Spool, you make the Kool-Aid sound so good.
Well, I did spend my first shore duty at the factory (NSAWC). I'm not gonna lie...I like the Kool-Aid!
I tell my students around here, the job of an E-2 FO isn't sexy. Nobody's ever going to make Hawkeye Guy: The Movie. But it's vitally important work, and the Air Wing will not function smoothly without a VAW squadron who know their shit and are trusted by the TACAIR guys..
That's no joke...nothing worse than having a really crappy go at Airwing Fallon and having a bunch of F-5s get in and rape your Hornet guys without you knowing about it.
Hammer 21: "Millertime milliertime."
Hawkeye Controller: "Picture clean."
(High fives commence in the tube, there's much rejoicing - until about three minutes later)
RTO: "Hammer 24 - you're dead."
(Mass confusion and profanity commences in the tube)
RTO: "Hammer 22 - you're dead."
Hammer 21: "Ghost - PICTURE!"
Hawkeye Controller (the voice of chaos): "umm, uh...picture...umm...UNABLE!"
RTO: "Hammer 21 - you're dead." (Oh snap...the Strike Lead just died...he's gonna be pissed.)
(ARRRRGGHHH!!!! People are being killed inside the tube now as well...WHERE ARE THEY?!!! WHERE ARE THEY!!?!!?!?)
Hammer 23: "Hammer 23, Fox 2, kill brown F-5 in left hand turn, Bullseye 250 for 54."
RTO: FINEX FINEX.
Worst feeling in the world. Until you get to the debrief and have to explain how you didn't see the alert group launch out of Rock, cap in the ground clutter and then firewall it to catch the egressing fighters. Funny how everything is clear as day on the TACTS screen. Ouch.
But the good news is this...Advanced Hawkeye. New plane...new radar. YES!
Fuck it away as a JO FO in any other Tailhook community, and unless it involves dropping ordie, odds are no one but your wingman or pilot will know. In E-2's, you'll have the opportunity to fuck it away as a JO and everyone in the Air Wing will know. Nothing like having CAG turn around during a TACTS debrief in Fallon and glare at the E-2 crew. That's a lot of responsibility for a new guy, so don't go this route if you'd rather hide in the pack.
Also true...and not just the Air Wing. Do it in an ADEX during COMPTUEX, and you'll be in the War Room with your CICO, watching him try to explain to the admiral why the carrier was sunk. Ask a nugget fighter guy where the War Room is, and he'll point you to his stateroom for Halo LAN action. Which is WAY more fun than the real War Room.
But this works both ways...because the majority of strike group commanders recognize the importance the Hawkeye, and respect the amount of tactical knowledge across mission areas and platforms that the Hawkeye guy knows. You'll get called to be a rep at a lot of meetings consisting of all O-5's, O-6s, an O-7...and your junior butt. And you want to know your stuff...not because you're trying to look good, but because you care about mission success and are looking to play your part.
Tell you what though - it's a job that rewards aggressive, competent controllers. A lot of paintful, unrewarding hours droning in circles watching the scope go roundy-round, but when some Hornet guy stops by at midrats and says, "glad you guys were up there tonight," it's definitely worth it.
This is also true. Right now, even though the Hawkeye is not being utilized tactically as far as the ABC2 mission goes in OEF/OIF (though we DO train to it...base us out of Kandahar or Bagram and we could be more useful)...there are still many instances where our Navy brethern end up in situations where they need some help. Fuel is usually the issue. The tactical guys are looking to extend or continue supporting a Troops in Contact scenario, and because of that, their fragged fuel is not going to work out, or they need more, or they need an open deck, or they've got a jet emergency and need to get info back to the ship...there's lots of admin/non tactical stuff that the Hawkeye still ends up helping in, and they are thankful for it. That's real world ops. Again, at least there's five of you in the plane to goof off. We can't hook up PS3 in the back...YET. I've got high hopes with the D.
Workups, on the other hand...will task you. You'll train for operations and missions we're not currently doing in the real world, but need to be ready to execute if the time comes...workups will keep you busy - but that can be really fun too.