Packrat. Thanks a bunch!

So you were a Helo FRS guy, turned VR in the C12?

If you don’t want to fly hornets, that’s fine. However, leave it off your selection list only if it’s because you don’t want it. Not selecting it because you think you may be taking a spot from someone else makes no sense. It’s about selecting what you want. You’re going to work hard and compete against your peers and be away from home a lot no matter what you select. Pick what you want to fly if the airline plan goes to hell.

An interesting thread, filled with perspective from the field in addition to the fleet VT pukes. None should be discounted.
My dollar in the hat
Your middle of pack, that may drive your assignment anyway.

My view:
Go for the best life you dream now, not for the airlines. Select accordingly.
In your words "one essentially promises a rewarding navy career"

This is the last chance to dream big on something this consequential at this point in your life.

You can accomplish your airline dreams regardless of the community you choose now. IF you decide to continue that as a future opportunity....

Many of us posting here have all seen the one who wanted to be an Admiral and end up in the airlines or as a medical doctor. We have seen the one who was like you, thinking airlines and ended up a Flag, and a good one.

In the moment, you should address your Navy path. Give it all you have, be open to the opportunities. You will have plenty of opportunity to prepare for the airlines in the coming years even if a helo driver.
Have flown with helo drivers in the majors. Regardless of community, many did go to the regionals for a time to be appropriately competitive or VT's. Airlines will most likely looking for many pilots of all types in ten years so again, enjoy the navy opportunities for the satisfaction of doing what you would truly enjoy now.

Save money for the future, what you spend it on will be determined by future opportunities or needs. If a regional, or first year pay at a major, still low, or a family challenge, who knows.

What you do know, is that your future in the airlines can and will most likely happen regardless of community if that is what you pursue. Max the Navy opportunity now for what you believe will give you the most joy and satisfaction of your military career.
Best of opportunities.
SaltyDog

Saltydog... Thanks for the great perspective. Will definitely heed this.

Flying shore orders are becoming increasingly difficult to come by. For helos and from talking to my peers VP/VQ now, you’ll go through a nomination round with the detailers in Millington. Four times a year (quarterly) around 9 months from the end of your first tour, you submit a preference sheet for jobs your community has. Each community has billets they “own” (FRS/Advanced/others), and things like Primary VTs are shared amongst the communities. What you submit also has your flight hours, quals, FITREPs, and CO’s recommendation. The gaining commands get a say, the detailers work through it, and a slate is generated and disseminated. You can decline and go do something else, but that basically assures you aren’t promoting past O-3.

Given how big the squadrons have gotten, consolidation of the FRSes, etc, it’s a not easy any more. My round had ~80 people competing for ~35 flying jobs. The oddball non production things like station pilot, shore duty C-12s, etc go to a second round where you again compete amongst the other remaining applicants.

I’d argue part of this system is trying to ensure fairness across a large group of people. The other part is to make it a “black box” that can’t be heavily influenced by a phone call.

I’ve got tons of respect for the more seasoned voices on here, but the landscape has shifted significantly in the last 10 years. It used to be that guys going to CNATRA jobs were non hack MPs who were getting out. Those days are gone. Average guy/gal coming to VTs is a Fleet Ranked EP. Lots of folks with EPs going to non flying jobs. I’d hate for you to poop on your shoes by advertising your designs early.

Synixman
Good snapshot.
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Always up and down. Long cycles. In my VT days, airline furloughs hit and hard to get VT in same manner. Then got easy, then hard. Watched the up/down cycles for 35 years. Some events speed changes to the cycles, some events slow it down. Old saying, No predictability was only certainty.
Saw many double anchor and some single anchor fly civilian during any time available on fleet and shore tours. Often, get CFI and built low cost hours over several years when able. Work on some multi as needed, and that provided a good bridge for rotary and NFO to airlines/corporate etc. Highly recommend this path.

Yeah, just got lucky the HC-3 (now HSC-3) was a fleet PLUS FRS squadron.

Also got lucky to hit NTD when they were plumb out of fixed wing station pilots. I was flying 80 hours a month with only 15 of that in the Helo.

Tried to get out but didn't have enough fixed wing time. Considered a Coast Guard transition to fly the Falcon, but they were in a budget crunch and weren't getting any hours.

Went TAR in a couple VR squadrons (48 and 56) flying CV-580s and the C-9. Got a couple thousand C-9 hours in 3 years and scored an airline job.

A lot of that track was luck and timing. I suggest you get some kind of fixed wing orders. The C-2 idea isn't bad. Lots of flight time with the added "benefit" of being a tailhooker. Cruising can be a blast as long as you can get away from the boat occasionally.

P.S. If you ever get the chance volunteer for Hong Kong Shore Patrol duty officer. Best deal in the Navy for a number of reasons.

Great advice. Had a guy in the hangar next door get hired by United in the late '80s. All his flight time was Flying Club time because he was an Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer.

Go figure.

What did you do in the Marines?

What was your goal when you applied for a commission in the Navy?

Are you in Corpus?

To OP:

Getting a tour as a primary IP is not guaranteed before the end of your commitment. This means anyone going helo or tilt rotor may not be able to join a regional without some kind of transition program.