When I was in K-rock our civilian student control officer, we'll call her "Pat", said that in her twelve years there had been two and only two Marine Attrites given pipeline transfers. One was due to ACM air sickness (how did he get through Tac Form?), and the other due to an ACM injury that pretty much would permanently limit him to no more than 3-4 G's. The lucky Marine who received the pipeline transfer did not DQ at the boat twice, but he did get all of his downs in Phase II. He is a good friend of mine and yes, to his credit he was sort of drafted into jets with a mediocre NSS but still above 52 (Marine Cutoff). I'm not sure how much that had to do with his getting the transfer, but it may have been a factor.
Why did this Marine get a transfer when so many others didn't? Our senior Marine (Hornet bubba) was a great leader who made it his personal mission to try to change what had shafted so many good Marines before. He cited the Navy's success with jet attrites who had gone on to be #1 in helos and props from just the 3 years that he was there. He also noted many of them didn't even make it to phase II. He got the Matsg colonel on board and sent it up the chain. DENIED....And why? In his words, "because certain senior aviators in the other communities see it as recycling our trash through them and that hurts their ego." Are you kidding me? Ego comes before fleet capability and readiness?
Wait kittyfish, I thought you said the Good Senior Marine got his stud a pipeline transfer? He did, and I'm going to tell you how if you have a secret clearence, read on. He went to the Marine Corps little talked about but very powerful: Harrier Mafia. Seems if you fly that warbeast you know ever other warrior that does same as well as everyone he knows, his kids, pets, ect... I even think they share wives, but I digress. Anyway, the mafia came through and worked a six degrees of "who do I know in Headquarters Marine Corps" to get him a pipeline transition. This Marine even got to choose. He chose C-130's, is kicking ass, and will be a great asset to that community.
Jet guys get a lot of ****e for having inflated egos. Much of that ****e is deserved, you should hear the grief I get for cruising junior colleges at night in my flightsuit and sunglasses looking for any hot girls who have seen Top Gun. It's ludicrazy! That being said, if grades are any sort of indicator jet studs have already demonstrated "above average" potential to be a pilot in some airframe. Not giving them a chance in your community (esp. if they attrited for something TACAIR specific) and labeling them recycled trash to help ones own ego is shortsighted and not in the best interest of the Navy/Marine Corps. Feel free to make fun of them for talking with their hands, and always using callsigns whatever, but in the end it is one team/one fight. How do I know this? I'm a jet pilot, I know everything. END RANT.....