<p>I know this might sound like a pretty dumb inquiry but...</p>
<p>I am a die hard West Point supporter and love Army, and no matter how much I try I just can't seem to see what is so appealing about the Navy and the Naval Academy! You are going to be stuck on a boat/submarines for months! How likely are you going to be able to fly the fighter jets??
I'd like to see other people's perspectives.</p>
<p>Army Rangers Lead the Way!</p>
<p>I think it just depends upon what you really love and want to do. I just am thankful that there are wonderful young adults that are passionate about their own service academy. Just be glad that there are people in the Navy that love what they do. (I'm sure some wonder why someone wouldn't prefer months on a boat versus a tent.) I'm sure there are quite a few Army Rangers out there who are mighty glad to have Naval support (and vice versa).</p>
<p>Why USNA versus USMA is simple: you want a career as a Navy or Marine Corps officer as opposed to Army.</p>
<p>OK, so why Navy/Marine Corps over Army as a career?
One reason would be to have more career choices. From USNA, if you want infantry or artillery, go MC. If you want aviation, you can go either Navy or Marine Corps, with fixed wing or helos in either case. If you want to serve on ships you have many choices: surface ships versus subs, different ship types, and you get to choose your initial home port and ship. If you want to be an astronaut, you could, of course, go to USMA (13). Or, you could attend the college that has produced more astronauts than any other (51 at last count): USNA.</p>
<p>You asked about how many USNA grads get to fly jets. I don't have data specifically for jets, but 440 of 1047 members of the USNA Class of 2008 (42%) are heading for training as Navy or Marine Corps aviators and flying officers (data from USNA). And yes, flying officers (NFOs) become licensed pilots, not just the naval aviators. These numbers are not quite as high as the numbers I have read for pilot slots out of USAFA (563 for the class of 2008), but they still form a significant portion of each graduating class.</p>
<p>Regarding your comment about "being stuck on a boat for months," yes, it's true that deployments can last a long time. However, all service members have deployments. Some are long, some not so long. Living conditions during deployments would be considerably different between services, I would think, but I'm not at all qualified to comment on that.</p>
<p>yea swimboy, it really depends on what you want to do. if you want to go into infintry/artillary, well the USMC and Army are both great. if you want to go into surface/submarine warfare, then the navay is right for you. if you want to be a pilot, not a navigator or flight officer, but an actual pilot, your chances are the greatest out of USAFA because about half of each graduating class become pilots. and if you someday want to be an astronaut, don't forget that USNA had a 20 year lead on USAFA due to the pre-shuttle era, and USAFA is catching up quick :).</p>
<p>I enjoyed the Navy and while being stuck on a boat wasn't always my cup of tea, there are times at sea that are brillant. Like an amazing sunset off the coast of Hawaii, traveling up the fjords of Norway at night, bouncing around the North Atlantic being chased by a hurricane in waves that make even the saltier guys wish they were home. Those are the moments I enjoyed. I was a deep sea diver and while the Army has divers I'm sure the Navy was a better pick. I dove on deep projects, did a Sat dive, dove in the marine mammal program, serve on ships, flew in different types of aircraft, been on a sub, large ship and small, even as small as a zodiac, served in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, worked with munitions, in anti-terrorism, nuc security, etc...yeah, I guess I should have given it all up to wear greens and crawl through the mud. The fact that we're all different and that the security of this country comes in many different forms, is why we need the different services. To each their own...best of luck at West Point.</p>
<p>Go Navy...Beat Army.</p>
<p>swimboy....there are many more options for a young person stepping into USNA than USMA...simply because the Army is infantry-oriented. That means ground training with air support. Tactics and strategy come from that model. Obviously this is a highly successful, working model that has served our country well and has produced some of our greatest leaders, including Presidents and current generals. ( Go Gen. Petraus!!)</p>
