It's 2013 - are there still any hidden gems out there?
LPO: I'm going to make some huge assumptions here (Standard Caveat: I've been wrong before…), but if, in fact, you're still an E, the door, I think, is WIDE OPEN for you to go and see the world while you can. Assuming (again…) that you aspire to this whole AW thingie at some point in time, the window for that closes very rapidly after commissioning/wings. That's when the "due course/golden path" guidance kicks in. Not recommending you go do a lot of GENDET (any suitable pay grade) orders…working orders within your swim lane is always key to advancement, etc…but I expect most folks can go anywhere where their rating/rate has a valid billet.
My info is certainly dated, but there was a time within memory when you could go to Iceland, Scotland, England, Rota, Sigonella, Stuttgart, Naples, Antarctica, New Zealand, Singapore, Bahrain, the list goes (went?) on and on. Great family time, great launching points for leave and libs, great MILAIR connectivity to wherever, etc.
If that's your current situation, "see the world" while you can..making smart choices for career advancement, etc.
