Forum: Air Force Life

A kid who had been accepted to both the AF and Naval Academies was pondering his choice of the two, and wrote to a retired Naval Aviator, Bob "Banzai" Norris on whether he should pursue silver or gold wings. "Banzai" had also done a 3 year exchange tour with the AF in Eagles, so he had seen both sides of the house. The following was his response. For the most part, he tells it like it is. Enjoy! Laughing

Young Man,

Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"

USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent . Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained.

The USAF is homogeneous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.

Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black Shoes (surface warfare) and Bubble Heads (submariners) . Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise.

The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty.

The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head.. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your a$$ until you become a lethal force.

And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you- your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it.

The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.

Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.

Banzai

F-16.net Sponsor

I love this statement and the guy has a point, maybe it's just me but the Navy sure seems to party hader and work in some tough enviroments (carrier duty is amazing) - The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore - something to considered even if I say so myself...it is a hell'va an adventure, having seen some of it (carrier operations in a training mode) up close on the carrier Lexington, now off status (hot bunked it for ten days), that was long enough for me but the carrier deck even on this older carrier was buzzing all the time - amazing, dangerous stuff can and does happen on that deck...if I had to do it all over again, it might be a tough call to not go Navy....I love my Air Force but each has their specific points to consider for sure

The hottest girl in the bar at Miramar on a Wednesday wanted to meet the Air Force Reserve aviator.

I guess the Navy guys were in Singapore.

OL

..pulled a few girls from squids myself in my past (San Diego area), never gave it another thought Smile

Uh yeah lets just say that as an Air Force enlisted aviator for the past 16 years one of the best nights of my life was at the O' club in Miramar during their last airshow before top gun left for Fallon, and frankly it did not seem to matter what service you were in, or what rank you were. If you were in green jamies that's all that mattered.

Been there done that myself...just not at Miramar. I've also gotten the...

"Are you a pilot?!"

...and much like Eddie Jemison in the old Bud Light commerical,

"YES I AM!" Laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVwsberwuzg

Meathook wrote:

I love this statement and the guy has a point, maybe it's just me but the Navy sure seems to party hader and work in some tough enviroments (carrier duty is amazing)- The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore - something to considered even if I say so myself...it is a hell'va an adventure, having seen some of it (carrier operations in a training mode) up close on the carrier Lexington, now off status (hot bunked it for ten days), that was long enough for me but the carrier deck even on this older carrier was buzzing all the time - amazing, dangerous stuff can and does happen on that deck...if I had to do it all over again, it might be a tough call to not go Navy....I love my Air Force but each has their specific points to consider for sure

You Sir are correct. Flight Deck duty was the only time in my life where I felt that death was imminent. I worked the deck of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) as an Aviation Ordnanceman for quite sometime, and if you don't keep you head on a swivel... you're dead. Some of the examples of Flight Deck dangers include:

1. Getting sucked into an intake
2. Blown over the side by exhaust
3. Chopped up by props from a C-2 or E-2C
4. Taken out by arresting gear cables
5. Ran over by an aircraft dolly
6. Tripped up by JP-5 fueling hoses
7. Loose a foot or leg from the catapult shuttles during "no load" shots
8. Fall into a catwalk
9. Sandwiched by the JBD (Jet Blast Deflectors)
10. Punched in the face by someone wearing a different colored shirt other than your own

... and all for an extra $120 a month for Flight Deck pay!

You are also correct about partying hard. I remember looking forward to my first port visit to Hong Kong... it's too bad I don't remember any of it.

As a Naval Academy guy and a Naval Aviator for over a quarter century - I have yet to find a better and more accurate assessment of the contrasts.

When I was in Airwing 6 on Forrestal as a young Navy LT, I had a stateroom roommate who was himself a USAF Capt on a 4-year exchange... by year 3 he weighed the options and actually considered leaving the blue suit for khakis - as much for the "distributed leadership-by-negation" paradigm unique to Navy...

...alas in a classic Navy move, as he pinned on Major, the Navy said they would agree _only_ if he dropped back to O-3 for 2 more years... so he stayed Air Force (I think his wife preferred he stay too)...

... but for years after I kept in touch with him, and he never stopped waxing poetic about the ole navy carrier days, the flying, the fear, the chance to make insane decisions as a really young pilot -- and the insane port calls... Guiness

I forgot to add, the fun fear factor might be humorously inferred here:

http://www.thehelmsman.com/image.php?ob ... mage_id=27

Not Worthy

Took part of a SA-2 about twenty NE of Hanoi and as luck would have it got feet wet and away from Haung Gao and it radar controlled 100mm before I called an emergency. The week before that I had the privilege of briefing Admiral Holloway on the Air Force tactics we used and he must have heard my emergency call and recognized my voice. So as we were turning south towards Da Nang I get a call from someone on the Admiral's flag ship saying that "the CIC of Task Force whatever has cleared us to land on any of the four carriers on station. I looked down at that postage stamp that those Navy Jocks called home, then across at my wingman, who was looking back at me both thinking "YGBSM", thanked the caller and said we would try to make it to Da Nang. They acknowledged my call and said that a "Big Mother" rescue helo would be on station between each of the carriers if needed.

I've got alot of respect for those guys doing that day in and day out in all kinds of weather 24 per. But I really didn't want to screw up and be the first to crash an Air Force jet on their boat and break it.

Snake

Forum: Air Force Life

Still not Sold Between AF or Navy?