Marine Corps Aviation

[FDX8891]

Hi to all the Marine Corps aviators on the forum.

I'm 22 years old, about to graduate college, and for a while now I have been researching flying for the different branches of the US armed services.

I will graduate college in December with a bachelors degree. After graduation, I will be looking for the next challenge in my life, and feel that my internal compass is guiding me towards serving my country in one of the armed services, particularly as a Marine Corps Aviator.

I was wondering if any current Marine Corps pilots would be willing to briefly share their experience on the forum, specifically:

- What drove you to become a Marine Corps aviator?
- What was the process like in becoming a Marine Corps aviator?
- What was your background before earning your commission?
- What were your goals when you set out to be a Marine Corps aviator?

Thank you to anyone willing to briefly share their story. I am in the process of gathering information, and any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[///AMG]

Hi to all the Marine Corps aviators on the forum.

I'm 22 years old, about to graduate college, and for a while now I have been researching flying for the different branches of the US armed services.

I will graduate college in December with a bachelors degree. After graduation, I will be looking for the next challenge in my life, and feel that my internal compass is guiding me towards serving my country in one of the armed services, particularly as a Marine Corps Aviator.

I was wondering if any current Marine Corps pilots would be willing to briefly share their experience on the forum, specifically:

- What drove you to become a Marine Corps aviator?
- What was the process like in becoming a Marine Corps aviator?
- What was your background before earning your commission?
- What were your goals when you set out to be a Marine Corps aviator?

Thank you to anyone willing to briefly share their story. I am in the process of gathering information, and any input is greatly appreciated.

Not a Marine, but a Naval Aviator (USN type) in a Marine squadron. Can't answer all of your questions, but I went through flight school with many Marines and am familiar with the process.

1. What drove you to become a Marine Corps aviator?

Like I said, not a Marine, but my reasons were basically to serve my country, and also to get a chance to do things with an airplane that very few get to do outside of the military experience.

2. What was the process like in becoming a Marine Corps aviator?

Step 1: Get commissioned. If you are almost done with college, then your option is OCS. Talk to a Marine Officer recruiter and they can help you sort out the details of what you need to do. You will need to take and pass the Marine PFT (Physical Fitness Test), take the ASTB (like the SAT for Navy/USMC flight school), get accepted for SNA (Student Naval Aviator), and then attend and graduate from OCS.

Step 2: Go to the Marine Corps Basic School (TBS). Depending on the OCS contract you sign, you will either start TBS with an air contract, or compete for one while you are there. This is a 6 month course on basic infantry leadership that all Marine officers are required to attend. This will take place before you start flight training, and after you commission.

Step 3: Attend IFS (if you don't already have a PPL or greater). You will probably have the option of doing this at Quantico or Pensacola. Recommend Quantico as you won't have to wait in line as long to start as you would in Pcola. These are done through approved part 141 schools, and culminate in a student solo and about 30 hrs of instruction (maybe less now, can't recall).

Step 4: Go to Aviation Preflight Indoctrination @ NAS Pensacola. 6 week course with 4 weeks dedicated to academics and water survival, and 2 weeks dedicated to more water survival and land survival training.

Step 5: Complete Primary flight training. Normally about 6-9 months, flying the T-34C or T-6B (or a few get sent to Vance AFB to fly the T-6A and do this with the AF). First time you fly a military airplane, and this includes familiarization, basic instruments, radio instruments, basic aerobatics, basic formation, and a cross country or two to knock out some of the above (normally RI and/or forms). From here, you do your pipeline selection, so for Marines, this is helos, jets, or C-130's. Grades, personal preference, and needs of the service all apply to this, in no particular order (though normally grades and needs of service trumping preferences).

Step 6: Complete advanced flight training. This will depend on what you select out of primary. I went jets/tailhook, so that is what I know. You will fly either the TH-57B/C for helos, T-44C for C-130, or T-45A/C for jets. The syllabus is about 8 months for helos, 4-6 months for Herks, and 12-15 months for jets. If you have specific questions about any of these pipelines, I'd be glad to ellaborate, though my experience was in the T-45C.

Step 7: Get your wings, and go to the appropriate FRS (Fleet Replacement Squadron) for your type/model/series of aircraft you will be flying in the fleet. This is where I am at right now, about 31 months after commissioning, learning to fly the F/A-18C.

What was your background before earning your commission?

We have people from all different backgrounds. Some from service academies, some from ivy league institutions, and some (like me) from good old state schools. My degree was in Mechanical Engineering, but that is certainly not to say that you need a technical degree to do well in this job. I know plenty of folks who were history/arts/lit/etc majors in college. Biggest commonality between us is a strong desire to do this, persistence in the application process, and a good work ethic which normally corresponds to good grades in college.

What were your goals when you set out to be a Marine Corps aviator?

To do well, get my wings, and fly Navy jets I guess Not sure about my Marine friends, but probably similar sentiments.

Best of luck to you, let me know if you have other questions!

 

[USMCmech]

The main focus of Marine aviation is close air support for the infantryman on the ground. Everything else is secondary.

About 3/4 of Marine pilots fly helos. Know that going in if you have dreams of flying a Hornet.

Be prepared to carry a rifle and radio instead of zooming above the battlefield.

If you don't make it through flight training (many don't) you might be in charge of an artillery battery.


