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Gentlemens - I am one of the Corps' most recent wingers-turned-unmanned-aviators, so am probably one of the most qualified to speak on the subject on the Green-side of the house. 1. "Should flying robots ever transport humans?" Good question. If the human passengers want to travel aboard an...

Great responses all, thanks. I'm giving my work email out to those who PM me, and hopefully I'll be able to put together some additional info to post here for future aspiring TP's.

After getting a couple suggestions from co-workers, I'm tossing around the idea of putting in a TPS package next year. Problem is, fleet squadrons aren't exactly full of former test pilots, so I really have no idea what I'm getting into, and nobody to talk to. Anyone here a current/former test...

If you keg, I recommend a growler with a screw-on top that'll leak air far before it leaks liquid. If you bottle, try to bottle the day before you fly, so you don't have all that pressure build-up from the bottling fermentation, and the trub hasn't yet formed to get all sloshed up. And of...

Not being on duty!

I appreciate all the stories coming out of the Olde Days of aviation. This is good stuff for us newbs to think about how good we have it.

Let me guess: the original scene was Maverick on Iceman?

A boring day of ODO led to some curiosity-based research into the history of air navigation. I saw these strange beacon-like objects in a museum a while back, and I think this article explains how they were used. http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Government_Role/navigation/POL13.htm...

Ya, something like that. I guess Dragons look more aggressive than Geese.

I seem to recall HMM-268 had a bit to do with it too....

If you go in as an officer, there is a 100% chance that you will land a desk job. You will have frequent departures into the field/air/whatever training your MOS requires, but I guarantee that most of your time will be behind a desk. Note the first 6 letters of the word "officer." For any O's...

I spent a few years as the Legal O, and an SRB without any derogatory pg11's was few/far between indeed. Though I've never done ECP (or any similar programs), I'd imagine that a chain-of-command recommendation is required. In your case, I'd be more concerned with the CO's recommendation than a...

You've had 60 "units"? A unit of what? I'm unfamiliar with this terminology. How convenient that you're of Pakistani origin. Do some Google research on what the 15th and 26th MEU's have been planning/doing for the last few months (hint: it has to do with natural disaster relief in Pakistan). We...

FWIW, I've heard credible stories of helo pilots using iPads digital maps IN PLACE OF paper maps, in theater, purchased on DOD's dime. New app idea: iWar.

+ 3.14159. Everyone else seemed to be agreeing with something, and I didn't want to be the last one to piggyback off a good idea. Speaking of good ideas, I've concluded that any book that enables you to make money is a scam, hence the good idea (for the author/publisher).

Note: I'm not a doc. From what I've observed, the docs will DQ you for just about anything. Like almost everything else in the military, it's all about who sees you that day. I'm not sure if there's a manual out there that lists the specific conditions and medications that make you NPQ, or if...

But for those of us NOT taking the seminar...... where's all the gouge?

That is superb knowledge. Thank you.

Since the almighty Search Function didn't yield any newer results, I figured it's time to resurrect this old thread. Since there isn't any "gouge" for the online tests, could a recent student chime in and provide a few "sample questions" we're likely to see? From my reading so far, I'm...

A wise man once told me that talent follows the money. Therefore, if you don't care about the money, then you must have no talent.

Bitch fight!!

So buying my own gear saves the government money in two ways: (1) they can buy cheaper gear for me, and (2) they're less likely to have to pay my SGLI.

Hmm, two internal battles inside a single thread. Nice change of pace from the "let's all gang up on this one dude" approach, I guess.

When I was in the pre-API pool (circa '06), they started asking for volunteers for an IA billet. I guess it was a FAC RTO, and was not "Commandant-approved," whatever that means. As far as I know, it never materialized, but due to the sheer volume of volunteers, it might be an option worth...

I seem to recall that origin and destination also come into play when calculating the rate per pound per mile. Specifically (from memory), the rate to go from CP to NR was quite a bit higher than from NR to CP. And a trailer that you own should technically be a household good that you can...

"Dude" is the ultimate expression of endearment and comraderie between males, and is synonymous with "Most Revered and Venerable of my Brethren." Also on the list are "Broseph" and "Cochise."

I reference the ripped out magazine page that is hanging on the wall of the HMM ready room in Al Asad. Sorry dude, unable to meet the request, unless a PF can help me out.

