Marine Pilot

tcktraveler12

tcktraveler12

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2020
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10
I was wondering does what type of plane you fly make a difference on your length of career or deployment periods? Thanks in Advance!
 
Yes, it could. The most obvious example is C-130s, which tend to do short, frequent deployments to various locations. Skids on the other hand (Hueys and Cobras), do regular stints of 6 or 7 months in Okinawa or on a MEU (basically floating around on a ship waiting for war to pop off). Ospreys/Harriers/F-35s also do time on MEUs.

As far as length of career, that's more difficult to answer. I'm not sure entirely what you're looking for. Your contract as a Marine aviator doesn't start counting down in time until you earn your wings, which takes at least a couple of years. Most now have 8 year contracts (it used to be 6). That means, between TBS, flight school, and your 8 year contract that you probably really give the Marine Corps a minimum of 10.5 years of your time. That contract length does not change based on the platform you fly. If you get jets however, the pipeline to get your wings will take longer, which delays your contact from beginning to tick down in time.

Not that long back, the Marine Corps really needed Osprey pilots in fleet squadrons. That meant that instead of spending about 4 years in a fleet squadron and then going for a period of time to a B Billet job, a lot of pilots were spending their whole time in a fleet squadron. Stuff like that will vary based on the needs of the Corps.

At the end of the day, you'll put your preferences down no doubt based on how cool you think that aircraft looks entering the break or in a rocket dive delivering ordnance. ;)
 
pilot2b said:
Yes, it could. The most obvious example is C-130s, which tend to do short, frequent deployments to various locations. Skids on the other hand (Hueys and Cobras), do regular stints of 6 or 7 months in Okinawa or on a MEU (basically floating around on a ship waiting for war to pop off). Ospreys/Harriers/F-35s also do time on MEUs.

As far as length of career, that's more difficult to answer. I'm not sure entirely what you're looking for. Your contract as a Marine aviator doesn't start counting down in time until you earn your wings, which takes at least a couple of years. Most now have 8 year contracts (it used to be 6). That means, between TBS, flight school, and your 8 year contract that you probably really give the Marine Corps a minimum of 10.5 years of your time. That contract length does not change based on the platform you fly. If you get jets however, the pipeline to get your wings will take longer, which delays your contact from beginning to tick down in time.

Not that long back, the Marine Corps really needed Osprey pilots in fleet squadrons. That meant that instead of spending about 4 years in a fleet squadron and then going for a period of time to a B Billet job, a lot of pilots were spending their whole time in a fleet squadron. Stuff like that will vary based on the needs of the Corps.

At the end of the day, you'll put your preferences down no doubt based on how cool you think that aircraft looks entering the break or in a rocket dive delivering ordnance. ;)
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For some reason, it can take Marine pilots quite a bit of time to get through the pipeline. My nephew was 5 years from college graduation/commissioning to RAG as a FA/-18 driver. Mileage may vary. He did have an injury at the end of OTS, but that cost him about 4 months.
 
One thing to remember is that Marines do not report to flight training directly after commissioning. They attend The Basic School and then will matriculate into flight training. This can cause a delay in cycling.
 
pilot2b said:
Yes, it could. The most obvious example is C-130s, which tend to do short, frequent deployments to various locations. Skids on the other hand (Hueys and Cobras), do regular stints of 6 or 7 months in Okinawa or on a MEU (basically floating around on a ship waiting for war to pop off). Ospreys/Harriers/F-35s also do time on MEUs.

As far as length of career, that's more difficult to answer. I'm not sure entirely what you're looking for. Your contract as a Marine aviator doesn't start counting down in time until you earn your wings, which takes at least a couple of years. Most now have 8 year contracts (it used to be 6). That means, between TBS, flight school, and your 8 year contract that you probably really give the Marine Corps a minimum of 10.5 years of your time. That contract length does not change based on the platform you fly. If you get jets however, the pipeline to get your wings will take longer, which delays your contact from beginning to tick down in time.

Not that long back, the Marine Corps really needed Osprey pilots in fleet squadrons. That meant that instead of spending about 4 years in a fleet squadron and then going for a period of time to a B Billet job, a lot of pilots were spending their whole time in a fleet squadron. Stuff like that will vary based on the needs of the Corps.

At the end of the day, you'll put your preferences down no doubt based on how cool you think that aircraft looks entering the break or in a rocket dive delivering ordnance. ;)
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If you do get jets and have the grades for Harriers/F-35 Bs, but would rather fly the F-18, would you be allowed to choose? I’d assume It depends where you fall in your class at Pensacola.
 
raimius said:
"needs of the service"
Depends what is available at the time.
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This is the governing factor. You might be the #2 student in your section, and there might be 1 jet seat available at that specific point in time where decisions are made. If #1 takes it, #2 does not go down the jet path. Later on, #1 has fingers crossed for Hornets, but only a Harrier seat is available. The student certainly lists preferences, but the needs of the Navy or Marine Corps will always prevail.
 
