Military Advice??

[King_Milo]

I've been talking with a U.S.M.C. recruiter for a short while now about joining and need some advice from those with experience. I know recruiters like to tell you exactly what you wanna hear

I have only one semester left to get my bachelors degree in finance. The jobs I've had so far in that field are miserable. I've always wanted to fly planes and would eventually like to do it commercially. I've taken one private lesson at the local regional airport but plan on more.

What do I need to do to ensure that I get a shot at the flight officer program with the marines? I was looking at doing reserves so I could finish up my last semester.

 

[96_killer]

Have u look in to the Air Force?

 

[King_Milo]

I talked to them first and couldn't get them to guarantee me a shot at flying, even though I meet every requirement (except having a degree)

 

[teenvette77]

Sounds like the reserves might be the best for you since you want to continue with a civilian career. Im getting down to weight for the Army Reserves 19D right now. But if i remember right, back when i looked into the Marines you cant choose your actual MOS. Just the general field to go into. correct me if i was told wrong. I would look into Air Guard if i wanted to fly. Many oportunities for off duty flight schools. Only join the Marines/Army if you rele rele want to ### most likely youll just end up a grunt with an MOS they want you to be because of all the reclassing from being "overstrength".

But im not in yet so ive probably only heard what you have. Talk with as many people as you can that are in, from all branches. You are doing the right thing looking for others advice rather than just a recruiter's too. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[King_Milo]

The way the recruiter talked it sounds like I would pick my own MOS. He told me he would give me a list of available positions that would have something to do with planes so that I would be around pilots and could get advice from them, like what books they studied to pass the flight tests and so on.

 

[Bluefire16]

I own a cafe, right next door to all the recruiting offices, marines, army, air force and reserve. I no a bunch of the officers very well. First off you are correct for choosing the marines, over air force. The marines actually have more planes and put more men into planes then do the air force.

Second, you should look into the officer program, they will put you into the program. I might do this myself, what you do is train 3 times for different periods of time. (this is for college kids like yourself) They give you money, and training and everything, but you are NOT ENLISTED. You have the choice to stay or leave after your training is all complete.

The thing is if you meet the right aspects, height, age, weight, eye sight, ect ect..... You need a minimum of 20-15 eye sight last i new (i have 20-10, which is even better, 20-20 is normal and good)

I would sit down and have a little more of a chat with them, but ask about the officer training program. I cant remember the real name of it though....

 

[fhudsonjr]

It's been a long time, long time since I've been in the Marines, but back during Viet Nam you could not get a guarantee.

The only time I got a chance to choose a "field of oppurtunity" was in boot camp. It was referred to as "The dream sheet", because you only got to dream about what you wanted to do.

I chose (dreamed) Tanks and Amphibious Weapons...they stuck me in electronics.

If they guarantee something, get it in writing if you can...I don't think they can, but maybe things have changed. If it ain't in writing, it's up to the Corps needs.

Where ever they need you, that's where they'll put you.

Good luck and if you sign up...Semper Fi.

 

[Bluefire16]

^^ To fly, you need to be a college graduate. Times have changed a lot, they aren't going to put some kid fresh out of high school, with know formal schooling up in a plane that costs $25 million or MORE.

To fly, they want college graduates or college experience, that study in certain fields.

Now days, you can more or less choose your field. You can go into the flight part of the Marines, but it all depends how well you will do in the scoring and your first part of "school" through the Marines. If you excel in parts, you have the chance to attend flight school, if not, they might stick you in maintenance or some other area.

 

[Tanro]

You still do not get to pick your MOS in the marines. Don't listen to shit the recruiter tells you. You can pick a job you would like to have and you might get that job assignment. But then again you may not, and it can take up to a year to get out if you have it on your contract and the dont give you the job that you want.

Also the Marines is the smallest branch of the military you would be better off in the Air National Guard I promise you. You will advance just as fast, and you will have 100x more chance of getting into flight schools with the Air Guard as an officer.