<p>The mission of the Navy, from its inception has been different and therefore its tactics and strategies and training is very different. You may not like the idea of ships but you had better believe the fact that we can forward-project our American presence thanks to our fleet deployments around the world is something we all expect and most of the time take for granted.</p>
<p>Let me tell you a very interesting observation I witnessed the night of the most recent Army/Navy game.</p>
<p>Hubby and I were in Philly for the game to be with our girl. Yeah, yeah, we won and spirits were high afterward. But that's what I'm getting to.</p>
<p>Every evening of the game, Officer's Christian Fellowship hosts a dinner/speaker for any cadets/mids/local ROTC/local military schools and their families. The 3 of us went. We sat at a table . At the table were 5 West Point cadets. Their initial attitude, frankly, and not unkindly, but still apparant, was YOURS....that they were at the 'better school' and who on earth would want to be on 'boats??' Being a big-mouth Italian mother I (I admit it, stupidly) stood up for my mid and told them she was an Arabic major, heading to Amman for 6 months and is going to become a Marine. After my dear girl rolled her eyes at me, and after the handsome, charming Cadets were quiet - the tone suddenly switched to interest - </p>
<p>For the next 3 hours I witnessed 5 West Point Cadets and 2 Midshipman talk about their future military goals. There was much common ground, much mutual respect.</p>
<p>What had started out with a condescention became admiration.</p>
<p>By the end of the evening smiles, bravo/zulus were exchanged as these young future military officers, regardless of their specific career paths realized that they were all American Military, working their tail-bones off to prepare to serve their country.</p>
<p>I hugged them all like a mother-hen and told them I was proud of each and everyone of them.</p>
<p>So remember that you are perfectly entitled to your personal preference - but there are young, talented, dedicated, intelligent Americans who need to step up into the shoes of leadership in ALL our military services ....</p>
<p>AND I SALUTE EACH ONE.</p>
<p>Well said, peskemom!!!</p>
<p>Although you may not like ships or subs, many people do. Some folks don't like infantry. </p>
<p>Fact is that all SAs are great. IMO, none is "better" than another, although one may be better than another for you.</p>
<p>"Army Rangers Lead the Way!"</p>
<p>There will be a SEAL team or a Marine Force RECON Unit securing the LZ for the Rangers when they arrive, so they can lead the way.</p>
<p>Haha, I'm pretty sure that's what the ARMY Pathfinders are for!</p>
<p>yea, but before any of those things happen, the AF takes satellite and recon plane images to even give you guys a chance in heck of making it! ;)</p>
<p>Hahhaa.. this is a futile argument against the Navy.</p>
<p>I'll give you some reasons.. some that were probably stated above, but you'll get some.</p>
<p>Navy has WAY more career opportunities.. that translate beautifully to the private sector. You don't know how many Army E-8 or E-9's work as plumbers, or carpenters, on the outside.</p>
<p>Second, sure we have Ship and Sub deployments, but at least it's better than being Army and going to Iraq for a 13 month deployment only to be EXTENDED right before leaving. And blue side deployments are fun.. there's something called "Ports." All I gotta say is... Best. Liberty. Ever.</p>
<p>Third.. countering that false comment about no Navy flying jets.. buddy.. the Navy has more, WAY more, aircraft than your precious "Chair-force." Aviation is something the good ol' blue and gold prides itself on.</p>
<p>But then again, it all depends what you want. Sure.. Army has better equipment and more money than the Marines.. but they're way LESS trained and much more disposable. You don't know how many stories there are, especially about OIF 1, where Army got so obliterated during the Fallujah invasion that the Operating General had step in and shut everything down. And guess what.. that was when the Marines came in and solved the problem.. with about 90% less casualties than their Green counter-parts, in about 1/4 of the time. And you have no idea how ****-poorly trained their Medics are compared to us Corpsmen. SO bad, infact, that the Army tries to swipe some of our guys for themselves in country.</p>
<p>And buddy.. no one leads the way more than the Navy SEALs. Everyone knows that.</p>
<p>Did you know the Army has more boats than the Navy? Now that's funny.</p>
<p>Seriously though...don't forget about that other academy...USMMA. Those ladies and gents can commission active Navy, Army, AF, CG, or USMC...or they can work on American merchant ships...you wanna talk about options? I think I know the place...</p>
