Marine Aviation Question
03-24-2006, 05:16 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Former 757/767 F/O, now MD-11
Posts: 148
Stuff
I heard recently that we have a "few" fast food places at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq? They were not there when I spent six months flying out of that hole. But nothing like making a run for the border in search of those nachos supreme!
03-31-2006, 12:02 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Posts: 224
thanks!
Hey everyone, thanks for all of the advice on this thread! HELPS ALOT!!!
I have a few follow up questions;
LUV FLYING mentioned officers acting as a Forward Air Controller. What does this entail? Are our Marine aviators in alot of dog fights these days or is it just go in, drop bombs, and get out?
What do you on the ground during a flying tour as an officer?
What do you on the ground during a ground tour as an officer?
LUV FLYING also mentioned that your flight determines your day. Does this mean you fly everyday? If not, then how much do you fly when deployed and not deployed?
If you are deployed and are doing a flying or ground tour, what are your living conditions like? In the sand or on a base?
Again, thank you everyone for your advice..More importantly, thank you to those who defend our country everyday.
thanks!
I have a few follow up questions;
LUV FLYING mentioned officers acting as a Forward Air Controller. What does this entail? Are our Marine aviators in alot of dog fights these days or is it just go in, drop bombs, and get out?
What do you on the ground during a flying tour as an officer?
What do you on the ground during a ground tour as an officer?
LUV FLYING also mentioned that your flight determines your day. Does this mean you fly everyday? If not, then how much do you fly when deployed and not deployed?
If you are deployed and are doing a flying or ground tour, what are your living conditions like? In the sand or on a base?
Again, thank you everyone for your advice..More importantly, thank you to those who defend our country everyday.
thanks!
04-01-2006, 11:47 PM
#13
On Reserve
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Position: Airbus
Posts: 18
Feel free to PM with any more questions, some answers to your questions:
LUV FLYING mentioned officers acting as a Forward Air Controller. What does this entail?
A Forward Air Controller is a pilot who goes to Tactical Air Control Party school and learns how to give instructions to aircraft so the aircraft can attack an enemy target in close proximity to friendly troops. When no friendlies are around, detailed coordination between the aircraft and the unit on the ground is not required since there is no risk of fratricide. But, when friendlies are in contact (ie - observing, or in a firefight) with the enemy and attack aircraft are present, the FAC conducts detailed coordination with the aircraft to attack the enemy based on the ground commander's guidance. The FAC ensures aircraft weapon effects do not impact friendly positions. And, the FAC also ensures that the aircraft is kept away from friendly indirect fires that are targeting the enemy. This is basically a watered down version of what a FAC does on a combat mission. You are on the ground with the unit, basically working with aircraft to support your ground commander's mission. There is so much more to the job, but there's the wavetop version.
Are our Marine aviators in alot of dog fights these days or is it just go in, drop bombs, and get out?
Neither. Dog fights are mostly non-existent for all US military aviators, except in training of course. There is always potential for dogfights in combat, depending on the adversary power. Though, I don't think any pilots launching these days have serious concerns about getting into a dogfight. "Go in, drop bombs, and get out" was an accurate description of early OIF (Mar-Apr 2003), but that is not the case anymore due to the lack of targets in the open. Combat missions these days are typically missions which entail holding airborne and awaiting a ground unit's call for close air support assistance. Sometimes, you get called, and sometimes you don't.
What do you on the ground during a flying tour as an officer?
This depends on your ground job assignment(s) in the squadron. There are department head jobs (Admin, Intel, Operations, Logistics, Safety, and Maintenance) and the various jobs that fall within those departments. You can be assigned one, two, or multiple ground jobs or, if you're lucky, no ground job at all. New, first tour guys will typically be given a few weeks or months to focus on flying. There is no such thing as a 9 to 5 typical day in a squadron. You have ground responsibilities and flight responsibilities. Flying usually takes priority and you manage your ground responsibilities around your flying responsibilities.
What do you on the ground during a ground tour as an officer?
If you are asking about ground tours that are available, Marines have FAC billets, Air Officer billets, school house billets (all the professional schools draw aviators from various communities to be instructors), and various aviation representative billets at all the various commands. I can go on and on. Due to all the potential ground tours available, I can only say, you do your best to accomplish the mission you are assigned even if it means working 12+ hours a day and on weekends.
LUV FLYING also mentioned that your flight determines your day. Does this mean you fly everyday? If not, then how much do you fly when deployed and not deployed?
No, we don't fly every day. A Colonel told me in his first flight tour, back in the 80s, he flew 400-600 hours a year as a hornet guy, often flying once or twice a day. These days, this is not true. Your flight schedule depends on many variables, and if anyone quotes to you the "average" flight hours, recognize that so many variables affect how much you fly. I really cannot give you an answer other than "it depends." Typically, you will fly more when you are deployed. But, sometimes, even that is not true. It depends.
If you are deployed and are doing a flying or ground tour, what are your living conditions like? In the sand or on a base?
