Originally Posted by
Fishfreighter
The VR community is getting fresh Ensigns out of flight school to fly C-9s and 737s. And the VQ guys fly 707s with big fan engines.
My goal was the airlines...if yours is then I'd lobby VQ, VR and VP in that order. The land based Navy will give you much more time at home than the fleet fliers.
P.S. If you do end up in VQ, VR or VP you can usually continue your educational program as well. Best of luck.
I've been digging online for supporting information, but I think the VR slots that were handed out in 2005-06 have gone away. They were short-term fixes for an excessive amount of pilots in the FRS's (RAG's).
The best info I could find is:
https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/images/ppln_pilot.jpg
The flow chart seems up to date, but the CNATRA website still has reference to Turkeys, Hoovers, and Navy Phrogs.
WRT best community to track towards an airline gig, a jet guy will get more turbine PIC time than a P-3 bubba will. I caught the very tail end of the good deal VP Navy before fatigue issues put a hurting on flight time and deployments. Left with 550 A time (PIC) from a 3 year tour. From what I've been told, first tour JO's are leaving with half of that now.
Looks like the P-8 makes it to VP-16 in July. Airwarrior forums state that students are being selected for it. I'm sure it's a good option in a lot of respects, I'm just thankful I was able to cut my teeth on what is now becoming an ancient relic. Does a new plane mean the end of VP minutiae?
To the OP: Doesn't matter what community you select, a loyalty eventually takes hold. This despite an O-4 department head telling you to get your priorities straight and focus less on flying and more on your collateral duties.
Helos have some pretty cool missions and intense flying. Fishfreighter and tons of other rotor heads made the jump from helicopters to the airlines. It might have been a little harder for them, but it's still doable. Besides, priorities change and the military to airline path may not be the most important factor in your life further down track. Promotability and career progression might be.
Strong doubts before starting flight training is a red flag. If the FBI is remotely appealing now, I can tell you that it'll look even better when you get to API and Primary.
After you get winged, you'll report to the FRS and realize you know nothing. Then you make it to the fleet and it dawns on you that you REALLY know nothing. It is a solid four years of studying from street to aircraft commander or some of the advanced single seat quals. After studying tactics in red binders, you'll beg to study a flight manual (the blue sleeping pill you hated in the FRS).
It's worth the pain.....everyone who's been through the process will say it is. But signing for an airplane, and taking responsibility of a crew takes lots of time and hard work.
Originally Posted by
jeffmt1234
When I started out on the journey I wanted nothing more than to fly in the military..
So despite you fighting to get a slot, starting a family, and being a little older what has changed? Military flying is still cool. Not what you dreamed it to be, but still good.
Originally Posted by
jeffmt1234
What would the pay be usually for someone who had flown in the military for 10 yrs.. and transferred into the civilian world.. Thanks guys..
Who knows what it'll be like in 10 years? And you won't be flying for all 10 of those years Jeffmt. An IA to somewhere (whoever we're fighting in 8 years) or a disassociated sea tour will lurk in your future. An eight year post-winging obligation has changed things. I owed 7 after winging, and still had to extend my training command orders for the 6 months between rotation date and end of obligated service. At the time (2007), if you owed a year or more you were up for follow on orders to somewhere. And almost all of those billets were non-flying. I hope someone on this forum who is still AD Navy can speak to officer career progression WRT the IA/disassociated sea tours.