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USMC RW - Strike Transition / Conversion

Odominable

PILOT HMSD TRACK FAIL
pilot
Hey fellas,

AH-1Z dude here. A MARADMIN released this week details a H-1 to Strike Tx/Conversion program going FY21. I'm inclined to apply but wanted to do my due diligence - first, has anyone here done a mid-career T/M/S change? We've had plenty of 46 - UH-1 dudes in the skid community, but that's not nearly as drastic as this program. Probably not a ton of experience, but figured I'd ask. My main concern I guess is going to square one again after being a 1500 hour WTI - some serious humble pie! Secondly, what is T-45 health looking like? I'm trying to backplan from when my window would theoretically be in a FW fleet squadron for a DH tour if this all worked out (I'll board for O-4 this summer). Not necessarily a deal breaker, but if the trainers are hurting so bad that it's going to push me out of the window for DH that's certainly a consideration. I'm hearing two years for advanced completion nowadays...

Anyways, thanks for taking a look. Fly safe!
 

Hopeful Hoya

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
Can’t answer your other questions but as to T-45 health, it’s not great right now. The engine developed a penchant for throwing LPT blades and it’s really limiting jet availability. I got through the whole syllabus in 14 months which was about normal but that was before all of the current issues, so I would imagine it definitely being longer.
 

bucka

Member
pilot
Same as above for intermediate/advanced T-45 syllabus, about 14 months (in addition to an 11 month NOBOGS wait), but also slightly before the blade issues. Might be more now, or it might be back to normal by the time you get there. Not a terrific track record for T-45's lately, but there have also been some significant syllabus changes recently (events cut out, and reduction in CQ prep).

I would also factor in a year or more for FRS time. I would think that you'd be in a Cat I syllabus as a very different T/M/S transfer, and completion time fluctuates for that as well.
 

Odominable

PILOT HMSD TRACK FAIL
pilot
Tracking FRS time as well - that I'm not as concerned about since I'll at least get an observed FITREP (at least that was case at HMLAT-303 back in the day anyway) and job prospects for my wife are better than in Meridian / Kingsville. Again, missing a DH tour would hurt but not in and of itself a deal breaker for me. Bummer about the T-45, pointy-nose friends were pushing similar gouge.
 

wlawr005

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
FWIW, the Marine Corps waived the boat for all Marine students on the upcoming boat det. Not sure if they have to qual after #coronavirus or if this is a sign of things to come.
 

joe dirt

Well-Known Member
pilot
I’m definitely interested in this as well, 2 years I. The FRS collecting flight pay and not having a ground job sounds fantastic.
 

Farva01

BKR
pilot
My advice to people thinking about transition. Do you want to be a terminal O-4 jet pilot or a helo CO? Ask yourself that honest question and set realistic expectations. This gig has always been about timing and the last couple of years (and months) has shown that you can plan for a lot of outcomes that get blown out of the water.
 

insanebikerboy

Internet killed the television star
pilot
None
Contributor
My advice to people thinking about transition. Do you want to be a terminal O-4 jet pilot or a helo CO? Ask yourself that honest question and set realistic expectations. This gig has always been about timing and the last couple of years (and months) has shown that you can plan for a lot of outcomes that get blown out of the water.

I’d say a more honest question is ‘am I on the golden path to make CO?’. If the answer is anything but 100% yes, go for the transition. Even if it is 100% yes, consider the transition because not everyone makes CO.

Rare is the occasion that Uncle Sammy actively throws long term, career fixed wing time at a helo dude. I hit good timing and was a recipient of said good deal, and even though i absolutely loved everything about flying a helicopter, the transition was worth it.

To the OP, go for it man. The experience will make you an even better pilot and give you a helluva lot more opportunities flying after the Marines are done with you.
 

Randy Daytona

Cold War Relic
pilot
Super Moderator
One thing to remember is that the Commandant's plan for the future has the Corps deactivating at least 2 skid squadrons so opportunities for command in your MOS will be tougher. You already have maximum credibility on the rotor wing side as a Cobra WTI, add to that now becoming a strike pilot, you could have a uniquely broad resume as the Corps restructures and a better than you might expect chance at O-5. Command might be a stretch, but you never know.

Best of luck.
 

Pags

N/A
pilot
HMLA command opportunities always seemed to be tough from my outside opinion; lots of JOs but very few squadrons so not a lot of COs. They follow the "flagpole on top of a trapezoid" model that det based communities seem to live (and die) by.
 

JTS11

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
Do want you want, but beware, once you go open kimono with your desire to transition to another platform, there will be parochial equities asking questions about a WTI wanting to leave their community.

The transition/conversion board has always been a strange bird...
 

Odominable

PILOT HMSD TRACK FAIL
pilot
Hey guys, thanks for all the great replies. I settled on dropping an application, we'll see where it goes. As an aside, good points as far as skid future... especially with the new force design release and everyone coming back from their third pointless Okinawa "deployment" I think we'll see a lot more qualified dudes running from the community. Anecdotal, the peer group ahead of me of JO WTIs either all EAS'd from the squadron or dropped papers from their next billet. I think it's going to get bad in the next few years; a MEU as the most meaningful deployment opportunity is not great for retention. I love being a Cobra pilot, but I think the writing's on the wall for a LOS-comm only, no datalink attack helicopter with ASE from the mid 90s.

Anyway, thanks again. Maybe I'll have to learn to be an instrument pilot again after all...
 
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