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Deja Vu - the Mega oft-repeated question: Differences Between USMC and Naval Aviation

Navy vs. Marine Aviation

Hey guys,

I am currently stuck trying decide which path to take in my goal of flying fighters or fixed wing in the military (I am sure its a story many of you have heard). I understand everything is based on the needs of the specific branch and how well you do in flight school, but overall who offers the best opportunities to someone willing to bust a hump to make it happen. I thank you in advance for sharing any experiences and or advice in the matter.
 
Not going to lock this but do a search as there is plenty on this particular question.
 
First and foremost, fighters are considered to be fixed wing. There are big heavy transport and maritime fixed wing aircraft as well, but most everything with wings on it is "fixed wing" (save maybe the Osprey depending on your definition)
 
Ok, I'll begin my rant now:

Does it ever occur to any of these guys who ask questions like this to maybe lurk for awhile, make a few productive/funny/useful comments before asking asinine questions? I hate questions like this that are essentially impossible to answer in anything less than a book. To Wings03 and your ilk: do your research without having to be spoon-fed. If you want to fly anything for any service you have to have the ability and drive to figure out most of this by yourself.

Rant over.
 
Specific to the title of your post about Navy vs. Marine: you have a better shot at flying fighters off of carriers in the Navy than the Marines. The Marine Corps has only a handful of F/A-18 squadrons that deploy with carriers whereas EVERY Navy fighter squadron, and Prowler, E-2, and C-2 squadron will fly off of carriers. Well, not the expeditionary Prowlers, but almost every one. If the carrier thing isn't as big of a deal for you then it is best to just pick which service you feel suits you best and then kick ass in flight school.
 
NavAir42 said:
Ok, I'll begin my rant now:

Does it ever occur to any of these guys who ask questions like this to maybe lurk for awhile, make a few productive/funny/useful comments before asking asinine questions? I hate questions like this that are essentially impossible to answer in anything less than a book. To Wings03 and your ilk: do your research without having to be spoon-fed. If you want to fly anything for any service you have to have the ability and drive to figure out most of this by yourself.

Rant over.
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<sarcasm> but I wanna know now!!!!!! </sarcasm>
 
A4sForever said:
The biggest difference:

Marine Aviators had to keep flyin' over the lunch hour ... otherwise they would forget how ...

Navy Aviators didn't have to keep flyin' over the lunch hour ... :)
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Maybe stopping for lunch is why the Navy aviators tend to reach the max gross weight limits of their flight suits more often than the Marines!
 
Wings03 said:
Hey guys,

I am currently stuck trying decide which path to take in my goal of flying fighters or fixed wing in the military (I am sure its a story many of you have heard). I understand everything is based on the needs of the specific branch and how well you do in flight school, but overall who offers the best opportunities to someone willing to bust a hump to make it happen. I thank you in advance for sharing any experiences and or advice in the matter.
Click to expand...

Ask youself this question; do you want to be in the Navy or the Marine Corps? You need to answer that question first before you should think about committin to flight school/OCS/ROTC, etc.

Since 50% of all naval aviators are helo pilots and (I'm guessing based on numbers) that the Marines have a higher precentage going helos, you need to consider:
1) You are looking at a military career, so you need to figure out what service you would like to be with for at least 10 years.
2) You are most likley NOT going to be a fighter pilot. The sooner you come to grips with reality, the sooner you can make an informed decision about a military career.

Do you have a chance to become a fight pilot, assuming you get into flight school, yes. Are the odds in your favor, NO!!!
You can "bust your hump" all you want, but some folks just can't grasp flying soon enough to make the grade to get jets.

So, you need to ask yourself, when you're doing a tour out of the cockpit, what service do you wish to be in; once you answer that, then you'll have your answer.
 
Every aircraft in the Marine Corps tactical inventory has a gun. You might not be the one firing the gun, but at least your crew members can return fire!

The comments above are true, you might not get what you think you want, but in the end you will be tactical in the Marine Corps.
 
helolumpy said:
So, you need to ask yourself, when you're doing a tour out of the cockpit, what service do you wish to be in; once you answer that, then you'll have your answer.
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+1, great advice. Put simply, would you rather be on a ship or in the field when you're not flying?
 
Tulip said:
Every aircraft in the Marine Corps tactical inventory has a gun. You might not be the one firing the gun, but at least your crew members can return fire!

The comments above are true, you might not get what you think you want, but in the end you will be tactical in the Marine Corps.
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Not so much the C-130s (with a couple small exceptions), but point taken.
 
Tulip said:
Every aircraft in the Marine Corps tactical inventory has a gun. You might not be the one firing the gun, but at least your crew members can return fire!
Click to expand...

Doesn't every tactical aircraft have a "gun", regardless of service? I wouldn't be a very good tactical aircraft without a "gun."
 
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