Expert: Rod Powers - 11/30/2005

Question
hello again. seens as how i would idealy like to be in the Air Force, and fligh fighter planes. i was also wondering about the Navy. What is the difference between being a fighter pilot in the Navy and the Air Force? is it easier to be a pilot in the Navy? Will i most likly be stuck on a boat for several mounths with a bunch of men? i also heard that that wont happen if i get married. but i wouldnt want to get married just for those benifts. is it posible to stay at a base? or would i have to go on a boat?
PS: im sorry if this might b a little off subject.
Thank you for your time and response.

Answer
Hi Jeremy,

Everybody and their brother (or sister) want to become a fighter pilot.  There are thousands of more applicants than there are available positions.  It doesn't matter what service, be it Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps (The Coast Guard and Army don't have fighter pilots).  Therefore, the competition to be selected for fighter pilot is tough, no matter what service.

If you become a fighter pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, a significant amount of your career will be spent on aircraft carriers, deployed to sea.  That's what they do -- that's the primary focus of fighter pilot assignments in the sea-going services.

I'm not sure who's feeding you the line of bull that it would be different if your married.  Marriage status has no bearing on it at all.  *ZERO*.  If you're a fighter pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, you will deploy on aircraft carriers just as often, whether you're married or single -- it averages out to about 1/3rd of your career will be deployed, at sea, on an aircraft carrier.

If you become a fighter pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, it's pretty much guaranteed that you will have to spend time deployed on aircraft carriers -- after all, that's their entire purpose -- to forward deploy on aircraft carriers, in areas where there aren't any land-based runways.

Most deployments on aircraft carriers, for fighter pilots is about six months at a time.  In the Navy, or Marine Corps, you can expect to be deployed, at sea, (on average), about six months out of every two years (for fighter pilots).

By the Way, there are women on board aircraft carriers.  Aircraft carriers are kind of like small cities -- there are about 5,000 sailors/Marines aboard, and about 25 percent of them are women.  But, there are strict rules about no sex aboard ship, and -- if caught, can lead to court-martial, or discharge.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com