02 December 2012

[USN1855]

Found a pretty funny parody of an RLP today.

 

[SonOfLiberty]

Just got my FS letter for this class 2 days ago and was sworn in yesterday.
23/M/Toledo, OH
SNA
Non Prior

I'm planning on driving as of now.

 

[Aviation Jones]

26/M
SNA
Illinois
I will be driving.

And here's this for anyone interested.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NAVYOCS02DEC12/

 

[unbreakableskies]

Jones, link wasn't working

What is everyone doing for their workouts? Anyone have a plan they found online or program?
I'll be hitting Insanity and running outside, though I can't really duplicate RI weather in Panama City....

 

[Aviation Jones]

Jones, link wasn't working

What is everyone doing for their workouts? Anyone have a plan they found online or program?
I'll be hitting Insanity and running outside, though I can't really duplicate RI weather in Panama City....

Give it a try now, changed it to a closed group.

I've been working out with a trainer and doing a lot of core exercises like variations of squats, lunges, planks, etc. using med/swiss ball and varying weight. We're getting more and more into actual weight training now with machines and free weights. We work out three days per week and I run three days per week resting on Sunday. Workouts are M,W,F. Tues is a 3 mile run, Thurs is max speed 1.5, and Sat is a 4 miler. I suspect next week he will up the distances.

My times are so so, but being sore in every muscle group at all times doesn't help. Really fun though and hoping it pays off at OCS.

1.5 - 10:34
3.0 - 23:28
4.0 - 32:20

 

[leviathanms]

My processor told me yesterday that this would be my class date. Haven't gotten a FS letter or sworn in yet, but I'm hoping that that's official enough for me to be sure that this is when I'm going.

26/M/New Orleans

As far as workouts go, I do free weights and body weight exercises every day, and some form of cardio. I love to swim, but I despise running, which figures. So I'm trying to learn to love running.

Will probably end up taking a train or flying, seeing as my car is a piece of crap and is about to blow up. Unless if there is someone else from the area that is driving and wouldn't mind a carpool partner....

 

[Shellz]

Just received news earlier today.
26/F
Supply
New Orleans

NonPrior

 

[HPFDrummer]

I've been doing the workout in one of these pamphlet things I got from my OR. Pushups/Curlups Tues-Sat, Free weights Tues/Thurs, and then some form of cardio every day (Sprints or distance; Sundays is technically just a brisk walk, but that's too boring so I run the distance). I'm in the same boat: I love swimming, hate running. I played baseball for a reason, 90 ft at a time!

 

[sunowl]

Swearing in next week!

23/F/Oregon
NFO
Non-prior

Also I'm likely flying to RI, unless any driving west coasters don't mind having a carpool party?

 

[froky36]

Finally got the official word from the April board.

I'll probably be the "old man" coming into this class!

33/M/Washington
IW
15 year Chief - Currently stationed at NAS Whidbey Island as an Instructor.

Just made the drive from here to MD about two months ago. I'm not sure if I'm up for it again. Either way I'll see you all on the 2nd!

 

[unbreakableskies]

Froky, glad to have you with us in December! 15 years! I appreciate your service.

I had a question about what you thought about NAS Whidbey Island?

Come join us "kids" over on Facebook if you have one of those.

 

[froky36]

Froky, glad to have you with us in December! 15 years! I appreciate your service.

I had a question about what you thought about NAS Whidbey Island?

Come join us "kids" over on Facebook if you have one of those.

I put a request on The Facebook thing you were talking about. I've been up here in the northwest for about 3 1/2 years now. I've known plenty of people who love NAS Whidbey Island and the surrounding area and have spent their entire career here. I like the town of Oak Harbor, very military friendly, and the weather is never too hot or too cold. It's a good area if you like being in the outdoors. The base itself is pretty nice with some good squadrons (Growlers and P-3/EP-3). Gotta love the snow days during the winter time. Never thought I'd get days off for two inches of snow.

Anyone using http://www.dailymile.com/ right now? It's a good site to track of your running and help motivate each other.

 

[sunowl]

Never thought I'd get days off for two inches of snow.

That sounds like the good old northwest to me. I remember the Oregon Snowpocalypse of 2010 (I think)...we had something like 5 inches of snow and the world just sort of stopped...unfortunately it was during winter break so no cancelled classes, but still fun.

Thanks for the Whidbey gouge.

 

[unbreakableskies]

I put a request on The Facebook thing you were talking about. I've been up here in the northwest for about 3 1/2 years now. I've known plenty of people who love NAS Whidbey Island and the surrounding area and have spent their entire career here. I like the town of Oak Harbor, very military friendly, and the weather is never too hot or too cold. It's a good area if you like being in the outdoors. The base itself is pretty nice with some good squadrons (Growlers and P-3/EP-3). Gotta love the snow days during the winter time. Never thought I'd get days off for two inches of snow.

The only snow I like is snow I am snowboarding on!

Have you been on any other NAS bases?

I grew up in San Diego (military city, and where my heart will always live <3 lol) but I haven't been around to other bases as that was the only city where my dad was stationed until he retired. Any comparison on any other major bases, like VA, FL, CA. Been stationed anywhere else?

This is some gouge I got from a friend, NFO went through the academy.


