Marine Aviation

Jeremy

Jeremy

New Member
I was just wondering how hard it is to fly for the Marine Corps. (either helo's or fixed wing). Is it the same difficulty as pilots in the Navy, since Marine pilots are also called Naval Aviators?

Thanks in advance
 
Are you referring to the application process, commissioning, flight training, or actually flying in the fleet?
 
Marine air wings are part of the larger Naval aviation umbrella.

The training is virtually identical, in fact most training squadrons have a mix of Navy and Marines.

The main difference is the primary mission of the Marines, which is close air support of the grunts on the ground. All Marine officers go through 6 months of infantry school before they can go to flight training, so they have a much better idea of what the grunts are going through when they call for help.

Also about 3/4 of marine pilots are flying helos, so if you want to fly jets your chances are better in another branch.
 
Marines go through the exact same training squadrons and syllabii as us Navy guys, so the difference is transparent to them. Once they get their wings, they of course go off to operational Marine squadrons, but the flight training experience is the same. Their platform (ie aircraft) selections while in flight school are specific to needs of the Marines and are for Marine aircraft, but their grades are derived from comparison to both previous Navy as well as Marine students. I can't really say whether it is "easier" to be accepted into flight training as a Marine or a Navy applicant, but from what I have seen, the standards are generally similar. College grades are very important, with the main difference that I can see being that the Navy puts more emphasis on ASTB scores (where the Marines see it as a pass/fail event), while the Marines consider PFT scores in a competitive manner (where Navy sees it as a pass/fail event). Clear as mud? If you have any more specific questions, please fire away
 
USMCmech said:
Also about 3/4 of marine pilots are flying helos, so if you want to fly jets your chances are better in another branch.
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I think the split is roughly 70% of Marine aviators being helo pilots, while Navy helo pilots comprise about 60% of our aviators. So I'd add that statistically speaking, neither USN or USMC are the best option if you want the best chance at jets.....AF has far more, though their majority is in large transport and tanker category jets.
 
You don't want to fly Navy . . . *waves hand Obi-Wan style* . . . you want to fly Air Force . . . move along.
 
Jeremy said:
I was just wondering how hard it is to fly for the Marine Corps. (either helo's or fixed wing). Is it the same difficulty as pilots in the Navy, since Marine pilots are also called Naval Aviators?

Thanks in advance
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Very difficult. I recommend you give up now. :D

Does the answer you get here really matter??
 
USMCmech said:
The training is virtually identical, in fact most training squadrons have a mix of Navy and Marines.
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Maybe I'm just being anal here but I don't mean to be a prick....however, my recommendation is always this: some of the best sources of information comes from those who have been there done that. Otherwise, information given is sometimes wrong or bad information. The above statement is not correct, at least from a primary flight training perspective. The training is identical for Navy and Marine Corps aviators.
 
Jeremy said:
I was just wondering how hard it is to fly for the Marine Corps. (either helo's or fixed wing). Is it the same difficulty as pilots in the Navy, since Marine pilots are also called Naval Aviators?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

What is your definition of hard? It's not hard to be selected to attend OCS if you PT well, making it through the grind of OCS and TBS is a different story. If you want an easy way to fly, then you should go the civilian route. If you want personal development, go the military route. I haven't been to API yet so I cant really speak on what the training similarities are, or if it is harder for one side of the house.
 
Come on guys he is just a kid.

My suggestion to you is that if you have a dream of flying for the military, or even just being successful in life, is to learn that hard work can and will pay off. I would highly suggest, not even blinking an eye about how "hard" something will or might be. You can accomplish great things if you have the right attitude.

On the military flight note; Considering your age, I would personally advise you to excel in high school and apply to the Air Force and Naval Academies. I wish I had. That will be your best shot at a flight slot in the military.

If you start planning now, it will make it a lot more possible in the future imho.
 
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