And for Meat's $0.02.
The EA-6B is a great mission. We are considered a go/no-go for any serious strike (i.e. any strike into a SAM envelope or anywhere the enemy has radars). If a striker (F/A-18) goes down (breaks), they will launch a spare or shift tactics. If the Prowler goes down and there is no airborne spare, then the strike will probably be cancelled. This puts a lot of responsibility on the Prowler guys to know their stuff and be knowledgable n the airplane so that we can write good gripes for maintenance.
That said, there is no instant feedback in the Prowler mission. As a former attack bubba, I define instant feedback as watching my bombs fit a target on the FLIR (and then razzing when wingman when he misses). As a Prowler guy, we rarely get that. You may know if a HARM missile hits the target but probably not since you are shooting at something 40 miles away. Success to a Prowler guy is everyone coming home. But did they come home because you did a good job or because the enemy did a bad job.
As a former attack guy, I'll also comment a little on the F/A-18D. Now, realize that have never flown one but based on anecdotal evidence: The WSO will probably run the radar and the FLIR. He will back up the pilot, deisgnate laser guided ordinance, work the weapons system. You will fly FAC(A) missions which are very demanding with lots of coordination. Probably do some RMC work for CSAR, plus the usual air-mud stuff.
To comment on Brett's MC remark. Most guys usually get the MC qual 1 1/2 to 2 years in the squadron (dependent on timing, deployments, dets, etc), right Flash? Anyway, pilots and ECMOs can be MC's. The senior MC in the jet is considered the MC for the flight. As an O-4, I was basically adult supervision for the JO's who were pretty much running the show in order to get their quals. It is not a cakewalk to get that qual depending on the squadron. A MC qual is a sign that the skipper trusts your judgement. He'll let you take a jet on a cross country and nothing builds a JO's experience bank than 4 JO's on the road.
OK, enuff of that, I want Brett to PM me with some Timber stories. Maybe Flash can fill us in on the 128 AF contingent. Nice thing about 138 under Pudge, Baron and Goon, old style ready room.