quote:
I'm confused on something. If you select props, isn't the P-3 the only airframe you can go to??? Isn't the E-2/C-2 considered a different pipeline??? If so, it shouldn't matter what grades you get in Props, as long as you pass, because you'll be flying the P-3 no matter what.
James,
Yes, if you select Props, you will fly the P3.
Grades matter in Advanced, to the extent that you want to do well enough to choose the location you are going to be based out of for your first squadron. You will put in your "dream sheet" and rank you choices. Then the grades will be tallied for you winging class, and based on the ranking, and what is available, you will get told where you are going to go to.
You get to the FRS, and during the 3rd phase the detailer sends down which specific squadrons need pilots. You look at the deployment schedules, and where each squadron is currently at in it (ie on deployment, on home cycle, about to deploy...) and you and your buddies get to hash it out on who gets what. Lots of "gouge" floats around the FRS, this VP squadron is the best, this one sucks, etc.
For myself, there were 5 people in my FRS class with orders to Hawaii, two slots for VP4, two slots for VP9 and one slot for VP47. Only one guy wanted 47, I wanted 4, and the other 3 wanted 9. So they basically flipped a coin between them. Odd man out lost. You make up your own rules, wrestle each other, whatever.
Also, during the FRS, you can "swap" orders with someone else. If you reconsider, and don't want those Jax orders, and you find someone whoe has lets say orders to Hawaii, then you guys switch.
The final note is that while still in Advanced you also decide if you are going to go VQ or VP, you put that on your dream sheet also. But, if they need some VQ pilots (aka fags), and your grades don't cut it, then you might just get VQ.
Oh well, should be clear as mud now.... so, grades DO matter.