I recently read an anti-V-22 article, and one of its focal points was that the V-22 squadron ISO OIF only averaged something like 3.6 pax and 800 lbs cargo per sortie. To the innocent bystander, these sound like dismal numbers that justify its uselessness. To the quasi-educated bystander that...

Once you get the CEP stuff, is it easy to remove yourself? Or do you have to have a PR remove it for you?

Thanks for posting that. -1 to the naysayers out there.

Have you looked into HMMWV-Driver? How about LMD Operator? Seriously dude, you came to an aviation forum to ask about ground jobs, so you can expect to be ridiculed a bit. I promise you that TBS will offer you far more exposure to different MOS's than you ever wanted. In fact, the MOS mixers...

I understand what you're saying about the machine guns, but it's still possible to mount 500-lb bombs on the wings, right?

Last I heard, each TBS company makes their own decision about what to do with guys who already have their belts, so don't plan on going up a belt if you show up a sandy ninja. Since all Marines in the Wing are now required to have a Gray belt, I see no reason not to get your Gray while waiting...

So, after I get jets, what are my chances of getting JAG, and then what are the chances of getting Catherine Bell?

Well, I'm glad to hear that. After our last brief, all us young company-grade were fearing that we'd be left sans a paddle. I hope, for my sake, that it turns out to be as easy as you say.

I wouldn't go so far as to say ALL phrog pilots will transition. As stated, most young Captains will be fine, and most Majors will have to find a new line of work in the Marine Corps. This isn't a huge surprise, since many field grade get one tour with a squadron anyway, and then never/rarely...

Phrogs are expected to still be around by 2013. If you think that the most junior guy in the squadron will be a senior Capt four years out of flight school, you're wrong. There won't be anybody to route the schedule.

For the bodybuilders out there, protein bars will probably be your best bet for the 2nd, 4th, and 6th meals of the day. Maybe you can make a protein shake and bring it in a thermos or coffee mug. But don't expect to break out your 6oz chicken fillet and half a sweet potato in the middle of a class.

A huge difference between OCS and TBS is that at TBS, you're encouraged to ask questions (after a class or exercise, not during it), and you'll usually get a sweet war story to go with the answer. This goes double if you're asking one of the enlisted instructors.

Don't worry too bad about not getting PTAD. Just get a "real" job, and you'll have twice the happiness for almost the same paycheck. If you're uber-moto, check out some of the TBS gouge and study it. Above all things, remember this: at TBS, a shitbag who is a great runner is usually respected...

I wouldn't recommend taking the kid but not the wife. Doubly so if the kid's still on breastmilk. Some bases have BOQ housing available; some don't. Depending on your orders, you may or may not be eligible to stay in it. Saltier guys, please correct any bad gouge I'm about to give. If you have...

Anyone remember that ridiculous thread on how to become both a jet pilot and a spec-ops operator? It just got one-upped.

I experienced both sides of the debate. I geo-bach'ed during API and the FRS, and I lived with my wife during Primary/Advanced. Here are my viewpoints, broken down by category. Geo-Bachelor: Pros: Lived as cheaply as I wanted to. Studied whenever I wanted. Played video games whenever I...

I had some Achilles pain a few weeks ago, and it was caused by my boots rubbing on my tendon the wrong way. I fixed it by avoiding those boots for a few weeks, massaging the boot to make the heel softer, and the RICE methods above. Good luck.

I suppose he enjoys walking everywhere and having no air cover.

If you get tired of hearing everyone debate systems/EPs/limits, you can always hit up course rules, especially if you're slated for Whiting. If you have 1 hour prior flight time, you'll be able to understand the content. I've seen Google Earth checkpoints on here in the past; find those (and...

Don't worry about it. Your flak keeps them nice and warm, so they don't feel the need to dig in.

Air contract or not, it behooves you to wear eye protection any time you're walking through the woods at night. Daytime doesn't hurt either - try the tinted ones.

Ya, I think that's just about every pilot's dream. Except that in my version, there are about 80 passengers, two dead terrorists (with their blood on my hands), imported beer stolen from first-class, and some uber-grateful stewardesses.

Concur with above. Different communities have different numbers of pilots per squadron, which affects how many collateral duties each has. For example, a typical phrog squadron should have 25-30 pilots. My skid brethren probably have about 40. Jets are probably pretty high too, counting FO's...