VMFA187

Judgesmails - What do you want to fly? What are your other goals? I'll assume your goal is to fly fighters, if not, you'd be best served looking for an opinion other than mine. With that said, if I was in your position knowing what I currently do, I'd prioritize the ANG if at all possible. Quality of life is something you don't initially think about when you're young and all you can think about is strapping on a gray jet loaded with A/A and S/A munitions and delivering hate and discontent to the enemy. But it becomes hugely important when you've been deployed or on det 50% of a four year fleet tour. You can't beat quality of life with the ANG when you compare it to active service. Nearly all the benefits, with almost none of the massive downsides. And you have the added benefit of stepping into your first airplane knowing what you'll eventually be strapping on every day once you've earned those coveted wings. Now, as for going active Air Force versus Navy - That's tough, and it goes back to my above questions. From my experience AF pilots are generally more proficient, all things being equal. This is for a multitude of reasons, some of which may not be entirely accurate as I have no direct experience operating within the Air Force. I believe the main reason this holds true is largely due to aircraft health - You'll likely fly more when you're not deployed in support of combat operations in the Air Force than you will in the Navy because their jets are better maintained, and there are significantly more of them. If you choose Navy, you'll also have to sacrifice more time than your Air Force peers on collateral duties. The benefit, which some see with that, is that you will have more opportunities for leadership experience, outside of the cockpit. This can be a double-edged sword. My priority was always to be as good in the jet as possible: But being responsible for the entire squadron's airframe divison of 35+ Marines with no actual maintenance training made it difficult to perform both duties adequately, let alone to excel at them. Now, that being said, there is nothing like getting launched from the boat and catching a wire once you return. But living on the boat, which I've never had to do for more than a week, likely completely counteracts that positive. Bottom line, both are better than anything you can do in the civilian world. But if you want to be the absolute best in the jet that your capacity will allow, I'd go Air Force.

At least it is only 6 weeks in residence and not a year like O-3 PME in the Marine Corps... Or two years via Distance Learning.

If that is true, I think it beats the story of one of my 35 Airframes' Marines, who was 19, spending several grand on his government credit card at a strip club in Guam...

While the venue may not be the best place to voice policy, the decision is wholly welcomed. If we could continue this trend and focus more solely on our purpose as warfighting organizations I imagine a significant portion of the glaring retention issues would be solved regardless of the incredible outside opportunities.

It is. The Department of the Navy does two investigations just like you described. The first only to assess what happened IOT get the information out to the fleet to prevent further accidents linked to the same cause(s). The second investigation can be punitive, ultimately assigning blame for the mishap.

SIB/AIB = Safety Investigation? If so, I know that it'll take > six months for the report to come out. If you have more specific questions, shoot.

That's probably valid. I'll buy that argument.

Would you need AAMs with lasers? Regardless, I don't think I want to be in the game when that stuff is around.

That was a great course. I wish I had attended when I was more senior/experienced as a tactical aviator, I feel I would have assimilated more of the information. That's what they get for sending a Marine with a social science degree from FSU!

Well stated. While I'm probably not going to retire from this community, I wouldn't trade it. The friends I've made and the experiences I've had - Your college buddies won't even be able to comprehend. I'd do a couple things a bit differently here and there, but I don't regret any of it. Flying fighters will go down as one of the best decisions I've ever made and ever will make.

I'm not strictly speaking about employing ordnance. Fighting your bros in BFM, a 4vX, etc... is largely what I was speaking to when I referenced "fighting."

That sounds like fun flying. I'd miss the fighting though. Flying is a means to fight.

Looks like I showed up to the party a year too early. Shame.

The guy is a weapons school grad.

The Hornet underground is saying the pilot with the kill is now in the hospital with a broken arm from all the high fives.

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic which I can appreciate.

How much effort does it require to pass a fitness test? Not much. No officer should ever fail a fitness test.

So this should count less than manned aircraft, but less than a WSEP drone - Right?

Years back an Enlisted Navy SEAL got commissioned and ended up flying Hornets. Bet he had some stories.

Absolutely brilliant. Shared amongst Miramar fighter pilots.

We needed a hell of a lot more of the former.

Do you guys not get automatically passed for not doing PME? Our distance PME, EWS, is a two year program and a number of guys who are not complete - Purposely or not, despite being great in all other aspects, have been and continue to be passed over for O-4.

Valid.

Sharp looking airplane. I'd hate to have to go to the merge in that thing, however.

Forgive me - I'm a Marine, perhaps a little more dense than most.