First of all, allow me to provide some self-introduction. I'm an aspiring naval aviator who went to Quantico this summer for the USMC PLC Air program. I attended PLC Junior's and failed academics and leadership, ultimately being disenrolled a few days before I would've finished. Throughout the training I discovered a few things about the Marine Corps that led me to believe it was the wrong branch for me, and after talking to a few of the priors in my platoon, began to stick with me and I started losing motivation to become a Marine officer. I didn't feel any regret when I was disenrolled because I thought I had been in the wrong place. On the other hand, I love the experience that Marine OCS provided for me. I'm a lot more resilient and more confident in myself; getting destroyed all day for the littlest things really toughens you up. I've always had a desire to serve in the military, and when I started looking at branches to fly in (flying was my biggest motivation) I felt the Marines would be the best choice for me given their ideals, morals and values - I was wrong. I'm an engineering student who loves flying, and a bit more the nerdy type, and I'm not quite sure if I'm articulating this the right way but the whole "kill kill kill" mentality just didn't sit well with me. I also am not really the infantry type, and the thought of going to TBS for 6 months even though I would just be a pilot gave me significant doubts. That being said, I have immense respect for those that choose this route as it is not for the faint of heart.
I've looked to other branches, either with the plan of going to Navy OCS or Air Force OTS with a pilot contract and I just wonder - could I make it through? People always say that the only motivator that will get you through OCS is the desire to be an officer in that branch first, but I know of various people who only did it because they wanted to fly, and that's the boat I'm in. I'd love to fly with the military, whether it was fighter jets, transports or helicopters. I don't really want to do anything else. I was one of two runts in my platoon at OCS (I honestly don't think I studied enough military knowledge and procedures). I failed my first billet as candidate company first sergeant, but did well my first day on my second billet, candidate platoon sergeant. The second day was disastrous, as I completely messed up an enlisted to officer formation. I had failed LRC 1, but passed SULE 1. I failed my first two inspections, but got an 87 on the third platoon sergeant's inspection. What I noticed is even though I was doing terribly at first, I got better over time by working with the priors and asking questions, but I just didn't want to be a Marine. This is probably why I failed my commander's evaluation time and time again.
It's important to note that this was only PLC Junior's, not even a combined or senior session. My question is, can someone make it through Navy OCS or Air Force OTS with the only motivator being serving your country as a pilot? My Marine recruiter said to me that Navy OCS is nothing like Marine OCS, and I'm wondering if this is true. How does Air Force OTS compare, if anyone here has been through it?
I've looked to other branches, either with the plan of going to Navy OCS or Air Force OTS with a pilot contract and I just wonder - could I make it through? People always say that the only motivator that will get you through OCS is the desire to be an officer in that branch first, but I know of various people who only did it because they wanted to fly, and that's the boat I'm in. I'd love to fly with the military, whether it was fighter jets, transports or helicopters. I don't really want to do anything else. I was one of two runts in my platoon at OCS (I honestly don't think I studied enough military knowledge and procedures). I failed my first billet as candidate company first sergeant, but did well my first day on my second billet, candidate platoon sergeant. The second day was disastrous, as I completely messed up an enlisted to officer formation. I had failed LRC 1, but passed SULE 1. I failed my first two inspections, but got an 87 on the third platoon sergeant's inspection. What I noticed is even though I was doing terribly at first, I got better over time by working with the priors and asking questions, but I just didn't want to be a Marine. This is probably why I failed my commander's evaluation time and time again.
It's important to note that this was only PLC Junior's, not even a combined or senior session. My question is, can someone make it through Navy OCS or Air Force OTS with the only motivator being serving your country as a pilot? My Marine recruiter said to me that Navy OCS is nothing like Marine OCS, and I'm wondering if this is true. How does Air Force OTS compare, if anyone here has been through it?