Army or Navy Aviation Program?

[akmoon]

Does anyone know about flight time? Who flies more per month? I'm trying to get a grasp on how marketable I'll be once I've "done my time".
Other than that I'm just basically going to put in a packet to both branches and see who bites. If they both want me, I'll make a tough decision. If neither want me, I'll start getting prepared to crunch numbers in a cubicle the rest of my life.

 

[Spin]

He just opened a can of worms .... well ... here we go again

And Akmoon ... you can't apply to more than one branch at a time. They will see it and both will deny you.

 

[akmoon]

Is that true about applying to both branches? I've mentioned to my recruiters about putting in a packet to both branches and neither of them have said anything about how it won't get picked up by either side.
Definately something I should know beforehand.

 

[spsiratt]

I've heard the same thing both from AF line officer accessions and my Navy officer recruiter. I think it just keeps people from "shopping" for the best deal. Also, both the AF and Navy applications (haven't seen USMC or Army) have a section to list any commissioning programs that you've ever applied for and the outcome. If you note that you've got an application in with another branch and haven't heard back yet, they'll probably just drop you right then. If you lie, they'll find that out too and you can be sure you'll never get in then. Decide where you really want to go and stick with one at a time.

 

[StuffMaster]

I've been pondering this for awhile. My first love is for the Navy. I love the sea, big ships, carriers. I think flying/living on a carrier would be great. However, I recently talked to an ex-Air Force pilot, he said go AF. Most people respond that way. They say "why? The Air Force is so much easier, and has a better quality of life!"

So here's some points I wish pondered:

Stress:
The real life naval aviators you see on TV are often 40 and bald (stress is a key factor in grey hair and baldness, not that I'm claiming causality here). They say night traps are insanely difficult and stressful;stress is cumulative, so night trapping often is by definition bad for health/longevity. Deploying to sea for six to eight months is also quite hard on the family. How does this compare with the AF? Don't most plane types (excluding strategic bombers) deploy overseas for extended periods? How does this compare with sea deployments?

Quality of Life:
The AF is always rated highest of the services. Obviously, the AF has a much easier time logistically. They simply have airbases and planes. Lots of planes. Lots of money for those planes. The Navy Has 300+ ships I think, which are insanely expensive. The carriers cost many billions of dollars to build, many more to operate. They also have airbases and planes. Obviously, the money for all this is appropriated by Congress. But still, the more divided you are, the more divided you are.

In the Navy, I'm sure most people get assigned to a seaport (duh). But the AF has bases in varying locales, including foreign countries. What are the chances of getting stuck in a base town in Kansas or North Dakota? If I move away from my somewhat smallish area, I want to be going somewhere larger and more exciting, like the east coast or west coast -far away if you're from middle America- in a good sized city.

Aircraft division:
The Air Force is almost entirely jets (I think). Fighers, tankers, bombers, etc. The Navy has mostly fighter-bombers and helos. I've read in various places that many pilots get stuck with helos when they wanted jets (if that's how you look at it). So how much more likely to get jets are you if you go AF? How do helos compare in job satisfaction and post-service prospects?



StuffMaster

 

[SPEED OF SOUND]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on one second. First off, if you've got good vision, DON'T go NFO. If you want to skip school, go Army warrant. Good luck getting an Apache spot, they're tough. Additionally, if you want to get paid less and get less hours go Army warrant. I'd say about 85% of the Navy pilots coming out of advanced are flying some variant of the SH-60. As for Cobras, the Marines are selecting about one Cobra slot every two winging classes (that's about one every four weeks). Helos are even tougher in the Air Force, they just don't have that many. I apologize, I think I just confused you even more!

1 month to wings

 

[vegita1220]

Here's the BIG issue that affected my decision to decide to try the Navy.
Granted teh AF has lots of kickass jets and you will probably have an easier life(unless u in Alaska-then that's just as bad as ship IMO). You can be in the US or outside but regardless you're on a base.
However, the biggest factor for me is combat time. I don't wanna sound like a war junkie or anything, but the way the world looks now, the Navy will be called on most for its tactical strike jets. Look at Afghanistan. Practically all, if not completely all, the tactical jets there were Navy. In a war on terror, mobility is key, and for that you need carriers.

