@Igloojam First, don’t pay for helo flight time. If you’re actively avoiding Norfolk, that’s doable. However, it’s not like selecting out of VTs. They quality spread folks around quite purposely, so your dream sheet is just a wish list in the event of a tie.
Second, don’t shit on Norfolk too hard. If your only experience is a MIDN cruise or dudes who’ve never lived there, that’s nothing. I was there for four years and I’d gladly go back, but it’s probably not in my cards. There really are no *bad* helo duty stations. NS Norfolk and NAS Oceana are 20 miles apart, but jet guys trip over themselves to get Oceana over Lemoore.
Only experience is porting on the NOAA Gordon Gunter. Sending you a PM. My wife and I can make the most out of anywhere we go, but after getting helos we'd would really like to go to Japan. Heard the preschools there are world class and we have a little one. I have no idea how selection works over there, just kind of assumed if you crushed advanced you got your first pick.