Wait time in A-pool

[Pilot123]

Does anyone know the current wait time in A-pool for people showing up in Pensacola or what it might be over the summer? Thanks!

 

[Rocky3168]

its currently about 3 months for pilots. 6 or so for FO's.

 

[freeflyingchris]

I arrived in Pensacola July 7th and waited until the end of October to class up for whiting. The guys that arrived the same time that I did and wanted to go to Corpus started to class up around the beginning of September. So you might be looking at a 3-4 month wait depending on what time you arrive and where you want to go for primary. Of course there is always the Vance option which will get you going as soon and you can get med up. I hope that helps

 

[MasterBates]

Go to Corpus or Whiting for SNA. Enjoy your time off, work on your tan. Drink beer.

Uncle Sam will get his money's worth out of you soon enough.

 

[scoober78]

Concur...there is nothing like coming home from your 10 minutes of Naval responsibility that day at 0800...

 

[blackjack_rj]

I arrived in Pensacola July 7th and waited until the end of October to class up for whiting. The guys that arrived the same time that I did and wanted to go to Corpus started to class up around the beginning of September. So you might be looking at a 3-4 month wait depending on what time you arrive and where you want to go for primary. Of course there is always the Vance option which will get you going as soon and you can get med up. I hope that helps

So you DO actually choose where you go to Primary? I'm so unfamiliar with the training pipelines, especially the Helo path. I will do more searches, but if anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Fezz CB]

Does anyone know the current wait time in A-pool for people showing up in Pensacola or what it might be over the summer? Thanks!

FOR-EV-VER........FOR-EV-VER.......FOR-EV-VER

 

[Gatordev]

So you DO actually choose where you go to Primary? I'm so unfamiliar with the training pipelines, especially the Helo path. I will do more searches, but if anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it.

Depends on the needs and it's cyclical. Sometimes they ask, sometimes they tell.

 

[NavAir42]

So you DO actually choose where you go to Primary? I'm so unfamiliar with the training pipelines, especially the Helo path. I will do more searches, but if anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it.

Best I can say is sort of. Assuming nothing has changed since I was there last summer here's the flow of things. After you check into schools command you'll be assigned to the A-Pool. While in the A-Pool you'll have to get your flight physical and some minor admin type stuff done as well as IFS if you haven't done so already. Ususally your days are going to consist of rolling in at 0730 in PT gear, getting your name checked off and being home by 0800 with the rest of the day to do with as you please. Historically (at least for the last three years or so), the wait has been a couple of months (2-6) before starting API.

You generally don't get to choose where you do primary. However, they're always looking for volunteers to fill Air Force Primary slots out at Vance Air Force Base with the deal that you won't wait around in the A-Pool and primary will be much quicker than any of the Navy primary squadrons. Maybe it's a good deal for some guys but everyone I know that's gone through Air Force primary says the harrassment package is much greater than on the Navy side. I tend to agree after having talked to a few Air Force instructors I've run across while on cross country.

My advice: enjoy your time in the A-pool. Drink plenty of beer and get good at x-box and do your best to go to either Milton or Corpus. Let someone else be the sacrificial lamb sent to the air force. I can't speak for the Corpus primary squadrons but VT-2 and VT-6 were pumping guys through as fast as the guys I know that went to Vance.

At the very end of primary is where you'll select what you'll be flying in the fleet, i.e. jets, helos, props, E-2/C-2. Then you'll move on to another squadron (or two in the case of the E2/C2 guys) before you get your wings.

Hope it helps

 

[gaetabob]

when I first reported to a-pool at the begining of Sept, they were asking where people wanted to go, and were working hard to send 'em there. Once the a-pool got really full (600+), and they had people that had been waiting for Whiting for 18+ weeks while people who wanted Corpus were classing up in less than 10 weeks, they had to stop sending people where they wanted and instead they had to fill the slots based on weeks onboard. So when conditions permit, they'll send you where you want...if everything is fubar'd, then you'll go where they tell ya. As for Vance slots, it goes by 1. those who volunteer, 2. those who get noticed, and then finally 3. those who unfortunately have to fill a slot. Hope that helps...

 

[Flyboylance]

Best I can say is sort of. Assuming nothing has changed since I was there last summer here's the flow of things. After you check into schools command you'll be assigned to the A-Pool. While in the A-Pool you'll have to get your flight physical and some minor admin type stuff done as well as IFS if you haven't done so already. Ususally your days are going to consist of rolling in at 0730 in PT gear, getting your name checked off and being home by 0800 with the rest of the day to do with as you please. Historically (at least for the last three years or so), the wait has been a couple of months (2-6) before starting API.

You generally don't get to choose where you do primary. However, they're always looking for volunteers to fill Air Force Primary slots out at Vance Air Force Base with the deal that you won't wait around in the A-Pool and primary will be much quicker than any of the Navy primary squadrons. Maybe it's a good deal for some guys but everyone I know that's gone through Air Force primary says the harrassment package is much greater than on the Navy side. I tend to agree after having talked to a few Air Force instructors I've run across while on cross country.

My advice: enjoy your time in the A-pool. Drink plenty of beer and get good at x-box and do your best to go to either Milton or Corpus. Let someone else be the sacrificial lamb sent to the air force. I can't speak for the Corpus primary squadrons but VT-2 and VT-6 were pumping guys through as fast as the guys I know that went to Vance.

At the very end of primary is where you'll select what you'll be flying in the fleet, i.e. jets, helos, props, E-2/C-2. Then you'll move on to another squadron (or two in the case of the E2/C2 guys) before you get your wings.

Hope it helps

Thanks Nav Air.. That's good gouge.

 

[Flyboylance]

Great pic Fezz

Sandlot.. That's great stuff.

 

[blackjack_rj]

I really appreciate y'all taking the time to put out that gouge. That is really what I've been looking for. That makes sense now. I have heard about people going to Vance and it not being such a great experience.

 

[Taildragger]

How about for guys who don't have to do IFS? I don't have to do IFS, and I have been wondering if the wait time is less for guys who report to A-Pool and just have to class up for API -- any thoughts?

 

[tiger84]

I don't have any firsthand knowledge, but I have a buddy in A-pool who's headed to Corpus for primary. He checked into A-pool mid-October and is hoping to class up in early February. He already had IFS finished before he got there.