I just wanted to see if I could start a trash talking war, for educational purposes of course. All of the different platforms seem to enjoy smack talking, and I know myself and a few of the other youngsters could benefit from the unbiased information contained within it. The inspiration for writing this is a quote from phrogdriver. It's kind of like the Navy and Marine Corps. Marines hate squids, unless there's someone around from the Air Force, in which case the Navy and Marine Corps both rule and the Air Force blows. 53 and 46 guys give each other crap until a skid guy comes in. Then the skids and the assaults razz each other until a jet pilot stops by, who becomes the new designated a**hole.
When I first decided that I wanted to fly, I had my mind set on F-18s. The hope was to fulfill the last of the great human pleasures (landing on a carrier) followed only in power only by an orgasm. The more I learn about the Corps, and the more people I talk with, I realize that I have no clue what I want to fly. The trade offs turn it into some sort of balancing act.
Colonel Shultz recently came down to talk with us API guys about the Osprey. I will quote him as to not draw too much flame to myself, but essentially, he told us that fly 18’s and you might as well trade in your uniform for a squid suit. After thinking about this, it makes me lean towards the Scarrier so that I can be part of the MEU! Don’t get me wrong, I would trade in both my nuts to fly 18’s, I just put this here to add some fuel.
Some of the other arguments that go back and forth are that helo pilots get more time with the grunts – this could be good or bad depending on whom you are talking with. And also that they have more Marines to lead - I was wondering if anyone could expand a little more on truths or lies to this… Also, as your career progresses, command will become more important, will there be a difference in which platform you select, or will this mainly depend upon which B-billets you choose, and of course how well you perform. For those of us that select Harriers now, the X-35 is projected to come out about the time we will be up for major. Will jumping platforms become part of our career survivability?
Are the personalities that go with different platforms usually consistent? Jet Jocks favoring the Rice Rockets and Chopper Pilots ride Harleys and are favored by women that are more attractive. The more Marine pilots I meet and talk with, the more I think I will fit in with the helo community better.
What about coast? I hear that after primary, a lot of the people that had their mind set on the platform with the most weapons and ability to cause destruction will end up picking coast over platform. I would love to hear about anyone’s experiences living on a particular base vs. air station, CA vs. HI vs. NC, etc.
Just to share some of the gouge from that brief, the MV-22 is a mean freaking machine. If I had the option of selecting it, I would. Either the program has turned around, or Colonel Shultz is just an awesome salesman. I had the opportunity to bombard the test pilot with a few questions such as “what was it like putting into the vortex-ring state, just to develop procedures for getting out of it.” There wasn’t any fear on this guys face, and he is the one putting the aircraft into these death maneuvers. Whether you are with it, or against it, it sounds like it is hear. My memory slips me now and then, but I think it is called VMX, which will be the first operational experimental squadron coming this December. After that, a couple 46 and 53d squadrons will be replaced every few years by the MV-22, where pilots will have to compete for this transition. A lot of this was ambiguous and up in the air, but as we get briefed on how the selection is going to happen I will pass it on. Overall, after the presentation my desires went from jets to 46’s so that I could position myself for the Osprey.
I guess this wasn’t really a question as I was just sharing some of my thoughts in hopes that somebody would get upset and share how they handled the tradeoffs when selection came around. I was set on jets, but the more I learn about communities, I really don’t have a clue what I want to fly anymore.
When I first decided that I wanted to fly, I had my mind set on F-18s. The hope was to fulfill the last of the great human pleasures (landing on a carrier) followed only in power only by an orgasm. The more I learn about the Corps, and the more people I talk with, I realize that I have no clue what I want to fly. The trade offs turn it into some sort of balancing act.
Colonel Shultz recently came down to talk with us API guys about the Osprey. I will quote him as to not draw too much flame to myself, but essentially, he told us that fly 18’s and you might as well trade in your uniform for a squid suit. After thinking about this, it makes me lean towards the Scarrier so that I can be part of the MEU! Don’t get me wrong, I would trade in both my nuts to fly 18’s, I just put this here to add some fuel.
Some of the other arguments that go back and forth are that helo pilots get more time with the grunts – this could be good or bad depending on whom you are talking with. And also that they have more Marines to lead - I was wondering if anyone could expand a little more on truths or lies to this… Also, as your career progresses, command will become more important, will there be a difference in which platform you select, or will this mainly depend upon which B-billets you choose, and of course how well you perform. For those of us that select Harriers now, the X-35 is projected to come out about the time we will be up for major. Will jumping platforms become part of our career survivability?
Are the personalities that go with different platforms usually consistent? Jet Jocks favoring the Rice Rockets and Chopper Pilots ride Harleys and are favored by women that are more attractive. The more Marine pilots I meet and talk with, the more I think I will fit in with the helo community better.
What about coast? I hear that after primary, a lot of the people that had their mind set on the platform with the most weapons and ability to cause destruction will end up picking coast over platform. I would love to hear about anyone’s experiences living on a particular base vs. air station, CA vs. HI vs. NC, etc.
Just to share some of the gouge from that brief, the MV-22 is a mean freaking machine. If I had the option of selecting it, I would. Either the program has turned around, or Colonel Shultz is just an awesome salesman. I had the opportunity to bombard the test pilot with a few questions such as “what was it like putting into the vortex-ring state, just to develop procedures for getting out of it.” There wasn’t any fear on this guys face, and he is the one putting the aircraft into these death maneuvers. Whether you are with it, or against it, it sounds like it is hear. My memory slips me now and then, but I think it is called VMX, which will be the first operational experimental squadron coming this December. After that, a couple 46 and 53d squadrons will be replaced every few years by the MV-22, where pilots will have to compete for this transition. A lot of this was ambiguous and up in the air, but as we get briefed on how the selection is going to happen I will pass it on. Overall, after the presentation my desires went from jets to 46’s so that I could position myself for the Osprey.
I guess this wasn’t really a question as I was just sharing some of my thoughts in hopes that somebody would get upset and share how they handled the tradeoffs when selection came around. I was set on jets, but the more I learn about communities, I really don’t have a clue what I want to fly anymore.
