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I was a mid-level developer at a large software company making a very competitive salary and quit to join the U.S. Marine Corps and train to become a Naval Avia

by yutyut 8y ago

I was a mid-level developer at a large software company making a very competitive salary and quit to join the U.S. Marine Corps and train to become a Naval Aviator. I'm now a 'mid-level' AH-1Z pilot. I work longer hours and have generally a lower quality of life but there's something to be said for the immensely unique things I've gotten to do and how profoundly well-rounded the entire experience has made me. I will be re-entering the software industry in a few years unless another passion pulls me in some new direction. The military is obviously not for everyone but picking up the phone, ducking into a side conference room across from my cube, and giving a verbal commit to my 'recruiter' that day (after a years-long selection process) has been the best decision I've ever made.

jamestimmins 8y ago
Years long selection process? I'd love to hear what was involved and why it took so long. That's definitely a pretty drastic switch!
- yutyut 8y ago
  Long story short: Medical waivers; bureaucracy; initial screening and training as well as the peculiar program I was in and my place in it at the time.
minkzilla 8y ago
Thanks for this response. I'm going to graduate college soon and I've been thinking of trying to join cal fire. I know I want to be in tech, but I don't know if I am ready for it yet. I think I need something more exciting/meaningful while I am still young.
- yutyut 8y ago
  Live life to the fullest, while you still can. Find something that's meaningful to you and do it. There's time for fluff later on.
debt 8y ago
Don’t mean to sound like a dick but in an effort to keep the record straight: sounds like you fucked up. The military is the least meritocratic and most bureaucratic shitstorm in existence currently. Flying planes is great if you’re able to only ever want to do that until dead.
- todd3834 8y ago
  What do you mean to sound like? A cool guy who just drops truth bombs? The guy did what he wanted to and he is happy he did it. Sounds like he won to me. Love what you do and you never work a day in your life right?
- yutyut 8y ago
  I won't say (nor do I care) whether you do or don't sound like a dick but you do sound like you didn't read my post or perhaps didn't appreciate the spirit in which I wrote it. Point 1 on bureaucracy: Generally agree. Point 2 on the feasibility of changes in career: Wholeheartedly disagree.
- yutyut 8y ago
  *Point 3 on meritocracy: The Marine Corps aviation community's entire qualification basis revolves around merit: your ability to plan, brief, and execute complex missions is directly reflected in your placement in the squadron. Even rank gets thrown out the window to a degree. Our little community in particular (the HMLA) is a meritocracy that is enforced on a tribal level.
hef19898 8y ago
May I ask how old you have been when you made the transition? And whether you had family or not? Because I learned that this significant change in lifestyle is a lot easier the younger you are and the less other commitments you have. Respect so for becomong an aviator, that definitely isn't the easiest career path. And I could imagine that a former naval aviator who is also a programmer has a bright future in the defense and aerospace industry if you want.
glogla 8y ago
Cool! Congratulations on cool job. I'm jealous. I always wanted to do something like that, but my eyes suck.
sanbor 8y ago
With respect I'd like to ask if you don't have ethical issues. The military forces of USA has been doing pretty bad stuff in the last 50 years, so I have the feeling that you're not saving lifes but rather ruining them. War became such a common thing and nonsense in the US that at this point thatnpeople is not sure if they're at war or not.
- anonu 8y ago
  The US Military is a huge employer and there are a variety of jobs and roles in the organization. Your comment is like telling employees of a company they should feel ashamed because management cooked the books.
  - acct1771 8y ago
    Really depends how blatantly obvious it us the company's cooking the books. Also, if that bad accounting is leading to the death and torture of humans.
  - sanbor 8y ago
    Right, and the US military played a central role developing internet. But as a pilot you might be order to drop some bombs.
    - JustSomeNobody 8y ago
      So, you don't think the US should have a military at all? How does that work in the real world?
      - dolessdrugs 8y ago
        Where are you getting that?
  - krageon 8y ago
    They might be a huge employer but they also murder people. Even if you work in a role that supports murder and doesn't actually do it directly, I'd say that the ethical side is a concern. Certainly not something to be dismissed out of hand, even if you make the decision that you are ok with it. I am of the opinion that a "well it's far removed from me even though that is what the organisation's main goal is" stance is doing yourself a disservice.

