US Navy vs US Marine Corps

[Serenity]

No this is not a flame thread, but a question for the community. I currently have two (2) full ROTC scholarships on the table. Same college, same degree, same ROTC detachment. One is for the United States Navy, the other for the United States Marine Corps. Basically, all it comes down to now is deciding whether I want to join the Navy or the Corps.

What I want out of the service is simple, I want to fly. I have my pilot's license, powered AND glider. My grades are NOT the top of my class in high school, admittedly, but I put that down to having beyond over extended myself as far as school, work, CAP, etc. I expect to do much better grade wise in college. As far as physical fitness, I am nowhere NEAR overweight, and while my PT scores can improve, again, all I need is time to actually work out during the week to do that. While I could handle USMC PT requirements, admittedly, the Navy expectations are closer to where I'm at.

So, what I am looking for are opinions, preferably from service personnel who have been there. So, anything folks?

[68ZooM]

 It really doesn't matter what other say or think, It's your decision on what path you follow, there both great branches of the service but what do YOU want deep down inside?  People will tell you the pros and cons, but it really boils down to what you want 

[cobia38]

marines is a department of navy,so either way your going navy

[BoilerDown]

I don't have an answer, but...

It really doesn't matter what other say or think, It's your decision on what path you follow, there both great branches of the service but what do YOU want deep down inside?  People will tell you the pros and cons, but it really boils down to what you want 

What I want out of the service is simple, I want to fly.

[Stoney]

Rey,

I'll tell you that either are fine choices--you'll be on the cusp of the adventure of your life, regardless of which you pick.  I was a NROTC graduate, so I've got a lot of Navy and Marine Corps friends and pilots.  I spent a good deal of time around Marine aviation, and have some exposure to Navy aviation as well.  I actually have more CH-46 squadron experience than I did with air support squadrons.  Anyway, I'm certainly biased, but have an appreciation for being "haze gray and underway".

Go Marine Corps, join the fraternity, and you'll never regret it.  The MOI (Marine Officer Instructor) and (more importantly) the AMOI (assistant MOI, usually a SSgt or GySgt) will get you into the mental and physical shape you'll need to be in to graduate and succeed at Officer Candidate School.  Plus, you can get an air guarantee as a freshman (or at least you used to be able to).  Either way, you're wearing Wings of Gold, but better to have them along-side an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

You'll wind up on a boat regardless, but as a Marine Aviator, you won't be in support of the Fleet, you'll be in support of your fellow Marine.  Sounds cliche' I know, but you will learn that it is a tangible, tactile thing that you'll never forget, take for granted, or find anywhere else.

Semper,

Stoney
Formerly, Captain, USMC

[JunkyII]

Dont let physical fitness be in your decision, you can ALWAYS improve on that. Im pretty sure its easier to get into the pilot program in the Navy(dont quote me) but the Marines definately have alot higher espirit de corps amongst them.

Question: How tall are you?

I went out on a Nimitz class carrier about 3 years ago for about a 15 hour trip.....turned me completely away from the Navy because I hit my head about 5 times in those 15 hours on the small bulkheads. Granted.....Im 6'3"...

[Obie303]

Either way, you're wearing Wings of Gold, but better to have them along-side an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

Semper,

Stoney
Formerly, Captain, USMC

Orah!   

[Bosco123]

If your looking for the educational oppritunity, then the Navy is the right place to be. It does also give you a good chance at becoming a pilot, but, the Marine Corps has a slight advantage in getting you into aviation then does the Navy. I mean even for me I have a good chance at becoming a pilot as an enlistee just I have to play my cards right to get to be a WO and get it that way.

I would do some reasearch, talk to both the Marine Corps ROTC instructors and the Navy ROTC instructors and see what insight they can give you. They're not recruiters so they will give you an honest answer. It's what you feel is best to you.
But above all your still going to serve this country either way, and that is a greater service then anything, no matter what you do.

<S>

[eagl]

Even if you do earn your wings, there are always periods in a military pilot's career that have nothing at all to do with flying.  You should probably pick your service with an eye to what you would prefer to do when you are NOT flying.  If being a non-flying Marine is in your opinion more desirable than a non-flying Navy... uh... person, then by all means go USMC instead of USN.  You need to really think about this, because of 2 things.

1.  It is statistically unlikely that you will become a USN or USMC pilot.  Nothing personal, but it is fiercly competitive and sometimes even great candidates don't get selected, and sometimes students wash out.  Facts of life, and if you don't make it, you'll still be a military officer for at least a few years.
2.  Even if you do get your wings of gold, you WILL have non-flying duties and assignments.  Pick the service you want to spend time in as any other non-flying officer, because you're going to have non-flying jobs sooner or later.

Considering those two things, lots of guys who want to fly but who don't really feel like running around with a rifle and pack, and who don't want to spend a lot of time on a boat, end up going USAF  USAF jobs only involve running around with a rifle and pack if we are either doing the Army's job (ie. augmentation per SecDef waiver of title 10 http://uscode.house.gov/download/title_10.shtml), or on a very strict voluntary basis (special forces and other elite units).

Me, I can't run very well and I have a bad back, so running around with a rifle and pack rates right up there with immolation and old-school impaling, as far as "fun things to experience" go.

[4440]

Remember who hauls who to point A so they can fly to point B. 

Was enlisted in Navy so I have no experience in the land of officers. Didn't have much respect for some but had great respect for others. Probally the same in all branches.

In either case, pilot or not, lead by example and those of us in the bilge will follow you to the depths of hell.

<S> Sir and thank you for your upcoming service to this nation.

[OOZ662]

Marine Corps is the one you'll be joining.
Navy is the one I'll be joining.
Watch.
You'll see.

[vonKrimm]

Navy = a job

USMC = a career

That said, if you expect to be a Navy pilot, you best plan on majoring in engineering or physics and taking 5 years to get your degree.  If you go USMC and major in anything that starts with "B.S." you can graduate in 4 years.  Truth is that USN expects pilots to understand higher math to a functional degree,, while the USMC expects pilots to be only able to spell "math".  The USAF expects pilots to be able to teach higher mathmatics to people like Hawking, Heisenberg, and Einstein; even if they are dead. 

[Serenity]

So, the three things that stand out here are non-flying time, chances of getting those wings, and education.

First off, non-flying time. No matter what I do, I want a combat MOS. That has nothing to do with Call of Duty, or some delusion of glory, that is just something that VERY much matters to me. So I guess the Marine Corps wins that bout.

I've heard several statements that USMC has a higher likelyhood of giving me a flight slot. Is that a safe guess? I have an appointment to talk to one of the USMC NROTC selection personnel (I don't recall his exact position) on Monday, where he will give me the breakdown of the trends as far as how many Marines going through ROTC have been getting flight slots the previous years, but I have no such source for data...

As far as education, I am an AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP English, and AP US History student, who also lead a petition to keep our AP Chemistry class, although that effort failed. I have been selected for the scholarship with a major in Aerospace Engineering, so...

[JunkyII]

Combat MOS? I thought we were talking about you flying?

[RipChord929]

Navy or Marine Corps?  If ya have to ask, then Navy it is!
No insult intended, just the way I feel about it!

  Best of luck!
RC