other examples out there, for each service.

And what is this billion you speak of? Total costs are around $1 trillion so far.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/hidden.war.costs/

I thought I fixed that.. it was $1.6 Trillion

I'm not saying we have a different tune or anything, mostly the AF one sucks

Hopefully you didn't think I was suggesting that life is all sunshine and roses in the gun club... I was just pointing out that the USMC is not exactly "downsizing". The other stuff you mention is shady at best, and it all ties into the philosophy of "do more with less." Are we gonna get fucked? Yes. But at least we know it ahead of time, and are prepared for it... Sometimes we even enjoy it.

Don't worry, you don't strike me as the Marine who thinks his service is the be all to end all......though you think your POS helo is.......

The post was not directed at you, but to Rhyno and all the others who think that the grass is always greener in other services.

And isn't 'Embrace the Suck' a Marine term?

No - I KNOW my helo is the be all to end all

Good point about the others that think that the grass is greener. I'm proof that it's not. Funny thing is, I just got off the phone with a couple of buddies from the squadron that got out and are just as miserable as me, and are asking what they have to do to join me in my future unit...

Truth be told, I've never heard the term "Embrace the Suck" but it is fitting, isn't it (evidence: TBS Sucks thread)

I'm fortunate in that my brother is (was) one of you gold-winger types, so I've been able to keep perspective on how things are in the AF vs how they are in the Navy.

You're right...it's neither greener nor sh*ttier.

Unfortunately, I can't see the picture here at work. He was a P-3 driver...VP-40 up at Whidbey.

Help an old guy

I`m looking for that letter that is the answer to a young man trying to decide on the Air Farce or Naval aviation. I`ve seen it posted here quite a while ago. If anyone has it, please re-post it. Another old beat up, retired Marine buddy wants to send to one of his zoomie friends. Many thanks.

I believe this is what you are referring to, no?

EDIT : Doh, missed being first by just a RCH.

Thanks that was what I was looking for.

AF or Navy?

OK, this is probably a repost but I can't find anything with the search function. I graduated high school and I would like to fly fighter planes some day. I'm aware of how hard it is to become a pilot, and even then I realize it might even be a pipe dream.

I have to make a decision somewhat soon whether or not I want to join the AFROTC or the NROTC. I know the basic differences between the 2 branches, but I want to join the one where it may be easier to become a fighter pilot. Or are they about the same?

Also, would I be able to travel more in the Navy or the Air Force? Which one would I be able to meet more ladies in? Oh and my last question... are you able to lift weights during flight school (yes serious)?