Hc-144 Should a FW DCA commissioned in 2009 expect to be assigned Falcons/Hercs? It appears the Sea Sentry is still undergoing OTE, and won't be fully operational this year. Any gouge/rumors out there? On another note, how is USCG manning in the TRACOM right now? VT's hurting for USCG IPs?
Ocean Sentry will be operational next month in Mobile, and the SAR division there will be fully transitioned by the fall. Soon after will be Miami. Long story on OTE is you want to call it that. Commissioned in 2009 will probably be slated for Falcon's unless your really push for the Ocean Sentry out of Mobile. I know our division is working double time to qualify fixed wing pilots and stock up the units. Not sure how we are looking for TRACOM, but if it's anywhere near the rest of the fleet, there is a demand. Hope that helps.
Cheers Coastie. That paints the picture I was looking for. Had the impression they were transitioning folks from Falcons to Ocean Sentry vice hiring for those slots from the street (DCA). Just wanted to confirm. I'll take what I can get, and don't want to be too picky. Wouldn't mind putting some of my 4 engine Lockheed knowledge to work on H model Hercs though. Still remember what an anticipator potentiometer does (and tons of other minutia that came with being a VP dude). "I know our division is working double time to qualify fixed wing pilots and stock up the units." Have you flown it yet? What are people saying about it so far? -MD2NZ
I have not flown it yet but know lots of people who have. Seems like the general consensus is that it is nice to fly in a glass cockpit. The major drawback that most ex Falcon flyers have is that it takes a much LOOOONGER to get places. That will definitely take some getting used to.
DCA Interview Does anyone know what kind of questions will be asked during the DCA interview? Also where are the boards usually held? Thanks
CG question, unless I missed it, this hasn't been addressed: If I complete my 10 year commitment with the AF, I'll have about 12 years of service. With the CG still consider a transfer at that point? I know they knock you down to O-3, but I heard if you didn't have at least 10 yrs remaining you weren't even looked at?
Ask and you shall receive: http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showpost.php?p=309148&postcount=7 They're held at your nearest CG Air Station. I was in Jacksonville, NC and interviewed in Elizabeth City, NC.
The requirement is ten years or less of prior service. If you have more, it will depend on the board. Sometimes they grant waivers and other times they don't. Also, If you are a commissioned officer the highest pay grade you will enter the Coast Guard is an an O-2.
Navy to USCG How do Navy helo pilots do the DCA when one of the requirements is to have less than 10 years of federal service? Two years of flight school plus 8 years service commitment would put the average guy over the 10-year mark. I am sure that it has been done just don't know if I am missing something. Thanks.
It's apparently been that way since 2002 or so. When I put in the paperwork for the DH bonus a couple months ago, they tried to tell me I couldn't apply since I was 2 years from EOAS. I had to produce my contract which stated 7 for helos. Then they tried to pull the "well instruction X says different, you have an erroneous contract" and then my XO came down on them with the "he has a VALID contract, and it better be honored" They said the changeover was FY03 wingers, but I have not seen the instruction.
Well there has to be a way around it for fixed wing guys because we are getting transitions from the Navy/Marine Corp. About a year ago we had a Navy P3 pilot as well as and Marine F18 pilot switch.
Those guys were all from YGs that had the old 6,7,8 winging commitment, or took less then 24 months to get winged. In the next couple of years it will be harder for people to get out before their 10yr total time mark. Hopefully, Coast Guard will be willing to provide time in service waivers when that becomes more common.
The Coast Guard bumped up the max age limit while I was submitting my DCA package back in 2005-06. I missed the mark the first time, but the new age limit let me reapply and get selected. The CG can be a very forward thinking service, and if this becomes an issue, I am sure they will look at it and attempt a fix. Good luck to all.
The DCA board's requirements are that you have a DD-214 (i.e. you hit your commitment and got out) or an approved DD-368 request for conditional release. I think a good chunk of guys are coming in on a DD-368 (basically the USN/USMC/USA/USAF agrees to let you out regardless of where you stand in your commitment timeline to go to the USCG). The form is on the Coast Guard recruiting website. You do unzip your fly and hang your weiner out to be punched by your current service if you don't get picked up...
Hi there. Just a quick note to say hello and express my interest in the DCA program and get some opinions. Here is the deal: I am finishing up at Rucker with the 47 course and deploying in May of next year to A-Stan. Some of the time I think Guard folks wince at deployments, but in this case, since I probably losing my civilian job due to the state of the economy (no surprise), I am looking forward to it. I am looking at full time options with both the guard and, obviously, the USCG since the lack of a job upon returning will be ever-looming. While the prospects of an AGR or Tech slot are slim, I am thinking that the DCA may be an explorable option. I spent 6 1/2 years AD in the Army and when I come back from deployment will have reached my 13 year mark. I know that the limit is published at 10, but, as was mentioned in the reply above, I am kind of hoping for one of those waivers from a lenient but understanding board. I currently have my CFI/CFII/MEI, my B.S degree, and am halfway through my Maters in Criminal Justice. I am hoping that a strong resume' and a couple endorsements from a few friends who are current CG officers will help push a selection over the edge. I would be hoping for a HH-65 slot given the option for the assignment variety, but obviously, would take what was available. I am not all that familiar with particular pilot needs with regard to airframes currently, but am doing the research in forums such as these to get up to speed. Thanks to everyone for the great information thus far! Safe flying! CD
I am not really sure what opinion you want but I will certainly pass whtat I see from your message. You have a couple of things that might be to your advantage and maybe some that won't. How many years of active service do you actually have? You wrote you had 6.5 years of active and are coming up on 13. I am assuming the remainder was in the Guard or Reserve. If that is the case, then you need to figure out how much time is actual duty time that would count for a 20 year retirement. So if you have the normal one weekend a month two weeks a year type schedule then you would have only about two months of service each year while in the reserves. So that should help you in the time in service and you might not need a waiver. You seem to have great credentials that would help you in the selection process so you would certainly be competitive. However, the competition is tough. You are only going to have a little time in service after flight school so I would be surprised if your unit will let you go so quickly and you will have to either be out of the service or have a form stating your current service will let you go before the CG will even look at you. I wish you luck and certainly think your goal is attainable but it will take some work. Good luck.
Yeah, the DD368 might be a hard sell but my CoC is pretty understanding. Hopefully things will pick up and I can keep my current job but, honestly, I think it's wishful thinking. If nothing else, I will be working on the packet in A-Stan for something to do. Let me get this right on the service calculation: 6.5 enlisted AD + 2 weeks a year for the last 5 years + 4 drills per month (x 11months) = about 11 months. So my total time is about 7 years and some change for DCA purposes? I appreciate the extra advice. Next time I fly into Port Angeles I will shoot you guys a wave down there.
In lieu of starting a new thread, I figure I'll just post on this one. How far out does somebody need to get the ball rolling if you're interested in the DCA program? I've been in my fleet squadron for about 3 years now and have about 2 years left on my contract. I figure that's a little early but I like to plan things out in advance to the max extent possible. Thanks for the help.
I would say the best advise is to start about a eight months to a year out. Look at the DCA selection board dates, and plan from there. I was out of the Nav for 6 months before I got picked up. Some of that was by choice, some was that I did not make the first cut due to my age (bumped up later). Good luck. The www.gocoastguard.com web site has all the stuff you need for this process to get started. Good luck.
DCA TIS limit I'm an Army helo pilot (former 46 avionics in USMC) rated in both 60s and 47s. I'm thinking about dropping a packet for DCA but after I get back from Iraq I will have 13 yrs 1 mo TIS which is 1 month past the limit. Is it possible to get the 13 year TIS limit waived?
