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Marine Pilot VS Navy Pilot

mshaff12 said:
3) What are the key differences in lifestyle and careers between a Navy pilot and Marines pilot? ... I want to hear the deep dark (or light) truths I can't always find researching on the internet.
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When naval aviators conclude informal communications with each other, it generally ends with the phrase:
Marines - Semper Fi
Navy - Bye-bye, Adios A-hole, or maybe Check Six (if both parties flew pointy-nosed jets)

Former Marines strongly prefer to be referred to as former Marines, never ex Marines.
Former Navy personnel don't care, but in particular they don't want to be hailed as "Hey Sailor!"

Grunts in the Corps think their aviators are slackers that just want to "Swing with the Wing."
Black shoes in the Navy agree that aviators' deserve flight pay - it's the base pay they take issue with.
 
It's time for me to make a decision. I was just accepted as a pilot into the Navy. I notified my Marines OSO and he's confident that as I stand I will receive an air contract with the Marine Corps. My Marine Corps decision won't come until March. I'm still in a dilemma, I don't know if I should go Navy or Marine Corps. I need to make a decision soon whether I should turn down Navy and go with Marine Corps instead. Any advice or factual information that I could take into consideration when making a decision would help a lot. I'm leaning Marine Corps, it seems like a more meaningful career. But from what I hear in this forum, Navy is the better branch to go with if I want to fly.
 
mshaff12 said:
I'm leaning Marine Corps, it seems like a more meaningful career.
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MPntcWO.jpg


EDIT: Fine, I'll at least attempt to contribute something besides a picture this time. What do you want out of your flying career? What does being a Marine pilot offer that makes it more meaningful to you? I mean, just in the Navy helicopter community alone, you've got the ability to save lives, take lives, bring things places, bring people places, gather intel...I don't know what your end goal is. Some people want to "put warheads on foreheads" and that's totally their thing. Other people hope to end up in a platform that doesn't involve combat. Some people really want to experience the at-sea/in-port life, and others couldn't wish hard enough to avoid it.

Also, never forget this: You're signing a contract for what you're signing a contract for. Not a Marine jet pilot, not a Navy helicopter pilot...you're signing a contract to be a Marine or Navy officer. If you make it through all the hurdles, you'll get to be a pilot of....something. If there's a particular platform you want to fly, maybe you can try and see which service affords the best opportunity to fly something like that. Ordering your priorities will aid you in choosing your service.
 
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mshaff12 said:
It's time for me to make a decision. I was just accepted as a pilot into the Navy. I notified my Marines OSO and he's confident that as I stand I will receive an air contract with the Marine Corps. My Marine Corps decision won't come until March. I'm still in a dilemma, I don't know if I should go Navy or Marine Corps. I need to make a decision soon whether I should turn down Navy and go with Marine Corps instead. Any advice or factual information that I could take into consideration when making a decision would help a lot. I'm leaning Marine Corps, it seems like a more meaningful career. But from what I hear in this forum, Navy is the better branch to go with if I want to fly.
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a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush
 
AllYourBass said:
MPntcWO.jpg


EDIT: Fine, I'll at least attempt to contribute something besides a picture this time. What do you want out of your flying career? What does being a Marine pilot offer that makes it more meaningful to you? I mean, just in the Navy helicopter community alone, you've got the ability to save lives, take lives, bring things places, bring people places, gather intel...I don't know what your end goal is. Some people want to "put warheads on foreheads" and that's totally their thing. Other people hope to end up in a platform that doesn't involve combat. Some people really want to experience the at-sea/in-port life, and others couldn't wish hard enough to avoid it.

Also, never forget this: You're signing a contract for what you're signing a contract for. Not a Marine jet pilot, not a Navy helicopter pilot...you're signing a contract to be a Marine or Navy officer. If you make it through all the hurdles, you'll get to be a pilot of....something. If there's a particular platform you want to fly, maybe you can try and see which service affords the best opportunity to fly something like that. Ordering your priorities will aid you in choosing your service.
Click to expand...
I get that this is a dumb question, and I should probably know this by now, but do navy helicopters really regularly "take lives" in GWOT? My assumption was that it was mostly COD and SAR.
 
mshaff12 said:
It's time for me to make a decision. I was just accepted as a pilot into the Navy. I notified my Marines OSO and he's confident that as I stand I will receive an air contract with the Marine Corps. My Marine Corps decision won't come until March. I'm still in a dilemma, I don't know if I should go Navy or Marine Corps. I need to make a decision soon whether I should turn down Navy and go with Marine Corps instead. Any advice or factual information that I could take into consideration when making a decision would help a lot. I'm leaning Marine Corps, it seems like a more meaningful career. But from what I hear in this forum, Navy is the better branch to go with if I want to fly.
Click to expand...

Forget whose a better branch to fly with, who will give you a more rewarding career and all the other feel good stuff that sounds great in theory but doesn't mean much in practical application

Who do you have a job offer from? Go with them.
 
mshaff12 said:
It's time for me to make a decision. I was just accepted as a pilot into the Navy. I notified my Marines OSO and he's confident that as I stand I will receive an air contract with the Marine Corps. My Marine Corps decision won't come until March. I'm still in a dilemma, I don't know if I should go Navy or Marine Corps. I need to make a decision soon whether I should turn down Navy and go with Marine Corps instead. Any advice or factual information that I could take into consideration when making a decision would help a lot. I'm leaning Marine Corps, it seems like a more meaningful career. But from what I hear in this forum, Navy is the better branch to go with if I want to fly.
Click to expand...

Take the first pilot slot offered to you and don't look back.
 
Caesium said:
I get that this is a dumb question, and I should probably know this by now, but do navy helicopters really regularly "take lives" in GWOT? My assumption was that it was mostly COD and SAR.
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I didn't qualify that statement with "regularly." The Navy does operate helicopters equipped with explosive ordnance and crew-served weaponry. I have no commentary to offer on ordnance employed throughout the GWOT by the Navy or any of its aviation communities.
 
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