<p>gravy boats, maybe. :confused: And a vast variety of mre's ... ala grande, lo mein, or burger bits.</p>
<p>For the class of 2009 at USNA, 37% are going Aviation, including 306 pilots and 91 Naval Flight Officers (RIOs, Nav etc). You select jets AFTER completing API and Primary.</p>
<p>"Did you know the Army has more boats than the Navy? Now that's funny."</p>
<p>Well I don't believe it is still true that the Army has more vessels than the Navy - but it is true that in WW2 the Army had more logistics ships than the Navy did. Today the Army Transportation Corps has 53 named ships; logistics support vessels and LCU's - ranging from the the largest -the 315 foot "SpearHead" which is a high speed -waterjet propelled Catamaran "Theater Support Vessel" capable of 50 knots while carrying up to 600 troops and about 1250 tons of Cargo down to 175 foot LCUs. It also maintains a large number of "LCM"s or "mike" boats for lightering operations, as well as hovercraft for over the shore operations and even several Ocean Going Tugs. The Army ships are all commanded by warrant officers. Additionally the Army Corps of Engineers maintains it's own fleet of soldier manned engineer support boats</p>
<p>cfussman, i don't think you quite understand....the purpose of the AF is to acheive and maintain AIR DOMINANCE. that's the objective we revolve around. that's the mission that US congress and the Secretary of Defense has entrusted us to. if you think any other branch in the US Armed Forces acheives that better than the AF, then you are sadly mistaken. </p>
<p>so....if you want to get the best pilot training the world has to offer...then there is no better place than the United States Air Force.</p>
<p>Undercover guy.. I never once stated anything against the desk-flying chair force except for the fact that the Navy has more aircraft.. which it does. No need to put words in my mouth.</p>
<p>And when it comes to the matter of a respectable, squared away branch.. the Navy and USMC are leaps and BOUNDS above the AF. A particular Navy Times issue comes to mind.. a comic of all the branches' salutes. The Marines have a perfect, sharp 45 degree angle salute.. stone-cold killer face. Then you have the Army.. a soldier holding a sharp salute.. not like the latter.. but still great. The Navy comes next.. another good salute.. a little less squared away, works though. And last but not least the Air Force... and in the picture stands a slap-happy clown, dressed in a bright costume.. happily waving his arm to the reader.</p>
<p>Enough said.</p>
<p>Are you sure about that ChrisFussman?</p>
<p>I looked the at number of aircraft the Air Force had and they have 5,778 aircract (2402 of them are fighters). On the other hand the Navy has a little more than 3700 aircraft. The AFA is the place to go if you want to fly because last year they did not even fill all their pilot slots, they had 500 and something slots last time I heard. I honestly think you need to give more respect to ALL of the services, not just the Navy. We are all a team here and need to act like it. Each service can't not funtion properly without the other.</p>
<p>You have to realize the fact that the airforce itself only has roughly 4,000 aircraft.. and the remaining 1,700 belongs to the Air National Guard... which is or isn't federally recognized as a part of the armed forces depending on wartime.</p>
<p>Besides that, you're still right. Haha.. I'm obviously wrong, and thank you for clarifying, don't wanna be attacking the lesser branches with false information. </p>
<p>ANYWAY.. Of course we're all a team. It's all part of the eternal rivalry that exists between the branches. If you're a civilian you will most likely not know 90% of it, but we always poke fun at the other branches, and they do the same to us. It's not a lack of respect, just a friendly "inside joke." And don't tell me to respect them more.. any man that took the oath, as I did, has my utmost and whole-hearted appreciation. (It's the comical ****-bagginess of the Air Force that gets the most light.. them referring to everyone by their first name, and their outrageous grooming and weight standards).</p>
<p>The one thing I'm definitely SERIOUS about is the incompetency of Army enlisted members, especially the infantry, when compared to the Marine Corps'. You think with all the money they have they'd train their troops better. And the operational Chain of command that exists, or doesn't, within their ground troops in country is devastatingly horrible. All the neglect... look at the suicide rates, they're ridiculous.</p>