<p>Both Launch from carriers, and other vessels?</p>
<p>Yes they are</p>
<p>They are Marine Aviators. I do not recommend calling a Marine Aviator a Naval Aviator. Marine infrantry are many times launched from Naval amphibious ships, but I would not call them Naval infrantry. A Marine is a Marine, even if they share the same wings with the Navy.</p>
<p>My husband flew jets in the USMC and has no problem being referred to as "a Naval Aviator." Our Mid (w/ USMC aspirations) seems to find the Marine distinction more important than his father, though.</p>
<p>Looked through a few old OPNAV manuals and a few online Instructions. I think they are officially Marine Naval Aviators. I think the little lineal seniority number card that we used to get was the same for both, Naval Aviators.</p>
<p>USNA69, makes sense....Marine NFO's (Marine Naval Flight Officers)</p>
<p>Marine NFO, truly a rare breed now that the F-4 and A-6 are gone. Are there any billets for them except for the dozen or so EA-6Bs? I don't think they have bought or intend to buy two-seat Hornets and they are holding out on the Super Hornet, waiting for the JSF which may be a long wait.</p>
<p>Can you believe the forum will not accept Prow***<em>, nor when trying to state such WT</em>.</p>
<p>The question is: Would you walk into the Ready Room of the Marine Squadron onboard a carrier and call them a bunch of Naval Aviators?</p>
<p>I honestly don't think it is a big deal to them. They wear Navy wings (as do the CG, wonder what their pilots are called]. Don't ask me what I did yesterday, much less 25+ years ago, but I do seem to recall that we used to joke about it some.</p>
<p>I have worked with them a lot and they have a great deal of pride in being a part of the Navy team, much more so, I am sure, than the grunt out in the field.</p>
<p>
[quote]
USNA69 wrote: Marine NFO, truly a rare breed now that the F-4 and A-6 are gone. Are there any billets for them except for the dozen or so EA-6Bs? I don't think they have bought or intend to buy two-seat Hornets and they are holding out on the Super Hornet, waiting for the JSF which may be a long wait.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There are a number of Marine NFO's in F-18's. I was in San Diego last April for a company meeting, and our "field trip" was to Miramar to tour the F-18 FRS and have dinner in the O Club with CAPT Charlie Plumb, USN (ret). He was our guest speaker. Unbelievably powerful message, but I digress...</p>
<p>Several of our tour guides/dinner guests were 2LT and 1LT Marine NFO's who were students at the FRS. I think they are calling them WSO's like the USAF. Weapons Systems Officers.</p>
<p>Here's a great Wikipedia link for USMC aviation.</p>
<p>List</a> of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>Yep, since they Navy never used the B/D operationally, I made the wrong assumption that the Marines never did either. They just never did buy into the Super Hornet which is where all the Navy 2 seaters are.</p>
<p>so do marines fly single seat super hornets?</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I believe that the USMC does not fly any Super Hornets.</p>
<p>marines definitely do fly FA-18s... My squadrons XO is actually a Marine Hornet driver... and seeing as he has very "specific" views about the roles of NFOs, I'm guessing he has flown to 2 seat 18s</p>
<p>Right, so the Marine VMFA Squadrons fly single seat A and C Model F/A-18 Hornets and the Marine VMFA(AW) Squadrons fly two seat B and D Model F/A-18 Hornets. But no USMC Super Hornets.</p>
<p>Only one '08 SS was designated as Marine NFO that I saw looking at the list.</p>