US Navy vs US Marine Corps

[uptown]

Go Navy and see the world. Go Marines if ya want to go to the desert and PT.

[gyrene81]

Serenity...the Navy has some pretty high standards for their front line combat fighter/attack pilots...the selection process is something like top 10% get chosen for fighters...the rest could end up flying cargo or helos...the Marines aren't quite so picky but they don't have as many choices in what you fly either...the Marine airwing uses it's aircraft for close air support while the Navy has a variety of air superiority and ground support.


Sounds like you're looking for a career...

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.

Do not forget the squids have the SEALs...and the officers go through the exact same training elbow to elbow with the enlisted...even us Marines have a lot of respect for SEALs.

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...

If you can get in to speak with officers who are pilots...those are the guys you want to see...they will be the ones to give you the straight poop on what to do. Either way, if you really want to improve your chances for fighters...even though I was a jarhead I have to say...Annapolis is the ticket...everything else is a crapshoot.

[bcadoo]

If your only concern is being able to fly then the choice is Navy.  (The Marines call themselves 'The Few' for a reason)  In a numbers game there are more aircraft that have USN on the side than USMC.

[TOMCAT21]

you always to go with what YOU think is best. The Navy will set up you for success with the training. 

[RufusLeaking]

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...

I have heard a lot about 'flying slots' from my fellow USAF pilots.  It seems that this is a carrot dangled in front of ROTC students.  Most reasons for someone losing their slot had less to do with academics and more to do with discipline.   As a 90 day wonder with zero flying time, I always felt a bit guilty hearing their stories.

I graduated with an engineering degree and received several unsolicited letters from the Navy trying to recruit me as a nuclear engineer.  Don't be surprised if the Navy tries to steer you in this direction.

Not a flame, but have you considered the Air Force? 

Are you set on fixed wing? 

Have you applied for an Academy?

I'm trying to recall why people wash out...

Have you passed the physical? 

Have you taken any tests?  ROTC may be different, but I had to take a series of general tests - AFOQT.

Are you color blind?  Have you ever lost consciousness?  No and no are the right answers. 

Any back or neck injuries that might preclude an ejection seat?

[Serenity]

I have heard a lot about 'flying slots' from my fellow USAF pilots.  It seems that this is a carrot dangled in front of ROTC students.  Most reasons for someone losing their slot had less to do with academics and more to do with discipline.   As a 90 day wonder with zero flying time, I always felt a bit guilty hearing their stories.

I graduated with an engineering degree and received several unsolicited letters from the Navy trying to recruit me as a nuclear engineer.  Don't be surprised if the Navy tries to steer you in this direction.

Not a flame, but have you considered the Air Force? 

Are you set on fixed wing? 

Have you applied for an Academy?

I'm trying to recall why people wash out...

Have you passed the physical? 

Have you taken any tests?  ROTC may be different, but I had to take a series of general tests - AFOQT.

Are you color blind?  Have you ever lost consciousness?  No and no are the right answers. 

Any back or neck injuries that might preclude an ejection seat?

Considered Air Force, was raised Air Force, dealt with USAF for years through CAP, not for me.

The Navy has CONSTANTLY tried to steer me toward Nuclear Engineering. Especially at the Academy.

I was a candidate at Annaplois, attended Summer Seminar, spoke with several former students and staffers, and opted not to go, although I may rethink that decision.

I'm not set on fixed wing, but if I flew helo, I would want an attack helicopter.

Passed the physical. Several times, through DODMERB and just this last weekend through MEPS.

Only test so far is the ASVAB. 97.

Not color blind, 20/15 vision.

No injuries whatsoever.

I've tried tracking down pilots, but there is not a strong Marine/Navy air presence around here, (Though USAF abounds). The only two Navy pilots I have talked to both said, NOT to take the Academy route, one went through the Academy and became a pilot. The other went through, got brow-beat into Nuclear Engineering, and somehow found a way to get back on track in aviation.

[TWC_Jaxx]

As a former NROTC graduate and BS of Aerospace Engineering, I definitely had flying at the top of my list when i first entered ROTC.  The earlier post about how often you actually "fly" is a great point to consider, however.  Ultimately, I choose the Marine Corps and while I didn't get a pilot slot it was the best decision of my life.  You'll spend far more time in service out of the cockpit than it, so choose which branch you want based on the 95% of the time you'll be doing something other than flying. 

One thing to note.  Marine aviators all go through The Basic School to learn basic infantry/small unit tactics.  If you're not into getting a little dirty for about 6 months you should consider that.  In the end, Marines feel much better about having close air support from a Marine aviator than any other branch because we know you at least have a basic understanding of ground tactics. 

Also be aware that in the Marine Corps you will typically have one duty assignment with an air wing followed by another with a ground unit as a forward air controller or some other air liaison function. 

Either way you cant loose.  Best of luck to you!

Jaxx
Captain, USMC (former)

[RufusLeaking]

Considered Air Force, was raised Air Force, dealt with USAF for years through CAP, not for me.

I've tried tracking down pilots, but there is not a strong Marine/Navy air presence around here, (Though USAF abounds). The only two Navy pilots I have talked to both said, NOT to take the Academy route, one went through the Academy and became a pilot. The other went through, got brow-beat into Nuclear Engineering, and somehow found a way to get back on track in aviation.

My dad was in the Navy, which is why I went Air Force.  Interesting.

