Navy/Marines and Airforce overstrength?

[Whoami88]

I recently was talking to a Major in a ROTC Program. I've been planning on taking it for 2 years and then transfering to a different school and take the Marine ROTC there.

He informed me though that its next to impossible to be accepted into a Marine ROTC or even be commisioned into the corps because they are overstrengthed and that their even putting Marine/Airforce officers in charge of Army Units because their isn't enough officers.

Just wondering if this is true or if he's just trying to deter me from the Marines.

[Mystrick]

If you want to be a Marine officer, go helos, they always need helicopter pilots.

Haven't heard about that though.

[Mr.P]

I could see it more being that the Army is understrength at the moment and having a ton of recruiting problems. Could be an issue in the future for sure.

[Lord Kelvin]

The Marines aren't overstrengthed, my friend is in their ROTC at the U of A. Hell, the Navy isn't either, my roomate's in their ROTC, and he's also doing Marine cross-training too.

[Toastar]

If you want to be a Marine officer, go helos, they always need helicopter pilots.

Haven't heard about that though.

I thought the Marines used Warrent Officers for heli pilots.

[Stalin]

I thought the Marines used Warrent Officers for heli pilots.


I know the Army does; I read one of their pamphlets.

[Airborne506]

A friend of my mom's son is going to be a Cobra pilot but he went in through the Navy (He was gonna be a JAG, but switched like halfway through, he still got pilot training and whatnot, then switched to choppers). Anyone know how that works? I thought it was only USMC who could fly their aircraft.

[Toastar]

navy has their own air fleet and so does the army :)

[[hk]renegade]

I think only the Army has CWO's as pilots for helos, but there is deff. not an overstrength of anything in the marine corp, esspcially officers...

[Mystrick]

I thought the Marines used Warrent Officers for heli pilots.

I'm sure they do, but I know they will let officers pilot them.

A friend of my mom's son is going to be a Cobra pilot but he went in through the Navy (He was gonna be a JAG, but switched like halfway through, he still got pilot training and whatnot, then switched to choppers). Anyone know how that works? I thought it was only USMC who could fly their aircraft.

The Navy doesn't fly Cobras, IIRC, only the Marines:


Aircraft, Rotary Wing
HH/UH-1N Iroquois helicopter
CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter
H-3 Sea King helicopter
MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter
SH-60 Seahawk helicopter
TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter
VH-3D Sea King helicopter
V-22A Osprey tilt rotor aircraft
VH-60N Night Hawk helicopter

[BattleWhack]

renegade']I think only the Army has CWO's as pilots for helos, but there is deff. not an overstrength of anything in the marine corp, esspcially officers...
Yeah, I think we're anything BUT overstrength in pretty much every aspect.

I think that's just one more bullshit rumor.

Warrant Officers fly our helo's, and Marine pilots are referred to as Naval Aviators anyway.

[SWATJester_os]

I recently was talking to a Major in a ROTC Program. I've been planning on taking it for 2 years and then transfering to a different school and take the Marine ROTC there.

He informed me though that its next to impossible to be accepted into a Marine ROTC or even be commisioned into the corps because they are overstrengthed and that their even putting Marine/Airforce officers in charge of Army Units because their isn't enough officers.

Just wondering if this is true or if he's just trying to deter me from the Marines.

Just deterrence. If you sign an ROTC contract, you WILL be commissioned upon graduation. It may be in reserve, but you will get your commission. As for the Marine officers in charge of army units....never happen.

[gYmBaG]

what branch was he in?

[BattleWhack]

Just deterrence. If you sign an ROTC contract, you WILL be commissioned upon graduation. It may be in reserve, but you will get your commission. As for the Marine officers in charge of army units....never happen.

Wasn't Chesty Puller put in charge of an Army unit at some point in the Pacific in WWII?

[SWATJester_os]

Hell if I know, talking about present.

[Airborne506]

The Navy doesn't fly Cobras, IIRC, only the Marines:

Yeah that's what I'm saying he went in the Naval Academy but halfway through decided he wanted to fly choppers instead of JAG and now he's gonna fly cobras. I dunno the exact details as much of this comes 2nd or 3rd hand.

[gYmBaG]

yeah things have changed majorly since ww2 you cant compare them to nowadays, also isnt the naval academy for both navy and marines? since the marines are a branch of the navy? ive never really found this out, just always thought it
-E- saying branch i ment department you all know what i ment sorry :o

[SWATJester_os]

Yes, USNA trains marine officers, In fact something like 40% of their graduates are Marines.

[GoatChomper]

If you sign an ROTC contract, you WILL be commissioned upon graduation.
Currently, yes.....but if a big RIF comes down, that may be all they get. Thousands of brand-new 2LTs in 1973 were sworn in and just told, "You should be hearing from us sometime to report to OBC but we have no idea when."

[SWATJester_os]

Oh you better believe it. Most of my original ROTC class has just commissioned and graduated (damn me for not being with them), and there is such a glut of infantry 2LT's in the florida guard that they have to interview and submit resume's for PL positions.....

[Whoami88]

I can take Military Science/ROTC for 2 years with no commitement, then transfer to a different school, MU, because their the only one with a Marine/Navy ROTC. I heard its next to impossible to get in the Marine/Navy ROTC because of the recruiting problems.

Unfortunally, If I do transfer, I have to give up Criminal Justice as my major which I'm not really willing to do. So I'm seriously considering going Criminal Justice for major and Military Science/ROTC for my minor and join the Army of College.

[SWATJester_os]

At FSU ROTC isn't a major or a minor, it's totally seperate, but yeah, some schools count it as a major/minor.

[Whoami88]

This one goes along with military science program

[SWATJester_os]

Military science is the name for ROTC. I'm saying not all schools allow you to major in military science.

[Whoami88]

I never said I major in Military Science.

Anyways thanx for your input guys, I'm still swaying over to Army because I really want to go to College for four years. I don't feel ready for Military life yet so I don't want to Join right after High School.

[SWATJester_os]

I didn't say you said that. I was just making a point.

[Whoami88]

I didn't say you said that. I was just making a point.

Ok, I misread your post so no hard feelings :D

[gYmBaG]

about how many colleges have rotc? on average?

[Mystrick]

I believe quite a lot, not too sure of the numbers.

[Whoami88]

600 I believe

[StandingCow]

I know the AirForce is still making alot of cuts.. thats how I went ANG early.

[Dee Kaos]

Yeah, I think we're anything BUT overstrength in pretty much every aspect.

I think that's just one more bullshit rumor.
.Agrreed. I coulda sworn WOs dont fly our aircraft... Usually only E-7s or above get WO in the corps, not like the army or whoever.

[Mystrick]

I know the Navy is overstrength with jets, that's why they were catching anyone for anything while brother was going through primaries (and by cut, meaning out of the Navy). They were also trying to get people to go Marine helos.

[Whoami88]

Ya, I heard there taking other services officers and putting them in charge of Army units because theres not enough Army officers.

[SWATJester_os]

no.

[Mr.P]

I just can't imagine an army unit taking orders from a Air Force or Navy officer and that going over well.....Marine officer, maybe.

[Mystrick]

No, they're not. And when I say they wanted them to go Marine helos, they would have commissioned them as Marines.