Marine Corps or The Army- advice desired

[decuervo]

The Marine Corps will not guarantee me a spot in the MOS 7565, AH-1 pilot, which is what I would like to do as an officer should I go back in.

The Army will guarantee me a billet with the Apaches after officer training with provisions in the contract that allow me to get out without penalty should there ever be a breach of that contract during any point in training (i.e. I end up not being able to take the G forces in flight training) that would not allow me to pilot said aircraft.

Being torn between love of Corps and the desire to pilot an attack helicopter I turn to you, my brothers and sisters, for advice. What would you do?

[yellowwing]

Geez-from what I've read recently on the Army's Apache attack SOP, hovering back for the max distance shot, is not always a sound tactic. Little ragheads with shoulder fired missiles could be waiting right on your six.

The USMC fire in flight seems more sound and survivable.

I got an email from a Colonel I served with. He was a Huey attack aviator in Viet Nam. After 19 years he finally told me about his Silver Star:
It has been my position not to discuss my war record, however, after talking with my beautiful wife I decided to give you some insight to the award of the Silver Star.

I was flying an armed escort helicopter on a medical evacuation mission northeast of Hue Phu Bai. When I arrived at the pick up site, I contacted the ground commander and was informed that
the unit was under heavy recoilless rifle, automatic weapons, and small arms fire; that two of the fourteen wounded required immediate medical assistance.

Also adding to the situation was the fact that the only landing zone within reason was directly between our Marines and the Viet Cong. Fixed wing aircraft were in the vicinity but otherwise engaged and could not assist.

Having no other choice and with darkness approaching I was able to locate the enemy weapons with the help of an L-19 light aircraft and began my attack. Under intense heavy automatic
fire, I flew to tree top level firing my rockets with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating the enemy's weapons while killing ten of them.

I was then able to get the evacuation helicopter into the zone while making suppressive fire runs to insure the evacuation helicopter's safe approach and departure. The evacuation was accomplished of the fourteen disabled without further casualties and without damage to the aircraft.

The award recommendation was submitted by the ground commander through his chain of command based on the action of the day as well as the inspection of the site following my actions.

What's that saying? Air Force, pilots trained for war. Marine Aviators, Warriors trained to fly! :marine:

[Sparrowhawk]

Always will be.

Take your gifts and talents and discipline and train others. Do what you want, once a Jarhead you'll always be one, that won't change.



In the Army it'll be a job, in the Corps it was pride.


But, if it really bothers you ask them to change the contract to allow you to wear your Marine Corps greens, instead.

LOL

[yellowwing]

I'm thinking that there hase to be a structured selection process on who flies '46s, '53s, and Ospreys, and who flies the attack birds.

I am willing to bet most of us enlisted here have no idea how selections are made. See if you can bend the ear of a Major or above and get some kind of insight.

Heck, I bet your Border Patrol Brothers or MC League contacts, know some USMC helo-jock Veterans that you can talk to for good scoop.

Focus. Make it happen. You know the drill.

[ALSEUT]

The Apache is a hangar queen or a ramp anchor. The army only flys them cause they look cool. They never use them for what they bought them for. They could get shot down, and thats 14 million dollars. After being in a Apache unit for 6 years it take 15 aircraft just to keep one flying...just more army junk.

[snipowsky]

Decuervo look in my photo gallery! Those are the bad boys you should be flying. A good friend of mine I went to boot camp with, served in the FMF with, and tore some clubs up with graduated from the Naval Academy in 2001. He went to flight school in Pensacola and is now an AH-1W Super Cobra attack pilot.

Him and other members of his unit were mentioned in the October 2004 issue (Page 46 for anyone interested) of Leatherneck magazine for their bravery and heroic actions in Iraq. Him and other members of his squadron recieved the Air Medal. I was totally shocked when I read this. His name is Devin A. Smiley and he was my roommate at Camp Lejeune when I was with 3/8.

In fact he's in one of my gallery photos posted as "Tank Killers". He's the one to my right in the picture. His call sign I'm sure is "Snaggletooth" because his humvee driver slammed on the breaks without warning while he was in the turret and he bit the back of his TOW sight and lost all his front teeth. I always knew he'd go on and do great things in the Corps. I'm just glad he wasn't a statistic over there.

That is what you should be doing bro! Guys in my platoon used to laugh at him and joke about his dreams of flying these birds. Now who is the last one laughing? My friend is basically a genius so I never had doubts he could do it. We were in the grunts together and now he's a Mustang. Whoever says grunts are dumb has no clue what they are talking about.

Anyways, you can do it. Knowledge is power my man. Go for it. Just stay true to your heart. You know what is best for you and only you. Personally I'd stay Marine Corps, but that's me. I wish you good luck in whatever you decide to do!

Semper Fi brother!

[decuervo]

Hehehe, cool. I tried to get back in the Corps, but there's alot of extra paper work (waivers and crap). I think i'll go fly Apaches. The way it works in choosing birds is they make a list of your final scores and the top graduate gets to pick, then the second, and so on down the list. I know I'm a heck of a lot smarter than 90% of the people i'll be competing against so I'm not worried about getting my Apache.
I looked up the AH-64D on Janes and got the following info. The flight lines are all ballistically protected and have numerous redundant systems to keep everything working smoothly. It can deflect 23mm AP rounds and can fly for over an hour with no hydraulic fluid (as was recently proven in Iraq when one was shot point blank by a couple of RPGs). It's the A-10 of the helicopter world. Blow the crap out of it and you're still coming home alive and in one peice. All my paper work is in to the Army already. I passed the stupid ASVAB with a 96 total and a 129 GT (only needed a 110).
I'm going to take my FAST 1st week of Dec. and also my flight physical. Once all that junk is out of the way it's off to Warrant Officer School for 8 weeks and then to Fort Rucker for flight training for 9 months (but I can take my wife with me thank God). Then hopefully off to Iraq or Afghanistan to blow up some stuff and get some for all of us. Semper Fi (no matter what nasty Army uniform i'm wearing)

[greensideout]

When you join the Army you will always be the one others will be watching. Some will seek you opinion, others will emulate your every move and appearance. You will always be known as, "The Marine".

I wish you well and Hey, you best wear that Army uniform with pride! ;)

GSO
USMC 1960-1964
ARMY 1983-1987

[decuervo]

Thanks greensideout, I will.