Navy Vs USMC Aviation

HowBoutThemApples

HowBoutThemApples

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Having a hard time choosing between Navy and USMC Aviation. Currently a 3/C. Could anyone answer a few of the questions I have? I know the basics like TBS, being a rifleman, culture etc.

1) who flies more? Do either the USMC/Navy pilots fly more than the other during flying tours(I know this has a very nuanced answer)? Does the USMC have more flying, or non “dissociated” tours than the Navy?
I know navy goes FRS-Sea-Shore-Dissociated-DH, generally. I don’t like the idea of my only real flying tour being my first Sea tour and the FRS. Is USMC different? Do you have more flying tours in the USMC?

2) which service has a higher propensity to give their pilots jets? What’s the “second option” for most? Do most non-jet Marines go C-130s, while Navy go Helos?

3) Is the USMC back up that bad? Pensacola being backed up is a problem, will it take 4 years to hit the fleet if I go Marines?

Thank you for any advice
 
1) In general, I'd say you'll fly more if you go Navy over Marines. It depends a lot on platform and deployment schedule though. As far as only doing one flying tour, ideally your first shore tour will be a flying tour as well. You can be an FRS instructor, flight school instructor, or go to one of SWTI courses among a couple others. For reference, I flew about 700 hours in my first sea tour and about 1400 hours on my first shore tour as an HT instructor. Your DH tour will also be flying (although you probably won't fly as much as the JOs). Not really any way out of the disassociated tour if you go Navy. I'm just starting mine now, so it's 2 years of no flying for me now.

2) There are more Navy jets than Marines jets, so just based off numbers, you're more likely to go jets if you go Navy. There are a lot of Marine helos as well, probably more than C-130s.

3) I don't know about USMC specifically, but yeah, the Pensacola backup is bad. There are literally hundreds, (last I heard was about 300-400) students down in Pensacola just sitting around waiting to class up. You still have awhile to go though, so it may die down a bit by then. I didn't put on JG until most of the way through the FRS. Now students are checking in to Advanced already JGs.
 
If you want to be a Marine pilot, you’d better want to be a Marine first and foremost. USMC wants to know that you desire to be a Marine, regardless of MOS. That you buy into “every Marine a rifleman.” That you know being a Marine comes before being a pilot.

The Marine contingent on the Yard — officers and enlisted — will be evaluating you for this. DD, now a 2LT, said they look carefully for this “Marine first” quality. So make sure you’re very clear — both in deed and in word — on this point.
 
I applied for an NROTC scholarship with USMC track. I told my guidance officer that I was still thinking about the Navy, and he told me-“If you aren’t 100% about the Marine Corps, do not join the Marine Corps.” Marines are a different breed of hero and the being in the Corps is a very different way of life. I will say that Marine Corps offers an extreme pride of belonging and you won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for a challenge. Good luck with your endeavors, and Semper Fi!

*Edit: Obviously if you want to fly think about what type of platform you want and what you’d be best at, but what branch you want is arguably a bigger decision.
 
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Durable_Dolphin said:
“If you aren’t 100% about the Marine Corps, do not join the Marine Corps.”
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This may be legend, it may be official — not sure which. But it was relayed to me by DD and her fellow firsties who selected USMC a couple years ago:

On your preference sheet, if you put Marine pilot as #1 and Navy pilot as #2, it’s assumed that you’re not 100% committed to being a Marine. Because if you are, you’d put Marine ground #2. As always, YMMV.
 
Durable_Dolphin said:
I applied for an NROTC scholarship with USMC track. I told my guidance officer that I was still thinking about the Navy, and he told me-“If you aren’t 100% about the Marine Corps, do not join the Marine Corps.” Marines are a different breed of hero and the being in the Corps is a very different way of life. I will say that Marine Corps offers an extreme pride of belonging and you won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for a challenge. Good luck with your endeavors, and Semper Fi!

*Edit: Obviously if you want to fly think about what type of platform you want and what you’d be best at, but what branch you want is arguably a bigger decision.
Click to expand...
“different kind of hero”


LOL if that guidance officer had said that to other Marines while on combat deployment. They would have been seen as:

1. a boot straight out of school

2. a comedian

3. someone who is really upset

No one in the fleet absolutely no one cares if you wanted to be a marine or like being a marine. They don’t care if you hate the Corps. They care if you can and will do your job.
 
Marine pilots are not pilots who happen to be Marines—They’re Marines who happen to be pilots. Only go the Marine route if you understand that and are enthusiastic about it.

A lot of people are torn between marine and navy air during 3/C year. My advice would be to do Leatherneck either this summer or next—Whenever the timing is best for you. There you get fully immersed into the ground side of the Corps. Rucks, land navigation, O-course/E-course, caring for a rifle, field exercises, cold MREs, the whole nine yards. You basically get treated like a 2nd LT going through TBS (which is good and bad at times). If you enjoy it and can see yourself doing it for 7 months then go Marines, if you’re not into it and want to focus on flying, go Navy.

Pensacola is backed up for everyone, Navy and Marine SNAs alike.
 
HowBoutThemApples said:
1) who flies more? Do either the USMC/Navy pilots fly more than the other during flying tours(I know this has a very nuanced answer)? Does the USMC have more flying, or non “dissociated” tours than the Navy?
I know navy goes FRS-Sea-Shore-Dissociated-DH, generally. I don’t like the idea of my only real flying tour being my first Sea tour and the FRS. Is USMC different? Do you have more flying tours in the USMC?

2) which service has a higher propensity to give their pilots jets? What’s the “second option” for most? Do most non-jet Marines go C-130s, while Navy go Helos?

3) Is the USMC back up that bad? Pensacola being backed up is a problem, will it take 4 years to hit the fleet if I go Marines?

Thank you for any advice
Click to expand...
As others have mentioned, if you want to fly go Navy. Join the Marine Corps because you want to be a Marine. Also, keep in mind that if you are not an Infantry Officer, you will be treated as “less” of a Marine. Most of it is in good fun, but some Marines take it pretty seriously. Some even take it so far as to think you can’t be/aren’t an effective leader if you don’t have a combat action ribbon. Ultimately, you have to decide if the culture of the MC is right for you, with considerations for billet, etc. coming in second.
 
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