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This place sucks ass.

Fog

Fog

Old RIOs never die: They just can't fast-erect
None
Contributor
MIDNJAC said:
Speaking of which (and yes, to re-hash an old revived thread), I knew a couple guys who had gotten Miramar, ended up at -101, and found out during air-to-air that they would be going to Japan or switching to Beaufort because MAG-11 was full of pilots at the time. That and a lot of us Navy guys that went through -101 ended up in Oceana for whatever reason. I don't think geography factors into their decision making very much. Granted the USMC types leave the VT's with fleet duty station orders, and go where there is availability to do the RAG (reverse of Navy), but either way, it doesn't make much sense in terms of cost. No complaints though!
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Rather belatedly, let me say that it looks as if the Marine Corps HQ staff work hasn't improved much in 45 years! In the Fall of '66 I went to NAS Glynco with Navy orders to the RIO school there (at the time). When I checked in, the Student Control Officer informed me there wouldn't be any Navy guys going through RIO training for a couple of months because thay had 75+ Marines waiting to get through the RIO pipeline. It seems the Marines were getting a bunch of A-6s at the time and the USMC HQ staff had failed to arrange any billets for future Marine B/Ns in the Basic Jet Nav School at Glynco (where all A-6/RA-5 NFOs went) - so they sent all their future B/Ns to RIO training. IOW, Marine NFOs were going straight from RIO school to an A-6 RAG. I ended up having to take the EWO pipeline, and I've never forgiven the USMC for screwing up my AD squadron tour. It wasn't till the NavAirRes 11 years later that I got into F-4s. But I did end up at Pax River for my 1st tour and got over 100 hrs in Phantoms with Flight Test & Service Test test-pilots who had an otherwise empty back seat - but those are stories for another time & place. As A4s said, the more things change, the more they stay the same . . . .
 
BusyBee604

BusyBee604

St. Francis/Hugh Hefner Combo!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
pourts said:
I have never understood the "flying is great there" argument.
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Not a problem, different strokes...

Have you ever heard anyone say "I have 2000 hours in the Hornet, but 800 of them are out of Oceana (etc) so they don't count."
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Nope, never. Couldn't imagine any pilot lucky enough to fly Hornets saying anything like that!;)
BzB
 
pourts

pourts

former Marine F/A-18 pilot & FAC, current MBA stud
pilot
BusyBee604 said:
Nope, never. Couldn't imagine any pilot lucky enough to fly Hornets saying anything like that!;)
BzB
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My point exactly. Doing an AI (Self escort strike) at 500' MSL over the ocean isn't quite as exciting as doing it at 500' AGL through the Sierra Nevada, but they are both still pretty cool. And I'd take the "not-so good flying" (which is still sick) over living in a crappy town for 3 years. But hey, thats just me.

Oh, and Uncle Sam will send you on plenty of dets and deployments to get your "great flying," so don't worry about that. If you make it to the fleet having spent less than 60 days in El Centro you are an outlier (in the strike community). I can personally vouch that the flying in 29 Palms is great. The landings when its hot and you are bringing back hung/asymmetric ordnance (hmmm).... and living situation are less so. But hey, we are expeditionary, so thats what we do I guess. Train harder than you fight I suppose.
 
BigBadBoJenkins

BigBadBoJenkins

NA
pilot
Just got to Kingsville. Still forming my opinion of this place, but most of my feelings have already been expressed. I'd hate to get caught in a meth-lab looking part of town at the wrong time of day/night.
 
MIDNJAC

MIDNJAC

is clara ship
pilot
pourts said:
If you make it to the fleet having spent less than 60 days in El Centro you are an outlier (in the strike community)
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Ironically, most of your friends in green that went through -101 never spent a day of the RAG there aside from the occasional HP during CQ bouncing. Granted most all of us (USN or USMC) spent a week or two there in orange and whites, but there was really no need to go there coming from NKX, aside from a quick VFR trip to ST/LL.
 
sevenhelmet

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
I have yet to live in a place I don't like. It is what you make it, stop stop wanking and start living.

Oh, and -5 cool points for resurrecting this thread.
 
M

MasterBates

Well-Known Member
Hey I live(d) in the NICE PART of OV!

Was thinking more of about 13th-36th street between Hampton and Granby, and areas off Little Creek more than that though.
 
sevenhelmet

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
The thing I find funny about Hampton Roads, especially up around Norfolk is that you'll be driving through a nice established neighborhood, and just on the other side of the street, or the next block, there is a bunch of ghetto crack houses. It's a patchwork community. There are plenty of nice areas up there though.
 
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