There is an ongoing discussion in the C-130 world about the requirement for 100% of the crew force to be airdrop qualified given our current OPS TEMPO and our inability to meet our training goals/stay current in the few short months we are home between deployments. Are there any C-141, C-5 or C-17 BIG MAC brethern out there that would care to comment on the positive/negative influence of less than 100% airdrop qualification in their unit, any impacts on job progression, or any limitations or benefits to homestation training/flying?
Thanks in advance; just curious.
Flounder

 

I think the only airdrop C5s were the SOLL 2 mission guys. From the very few I met, I got the impression that it was a small number, and a high priority, and therefore they got the resources (i.e. time) they needed for profiiciency. But it's been a long time since I talked to anyone that did it, so who the heck knows.

I think 141s did the same as the 17, 25% of the crews airdrop (if the base had an airdrop mission). Some 17 bases don't have any airdrop--Dover for sure, I'm not sure about McGuire and Travis.

For job progression....not sure. I suspect both airdrop and airland only guys might give different answers. I think WIC has finally got to the point they no longer take airland only guys, and of course being a weapons guy is always a path to career success. That said, I've known a lot of airland guys who've done quite well. When I got to McChord early in transition I was told you're either going to do airdrop or PNAF. I met a few unfortunate airdrop types who said "you don't ask to join airdrop, you get asked" and decided to talk to the PNAF guys and never looked back. I think those guys were in a minority but it's what I saw at a critical point in my career development.

The biggest complaint I've always heard from airdrop is that you are never proficient, you only get enough to stay current. So it's a frustration thing. Guys enjoy it, just can't get enough to stay good (this isn't true at Elmo however, more airdrop than you can imagine).

I have utter sympathy for 130 deployment schedules, so don't think in any way I'm looking for sympathy. 17s are different, we don't deploy much, but must keep half our jets on the road at all times, excluding training which might have more crews, plus bravos, stage inputs, etc. Based on that, it would be impossible to keep 100% crews qualified in airdrop. You always end up with guys that can't go on missions because they need airdrop currencys, or you have JAATTs to fill, and guys that can't stay home because you need guys to fill missions. It's just a different world from Hercs.

And that's why it's difficult/impossible to answer your question. Far as I know, all Hercs have always been airdrop, and all 141s/17s haven't. And it's worked in each community. I can't even imagine attempting to have 100% airdrop, just as most Herc guys probably can't imagine having less than 100%.

 

McGuire is not airdrop. From my experience it depends on the base you go to on whether you go airdrop. The big multi-squadron bases have an airdrop mission, so does PACAF, but the single squadron CONUS bases don't (unless someone can correct me on this, but I am pretty sure).

When I was at McChord I was one of the unfortunates to get forced into airdop. Sputnik hit the nail on the head, it is a currency/proficiency thing, at least for me and my buds. I liked the flying, just didn't do it enough. And on top of that, it is a ton of more currency to keep up with, as if the 17 didn't have enough already.

I don't think it makes sense to upgrade everybody, IMO. Also, I can't see that it will hurt you per se if you don't do it. However, I was always told to get as many quals in the jet that I could if I wanted to get on the fast track. I assume that is still the case, especially with the WIC now.

 

It seems the only airplane left in the inventory worthy of the Tactical Airlift moniker is the mighty Herk!!


Tons of airdrop still happening...stay current.

 

Pope went 50% AD/50%AL when the last round of wing cracks and the Iraqi giveaway happened. When they got iron back, they got guys requalled.
Makes sense to have some AL only crews but will never happen, due to Army requirements for that 50 ship airpdrop into North Korea they are always planning for, yeah right. Also, Herk leadership worries about a riff between AD and AL guys, I can see it now, I have my trip to Puerto Rico to lie on the beach and you have to go to Pope to drop dudes.

I think it's crap, something about a 5 pound sack and 10 pounds of semi annual sh!t.

 

C-17 Airdop:
AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!

 

I personally agree. I enjoyed it but didn't get to do it enough to really feel competent. As for a career, I don't think it really matters one way or the other. I have seen a few guys get pigeon holed into deployments because they "desired" guys to be airdrop qualified, but that didn't seem to be the norm. There are plenty of fast track routes that pretty much have nothing to do with your crew qual to make sure you can make rank.

Quite frankly, I'm happy just doing my ALZ, NVG ops, AR, and Low levels that it keeps me busy enough.

As for ops, I can't say too much since I'm at LTS and not on the coast. When I left CHS, there seemed to be a good mix. For as little as we actually use it, I happen to think that there is an optimum number (below 100%) but can't say what that number is. For as few training lines as the coasts are getting now, keeping the entire crew force AD current is simply impossible.

I was part of a 20 ship C-17 formation and we accomplished that without having the entire crew force airdrop qualed. There were even some airdrop folks that couldn't participate who were on trips, leave, etc. I think that 100% AD qual is simply to costly to maintain.

 

If you like playing stupid word games like the fighter guys, (Box = Container; Head = Cranium...and saying "So to speak" after every phrase that could marginally be considered dirty) than yes Air Drop is for you!

As a former Air Dropper on AD, and Air Land only in the Reserves, I have only one thing to say.

Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green Green, Green, Green.......

 

No ****, being around a bunch of them is enough to make me start wearing the leather jacket.

 

Could not agree more. Seemed like AD was for folks bitter about not flying faster aircraft. High threat, low per diem, slows down your upgrade, more check ride. The single ship random routes through the Cascades were fantastic, but you could just ask the scheduler to ride along on them instead of going through the pain of training, check rides and currency.