My DS is at NAS Pensacola right now, and somehow he's hanging/studying with students that are Marines (he's CG). They're telling him the majority of Marines will end up with rotary, which none of them want. Most of the CG at NAS Pensacola I talk to want rotary, except my DS, he's been golfing with a retired Navy Captain who seems to have influenced him to go fixed wing. Anyhow, I guess when picking your service consider the mission.
 
LurkingQuietly said:
My DS is at NAS Pensacola right now, and somehow he's hanging/studying with students that are Marines (he's CG). They're telling him the majority of Marines will end up with rotary, which none of them want. Most of the CG at NAS Pensacola I talk to want rotary, except my DS, he's been golfing with a retired Navy Captain who seems to have influenced him to go fixed wing. Anyhow, I guess when picking your service consider the mission.
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I have heard of entire USMC classes going Osprey. As stated it all depends on the need at that time. Next cycle - everyone could go jets. Needs of the service...
 
EEBTTF said:
I have heard of entire USMC classes going Osprey. As stated it all depends on the need at that time. Next cycle - everyone could go jets. Needs of the service...
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A lot of mystery in military. Sometimes it helps if your dad is an Admiral.
 
LurkingQuietly said:
/

only if you're a scratch golfer.
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Years ago the clinic director at Cecil Field took the chiefs golfing a couple times a year. There are pine trees on that course still today trying to grow back the limbs I broke off. I could drive the ball a mile but I never knew where it landed.
 
A flag officer relative might be able to influence many things, but I don’t see aircraft selection as one of them. That’s very much based upon class rank and everyone knows where they stand. Someone getting a selection out of order would raise some issues. I know if someone below me got my airframe I would have pitched a fit. Wouldn’t care who their father was.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
A flag officer relative might be able to influence many things, but I don’t see aircraft selection as one of them. That’s very much based upon class rank and everyone knows where they stand. Someone getting a selection out of order would raise some issues. I know if someone below me got my airframe I would have pitched a fit. Wouldn’t care who their father was.
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Or Admiral Mom, these days. 😉
 
UHBlackhawk said:
A flag officer relative might be able to influence many things, but I don’t see aircraft selection as one of them. That’s very much based upon class rank and everyone knows where they stand. Someone getting a selection out of order would raise some issues. I know if someone below me got my airframe I would have pitched a fit. Wouldn’t care who their father was.
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A good friend was number one in his class at flight school and had pretty decent influence in his dad who was a retired Aviator who had a very high corporate position in the Aviation industry. He wanted F14s and drew jets - A6's as a pipeline as that was where the bulk of the class went that week. A couple of days later, one of the instructors who was heading to F-14s had a family issue and was allowed to remain on station for an extra couple of months so there was a sudden spot available and my friend grabbed it.
 
And another in the “twist of fate” category.

A Navy air USNA sponsor son was second in his section by a hair, the sole jet spot went to the #1 student. He was headed to helos and trying to keep a brave face on. Marines realized they were a little light in their jet pipeline intake, so they put out a message asking for transfer applicants for 10 spots, Navy folks eligible. Dozens applied. Navy sponsor son got one, finished pipeline, got presto-changeoed into a Marine, then went to TBS with a special “old folks” section. Flew jets for Marines, decided he wanted more time at home with growing family, got out, now flies with Air National Guard as a full-time officer. His collection of DD-214s is interesting. This was like a unicorn seeing a green flash and NOT something to plan on. It just happened.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
A flag officer relative might be able to influence many things, but I don’t see aircraft selection as one of them. That’s very much based upon class rank and everyone knows where they stand. Someone getting a selection out of order would raise some issues. I know if someone below me got my airframe I would have pitched a fit. Wouldn’t care who their father was.
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I guess i should have said....Unless you father and grandfather are admirals.
 
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LurkingQuietly said:
I guess i should have said....Unless you father and grandfather are admirals. Then you can be 894 out of 899 and still be a zoomer.
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And that #894 would have been Senator John McCain, son and grandson of Admirals John S. McCain Jr. and Sr. I think the “dynastic” thing happened a lot more in past years. With the advent of social media, and more stuff out in the open, I think more of a fuss would be raised. Still, there are an unusual number of family names that seemed to spawn flag officers. I know it’s not a genetic thing, but there is definitely something advantageous in that exposure to those high ranks and knowing how careers get built, as well as certain people knowing who you are and lending a helping hand. It’s the little things that add up.

Of course, we don’t hear about the flags who stay well away from their kids’ careers. I had a “flag kid mid” in my Batt who I fried to the max for a nasty major conduct offense. I knew his dad from a previous tour, a 3-star on his way to 4. A week or so after I fried the mid, the office landline rang. “Hi, (my name), this is (no rank) (first name) (last name), Mid (name)’s dad. He told me what he did, and I’m glad you hammered him. I am trying to stay out of his way, and I appreciate the fact no one called me from USNA to tell me about it. It was his job to tell me.”
 
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