You also don't have to be a college grad to go to Officer Basic in the Army and we Do have flying opportunities but, you want to go air force guard or reserve. The recruiter is like a used car salesman he will tell you everything you want to hear and not suggest you buy anything but the car that gives him the highest profit.

Recruiters have to meet a certain quota or the get shit canned. Especially The Guard recruiters who have a pretty sweet job as it is. If you deal with a guard recruiter don't sign any contracts that don't have what you want on them. If you want and are expecting a bonus make sure it is on the contract. If you sign for a specific MOS make sure its on there.

TLDR:
Air Force - Guard or Reserves
Better Flight Oppurtunities
2 yrs of college with English 101 and 102 is required to go to Officer Basic. Bachelors Degree required to stay an officer.

First off you are correct for choosing the marines, over air force. The marines actually have more planes and put more men into planes then do the air force.

This is so wrong.... The marines are tiny compaired to the Air Force, and probably 30% of the marines and all of the Ones I know who got out of the marines to go into the Guard or Air Guard were pissed off because they got guaranteed a job by there recruiter only to get screwed into a combat Arms MOS. Seems most of them were Scout Recon as well, lots of guys actually sign up for Infantry but how many of you have ever heard of Scout Recon?

Edit:
If you want to go active duty in the military but would like to wait until you get out of college you can do a Delayed Entry program. Trust me, right now with the job market this is way to go. Its been a while since I signed up but they did have a 4active/4 reserve option. Your first enlist is allways gonna be 8 years in some form. Either active, ready reserve, or inactive ready reserve. I went national guard and have 6 years of ready reserve (drills and annual training) and 2 of inactive where I dont do drills but they can call me to deploy.

 

[natertater]

I talked to them first and couldn't get them to guarantee me a shot at flying, even though I meet every requirement (except having a degree)

you always have a"shot" at it, and NEVER guaranteed. my buddy is flight-o in the chair force, and he wanted to fly fighters...but now he flies commercial grade and cargo...thats after almost failing flight training about 3 times. my other buddy is a fighter pilot...but its hard either way. if you want, you can go NAVY and fly helos, cargo, or fighters. want a rush? try launching and landing that bad A$$ fighter jet on little as 280 ft of pad. either way, i would go supply officer in the navy with your degree. in 9 years you are guaranteed to be an O4. that is nice! (right now, at 10 yrs as an O4, we are talking 5800-6200 a month) so, its up to you. NAVY isnt too bad either my friend. i been doing it 8.5 yrs, wish i had a degree first, thats what im workin on now

oh, and BTW...the Navy has the most aircraft. believe me, we trump all!!

 

[King_Milo]

I own a cafe, right next door to all the recruiting offices, marines, army, air force and reserve. I no a bunch of the officers very well. First off you are correct for choosing the marines, over air force. The marines actually have more planes and put more men into planes then do the air force.

Second, you should look into the officer program, they will put you into the program. I might do this myself, what you do is train 3 times for different periods of time. (this is for college kids like yourself) They give you money, and training and everything, but you are NOT ENLISTED. You have the choice to stay or leave after your training is all complete.

The thing is if you meet the right aspects, height, age, weight, eye sight, ect ect..... You need a minimum of 20-15 eye sight last i new (i have 20-10, which is even better, 20-20 is normal and good)

I would sit down and have a little more of a chat with them, but ask about the officer training program. I cant remember the real name of it though....

The recruiter had mentioned a PLC program that after training for that would get me more money for my classes, and after graduating I would enter the flight officer program. Again, not sure how true that is.

Thanks to everyone for the advice! It's a tremendous help. It looks like I'll be talking with an Air Guard & Navy recruiter next

 

[TunaTalon]

Get your degree first.

Better to walk through open doors than trying to beat them open with head butts.