Varies from sleeping in a two-man tent or less to sleeping in a plush air-conditioned facility. Again, it depends. Cobra pilots will sleep under their bird in between missions. But, back at their base, they have a cot or better. F/A-18 pilots have to land at a base with an airfield, which typically means there are decent accomodations. Not always true though, it depends. Sorry to say "it depends" again.
LUV FLYING mentioned officers acting as a Forward Air Controller. What does this entail?
A Forward Air Controller is a pilot who goes to Tactical Air Control Party school and learns how to give instructions to aircraft so the aircraft can attack an enemy target in close proximity to friendly troops. When no friendlies are around, detailed coordination between the aircraft and the unit on the ground is not required since there is no risk of fratricide. But, when friendlies are in contact (ie - observing, or in a firefight) with the enemy and attack aircraft are present, the FAC conducts detailed coordination with the aircraft to attack the enemy based on the ground commander's guidance. The FAC ensures aircraft weapon effects do not impact friendly positions. And, the FAC also ensures that the aircraft is kept away from friendly indirect fires that are targeting the enemy. This is basically a watered down version of what a FAC does on a combat mission. You are on the ground with the unit, basically working with aircraft to support your ground commander's mission. There is so much more to the job, but there's the wavetop version.
Are our Marine aviators in alot of dog fights these days or is it just go in, drop bombs, and get out?
Neither. Dog fights are mostly non-existent for all US military aviators, except in training of course. There is always potential for dogfights in combat, depending on the adversary power. Though, I don't think any pilots launching these days have serious concerns about getting into a dogfight. "Go in, drop bombs, and get out" was an accurate description of early OIF (Mar-Apr 2003), but that is not the case anymore due to the lack of targets in the open. Combat missions these days are typically missions which entail holding airborne and awaiting a ground unit's call for close air support assistance. Sometimes, you get called, and sometimes you don't.
What do you on the ground during a flying tour as an officer?
This depends on your ground job assignment(s) in the squadron. There are department head jobs (Admin, Intel, Operations, Logistics, Safety, and Maintenance) and the various jobs that fall within those departments. You can be assigned one, two, or multiple ground jobs or, if you're lucky, no ground job at all. New, first tour guys will typically be given a few weeks or months to focus on flying. There is no such thing as a 9 to 5 typical day in a squadron. You have ground responsibilities and flight responsibilities. Flying usually takes priority and you manage your ground responsibilities around your flying responsibilities.
What do you on the ground during a ground tour as an officer?
If you are asking about ground tours that are available, Marines have FAC billets, Air Officer billets, school house billets (all the professional schools draw aviators from various communities to be instructors), and various aviation representative billets at all the various commands. I can go on and on. Due to all the potential ground tours available, I can only say, you do your best to accomplish the mission you are assigned even if it means working 12+ hours a day and on weekends.
LUV FLYING also mentioned that your flight determines your day. Does this mean you fly everyday? If not, then how much do you fly when deployed and not deployed?
No, we don't fly every day. A Colonel told me in his first flight tour, back in the 80s, he flew 400-600 hours a year as a hornet guy, often flying once or twice a day. These days, this is not true. Your flight schedule depends on many variables, and if anyone quotes to you the "average" flight hours, recognize that so many variables affect how much you fly. I really cannot give you an answer other than "it depends." Typically, you will fly more when you are deployed. But, sometimes, even that is not true. It depends.
If you are deployed and are doing a flying or ground tour, what are your living conditions like? In the sand or on a base?
Varies from sleeping in a two-man tent or less to sleeping in a plush air-conditioned facility. Again, it depends. Cobra pilots will sleep under their bird in between missions. But, back at their base, they have a cot or better. F/A-18 pilots have to land at a base with an airfield, which typically means there are decent accomodations. Not always true though, it depends. Sorry to say "it depends" again.
04-02-2006, 01:28 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Flight Instructor
Posts: 623
I dont even think they are dropping too many bombs these days.
I have been to Al Asad. All I have to say is man, the Marines have some cute Women Maries (WM's)
If you want to know anything about military aviation. DON'T go to a regular recruiter. Go to an Officer Recruiting Officer. Regular recruiters can give you basic information about enlisting But they dont know much about officer programs. They have specific recruiters for officer programs
I have been to Al Asad. All I have to say is man, the Marines have some cute Women Maries (WM's)
If you want to know anything about military aviation. DON'T go to a regular recruiter. Go to an Officer Recruiting Officer. Regular recruiters can give you basic information about enlisting But they dont know much about officer programs. They have specific recruiters for officer programs
10-10-2006, 10:06 PM
#15
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 1
Marine Aviation
“carrying out missions and training too making sure of the safety and efficiency of those around you, a Marine aviator truly needs to be a jack of all trades”
“ for each hour a pilot spends in the air, he will spend three in the classroom, Pre-flight briefings, debriefings, in flight briefings, our lives are constantly being briefed on what’s new and what’s better.”
“ for each hour a pilot spends in the air, he will spend three in the classroom, Pre-flight briefings, debriefings, in flight briefings, our lives are constantly being briefed on what’s new and what’s better.”
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