Look long and hard at the downsides before going in.

 

[///AMG]

The main focus of Marine aviation is close air support for the infantryman on the ground. Everything else is secondary.

About 3/4 of Marine pilots fly helos. Know that going in if you have dreams of flying a Hornet.

Be prepared to carry a rifle and radio instead of zooming above the battlefield.

If you don't make it through flight training (many don't) you might be in charge of an artillery battery.


Look long and hard at the downsides before going in.

+1 at all of the above. It bears repeating that the vast majority of Marine pilots fly helos of some sort or another. That being said, I know several guys who wanted helos but got jets because they had jet grades and the Marine Corps needed jet pilots at the time. I saw several guys attrite from the program (mostly in jet advanced), and I think they did a pretty good job of getting those guys into another field that they wanted. But that all being said, wings are certainly not a given just because you make it to flight school, so like any other military service, you need to have a desire to be a Marine officer first and foremost, pilot second.

 

[bunk22]

If you don't make it through flight training (many don't) you might be in charge of an artillery battery.

Not so sure about the many part. The total attrition rate, just a year and a half ago was around 9-11% for both primary and advanced. That included everything, performance, NPQ, DOR, etc. Most folks who start flight school make it through. That percentage came from CTW-5 by the way. The relatively new for the Navy grading system allows for more aviators to complete the program.

 

[msmspilot]

When you go talk to a recruiter, they'll tell you about the Marine Corps guaranteed program for you to be a pilot. What they won't tell you (unless you ask, and dig a little when they hem and haw) is that the program is you sign on the dotted line to be a Marine, and they let you be a pilot IF you pass the physical exam and whatever else they decide to throw at you.

Not trying to discourage, but beware of anything a recruiter tells you (not just military either).

 

[///AMG]

Not so sure about the many part. The total attrition rate, just a year and a half ago was around 9-11% for both primary and advanced. That included everything, performance, NPQ, DOR, etc. Most folks who start flight school make it through. That percentage came from CTW-5 by the way. The relatively new for the Navy grading system allows for more aviators to complete the program.

Good point. I think I saw maybe 6 attrites in advanced in the 15 months I was there, among a pool of probably nearly 100 students in that timeframe. Many of the Navy types who would otherwise not have made it through to wings were given the option of heading to the E2/C2 pipeline, provided that their grades were salvageable and they had the right attitude. Not really an option for Marines, but Bunk's point is valid (and derived from a lot more experience than my own). If you have a good attitude, put in the work needed, and have a basic ability to fly and to learn, the IP's will more than likely get you the help you need to succeed.

 

[ryan1234]

When you go talk to a recruiter, they'll tell you about the Marine Corps guaranteed program for you to be a pilot. What they won't tell you (unless you ask, and dig a little when they hem and haw) is that the program is you sign on the dotted line to be a Marine, and they let you be a pilot IF you pass the physical exam and whatever else they decide to throw at you.

Not trying to discourage, but beware of anything a recruiter tells you (not just military either).

Not sure if it's standard at all of the OSOs around the country or not, but the Florida one had you do the FC1, fitness test, etc prior to signing on the dotted line - not sure if that's the current MO or not (this was about a year or so ago).

The OIC of the Officer Programs in FL was a pilot and the office was first class.

 

[FDX8891]

Thanks for all the responses. I think the next step for me after gathering as much information as I can on my own will be to talk to an OSO and see what kind of information I get from them.

 

[///AMG]

Thanks for all the responses. I think the next step for me after gathering as much information as I can on my own will be to talk to an OSO and see what kind of information I get from them.

Absolutely. Another good resource that a few of us frequent (as well as many other non-JC'rs) is www.airwarriors.com. Forum dedicated to discussion of Naval Aviation (including the Marine side of the house), and has lots of info for applicants/aspirants/newbies.

 

[PGT]

I turned down a Marine air slot a while back, just remember, you are a Marine first, aviator second. Even passing flight school is no guarantee you will fly.

 

[bunk22]

Good point. I think I saw maybe 6 attrites in advanced in the 15 months I was there, among a pool of probably nearly 100 students in that timeframe. Many of the Navy types who would otherwise not have made it through to wings were given the option of heading to the E2/C2 pipeline, provided that their grades were salvageable and they had the right attitude. Not really an option for Marines, but Bunk's point is valid (and derived from a lot more experience than my own). If you have a good attitude, put in the work needed, and have a basic ability to fly and to learn, the IP's will more than likely get you the help you need to succeed.

Of course that was the average amongst all the pipelines. Advanced jet had the highest, more like 12-13% but combined with the total attrition, it's around 9-11%. Work hard, try and you can make it through. Some folks just don't have it and they will eventually be weeded out of course. I flew with some of those folks and some recognized it was the best thing to do.

 

[n57flyguy]

Few points I know of:

You will have to go through OCC since you are about to graduate college word on the street is Flight Contracts are very slim to none at OCC. I've heard about 2 years before they open up.

The only "guaranteed" flight contract is through the PLC program. Even then they can be full on pilots when your supposed to go through flight school, they make you an Infantry Officer anyway, or they just don't need you to be a pilot. And of course, you have to pass your flight medical after you sign.

Don't be discouraged though, it is all timing.

Lastly, PT. You'll be glad you did.