Any FAC's out there?

[SoloDaNINJA]

Ah, yes, I realize its not like ANGLICO are a ranger squad kicking down doors, but I am fairly confident that they are broken down into units of 4-5 men, so while your attched to other units, your attached as a unit (though I realize in normal FAC you have other guys in the battalion but AFAIK you dont go out on missions with them) this picture pretty much sums up what I THINK ANGLICO is, but I am not a Marine, so I will leave the judgement of what is right and what is fiction to you Marines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ANGLICO_Team_in_Iraq.jpg
Haha I know that wikipedia isnt the most reliable source, it looked like a good article.

 

[Sonog]

Are many pilot skills directly transferable to FAC skills? I think what I'm trying to ask is, if you're a good pilot, then will you be a good FAC? Or are a lot of FAC skills unique to FAC?

 

[Boomhower]

What are my chances of becoming a pilot?

I wanna fly jets.

That's the standard that I'm used to.

 

[eas7888]

That's the standard that I'm used to.

I couldn't resist!

 

[HAL Pilot]

Good thing you didn't put a % in that post - I would have banned you for a few days......

As it was, I seriously considered it anyway because we knew what you meant. Then I got a phone call and was distracted/forgot about it. Consider yourself lucky.

 

[eas7888]

Good thing you didn't put a % in that post - I would have banned you for a few days......

As it was, I seriously considered it anyway because we knew what you meant. Then I got a phone call and was distracted/forgot about it. Consider yourself lucky.

Really? Yikes. I'd better lay off my humor, it always finds a way of getting me in to trouble.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Ok, my second sentence was BS - but the first wasn't. We've talked about the consequences of the % question many times. I just saw an excuse to remind everyone again.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Are many pilot skills directly transferable to FAC skills? I think what I'm trying to ask is, if you're a good pilot, then will you be a good FAC? Or are a lot of FAC skills unique to FAC?

Some skills translate, such as understanding 3 dimensional airspace, deconfliction, etc. Some don't. Off the bat, an average TACAIR guy is a better FAC than an average assault support guy. That doesn't mean an assault support guy can't be a good FAC. Conversely, I know a self-admitted mediocre F-18 pilot who is a damn good FAC.

 

[SoloDaNINJA]

I noticed good old Wikipedia says only the 1st, 3rd, and 4th ANGLICO still go to jump school. Is this true? Why train the reserve guys not the two other active duty units?

 

[jarhead]

How close are FAC's to the front lines, and do they ever have to actually engage in combat, actually with their rifle, not just calling in air support?

An acquaintance of mine, serving as a FAC, was shot and killed a few years ago in Afghanistan in a firefight. So, yes to your question.

I don't know of any "non-deploying" FAC tours out there anymore, save Regiment/Division AirO and Tanks.

Phrog, some Regiment Air O's are deploying forward to OEF.

S/F

 

[phrogpilot73]

Phrog, some Regiment Air O's are deploying forward to OEF.

Yeah, I knew that. Reading my post again - it doesn't come through that way though. I think what I was trying to say is that Regiment/Division AirO and Tanks are not guaranteed to deploy. I know of cases where all of the above have - but if your timing is/isn't (depending on your viewpoint) right - you could sit at Lejeune/Pendleton for your FAC tour. Not the case with a Battalion.

 

[gaijin6423]

@jarhead: If that's who I think it was, when I think it was, what a tremendous loss. I can't say I knew him other than reputation, and by brokering drug deals to get air support up that way. Tough mission, and an even tougher deployment for that unit. As a (now former) DASC guy, it swallowed a little bit of my soul every time they were in a situation and couldn't (for several reasons) just ask us for what they needed.

Is 9:20AM too early for a drink? What if you're one of those unemployed veteran types?

 

[phrogdriver]

Is 9:20AM too early for a drink? What if you're one of those unemployed veteran types?

Just as long as I don't see you at an intersection at noon with a cardboard sign looking for beer money...

 

[gaijin6423]

My beard got too long (and itchy), so I shaved it off. It's hard to manage an ongoing bidding war for you, when you're distracted by scratching your face. And since the wife makes double what my base pay was, I think that I'll be okay.

Although, if anyone wants to send any cash, checks, money orders, free beer, firearms, ammunition, etc, go right ahead.

 

[Clux4]

An acquaintance of mine, serving as a FAC, was shot and killed a few years ago in Afghanistan in a firefight. So, yes to your question.

S/F

Did he fly harriers? If he is the one I think, I heard good things about him.