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EP-3 transistion to drones/P3/P8?

John Gil

Well-Known Member
I'm finishing up primary and had a couple questions about the EP3 transition . Yes, I have asked around the squadron but we don't have many EP3 guys. I read a navy times article that said the P8 was taking over e EP3 mission as well as the stand up of VUP in October and was wondering what the real deal was if I select EP3. Am I going to end up on the P8 eventually or as a drone mission commander? I'm a prior surface guy so forgive me for not knowing much. I would rather select something I can deploy with rather than sit in a booth in JAX operating a drone. Any info is greatly appreciated.
 

xj220

Will fly for food.
pilot
Contributor
Not sure of the latest info on that but as of now there is no EP-3 replacement. I'm not sure how much longer is left in the community but it is definitely dwindling, especially after the last two squadrons merged a couple years ago. Personally, I'd go VP and go P-8. It's new and you'll be on the leading edge of it.
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
The sundown of EP-3's is still 2019 the last time I checked and the last time I talked to some VQ types they said expect to do whatever the VP NFO's after your first tour since they are all one big happy family now. Follow-on tours would include P-8's, P-3's or UAV's as a DH tour after your shore and disassociated tours.
 

CommodoreMid

Whateva! I do what I want!
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
The EP-3 types are now in the VP group for screening, etc, and if you did an EP-3 JO tour you would transition if you got selected for DH. Since you're in primary now P-3 wouldn't be on the table by the time that happened for you, but the way they envision it now is that when you get selected for DH, you'll get slated either for P-8 or Triton, regardless of P-3/P-8/EP-3 background. So, yes, you'll transition eventually to either one of those. In my squadron we had two DHs who were prior EP-3 guys.
 

jtdees

Puddle Jumper
pilot
Actually, right now the horizon for EP-3 is roughly 2022. It is all based on some Congress-level requirement for some platform to do the mission. They're investigating the P-8's viability for it, flying some operators on P-8 flights to evaluate, and planning for UAV to soak up part of the mission, too. You can go EP-3, probably have a full JO tour, be plenty competitive for the same slots as VP folks for shore tour, and not worry about getting locked in to one pipeline (P-8) or the other (UAV) until DH tour.

Then again, tomorrow's Thursday, so that could all change again. Also, there's supposed to be a VUP standing up in Whidbey someday, so you could always get stuck in a booth up here, too.
 
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