Originally Posted by SIERRA60
Marinepilot, I'm a Navy helopilot and finishing my 1st sea tour. I have some multi-time and wondered if I should request T-34 IP or C-12/C-22 for my shore tour? How many hours did you get on your IP tour? I know the "career implications" of C-12/C-22 in terms of leaving the helo community, but wonder if you think it's worth the sacrifice to get on with a regional and then hopefully, a major. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Sierra60,
If you're thinking of leaving the Navy someday soon and would like to go for the regionals and/or the majors, definitely do what you can do get more multi time! As for getting the T-34 slot or the C-12 slot, I don't know what the Navy looks for in assigning those billets, but for the Corps, getting down to Corpus to be a multi IP means you had to have taken a crap tour first (FAC or joint staff or something like that) and paid your dues up front. I hadn't done that so T-34's were the only option for me, being a previous C-130 guy.
Also, I am not sure how the Navy gives out orders, but for the Corps, we're just sent to the Marine training group down here and then they decide whether you go T-34's or whatever else is there (helo's or multi's). What I mean by that is that even if we get sent to Corpus with multi time, there's still T-34's down there and we could possibly end up being an IP in those. So, I would definitely recommend the C-12/C-22 route for a future outside the Navy. If you're not looking at a Naval career, take the "impllications" with a grain of salt 'cause you'll be leaving when your time is up anyway.
As for how many hours I've gotten, I'm just an average guy here in Whiting, I've gotten about 1,000 hours in the last 2 yrs or so. There are guys who are getting above 600 hrs per year, but those are the guys that volunteer for weekend flying either in the local area or taking student's on cross countries.