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USN Primary selection and family time

SopH

New Member
My husband completed Primary today and has this week to put down his preferences for his platform for Advanced and beyond. We are wondering which platform optimizes time at home with family. We have heard P-8s and E-6s can be good for that but would love to hear from some members of other platforms and what they think is best. I know that our preferences really don't matter much compared to needs of the navy but we are hoping to give ourselves the best options we can! Thanks in advance for any insight.
 

Meyerkord

Well-Known Member
pilot
You pretty much heard correctly. E-6 would probably be your best bet, but those selections are pretty sparse.
 

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
My husband completed Primary today and has this week to put down his preferences for his platform for Advanced and beyond. We are wondering which platform optimizes time at home with family. We have heard P-8s and E-6s can be good for that but would love to hear from some members of other platforms and what they think is best. I know that our preferences really don't matter much compared to needs of the navy but we are hoping to give ourselves the best options we can! Thanks in advance for any insight.
The platform that will bring the best family life is the one your husband gains the most personal and professional satisfaction flying. I know that you, as a spouse, may have different perspectives, but for the service member, selecting platform based on which one is away from home the least is not particularly wise for a whole host of reasons.
 

hlg6016

A/C Wings Here
The platform that will bring the best family life is the one your husband gains the most personal and professional satisfaction flying. I know that you, as a spouse, may have different perspectives, but for the service member, selecting platform based on which one is away from home the least is not particularly wise for a whole host of reasons.
Have to agree, your husband is an aviator unfortunately his flights will take him away from home.
FWIW When the time came I gave up my flight orders due to the difficulties my wife had adjusting.
 

SopH

New Member
Have to agree, your husband is an aviator unfortunately his flights will take him away from home.
FWIW When the time came I gave up my flight orders due to the difficulties my wife had
The platform that will bring the best family life is the one your husband gains the most personal and professional satisfaction flying. I know that you, as a spouse, may have different perspectives, but for the service member, selecting platform based on which one is away from home the least is not particularly wise for a whole host of reasons.
I appreciate this insight and totally agree. However, truly my husband is asking this question as much as I am. He honestly doesn’t have much of a preference and his top priority is family. I hope I don’t sound like a naive, idealistic wife saying that- we’ve been long distance for 3 years because of MY career so I think we’re both hoping for more time together now haha
 

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
I appreciate this insight and totally agree. However, truly my husband is asking this question as much as I am. He honestly doesn’t have much of a preference and his top priority is family. I hope I don’t sound like a naive, idealistic wife saying that- we’ve been long distance for 3 years because of MY career so I think we’re both hoping for more time together now haha
Do you plan on relocating once he's done with flight school? Do you understand most people will change duty stations once every three years? Are you ready to relocate each time he does that? If he truly has no preference on platform, perhaps a better question for you to be asking is what platform will increase the likelihood of you being stationed someplace where you can reestablish your career.
 

AIRMMCPORET

Plan “A” Retired
I appreciate this insight and totally agree. However, truly my husband is asking this question as much as I am. He honestly doesn’t have much of a preference and his top priority is family. I hope I don’t sound like a naive, idealistic wife saying that- we’ve been long distance for 3 years because of MY career so I think we’re both hoping for more time together now haha
What is your career?
 

insanebikerboy

Internet killed the television star
pilot
None
Contributor
I appreciate this insight and totally agree. However, truly my husband is asking this question as much as I am. He honestly doesn’t have much of a preference and his top priority is family. I hope I don’t sound like a naive, idealistic wife saying that- we’ve been long distance for 3 years because of MY career so I think we’re both hoping for more time together now haha

Two thoughts.

If your career is that busy, give consideration to picking a platform that keeps you close or living together. I've seen folks have to travel every weekend to see their spouse/family and they were pretty beat down from all the travel. Sadly, the few I knew in this scenario ended up splitting up. That's just a reality.

Also, encourage him to select something that he thinks he will enjoy. It's a bit of a crap shoot coming out of primary because you just don't truly know yet, and odds are he'll end up loving what he flies anyways, but if there's truly an aversion to a platform I'd recommend staying away from it. Being home more often isn't worth being miserable every day going to work.
 

DanMa1156

Is it baseball season yet?
pilot
Contributor
Also, for what it's worth: E-6s do det out frequently. It's not like they are flying all their missions from OKC. Furthermore, selections for that aircraft are rare.

In my current job, I have a unique exposure to how we employ everyone (except E-6s ironically). I can confidently say everyone is busy and we are constantly making tradeoffs when assigning new missions. In your husband's shoes (granted I was single and not thinking of family life) I figured that some guys had more time at home than others (I assumed P-3/P-8). Now in the job that I have, I can confidently say pretty much everyone in aviation is working long hours, going away from home, and predicting quality of life will depend more on a specific squadron's workup and deployment cycle more than platform, which is something that can't be predicted really until late in the FRS at best.
 

hlg6016

A/C Wings Here
Just so you know, I was a qualified crewmember when I made that choice, Aircrew was not my primary MOS I just went back on the line fixing the birds up. Your husband does not have that option. and yes 31 years later we are still putting up with each other.
 

robav8r

Well-Known Member
None
Contributor
My husband completed Primary today and has this week to put down his preferences for his platform for Advanced and beyond. We are wondering which platform optimizes time at home with family. We have heard P-8s and E-6s can be good for that but would love to hear from some members of other platforms and what they think is best. I know that our preferences really don't matter much compared to needs of the navy but we are hoping to give ourselves the best options we can! Thanks in advance for any insight.
Read your post again - you already know the answer. Being a spouse is challenging and difficult and frustrating. But you will learn to adapt and enjoy whatever platform your husband is assigned to. And you will blossom where you are planted.

The platform that will bring the best family life is the one your husband gains the most personal and professional satisfaction flying. I know that you, as a spouse, may have different perspectives, but for the service member, selecting platform based on which one is away from home the least is not particularly wise for a whole host of reasons.
What Brett said above.
 
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