by yutyut 8y ago

jamestimmins 8y ago

Years long selection process? I'd love to hear what was involved and why it took so long. That's definitely a pretty drastic switch!

yutyut 8y ago
Long story short: Medical waivers; bureaucracy; initial screening and training as well as the peculiar program I was in and my place in it at the time.

minkzilla 8y ago

Thanks for this response. I'm going to graduate college soon and I've been thinking of trying to join cal fire. I know I want to be in tech, but I don't know if I am ready for it yet. I think I need something more exciting/meaningful while I am still young.

yutyut 8y ago
Live life to the fullest, while you still can. Find something that's meaningful to you and do it. There's time for fluff later on.

debt 8y ago

Don’t mean to sound like a dick but in an effort to keep the record straight: sounds like you fucked up. The military is the least meritocratic and most bureaucratic shitstorm in existence currently. Flying planes is great if you’re able to only ever want to do that until dead.

todd3834 8y ago
What do you mean to sound like? A cool guy who just drops truth bombs? The guy did what he wanted to and he is happy he did it. Sounds like he won to me. Love what you do and you never work a day in your life right?
yutyut 8y ago
I won't say (nor do I care) whether you do or don't sound like a dick but you do sound like you didn't read my post or perhaps didn't appreciate the spirit in which I wrote it. Point 1 on bureaucracy: Generally agree. Point 2 on the feasibility of changes in career: Wholeheartedly disagree.
yutyut 8y ago
*Point 3 on meritocracy: The Marine Corps aviation community's entire qualification basis revolves around merit: your ability to plan, brief, and execute complex missions is directly reflected in your placement in the squadron. Even rank gets thrown out the window to a degree. Our little community in particular (the HMLA) is a meritocracy that is enforced on a tribal level.

hef19898 8y ago

May I ask how old you have been when you made the transition? And whether you had family or not? Because I learned that this significant change in lifestyle is a lot easier the younger you are and the less other commitments you have. Respect so for becomong an aviator, that definitely isn't the easiest career path. And I could imagine that a former naval aviator who is also a programmer has a bright future in the defense and aerospace industry if you want.

glogla 8y ago

Cool! Congratulations on cool job. I'm jealous. I always wanted to do something like that, but my eyes suck.

sanbor 8y ago

With respect I'd like to ask if you don't have ethical issues. The military forces of USA has been doing pretty bad stuff in the last 50 years, so I have the feeling that you're not saving lifes but rather ruining them. War became such a common thing and nonsense in the US that at this point thatnpeople is not sure if they're at war or not.

anonu 8y ago
The US Military is a huge employer and there are a variety of jobs and roles in the organization. Your comment is like telling employees of a company they should feel ashamed because management cooked the books.
- acct1771 8y ago
  Really depends how blatantly obvious it us the company's cooking the books. Also, if that bad accounting is leading to the death and torture of humans.
- sanbor 8y ago
  Right, and the US military played a central role developing internet. But as a pilot you might be order to drop some bombs.
  - JustSomeNobody 8y ago
    So, you don't think the US should have a military at all? How does that work in the real world?
    - dolessdrugs 8y ago
      Where are you getting that?
- krageon 8y ago
  They might be a huge employer but they also murder people. Even if you work in a role that supports murder and doesn't actually do it directly, I'd say that the ethical side is a concern. Certainly not something to be dismissed out of hand, even if you make the decision that you are ok with it. I am of the opinion that a "well it's far removed from me even though that is what the organisation's main goal is" stance is doing yourself a disservice.