Becoming a marine pilot is a challenging career, but it can be done.
To become a marine pilot, you’ll need to obtain your commercial license and get experience flying in various conditions and in different types of aircraft.
You’ll also need to pass an exam by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
If you want to become a commercial or military pilot, you may need to attend flight school or college.
How To Become Marine Pilot
There are aviation units in all branches of the U.S. military, and to become a pilot in the Marines, you must go through the most extensive and longest pilot training of all the branches. This includes becoming a commissioned officer, meeting a wide range of criteria and passing multiple training school programs. In this article, we discuss what a Marine pilot is and does, what aircraft they fly, how to become a Marine pilot and the skills and salary for Marine pilots.
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What is a Marine pilot?
A Marine pilot is an active duty Marine who flies helicopters, planes or hybrid aircraft. Marine pilots are first trained as Marines, then go through multiple training programs to gain combat leadership experience and learn how to become pilots. To help its units on the ground, the Marine Corps has several air assets that require trained pilots, including:
- Helicopters for troop deployment and medical evacuations
- Attack helicopters for air support for Marines on the ground
- Fighter jets and attack jets that deploy from large ships
- Hybrid machines for special situations and circumstances
Related: What Is a Naval Aviator?
What does a Marine pilot do?
A Marine pilot flies some of the most technologically advanced aircraft in existence. They perform essential functions for Marine aviation in order to support military missions around the world. Some of their duties and responsibilities include:
- Assault support
- Offensive air support
- Controlling aircraft
- Controlling missiles
- Anti-air warfare
- Electronic warfare
- Aerial reconnaissance
Related: How To Become an Army Pilot
What does a Marine pilot fly?
Marine pilots fly helicopters, planes and hybrid machines. Some of the various aircraft Marine pilots may fly include:
Fixed-wing aircraft
Marines may learn to fly fixed-wing aircraft including:
- KC-130 Super Hercules: A refueling plane and propeller transport that operates in any environment, medevac Marines, provides battlefield illumination and humanitarian help and delivers Marines, cargo and fuel.
- EA-6B Prowler: An electronic warfare jet that detects, destroys or jams enemy air defenses.
- F/A-18 Hornet: A dual mission plane with both fighter and attack modes that is a fighter escort, air control, close air support, enemy defense suppression and reconnaissance plane.
Helicopters
Marines may learn to fly helicopters including:
- UH-1Y Huey: A versatile helicopter that provides medical evacuation, or medevac, and combat support along with assault support, aerial reconnaissance, close air support and command and control.
- AH-1Z Super Cobra: An air support helicopter that has guns and rockets for providing cover or escorting transport helicopters and advancing ground troops.
- CH-53E Super Stallion: A heavy-lift helicopter that can carry and lift 16 tons of cargo like personnel, vehicles or supplies with armament and agility.
Hybrid machines
Marines can learn to fly hybrid machines including:
- RA-7B Shadow Drone: An unmanned aircraft system that helps Marines with target acquisition, reconnaissance and to relay communications.
- MV-22 Osprey: A hybrid helicopter and transport plane that can do vertical or short landings and take-offs thanks to a unique tilt-rotor system.
- AV-8B Harrier: Nicknamed the VSTOL for vertical short takeoff and landing, this plane uses adjustable jets to take off, land or hover with little or no runway.
Related: How Long Does It Take To Become a Pilot?
How to become a Marine pilot
Here are four steps for becoming a Marine pilot:
1. Get an education
It is a requirement for Marine pilots to have a bachelor’s degree, either from a university, civilian college, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS) or the U.S. Naval Academy. The U.S. Naval Academy is a popular education choice for aspiring Marines. It has a prestigious, competitive and arduous program that graduates approximately 20% of each class into the Marine Corps.
Related: A Guide to Military Officer Candidate School (OCS)
2. Become commissioned
Officers need to be commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant before becoming pilots. If you want to become a Marine pilot, contact your local selection officer and ask about the required steps for becoming a second lieutenant. You should also let the local selection office know you’re interested in the aviation track and want to become a Marine pilot.
Related: Commissioned vs. Non-Commissioned Officer: What’s the Difference?
3. Meet the requirements
There are some requirements for becoming a Marine pilot which include:
- Age: A pilot candidate has to be at least 18 when enlisting, at least 20 when joining the officer candidate program and younger than 28 when receiving commissions.
- Citizenship: The Marines require candidates to be U.S. citizens, and if they are not, they can apply to become a citizen during enlistment.
- Testing: There are testing requirements which include an ACT score of 22 or higher, a combined SAT score for math and English of 1,000 or higher, or an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery score of 74 or higher. Candidates must also pass the Aviation Selection Test Battery.
- Physical fitness: Prospective Marine pilots need to be in good physical health and psychological health, pass a physical fitness test, aviation physical exam and other medical screenings.
Related: Air Force Pilot Requirements
4. Attend flight school
Pilot candidates attend flight school in Florida after they complete Platoon Leaders Class or Officer Training School. Then they continue on to intermediate and advanced training programs. There are several stages to the process which include:
- The Basic School: Before advancing to pilot training, all Marine officers must pass The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.
- Pre-indoctrination: The pre-indoctrination program in Pensacola, Florida at the Naval Air Station lasts six weeks and introduces coursework like aviation physiology, engines, navigation, aerodynamics and sea and land survival.
- Primary flight training: Candidates go to Milton, Florida for in-air training where they spend 166 hours in the classroom, 67 hours in the air and 27 hours in a flight simulator. Candidates get chosen to advance to either helicopter, jets or turboprops based on their aptitude and grades.
- Intermediate helicopter or turboprop training: Candidates go through another 26 hours of instruction with an emphasis on navigation and radio training.
- Intermediate jet training: Candidates go to the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi or Kingsville, Texas to go through a five-week ground school with emphasis on meteorology, safety and visual flight rules, then they progress to hands-on training for gunnery, aerobatics, catapult take-offs and radio communication.
- Advanced jet training: Prospective jet pilots continue to advance with 92 hours in the air practicing night flights and combat maneuvers.
- Advanced turboprop training: These prospective pilots continue to advance with a 20-week course in Corpus Christi, Texas with 182 hours of classwork, 88 hours in the air and 20 hours of flight simulators.
- Advanced helicopter training: Prospective helicopter pilots go to Florida and continue to advance with 116 hours of in-air practice.
Related: How To Become a Pilot: Flight School Requirements
Skills for a Marine pilot
There are many hard and soft skills Marine pilots need, including:
- Quick reflexes
- Creativity in decision-making
- English proficiency
- Computer and technology skill
- Leadership qualities
- Ability to work under stress
Related: How To Become an Air Force Pilot
Salary, benefits and job outlook
The military determines active-duty pay for a Marine on length of service, rank, qualifications and job assignment. The average salary for a Marine can range from $23,944 to $75,099 per year. The Marines also provide benefits, like housing, insurance, paid education, bonuses and cost-of-living allowances. The number of Marine pilots on active duty fluctuates each based on the National Defense Authorization Act and the country’s military needs.
