For some cringe-worthy stereotypes that actually exist, try saying "head" or "box" around a USAF F-16 dude, and watch their head (cranium) explode. I never figured out why that community has such a self-imposed speech impediment.
For the OP's sake, I recall using the IPs in flight school as a gauge of whether or not that community was "cool". Maybe that's not the best metric, but something you can do is to ask them about their experience and how they liked it.
VFA. You work really hard, but get to fly something really neat, at least when budgetary constraints allow. Don't expect to see family much while on sea duty. Your squadron is your family now, with all the drama and dysfunction to keep things entertaining. If you go single seat, you make fun of the two-seat squadrons for having twice the people and not having to work as hard. If you go two seat, you relish the fact that you have twice as many buddies to start shenanigans with, although you still work hard. Cat shots are pure joy, except on a pitch black night and/or in shitty weather. There is never enough gas airborne. Flying around the boat is awesome, most of the time. Living on the boat sucks, most of the time. You might get cool port calls, but rarely, and almost never when promised. Don't get your hopes up until you're walking away from the pier in liberty attire or raising the gear after a cat shot to the beach. No matter what they tell you, surf & turf in the wardroom means BAD NEWS.
