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SOAR

KODAK

"Any time in this type?"
pilot
So, asking “for a friend” as they say..

Has anyone on the forum made the Navy to Army aviation transition, specifically assessing for 160th SOAR? Please feel free to reach out via DM, but I know a small subset of Navy/ Marine aviators have successfully crossed over in the past.
 

insanebikerboy

Internet killed the television star
pilot
None
Contributor
So, asking “for a friend” as they say..

Has anyone on the forum made the Navy to Army aviation transition, specifically assessing for 160th SOAR? Please feel free to reach out via DM, but I know a small subset of Navy/ Marine aviators have successfully crossed over in the past.

DM Sent
 

RobLyman

- hawk Pilot
pilot
None
Every now and then they go on a recruiting drive through the National Guard. While it may be possible to go directly from a different service to the 160th, you would have a significantly better chance coming from the Army or guard. @Scorch2 and @Pags aren't far off. Their decision to accept you is more about you as a person than it is about your experience and qualifications. This site says you have to be in the Army or National Guard first.

Anecdote: I used to meet up with them once a quarter at NS Norfolk for the scheduling conference IOT get deck time for DLQs. Most of the time another guy from our state would also attend. The first time I went up there by myself the 160th guys discreetly suggested I sneak out of the conference 15 minutes early for lunch. At lunch they first measured me up to see if I was like "the other guy", who I learned they thought was kind of a D-bag. Then they gave me a hard sell on their unit and accession program. Once I said it wasn't for me (I was too old) they politely let it drop. The other guy had more experience and quals than I did, yet he was never asked to go to lunch or given the 'sell'. After all, he kind of was a D-bag.

If you are not a team player, don't bother. A lot of people who consider themselves super swoopy and tactical don't make it through and/or are peered out.
 

bubblehead

Registered Member
Contributor
...they thought was kind of a D-bag. The other guy had more experience and quals than I did, yet he was never asked to go to lunch or given the 'sell'. After all, he kind of was a D-bag. If you are not a team player, don't bother. A lot of people who consider themselves super swoopy and tactical don't make it through and/or are peered out.
It's amazing how many d-bags are floating around out there who still think they can make it in these communities despite all of the gouge available on the personality portion.
 

Griz882

Frightening children with the Griz-O-Copter!
pilot
Contributor
I rode around with them quite a lot on my first Afghanistan tour and they were great guys. Mostly low key, highly professional and magnificently trained fellows. Join the army guard, talk to their recruiting team and hold on for the ride if you get picked up.
 

RobLyman

- hawk Pilot
pilot
None
I know of probably a half dozen AH guys who are or were B/160th guys. Many of them went from the USMC PEP and resigned their commission and then became WOs and are now Army nerdsor WTIs that were recruited/poached.
I know this is a potential monumental thread jack, but if the HSC community poached a lot of Army aviators (or Marines) they might figure out what they need to do to be relevant overland.
 

Jim123

DD-214 in hand and I'm gonna party like it's 1998
pilot
I know this is a potential monumental thread jack, but if the HSC community poached a lot of Army aviators (or Marines) they might figure out what they need to do to be relevant overland.
That or if they'd just maintained what they used to have that was relevant (HAL-3/4/5/HCS-4/5) instead of disbanding it again and again, then they wouldn't have to keep reinventing the wheel.

(I know, I know, budgets, different pots of money, northcom budget/socom budget...)
 

KODAK

"Any time in this type?"
pilot
Thanks to all for your replies! I guess I should have been more clear from the outset: any career with 160th would be a post-MSR plan. Essentially serve my commitment to the Navy, assess at some point (prior to leaving active duty), and hopefully line up the timing for a minimal break in service between USN to USA.

A friend at the unit who flies the MH-60M knows of multiple Navy and Marine aviators (one as senior as Marine O5) who have followed this exact path, so if possible I’d love to speak to one to ask some specific application and assessment related questions. I definitely realize such a request is a bit of a stretch, but the small world that is AW has impressed me before..

Oh and before anyone gets any ideas I flew possibly the least tactical aircraft in the Navy, so no delusions of grandeur here! My goal is to work hard and contribute to the mission, if allowed the chance.
 
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