Main Responsibilities Of A Marine Pilot at U.S. Marine Corps
Mark's career as a Marine aviator encompassed mastering flight, leading squadrons, and commanding a 2,200-person unit, with "the most gratifying work" being humanitarian missions like Operation Flight Comfort. The role also involved diverse responsibilities, from maintenance and logistics to Pentagon service, illustrating a multifaceted career path beyond just flying.
Military Aviation, Leadership and Command, Global Operations, Humanitarian Aid, Officer Career Path
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mark J. Desens
Military College Faculty
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Naval Academy
National Defense University
General Studies / Not Applicable
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense
Education
Honors Student, Veteran, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The Marine Corps offers diverse roles beyond flying, including leadership positions, maintenance, operations, and logistics.
2. Pilots in the Marine Corps have opportunities for international experiences and missions in various locations, including humanitarian assistance operations.
3. A career in the Marine Corps provides opportunities for professional growth, with roles ranging from squadron command to high-level positions in the Pentagon.
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities within your current role?
My current role, I'll talk about my role as a marine aviator, a pilot. Most people don't come into the Marine Corps saying they're going to make it a career. Nobody enlists or becomes an officer intending to become the Commandant or the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
Often, people join because they need a job. As I mentioned, I wanted to be a pilot, but many join because they want something unique to do for a while; they want to gain experience. Serving the country is always a nice bonus, too. It makes you feel good about the work you're doing.
As a pilot, especially early in my career, you spend all your time mastering the aircraft you're assigned to fly. You learn the aircraft, its tactics, and eventually, you learn how to take on leadership roles, leading flights, and things like that.
The interesting thing about being a pilot in the Marine Corps is that you both fly the aircraft and, when you're done flying, you also help run the squadron. You work in maintenance, operations, and logistics. It's nice because you get to do a lot of other things besides your primary duty of being really good at flying.
Flying was great. I had a great career flying. I flew off of ships as well as land my whole career. I've flown in the mountains of Norway, the Alps, and the mountains of northern Iraq. I've flown in Africa, the Middle East, as well as the United States and the Caribbean.
It was a great and very challenging career flying. My most interesting missions weren't necessarily combat missions. My most gratifying work was providing humanitarian assistance, called Operation Flight Comfort, to people who really needed help and were underserved.
As I progressed as a pilot and up the ranks as an officer, I eventually commanded a squadron. I was also ultimately in charge of a Marine Expeditionary Unit of just over 2,200 people on Navy ships that deploy around the world. In between all that, I was either training Marines or I spent five years in the Pentagon doing other things to help run the Marine Corps. As you grow in rank and responsibility, that's actually a fun part of the job, believe it or not.