Ok, well I just selected last week and will enjoying Corpus for about 6 more months with VT-31. I'd been hearing good things about the switch to advanced from primary, but I must say the coastie is getting me a little "concernicus" about what to expect from my soon to be instructors... GRANTED, he may just be doing a little hating, but is anybody currently in Advanced interested in chiming in on the climates of either/both -31 and -35? My buddies who went through are a little far removed to give an accurate assessment of the current state of things. Thanks to everyone else for the info on all the different selection possibilities, this website was a lot of help to me about a week ago when I was losing sleep over making my final decision for selection.
Last I heard, 35 was still the place to be... with 31 getting better since august. If your going to be in 31 then theres nothing you can do about it. Stay under the radar, don't suck, play the stupid games and you'll be fine. Hopefully you'll luck out and get an AF or Marine on-wing. That being said, the uber anal retentiveness of many of the Navy guys will help you be very well prepared for post fam flights (especially review stage). There were only a couple of IPs that I didn't like flying with. Of the two, one was Air Force and the other was Navy. Depending on the flight, even the K's can be cool. Like primary- show up to the brief prepared, don't suck at ground ops don't be dangerous in the air, and the grade sheets should stay white.
Zippy is right, 35 is still the place to be. Better plane, better sims, LESS studs. The rest of his info is good too. If you get the chance to get into 35, go for it.
As a current VT-31 stud, I have to say that the instructors are not nearly as tough as described above. There are 3 out of the 30-something that you have to look out for, but the rest are really laid back and want to actually teach you something. Additionally, I haven't found any real difference between branches. I thought I would hate AF instructors, but everyone seems to be pretty cool.
That's because they're all Herk drivers. Overall the "place to be" squadron changes about once a year. When I was there is was VT-31, but that has changed several times since. Corpus is awesome either way. Don't get wrapped up in the whole "which squadron" mindset. Regarding the planes, don't worry to much either. They are both so close it barely registers. The 12s have longer legs and a little more power, but analog instruments. 44s are a little more nimble and have the NCS-31 and the God Box. Either way, enjoy training and max your time at the Executive Surf Club and Farrah's.
I just finished up from -31 a few weeks ago so if anyone's got questions fire away. When I checked in -35 was the gouge better place to be. I think somewhat due to the -31 CO at the time being less than stellar. That's changed and the current skipper is excellent. I would have no reservations telling anyone to go -31. The air force IPs are all Herc guys and all I encountered were chill. I think the Navy guys are getting a bad rap. Yeah, they're P-3 guys and they expect you to know some systems but I gather that's not going to change when you hit the P-3. Obviously, know your shit and you'll have no problem, none are unreasonably harsh. The TC-12 may have longer legs but they still have to stop on the way to Vegas so who really cares. Some people make a big deal out of getting a type rating from -35. Which is great if in 8 years you plan to go fly that model King Air. Otherwise its pretty insignificant since you get the same commercial/multi-engine/instrument ratings. Plus the I think the first class to fly T-44C's is next month. Same old airframes but with snazzy new glass cockpits. And as far as less studs? Perhaps, but less instructors and planes too. All the Navy guys in my class were finished before any of the Navy guys that winged with us from -35.