Carrier Aviation: IS FUCKING AWESOME. We are the rockstars of the fleet/ship. We are what the whole strategy is based on. We're our own little club, and we always will have that together. In carrier aviation you have 4 types of aircraft.

Fighters: F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet and lord knows if the F-35 will be working by the time you get there.
Locations: Lemoore, CA (middle of the central valley bleh); Oceana NAS (Virginia Beach), Japan
Synopsis: Flying fighters is exciting for sure, but it comes at a price. Its a lot of hard work. So much so that most people stop doing it after their first couple tours because it just burns them out. They have to fly and fight. Its awesome though if you want to make it a career because so many people drop out that the retention bonus is sooo high and the possibility for promotion is just as high. I did want to fly jets, but now seeing their lifestyle, I prefer what I do.

Jammers: EA-6B Prowler, EA-18G Growler
Locations: Whidbey Island, Washington (just across the sound from Seattle), Japan
Synopsis: If you don't wanna mix it up like the fighter guys, but still wanna fly something cool, go this way. These guys do a lot of flying and are high demand, but in a shooting war, they'll be hanging back. The Prowler is kinda old and getting transitioned out though, so that means you may be lucky enough to fly the new hotness Growler. The down side is that you live in Whidbey and since the crews are being downsized from 4 to 2, it'll be a lot tougher to get promoted in the community.

Airborne Early Warning: E-2C Hawkeye
Locations: Norfolk, VA; Pt Mugu NAS, CA; Japan
Synopsis: I have loved my time in the Hawkeye. Its probably one of the best communities if not the best out there. We know we're not glamorous, but we love it and embrace it. We have a huge crew (relatively) and you can actually stand up in the airplane. So on those long flights, you aren't just sitting there thinking to yourself. The community is getting a new airplane soon, but we are still gonna be a bitch to fly. Unlike the hornets which can land autonomously on the carrier, you're flying this guy down everytime, oh and did I mention we are the biggest thing on the flight deck? Yeah, it takes a lot of training and skill. As a pilot in the community though, that's all you do is fly. You aren't very responsible for the tactical stuff. Some people get by without any knowledge of it, but there are those who get involved. Combined with the laid back attitude of the community and the better locations, its a solid choice.

Carrier Onboard Delivery: C-2 Greyhound
Locations: North Island NAS, CA; Norfolk, VA
Synopsis: The envy of the fleet. If you want to fly carrier aviation, but boat life is not for you, this is it. You spend your time training with the Hawkeye people since its essentially the same aircraft. The big difference is you spend 5 out of your 6 months on dry land, living it up in 5 star hotels and villas making mad cash. All you are is a cargo pilot though, but it leads to international flight ratings and is a great stepping stone for commercial aviation. Most of these guys end up flying small passenger planes for the navy out of cool destinations all over Europe and Asia.

Shore based aviation: Being out on a boat makes you crazy. It does however lead to better comradery, stories, and crazier port calls. When you're just sitting at a base in the middle east flying 10 hour missions every other day, well, it really does become "another day at the office."

Patrol aircraft: P-3C Orion, P-8 Poseidon
Location: Whidbey Island, WA
Synopsis: The SWO's of naval aviaiton. Huge crews, large squadrons, and land basing make these guys just as boring as the surface warfare life. Stay away unless you want to go commercial aviation later, then there's no better community.

Electronic Surveillance: EP-3 Aries
Location: Whidbey Island, WA
Synopsis: You wanna do something crazy cool (so cool I can't talk about it) this is it.

Strategic: E-6
Location: Tinker AFB, OK
Synopsis: Its basically a joint job that very few naval aviators get to do, but you go fly boeing 707's and rack up lots of flight hours traveling all over the world to different countries. If you don't really want to deploy, this is it. Granted you will be gone on a fairly regular basis but only for weeks at a time.

Helicopters: Totally different mindset. These guys get all the attitudes from the fighter mentality to the laid back whatever. I had a blast with my helicopter squadron, and as much as these guys do detachments, you end up in little units that end up on small ships. Maybe only 10 aircrew tops per detachment. It leads to lots of flight time, but maybe a little sea sickness.

Anti-sub/maritime security: SH-60B/F/R/S Seahawks
Locations: North Island; Norfolk; Jacksonville; Guam; Japan and many others
Synopsis: These guys do everything. They're the work horses. They fly cargo. They shoot pirates. They move people. They are flying before the first aircraft takes off a carrier until the last one is on deck. Life on a small boy (destroyer, cruiser) can have its perks (better food, you make your own rules with such a small detachment) but it has its downs (its a small ass boat, you may hate your detachment, etc.) Either way, the squadron lifestyle is like the P-3 community. Very large squadrons. Lots of pilots. Very competitive to stay in. But man, is flying a helicopter fun!

Heavy lift: MH-53E Super Stallion
Location: Norfolk
Synopsis: These helicopters are freaking huge! You want to fly a beast, man, there's nothing like this. Its a dying community though. There are only two squadrons in the fleet and they are combining them. Its gonna be massive, and the fact that the community is so small/specialized, you'll be deploying a lot and promotions will be very competitive.

 

[sunowl]

Great gouge, thanks for passing it along! Bottom line seems to be every community in aviation has pros and cons...but mostly pros of course! I'd be happy to wind up in any of those communities.