135TOAD

What is a typical month/year like for you guys? I'm an airline guy & trying to figure out what I'm going to do in light of the recent announcement.
I have over 20yrs only because I was prior enlisted. I can stay around another 6 years if I wanted too or I can retire now.

Where is FTU & how long?
Do you deploy?
How do you like the mission?
Anything else that I need to know or you want to tell.

LivingInMEM

135, I'll chime in with some basics. MQ-1/9 guys are engaged in combat ops right now, the opinions of those on this board notwithstanding. They operate out of multiple airfields or even multiple theaters day to day to day and must be familiar with all related procedures to the same level as the manned assets, they employ weapons and must be familiar with all applicable SPINS/ROE/etc to the same level as all other forward shooters, they operate in the same airspace as all of the other assets so they must be familiar with those procedures, etc. For those reasons, nearly all of the units expected some significant amount of full-time presence (on the order of a year or more post-training) so as to get to a combat proficiency level before going part-time. A good chunk of that time may not even be with the home unit depending on where the flying if being performed. For some reason, the dudes on the ground want their CAS support, etc to have a high level of proficiency when it shows up overhead. For more details, contact the unit directly.