| The primary difference is in the "life-style" of a Marine | | | | service obligation approved for a "Palace Chase" or |
| and a Sailor. Marines all consider themselves combat | | | | "Palace Front" active duty separation. Not once. Not |
| riflemen first, and whatever job they have second. | | | | even close (unless they were disqualified from flying |
| Generally, Marines have to meet a higher physical | | | | for such reasons as medical). |
| fitness and disciplinary standard than any of the other | | | | In an F-18 (or any other Navy aircraft), the pilot is called |
| services. | | | | "a Navy Pilot." In a two-seat aircraft, the other officer |
| The flying training program is much the same. In fact, | | | | (who navigates and operates the weapon systems) is |
| Marine and Navy pilots go through the same flying | | | | called an "N.F.O." (Navy Flight Officer). As a group, they |
| training program (for the most part). | | | | are both referred to as "aircrew." |
| The Active Duty Service Commitment is real. It costs | | | | Any military member, aboard the aircraft (of whatever |
| almost a million dollars to train a military pilot or | | | | type) who is flying on the aircraft, with a job to |
| navigator, and the military services want to make sure | | | | perform aboard that aircraft, as part of the aircraft |
| they get their money's worth (and are not just training | | | | crew is an "aircrew member." That means, on |
| someone for an airline pilot's job). | | | | two-seat aircraft, such as the F/A-18, both the pilot and |
| The active duty service commitment (A.D.S.C.) for | | | | the NFO is referred to as "aircrew." |
| Navy and Marine Corps pilots is 8 years (following | | | | On other types of aircraft, there would be more than |
| graduation from flight training). The A.D.S.C. for Navy | | | | two "aircrew members." For example, the EC3 |
| and Marine Corps NFOs (following training) is 6 years | | | | "Hawkeye" carries a crew of five. All of them (pilot, |
| (following completion of training and designation as an | | | | co-pilot, NFO, enlisted techs) are "aircrew" on the |
| N.F.O.). | | | | aircraft. |
| The ADSC for Air Force pilots is 10 years, following | | | | With the Marine Corps when you join them they will |
| completion of flight training, and 8 years for navigators | | | | give you a chose of 3 MOS that you can pick from, |
| (following training). | | | | but you can only pick one of the three no matter if |
| The Navy and Marine Corps does not have a "Palace | | | | you don't like any of them. I'm afraid that's the way the |
| Chase" program, and -- just for info, the Air Force | | | | Marine Corps does enlisted job choices. If can always |
| rarely (if ever) allows pilots and navigators, who are on | | | | of to there web site or call someone from that branch |
| their initial active duty service obligation to participate in | | | | and ask them questions. |
| "Palace Chase". | | | | But, quite simply, you're not going to become a Marine |
| As I said, flight training is expensive, and the services | | | | Corps pilot unless you (1) get a college degree (2) get |
| want to get their money's worth. I spent several years | | | | commissioned (OCS or PLC), and (3) pass the flight |
| as the first sergeant of various Air Force flying | | | | aptitude tests and flight physical. About one candidate |
| squadrons, and I never (not once, not a single time) | | | | out of every five makes it through the selection |
| saw a pilot or navigator on their initial active duty | | | | process. |