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Marine Corps aviation and infantry

SaucyGoon1776

New Member
I know at least one pilot that did a FAC tour with MARSOC after their first tour as a Hornet pilot.

You should choose what platform you want to fly based off of what you want to fly, not based off of B-billet. 3+ years is a long time doing something that may not have been your first choice as a means to an end that isn’t certain. The Marine Corps is so short on pilots it is sending people back to fleet squadrons they don’t want to be there, so I’d be prepared to do 6 years as a pilot in your platform.
you said 3 years but isnt a contract for pilots 8? If you get a designation you dont like can you change it before your 8 years is up?
 

whitesoxnation

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
you said 3 years but isnt a contract for pilots 8? If you get a designation you dont like can you change it before your 8 years is up?

Standard orders to fleet squadrons are 3 years.

If you’re seriously asking that second question then you should find another line of work.
 

SaucyGoon1776

New Member
I know at least one pilot that did a FAC tour with MARSOC after their first tour as a Hornet pilot.

You should choose what platform you want to fly based off of what you want to fly, not based off of B-billet. 3+ years is a long time doing something that may not have been your first choice as a means to an end that isn’t certain. The Marine Corps is so short on pilots it is sending people back to fleet squadrons they don’t want to be there, so I’d be prepared to do 6 years as a pilot in your platform.
So are you saying that it is possible to go from flying hueys to hornets?
 

SaucyGoon1776

New Member
Standard orders to fleet squadrons are 3 years.

If you’re seriously asking that second question then you should find another line of work.
So could you explain how this works for an aviator? What are “standard orders to fleet squadrons” and what do you do after those orders are over?
 

nukon

Well-Known Member
pilot
So are you saying that it is possible to go from flying hueys to hornets?

Possible, yes. Likely? Not as of now. They hold "transition boards" each year that certain pilots can apply for based on supply/demand of various types of pilots. These are not common and are competitive; do not make this a part of your calculus.

So could you explain how this works for an aviator? What are “standard orders to fleet squadrons” and what do you do after those orders are over?

"Standard fleet orders to fleet squadrons" meaning: after flight school (flying orange and white training aircraft) and the RAG/FRS (flying and the operational gray aircraft you finally select as your "platform"), 99% of dudes will spend 3-4 years at their first fleet (operational, non-training command, deploying) squadron. Those 3-4 years comprise your first "fleet tour," and after they're over you'll be a Captain up for your next set of orders somewhere else.

Common spots for pilots after their first tour include flight school instructor, FRS/RAG instructor, and FAC tours. Depending on what you fly, other options include HMX/VMX/MAWTS-1/PEP (exchange) tours, resident PME, TBS/OCS, assistant Air-O tours, and so on.

Multiple stints with 2-4 year orders are how you spend your 6-8 year pilot contract; you won't be at the same place doing the same thing the entire time. The countdown on your pilot contract begins once you finish flight school and get your Wings.
 
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SaucyGoon1776

New Member
Possible, yes. Likely? Not as of now. They hold "transition boards" each year that certain pilots can apply for based on supply/demand of various types of pilots. These are not common and are competitive; do not make this a part of your calculus.



"Standard fleet orders to fleet squadrons" meaning: after flight school (flying orange and white training aircraft) and the RAG/FRS (flying and the operational gray aircraft you finally select as your "platform"), 99% of dudes will spend 3-4 years at their first fleet (operational, non-training command, deploying) squadron. Those 3-4 years comprise your first "fleet tour," and after they're over you'll be a Captain up for your next set of orders somewhere else.

Common spots for pilots after their first tour include flight school instructor, FRS/RAG instructor, and FAC tours. Depending on what you fly, other options include HMX/VMX/MAWTS-1/PEP (exchange) tours, resident PME, TBS/OCS, assistant Air-O tours, and so on.

Multiple stints with 2-4 year orders are how you spend your 6-8 year pilot contract; you won't be at the same place doing the same thing the entire time. The countdown on your pilot contract begins once you finish flight school and get your Wings.
Man that’s a lot of really helpful information I’ve been looking for. Are you able to choose what type of tour you want next And where you want to go regarding the FAC, and instructor type tours?
 

nukon

Well-Known Member
pilot
Man that’s a lot of really helpful information I’ve been looking for. Are you able to choose what type of tour you want next And where you want to go regarding the FAC, and instructor type tours?
It's not so much 'choosing' as it is submitting your preferences for job and location then hoping for the best. Basically the list of open billets (jobs/locations) gets sent out by a person called the 'monitor'. If your tour is over and you're up for new orders, you submit your preferences to the monitor. They'll look at everyone's wishlists, weigh a bunch of factors/bribes, then assign everyone their next gig. Think of the monitor sort of like the sorting hat from Harry Potter.
 
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