USAFA grads had an easier time getting into pilot training.  I am curious as to why the Annapolis grad would recommend against it.  Military discipline throughout college has to suck.  But it is a first rate education.  As a flier, you will have a service commitment, anyways.

[Serenity]

My dad was in the Navy, which is why I went Air Force.  Interesting.

USAFA grads had an easier time getting into pilot training.  I am curious as to why the Annapolis grad would recommend against it.  Military discipline throughout college has to suck.  But it is a first rate education.  As a flier, you will have a service commitment, anyways.

lol. The USAF thing is because I have been watching their trends as far as aviation goes, and I just don't like the directions they're heading.

Long story short, the pilots weren't the only ones who suggested against Annapolis, there were several former staffers (a retired O-6 among them) who suggested against it as well. The pilots both agreed that once they entered the fleet as pilots, they found that it was a bit easier for NROTC graduates to get flight slots than it was for the Academy graduates. More slots were given to ROTC, ROTC place emphasis slightly differently when selecting pilots, etc.

The staffers and pilots both agreed that Annapolis could be very hostile to prospective pilots. Again, long story short, if you had the mental capacity for piloting, there was some less-than-proper behavior attempting to sway you into the Nuclear Engineering program. Seeing as I already got calls twice a week from recruiters doing everything they could think of to get me to agree to Nuke Engineering, I just didn't want to risk finding myself in that situation. I know that there are good and bad experiences everywhere, but I saw this as a very specific risk I was already being confronted with.

[Saurdaukar]

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 must disagree with the majority.

USMC, no question.  You can attend PLC/OCS with a *guaranteed - in writing* air contract.

-OCC 177

[nirvana]

I'd say overall Marines have more pride in their service and what they do, it's just the Marine mentality.  My landlord went ROTC into a Marine Corps commission and retired as a LtCol. and loved it.

I don't have a bias either way but look into the Coast Guard Academy, damn near every person in the service I've ever talked to has said they would go Coast Guard if they could do it over again.

I also echo Stoney's last paragraph and 4440's sentiment.  However, most aviators I've met in the Coast Guard have been the most down to earth officers.  In the end it's your life so don't let anyone else persuade you.  Just my 2 cents, good luck on an extremely tough decision.

[rstel01]

I'll preface this by being ex-squid and my son currently being a 2nd class G/M in the USN (now 5th Generation USN).

Above all other b.s., ask yourself the question how hard core military do you want to be? I was attached to the Corp's and had a Full Bird as my first CO. My USMC Meritorious Mast certificate hangs just as proudly on my wall as does my USN Certificate of Appointment as a Petty Officer, so I have seen both sides. Granted I wasn't a Corpsman and wasn't attached to FMF (I worked with Stinger Missles in Joint Task Force Middle East in the late 80's) but, it's a pretty good representation of what to expect.   

Here is what the biggest difference is, members of the Corp's never turn it off. It's USMC 24/7 as long as your on Actdutra. For the USN as long as your not haze grey and underway, your skating out at noon on Friday for a good chunk of commands in the states. At my last duty station, we used to make golf tee-times for the XO at 9:00 am on a Friday just so he'd cut us loose for the weekend.

For the USMC it's out for P/T a zero dark thirty every morning and 10 mile marches that night. Meaning you are out in formation when Squids are just rolling in still half in the bag, or going on a hike when squids are hitting the beach. Many times while under USMC control I had to run at 5 am still working a buzz and throwing up. Gunny would see that and defacto make my lazy squid-ass the road guard, which only made my pain worse. For the Navy that ends shortly after OCS or Boot. Granted the USN maintains the PRT and Body Fat % but, it's not that hard. Plus, in my day we had "smoke breaks" half way through the 1.5 mile run and the stopwatch always magically broke at 13:50.

Realize too that guy's in the Corp's always have to maintain a high standard of Military Bearing where the Navy eases up the farther you progress. Not country club like the Air Force laid back but, the Navy becomes more of a job.   

You really have to have the come to Jesus talk with yourself, and honestly decide what's cut out for you.

It really is an incredible commitment that goes into wearing the Globe and Anchor, much more than anything you could imagine.           

[Stoney]

...I had to run at 5 am still working a buzz and throwing up. Gunny would see that and defacto make my lazy squid-ass the road guard, which only made my pain worse...

Now THAT is what we used to call "good training".  I always thought running drunk was easier than sober 'cause you couldn't feel it as much...  Easiest 4 miles I ever did was after hitting the rack at 0445 and being at PT at 0600.   

Semper RSTEL01

[Halo]

Want ground and air, go Marines.
Want water and air, go Navy.
Want ground (a little, helping with Army duties), air, cyber, and space, go Air Force.   

[jollyFE]

I am biased after 24 years in the USAF, I now work with the navy every day and have to say I have run into more knuckleheads in the Navy than in th AF.  Before I retired I met a few pilots who went to the Naval Academy and then switched to the AF after graduation.  It's been my experience that if I worked for 100 service academy grads, 85-90 of them were a-holes.  Most OTS and ROTC guys were great to work for.  I think that the AF would have more diverse flying opportunities (fixed wing, helo and UAV), but if limited to either Navy or Marines, I'd go Navy.  It's a numbers thing....the navy has more folks so it will be easier to stand out among the turkeys and be an eagle.  I did 10 years aircraft maintenance, 10 years as a helicopter flight engineer and 4+ years with UAV's.