 

[akmoon]

I'm thinking that with a 4 year degree, good grades, being older (I'm almost 27) and numerous other things (perfect vision, high test scores) that I'll have a decent shot at flying an Apache if I were to go WOFT. Ultimately I'd love to fly attack helicopters - I'm not much into transports, etc, although I'd be happy just flying anything.
But by no means am I saying WOFT would be a cakewalk either, I'm sure those guys bust their asses, but compared to the competition I would face in the Navy I think I'd have a reasonable chance at getting an Apache gig or something comparable in the Army. Not to mention I just really like the type of choppers the Army has (Apaches, Blackhawks, Cobras, etc) compared to the AF or the Navy. It just sucks that the Army seems to be the least enviable branch to join.
Just my two cents.

 

[spsiratt]

You'd have a greater chance of flying transports than fighters in the AF and choppers would be really unlikely. Even at that, you may not get jet transports, you could get 130s. I would say that if you're dead set on flying attack choppers, go Army. If you want to fly anything with a pretty good quality of life, save some crappy deployments, go AF. If you don't mind going to sea and want to see some action, go Navy. If you're hard core as hell and all ate up, go Marines. Each branch has it's differences and your decision should be rather easy if you keep your long term goals in mind.
Oh, and don't think that if you go AF you won't be away that much. Depending on what you fly, you could be deployed a whole lot for a very very long time.

"Flexibility through indecision and sleep deprivation is the key to air power in the 21st century." - AF Intel Sq Stan/Eval Wall

 

[wink]

Where to start? First a thought close to my heart. The admonition to not go NFO with good eyesight is, well, short sighted. As a career there is no difference between pilot and NFO, or SWO or Subs for that matter. If a guy wanted to be a pilot and had his heart set on only that then by all means, don't grace my community with your presence. That is ok. If you need a job NOW and there are no open pilot slots and you can be happy running the show as an NFO then take the job. It pays the same as Pilot and career options are equal. On to my other favorite subject, Navy vs Air Farce. What Stuffmaster sez is pretty much true. Thank goodness we all didn't want to take the easiest route possible. Heck, where would the SEALs and Force Recon guys come from let alone Olympian athletes and successful entrepreneurs. The Navy is more challenging then the Air Farce and most of us are proud of that. Did I bitch when my first cruise went nearly 100 days without a port, ya. Did I proudly recall that line period to the guys in the O club, ya. If you are a pilot in the AF you come out of the service with basicly the same set of skills any civilian pilot can learn, especially if you end up in tankers, or transports. Come out of the Navy and the vast majority of the pilots will have operated from pitching decks, whether helos on small boys or TACAIR on CVs. My glory days are over, but to this day (honest, it happened today) people are still impressed by the fact I lived and operated from aircraft carriers, and as the NFO I never had to actually make the trap. Still, people are willing to talk your ear off. That just doesn't happen to your average 42 year old AF aviator past his prime in conversation with other adults. Here is another one. I bet a Naval Aviator never spoke in awe of an AF airmans daily flight operations from Offet AFB in OK or even Kunson AB in South Korea. But I have had many former AF pilots express admiration for my experiences in Naval Aviation. Take your pick. I'm glad I chose the way I did and wouldn't change a thing. BTW I have been there and I wouldn't let anyone cut my eyes just to be a pilot instead of an NFO. Call me a big baby when it comes to eye surgery, but I never did shy away from letting someone else take me aboard the ship on the proverbial dark and stormy night. Something else I'm proud of.

 

[spsiratt]

Well said wink, but Offutt is in Nebraska.

"Flexibility through indecision and sleep deprivation is the key to air power in the 21st century." - AF Intel Sq Stan/Eval Wall

 

[wink]

If you are 27 then you are too old for the Navy unless you were prior service. Last time I checked, AF was 27 also. Someone will probably correct me if I'm wrong. Looks like Army WOFT is your best shot. Go for it and don't look back. Frankly, I have alot more respect for Army Aviation then the USAF. Good Luck.

 

[spsiratt]

Ok wink, that last statement hurt. Army over AF? Ouch.

"Flexibility through indecision and sleep deprivation is the key to air power in the 21st century." - AF Intel Sq Stan/Eval Wall

 

[wink]

I did say Army AVIATION over AF. The Army may be hard on the troops and sleeping on the ground doesn't compare to the cot the Air Farce guys get, even in tents. But as an organization, from ops to training to concept of operations I give the nod to the guys flying in the trees as a way of life. Sorry about misplacing Offut. I even misspelled it. Maybe I sould apologize to the Offut community for palacing them in OK! Come to think of it, I used to get the Tinker Burgers at the snack bar in Tinker AFB OK.

 

[Spin]

AF is 29