Flight school ops

[O'Pry]

I was wondering, if you go through flight school and don't get commissioned as a pilot do they put you into a flight related MOS (navigator or flight support) or let you pick another MOS? Or do they just stick you in whatever position they may need? Just wondering since I know the commitment for a pilot is 6-8 years and in other MOS's it can be 4 and knowing how competitive flight school is (i'd like to be a helo pilot) if you start flight school and don't make it as a pilot are you required for that 6-8 years still if in another MOS or just for thre 4? Also, do women Marines have an equal chance in flight school? I know there isn't nearly as many as the men who apply but I didn't know if it was an equal oppertunity MOS.

Very Respectfully,

K. O'Pry

 

[riley]

You are already a commissioned officer before you go through pilot training.

To answer your question, and you'll get this answer a lot at TBS if you make it in, it depends. Are you a sh!tbird? Why did you atrite? You still put down your wishlist, but it is completely up to the needs of the Marine Corps. I've never heard of a pilot attriting and then going NFO. If you are locked on (were attrited for reasons outside your control, ie. family problems, airsickness), then you'll most likely get one of your top picks. If you are a problem child, then you'll most likely get one of your bottom picks. Every case is different, though.

If you do attrite, your commitment is lowered to the normal 4 years.

I'm just waiting for API, so I can't definitely answer the woman question. I know they have an easier time in getting in, but I would assume and hope that it is equal in flight school. If you fail a test, you fail a test.

 

[Spin]

If you attrite ... your time in service up to that point will count twords your new commitment of 4 years. If you DOR ..... the date you DOR is DAY 1 to your new 4 year commitment and all the previous time doesn't count.

Also, everyone I know who attrited (about 4 people) got their 1st choice on their new wish list. The TBS wish list doesn't mean sh#t. You draw up a new one and basically .... they just go down the list.

My boy got TANKS after he attrited out of API and in our TBS Co there was 1 tank slot.

 

[FLY_USMC]

I've heard stories of women getting attrited after failing their 4th test in API after we've gotten preached for months that if you fail 3 tests you're out, SO, once again equal standards is alive and well.

 

[SemperGumbi]

It is true that females are often given an extra shot or two. I personally know of several examples of this with females, but NOT ONE with males. Sort of bothers me becasue a male or a female can kill someone (read: blue on blue) in combat, so why not treat their failures the same?

But that is all politics...

The new policy for flight school attrites (taking effect pretty much now with few exceptions) is to give them low priority if they are a DOR/Attrite. Med DQs will still be case by case and will have more opportunity to try to get their choices. REcently some people have gotten some pretty sweet MOS assignments after DORing, but apparently that is all changing.

 

[Punk]

well, I know of one female who was given 4 or 5 pink sheets in advanced who still got her wings

and I know of plenty of other guys who got 3 and attrited

 

[jamnww]

The new policy for flight school attrites (taking effect pretty much now with few exceptions) is to give them low priority if they are a DOR/Attrite. Med DQs will still be case by case and will have more opportunity to try to get their choices. REcently some people have gotten some pretty sweet MOS assignments after DORing, but apparently that is all changing.

The policy you are referring to is concerning DORs only and took effect Jan '05 with Alpha Co at TBS. Basically, if you DOR then you will get whatever is left over and what the Marine Corps wants you to have...I know of no one who got a "sweet" MOS after DORing since the new rules took effect.

Just a heads up.

 

[phrogpilot73]

well, I know of one female who was given 4 or 5 pink sheets in advanced who still got her wings

and I know of plenty of other guys who got 3 and attrited

And I know a male who got a total of 6, yes 6 pink sheets. He's a $hitter pilot now... So, it's not just the women that get the breaks.

 

[Spin]

The policy you are referring to is concerning DORs only and took effect Jan '05 with Alpha Co at TBS. Basically, if you DOR then you will get whatever is left over and what the Marine Corps wants you to have...I know of no one who got a "sweet" MOS after DORing since the new rules took effect.

Just a heads up.

Well .... 2 of my buddies who DORd at flight school and got their first choice Infantry. During the entire process they were told that the whole "you get a crapy MOS if you DOR" is a load of crap. Yes you can only choose from what is available, but it's the same way at TBS. That's not cause its a punishment, it's just thats all thats available for the fiscal year. If their IS what you would consider a "cool" MOS available you can still get it if you DOR.

They also had cool senior officers working with them throughout the process who wanted to help them as much as possible.

If you are able to transfer from air to ground at TBS you will have the same shot at an MOS that every other ground officer has.

 

[winger]

It's just like anything else in this little game.... mostly timing, with your performance and who is on your side each factoring in. I know all-stars who got their absolute last choice, and complete idiots get sent to main side for intel school.

 

[jamnww]

Well .... 2 of my buddies who DORd at flight school and got their first choice Infantry. During the entire process they were told that the whole "you get a crapy MOS if you DOR" is a load of crap. Yes you can only choose from what is available, but it's the same way at TBS. That's not cause its a punishment, it's just thats all thats available for the fiscal year. If their IS what you would consider a "cool" MOS available you can still get it if you DOR.

They also had cool senior officers working with them throughout the process who wanted to help them as much as possible.

If you are able to transfer from air to ground at TBS you will have the same shot at an MOS that every other ground officer has.

When was your TBS company? and when did your friends DOR? It is possible they got in before the deadline. Either way, I got this word straight from the horses mouth so until I actually see the paperwork from HQMC I am not going to question it...

From what I gather in past posts you graduated Primary in July, meaning start in Dec / Jan, leading to API in Nov / Dec and TBS without any wait at the latest ending Oct '04. I appreciate your view on this but as someone who was just hitting the pipeline when the policy CHANGED and knowing MANY friends who got screwed into less than desired MOSs (same as recent as just two weeks ago) I am going to assume that I have the most up to date information on this.