Need answers to Marine Pilot questions?

[bradler]

I am a candidate at OCS right now. I have a air contract and have heard a lot of different things about my MOS that I was not told during recruiting. I need to know a few things before I accept my commission in Nov. if I graduate. Do pilots have ground duties during their tour of duty? I have heard that besides being a pilot, you will be in a cockpit for only about 4 years ir half of your contract and then the Corps take you out and you will do B billet or a FAC tour or another ground MOS as seen needed by the Marine Corps, is that correct? I was told that I was only going to be a pilot (by recruiter) and I had thought I was going to be in a cockpit for my career. Now I hear I will be doing other duties sometime in my career and I really don't have a choice. I also have heard that the Corps needs ground officers and that you might be a Platoon Commandor sometime during a career. So basically is there a evolution of career progression for a pilot? And if so, the pilots out there please let me know how career progression will go.

Also what happens to Fallen Angels? Where do most go if they get dropped from flight training or get NPQ'd? Also I had heard that the flight training is ridiculously hard and if you are not on point you will be out before you even get your feet wet. I.E. The first day of flight training you have a test over the whole basic flight manuel?

I know this is a lot of questions and it might not make sense, if you been to OCS... you know about little sleep. Anyways any comments or PM's will be greatly appreciated. I want as much info as possible.

Kill!

 

[theblakeness]

I am a candidate at OCS right now. I have a air contract and have heard a lot of different things about my MOS that I was not told during recruiting. I need to know a few things before I accept my commission in Nov. if I graduate. Do pilots have ground duties during their tour of duty? I have heard that besides being a pilot, you will be in a cockpit for only about 4 years ir half of your contract and then the Corps take you out and you will do B billet or a FAC tour or another ground MOS as seen needed by the Marine Corps, is that correct? I was told that I was only going to be a pilot (by recruiter) and I had thought I was going to be in a cockpit for my career. Now I hear I will be doing other duties sometime in my career and I really don't have a choice. I also have heard that the Corps needs ground officers and that you might be a Platoon Commandor sometime during a career. So basically is there a evolution of career progression for a pilot? And if so, the pilots out there please let me know how career progression will go.

Also what happens to Fallen Angels? Where do most go if they get dropped from flight training or get NPQ'd? Also I had heard that the flight training is ridiculously hard and if you are not on point you will be out before you even get your feet wet. I.E. The first day of flight training you have a test over the whole basic flight manuel?

I know this is a lot of questions and it might not make sense, if you been to OCS... you know about little sleep. Anyways any comments or PM's will be greatly appreciated. I want as much info as possible.

Kill!

I'll let someone with a little more insight answer your questions, but I just wanted to say that I think your stressing out about things that REALLY arent a big deal.

They tried to scare the air contracts when I was at OCS too.

 

[llnick2001]

Also I had heard that the flight training is ridiculously hard and if you are not on point you will be out before you even get your feet wet. I.E. The first day of flight training you have a test over the whole basic flight manuel?

I don't know about that. It is very challenging, but as long as you are willing to work hard you will probably be just fine. As far as your other questions go, I'll leave the majority to a Marine to answer.

 

[Flash]

Kill!

Really?

 

[Lonestar155]

If you thought the the only responsibility of a Marine pilot was to fly, then you are missing the point of becoming a Marine officer. Every Marine pilot does do a ground job at some point in their career, but that is the reason I signed that contract. Granted I have ZERO experience, but those are some of things you should know when you are making the decision of making this happen. Good luck and dont give up!

 

[Killer2]

You will have a B Billet, but that could be anything, really anything. You could go FAC or OSO or instructor at flight school.

You will most likely have collateral duties (ground job) that could be anything, what it all depends on where you end up. I will let somebody who has one speak more on that.

Flight school is discussed to a great deal on here about how hard it is. Since you can't search the forums right now, lets just say its not something that is impossible.

Your at OCS, so you should be just catching up on sleep and not worrying about how difficult flight school is. Trust me.

 

[jamnww]

Flight school is hard but its supposed to be and it works out because once you make it you don't want people who don't have the ability to get you killed. They didn't have a test on day one when I went in and seriously doubt they do now. Every test will only come after they give you the information you need to succeed.

As for the other. You will get the opportunity to fly, and get a ton of flight hours but a big chunk of your work will come from your collateral duties. When it comes time for your B billet then you will deal with that as others have discussed. Simply put, you will not JUST fly, you will AlWAYS be doing a variety of ground work but remember, Professionals do Paperwork.

 

[phrogdriver]

I'll try to answer the question honestly.

As far as spending your time not flying after your first four years, they're BSing you, or just ignorant. I've been active-duty for 12 1/2 years, and except for TBS, API, and time spent in pools, I've been in a flying billet the entire time. Barring anything unusual happening, I've got at least another couple years of flying left before I have to sweat leaving the cockpit.

That's by no means guaranteed. You may get drafted or choose to be a FAC, but that's a 1 year tour, usually followed by returning to the cockpit. There are some other non-flying billets out there, but if flying is important to you, you can stay flying most of the time until 13-15 years of service. As you get more senior, the more likely it is that they'll need you on some staff somewhere.

You will have collateral duties. Oh well. I think of those duties as the 95% of my time that pays for the 5% of my time I get to spend in the air.

PS Lose the F-14 avatar candidate! Also, this must be a different generation. I didn't spend my libbo at OCS going to the computer lab. Then again, hanging in the MCX wasn't that hot, either, though.

 

[FLY_USMC]

I couldn't even walk during libo at OCS, they must be getting softer since I went through

 

[Herc_Dude]

Go get a steak from Outback, drink a few beers, add a Bloomin Onion if you want too ... and go to sleep. The air side is the best deal out there bro! You will hear a lot of bum gouge throughout OCS and TBS. Just keep pushin, you wont be sorry. Come talk to us some more after you put them bars on. Best of luck....

Oh, and I almost forgot .... KILL (I still remember how it is )

 

[joshmf]

Also what happens to Fallen Angels?

During my last deployment, Fallen Angels was the term used for human remains, or deceased Marines/ soldiers/ sailors/ airmen being repatriated. I'm not sure of its origins, but it's obvious you're using it in a different context. Does it refer to people who've dropped out of flight training? Just curious.

 

[theblakeness]

During my last deployment, Fallen Angels was the term used for human remains, or deceased Marines/ soldiers/ sailors/ airmen being repatriated. I'm not sure of its origins, but it's obvious you're using it in a different context. Does it refer to people who've dropped out of flight training? Just curious.

Yes.

 

[pjxc415]

Yes.

You either need to update your profile or make sure your gouge/nomenclature is correct. i've been in pensacola for 5 months and have yet to hear of a flight school dropout as a "fallen angel." senior Marines correct me if i'm wrong but i'm pretty sure only the normal definition for it applies.

 

[Flash]

You either need to update your profile or make sure your gouge/nomenclature is correct. i've been in pensacola for 5 months and have yet to hear of a flight school dropout as a "fallen angel." senior Marines correct me if i'm wrong but i'm pretty sure only the normal definition for it applies.

It is a very common term in the Navy in referring to flight students who have attrited/NPQ'd/DOR'd from flight school. I have heard it since I started flight training and I still hear it.

I have never heard it used the other way, but then I am not a Marine.

 

[ea6bflyr]

I'd have to concur with FLASH. In the Fleet, flight attrites are referred to as Fallen Angels.

-ea6bflyr

It is a very common term in the Navy in referring to flight students who have attrited/NPQ'd/DOR'd from flight school. I have heard it since I started flight training and I still hear it.

I have never heard it used the other way, but then I am not a Marine.