 

[BrokenTsi]

I'm in the Army Reserves. You're better off getting your degree first, then doing some type of officer program. The Marines is the last place I would look for a guarantee of some sort. The Marine recruiters are VERY good at being recruiters. Either go Air Force or Army or do neither.

 

[Bluefire16]

The recruiter had mentioned a PLC program that after training for that would get me more money for my classes, and after graduating I would enter the flight officer program. Again, not sure how true that is.

Thanks to everyone for the advice! It's a tremendous help. It looks like I'll be talking with an Air Guard & Navy recruiter next

Yes that is the program i was talking about, the PLC. Now i have become pretty good friends with the recruiter next door to my cafe, and he doesnt bullshit me. He doesnt ask me 19879649 times if i want to join, he understands my plan in life, and leaves it. I trust this mans word, and that is what he had told me.

Personally i think marines are your best bet.

 

[Swoopkev]

Alright, im joining the marines too, but im enlisting.
I got to take a look at the programs.
Its like this:

There are lots of different programs, for example code UZ is infantry, and it is basically a roulette of where you go.
You could say you want to be a 1812 - Tank crewman, you would be put into a certain program.
HOWEVER, this program contains like 6 other different MOS's, so your chance of getting what you want is slim and you often end up somewhere else. most the time you wont end up getting exactly what you want, unless you want to be a grunt.
Im going in as infantry and trying to get Recon. My recruiter quit so i have no clue WTF is going on i havent seen him in a month so i dont even know if im locked in to go or anything.

im still training though, got 18 or so strong dead hang pullups...

 

[canada4g63]

Finish your degree go officer. I'm in the USAF i'm a e-5 and only make 50,000 base pay and 70,000 when i deploy, it's ok pay but for the shit i've seen and done i should get paid six figures.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

The marines actually have more planes and put more men into planes then do the air force.

I could tell you with absolute certainty that is absolutely incorrect.... BY A LONG SHOT!

^^ To fly, you need to be a college graduate. .

This is also incorrect.

 

[JDog_27]

If you only have 1 semester left till you get your Bachelor's then I STRONGLY STRONGLY recommend you finish that up first. Then I would go about seeing a recruiter that specializes in officer recruitment because not all recruiters do this. You're robbing yourself if you go enlisted with a degree or even just shy of getting your degree.

Recruiters are recruiters they will tell you anything and everything you want to hear and even people they aren't trying to recruit just to make everything sound glorious. Word of mouth marketing is good for them because people they run into that they couldn't/don't recruit may send people their way.

Also, go take some private flying lessons if you can afford that. It looks good on paper when they are considering you for flight school. Shows you are serious when you've logged some hours under your belt.

I've had family in all branches of the military so I'm partial to the Air Force in case you were wondering

BTW, I'm in the Air Force Reserves...spent 4 years active and 8 years as a reservist...12 total years

 

[black91awdturbo]

This is so wrong.... The marines are tiny compaired to the Air Force, and probably 30% of the marines and all of the Ones I know who got out of the marines to go into the Guard or Air Guard were pissed off because they got guaranteed a job by there recruiter only to get screwed into a combat Arms MOS. Seems most of them were Scout Recon as well, lots of guys actually sign up for Infantry but how many of you have ever heard of Scout Recon?


First of all its not Scout Recon, its Force Recon or Marsoc! They are a highly highly trained special ops team. If all you friends ended up with them I would be shocked as its takes many many things to even get asked to try out for it! It also takes a hell of a guy to make it to the training to be a Recon Marine! They represent about 1% of the Marines combat units. I know all of this because my dad did 20 years with force Recon teams both 1st,2nd,3rd units. With all of that being said I am loosing weight now to go into the Army Rangers because I can get a 40x contract and a for sure shot at RASP, and go into the 75th regiment.

 

[TunaTalon]

The USAF has more aircraft and more types of aircraft than the USMC.

See http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/sour...1_26_2009_p0240-112924-158.xml&headline=World Military Aircraft Inventory - United+States.

Get your degree first. Please.