Bigflya

It will most likely depending on how long it takes you to go through the FRS before going to your fleet squadron. Usually 12 month FRS, 3 year fleet tour (if your smart you extend for a Fitrep cycle, not leave early), 2.5 year shore tour (extend for a fitrep if you can and never roll from shore early no matter what the detailer promises). This is only 6.5 years but if you play the game and extend when you can and you have less than 12 months left on your committment and you are getting out they supposedly won't PCS you. Right now the ships are fully manned with disassociated guys for the most part. So instead, there are those dreaded Individual Augmentee (IA) billets to Iraq and Afghanistan going around right now. My college roommate, Tomcat pilot, is trying to xfer to the AF to fly U2's and he had about nine months left on his Navy committment so the detailer sent him to Centcom (Tampa) which ended up being Qatar. That is another crappy thing going on. The detailers are saying, "well if you want this billet then you have to take this 12 month IA billet to Icrapistan. Then I can send you to fly again, maybe." Sorry, not for me. If I could have a flying tour over there, no problem. I did not become a Navy pilot to fill a vacant Army billet.

CHIPSLGT3

12 months to finish the RAG? Wow, only took me 7 to finish VP-30. Have 6 months left on my obligation at the end of my shore tour. Only had a 7 year obligation.

Bottom line, if you're a winged aviator you're going to an IA billet. I volunteered for a 6 month gig in CONUS. Highly suggest anyone who even thinks they're on the bubble to find the best bad deal they can and volunteer.

The bureau puts out billets months in advance. They go unfilled until two weeks prior to the report date, then some poor sap gets snagged short notice. Who knows, you might not get picked. But if you do, it'll be last minute. Not a good way to do business.

Haven't heard any official word on this from big Navy. Guess if the truth got out that the Army is in such bad shape they need naval officers to fill the gaps, public war support could get worse.

By volunteering, I picked a billet that ends 8 months prior to my end of service requirement. That should get me back current in the cockpit prior to rolling off active duty. Commands are sending folks on these deals that take them up to or beyond their commitment. That leaves people in real bad shape for a civilian flying transition.

Heard rumors that reserve pilots could be next. Know two people from different squadrons who have stated their chain of command has put out the word to standby to get sand in boots. Go Navy, Be Army.

Fatigue life, IA's, disassociated sea tours, and outsourcing pilot jobs to cheaper warrant labor. Hope airline hiring gets better, kuz folks are gonna start jumping ship.

Bigflya

CHPSLGT3,

Good post. I agree. I am in a reserve sq and supposedly the CO's were asked to give three names of FTS guys that could get tasked to support IA billets if the wing is called to do so. Now FTS may not be the good deal flying shelter it has always been billed to be. A few years ago the carrier tour rumors were floating around but that never came to fruition. As far as the Navy guys filling Army billets, the Navy put out a message a few months back detailing the program and specifically saying that "due to the shortage of Army personnel, Navy personnel will be filling Army vacancies." It is the sane msg that talks about doing the 2-3 months of training and that it does not count against your one years orders so you will have 12 months actaully on the ground in country. Let's face it. We may have been part of the tail end of the glory days of Naval Aviation when pilots were pilots, leaders, and subject matter experts and not Joint warfare officers who happen to have a flying tour once and wear wings. A buddy of mine did a similair deal as you seam to have. Six months at Centcom followed by about eight months back at the TRACOM's in Meridian to get current before opting for "greener" pastures. Good luck.

CHIPSLGT3

Thanks quaile. Hope when it's all said and done, this thread opens people's eyes. The rules have changed in the middle of the game, and I think it's good that the word is getting passed out.

captain_drew

Hey . .was the photo of the CA Forestry OV-10 and S-2 taken out at the Ramona Airport?

p3pilot

I put in my FTS package a year ago and didn't even bother with the VP choice. I had talked to the VP-92 Ops O who was then the Assistant DH in my old squadron getting ready to deploy. That SUCKS. Finally got pick up for the VTP FTS and am going to VT-35 for some more Instructor time. Hope this will be a good deal orders until I get put behind a desk .

P3pilot

NavyBlue

[QUOTE=HSLD;14788]Looks like the Navy cannot keep pilots or attract enough volunteers. They have decided to pursue warrant officer pilots.

TARGETED COMMUNITIES ARE VP, VQ (P), VQ (T), HSC, AND HSL.


Note the targeted communities. No fighters for you. The goal here is get some low cost, minimally experienced, pilots to go to production. The T-45 community is hurting for IPs, since we typically send our S-3 dudes that direction after their sea tour. But since the S-3 is gone...who is going to sit in the back of a T-45? Hornet dudes will only go kicking and screaming.

WhistlePig

Is anyone happy in the VP community?

HSLD

The original post was Jan 1, 2006 - no doubt things change

NavyBlue

Still making per diem, can't be all bad I guess.