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kingsville or meridian
- Thread starter trongod46
- Start date
Meridian is three hours from Pensacola; three from New Orleans.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Kingsville is about an hour from North Padre Island and 2.5 from South Padre Island.
Corpus is 40 min away, San Antnio ~2 hours, ~3.5 to Austin.
About 4 hours to Houston.
Corpus is 40 min away, San Antnio ~2 hours, ~3.5 to Austin.
About 4 hours to Houston.
To answer your question about the jets: Kingsville still has about 80% Alpha's (this is an estimate). They have been and are currently putting more C's on the line, both new from the factory, and some that are converted A's. I can't give you any good ideas of which type you would class up for. As time goes along, the chances of getting C's go up. A good number of the IP's we've been receiving are being trained to be C only IP's.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Of course we only get 45A's (E2C2 types) for now, right?
I originally wanted Meridian, but got orders to K-rock. I actually am pleasantly surprised. Nice little town, and corpus is 35min driving fast down Chapman Ranch rd. The base has the basic ammenities and the command climate here seems pretty chill. Flight school is busy, very busy... so the fact that the town is small and there's not much to do doesn't really bother me. I bought a big tv, and own lots of dvds.... so I've got that going for me... which is nice.
also, from what i've heard, getting Alphas is a blessing in disguise (I can't speak for the Charlie guys). It's an easier transition from 34's (steam gauges, not glass cockpit)... and there's more sims and IPs....
You have to learn it sometime... (provided you don't go Prowlers)
UInavy said:
yeah, i don't like computer games, I DO in fact still own a record player (some punk rock just SOUNDS BETTER that way!), and I grew up in the 80's.... soooo.....
seriously though, either way, be stoked you're going jets. either base gets you where you want to be...flying fast movers.
right now i think Kingsville is winging in about 12 months, and meridian is 13-14 months... i think.
Chubby
Active Member
Don't drink the Kool-Aid dude. It takes about a day to learn how to use the HSI and Plan Line, and once you do ... you'll never look back.
Chubby
Active Member
That's not entirely true either. I know a dude who selected the week before me out of primary (K-Rock) is going to the same boat as I am ... I'm completing, he still has ACM to finish up. Just some food for thought.
I agree, this is the bottom line though.
bolterking
Member
Both locations have their pros and con's. It really depends on you, your personality, your lifestyle, your family. What activities do you like? If you like hunting, maybe south Texas is best...you like boating, lake life, Meridian might be your choice...blah blah you get the point. Do some research, look at the pro's and con's to both areas, because one might be a shock for you while other may not. Local Chamber of commerce a good place for information too.
As for the towns...having lived in both, they both are not the metropolis type, so don't get your hopes up. Meridian has more green color while Texas is brown most of the time. Both places are hot and humid as hell in summer time. K-rock does on average, have better weather and less cancelled hops do to weather. K-rock is flat while Meridian has some rolling terrain. South texas beaches are not P-cola beaches so might be disappointed in quality of beach but at least can get on water.
As for personal life, it is really what you like. Corpus is 40 minute drive (and yes you have to live in K-rock). You have to drive further in Meridian to get to places (P-Cola 2.5 hours etc). It is easier to get a commercial airline out of Corpus then Meridian...have to drive to Jackson which is about 90 minute drive...something to think about for leave.
K-rock now has "C" models, and is now training students in "C" models so that is also an option. That decision is up to squadron's/wing so no real guarentee. The squadron manning is smaller in K-rock then Meridian. That itself has it's pro's and con's and depending on who you talk to, each has their own opinion. K-rock has 30% "C" models. 70 alphas and 30 charlies.
The time to train is a wash now. Manning issues in K-rock have increased time to train. You may want to take your time in training (I got winged as an Ensign and showed up to my fleet squadron as a LTjg...that has pros and cons)...side bar if you want...but you really have no control over that. Sim instructors are sim instructors. Everyone has horror stories and some have had great experiences with the so called bad sim instructors. It is student dependent.
As for “A” students being better/worse than “C” students…that is up for debate. Personally (and this is my opinion only) I think you learn the basic piloting skills better in an “A” than the “C” rather than being too system dependant from day one. As for the F18 Rags seeing a difference, they do, I’m not going to say what it is because I don’t want to base your decision on that. Digital vs steam gauges...not a hard transition at all but remember the goal of training (other that getting your wings of gold ) is to have a core of basic naval aviation skills and some tactics/tactical knowledge to develop and build upon in the RAG's.
Your career path is in your own hands. All you can do is try to gather up some knowledge/gouge and make the best request you can that will suit you....and remember you just might not always get your number one choice...and certainly not throughout your entire career. You can make or break yourself in flight school. I personally would not worry too much about which location is better and try to game it that way. Go where you will be happier. The program alone is stressful, and making a rash decision on which location will only make it more stressful. Both places have great spouses club, use them if it applies. Do you have buddies you know from primary etc going to same place?
As for the towns...having lived in both, they both are not the metropolis type, so don't get your hopes up. Meridian has more green color while Texas is brown most of the time. Both places are hot and humid as hell in summer time. K-rock does on average, have better weather and less cancelled hops do to weather. K-rock is flat while Meridian has some rolling terrain. South texas beaches are not P-cola beaches so might be disappointed in quality of beach but at least can get on water.
As for personal life, it is really what you like. Corpus is 40 minute drive (and yes you have to live in K-rock). You have to drive further in Meridian to get to places (P-Cola 2.5 hours etc). It is easier to get a commercial airline out of Corpus then Meridian...have to drive to Jackson which is about 90 minute drive...something to think about for leave.
K-rock now has "C" models, and is now training students in "C" models so that is also an option. That decision is up to squadron's/wing so no real guarentee. The squadron manning is smaller in K-rock then Meridian. That itself has it's pro's and con's and depending on who you talk to, each has their own opinion. K-rock has 30% "C" models. 70 alphas and 30 charlies.
The time to train is a wash now. Manning issues in K-rock have increased time to train. You may want to take your time in training (I got winged as an Ensign and showed up to my fleet squadron as a LTjg...that has pros and cons)...side bar if you want...but you really have no control over that. Sim instructors are sim instructors. Everyone has horror stories and some have had great experiences with the so called bad sim instructors. It is student dependent.
As for “A” students being better/worse than “C” students…that is up for debate. Personally (and this is my opinion only) I think you learn the basic piloting skills better in an “A” than the “C” rather than being too system dependant from day one. As for the F18 Rags seeing a difference, they do, I’m not going to say what it is because I don’t want to base your decision on that. Digital vs steam gauges...not a hard transition at all but remember the goal of training (other that getting your wings of gold
) is to have a core of basic naval aviation skills and some tactics/tactical knowledge to develop and build upon in the RAG's. Your career path is in your own hands. All you can do is try to gather up some knowledge/gouge and make the best request you can that will suit you....and remember you just might not always get your number one choice...and certainly not throughout your entire career. You can make or break yourself in flight school. I personally would not worry too much about which location is better and try to game it that way. Go where you will be happier. The program alone is stressful, and making a rash decision on which location will only make it more stressful. Both places have great spouses club, use them if it applies. Do you have buddies you know from primary etc going to same place?
