Originally Posted by
USMCFLYR
Dustoff -
Interesting opposing view point on the pilot or LEO first.
i guess I could see it your way too.
you were hired because of your pilot experience into a LEO position.
Also - if you couldn’t fly......would you be retained in the LEO (meaning if you lost your medical for instance would you be moved to the ground side to continue in the CBP)?
I contrasted it with the military.
I always considered myself a Marine who’s weapon system was an airplane - like an a Infantry Officer would his platoon or a Tanker his iron horse! :-)
I was asked one time during my AO/FAC tour by a young Marine if we went to war would I want to be with the battalion or back with me squadron.
I said that the Marines had spent a lot of time and money to train me to employ that particular weapon system so I’d be most useful in that cockpit, but I took his point. I’d do my best job where ever the Corps needed me at the time.
would you say that your view of pilot first/LEO second is the more common viewpoint of other AMO AIAs than RC12’s viewpoint?
This is a long running existential debate. Think the last scene of Platoon. Charlie Sheen sitting in the huey wondering about who had control of his soul. First, AMO is absolutely a law enforcement agency, with plenty of experienced LEO's who do lots of hands on LEO stuff. Marine agents, AEA's, etc. For most AIA's though, the extent of our hands on cop experience ends at FLETC, so, really little to none. Could I be sent to the line in times of need? Yes, and that's fine. But not in a Tahoe by myself. Between statutory government authorities and citizen's constitutional rights, lies basically infinite politics, policy, and TTP that AIA's are neither trained on nor experienced with. It's exactly analogous to a ground agent coming to AMO as a sensor operator. There is a huge amount of training to be completed, CRM, survival/egress/smoke, FAR's, aircraft specific sensor designations, NVG, don't puke on the seats, etc.
There are exceptions, but it's an individual choice to pursue an interest. And most of the more "special" ops stuff is more related to national security than law enforcement. Out of necessity, the vast majority of training time and dollars for AIA's goes to aviation related knowledge.
Again, just my thoughts. And I am truly nobody, thank God.