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Transition to FTS

FlyBoyd

Out to Pasture
pilot
Making O-5 is much rougher in the 1317 world.

Since you brought it up. I had this on file to brief squadron dudes interested in FTS...some real hinge type shit:)

I was up for O-5 in FY-09. I picked the wrong year to be in the bottom 71%.

For the uninformed: Disregard the Total Selection percentage to the right. I don't play NPC fuzzy math and you won't either once you do the real math.

View attachment 1317 PROMOTION STATS.xls
 

MAKE VAPES

Uncle Pettibone
pilot
O-5 may be a curse... no command commanders have a hard time flying anything but a desk. Be glad. FTS detailer tried to sell the math at the OAG 08... didn't fly well, you can't bullshit bullshitters. But for bryanweatherup, if you want a 3 year good deal, tax free 4-5 months a year and some big-wing time, giddy up. Thereafter is a effing crapshoot.
 

MAKE VAPES

Uncle Pettibone
pilot
Love it FlyBoyd, did you send that to DOG? Hard to argue with Excel math. Their magical unicorn ferry ass monkey math is for the birds. Including only the above zone selects into the inzone selects without adding them into the total is interesting on BUPERS behalf to say the least. Again, should retiring as an O-5 be a life or death thing, BPT suck the fat mans ass in the FTS world as you would the REGNAV.
 

FlyBoyd

Out to Pasture
pilot
Their magical unicorn ferry ass monkey math is for the birds. Including only the above zone selects into the inzone selects without adding them into the total is interesting on BUPERS behalf to say the least.

I'm not an official stats dude by trade but I would love to hear how the hell they get away with showing it like that.

...but not on this thread...I'm starting another one now asking someone to justify.

edit: thread here http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153877&p=650047#post650047
 

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
Again, should retiring as an O-5 be a life or death thing, BPT suck the fat mans ass in the FTS world as you would the REGNAV.
Sounds very similiar to the green side of the house. Most AR guys top out at O-4, there are a handful of O-5 dudes. Now SMCR (your version is SELRES) is another story...
 

HvrNavy

New Member
pilot
Interested in applying for FTS in the next year or two. Just a few questions:

I'll have one flying tour (HSC JO tour) completed at time of application. Considering the time out of the cockpit and relatively low flight hours (~1000), is that a show stopper? If not, how can I strengthen the package? (JPME, Masters, IA, etc?)

How does assignment to a squadron and/or location get determined? Do you have much say in the location/unit you want to get assigned to or is it basically needs of the Navy?

Thanks in advance.
 

MAKE VAPES

Uncle Pettibone
pilot
Getting FTS is very competitive now. Taking a first shore tour in a non-production source (or non-flying) could be a big minus. The phrase the snake oil sellers in Millington like is "junior, most qualified". You'll put down your choice of communities, like VR, VT, HSC (or whatever). The board used to chose VT first, so your name was removed from consideration for the others. If you have someone (like an O-5) pulling you to a location if you won't be colocated with your FTS transition point (like VT ACT to VT FTS), you might have some say. Otherwise, you have no say in where you go, what you fly (VR world), this is a big dissapointment for some folks. Needs of the Navy rules since you are a Noob to the FTS world. Helo dudes with low fixed wing time tend to struggle in the VR world.

Go fly as much as you can on your shore tour, get good paper, that will help get you FTS.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
How are you able to apply after only one tour? Or do you mean you'll have one flying tour and then one non-flying tour (plus a little)? That's not a show stopper, but know there's plenty of guys that are also applying that have done two flying tours. While FTS is competitive, as MV said, sometimes timing works out in some guys favor. Just don't be surprised if you're offered something you weren't expecting. And I don't mean VR or VT.
 

HvrNavy

New Member
pilot
Or do you mean you'll have one flying tour and then one non-flying tour (plus a little)?

That's the case for the most part. Flight school/RAG (~2.5 yrs) -> one flying tour (~3 yrs) -> one year shore duty (non-flying) -> "unique orders" from now until end of MSR (non-flying).

Won't have any flying opportunities from now to end of MSR...unless a miracle happens here in Afg. I'll be within 24 months of my MSR in Oct for the next FTS board. Got decent papers. Thinking about giving it a shot.

Chances are one in a million? So you're saying there is a chance...
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
I don't think anyone is saying chances are one in a million, it will just be harder to get VT and a lot harder to get VR with only one flying tour in helos. VR is down-sizing right now, just FYI. They still pick up people (like on this last board), but post-DH guys are having a hard time finding flying spots.

Also, just so you (and anyone interested) are aware, how FTS handles "communities" has changed over the years. When I got picked up, what was being sold was that you could hop around communities as long as people wanted you. So IF you were a former CNATRA dude and went FTS helos, you could come back to CNATRA. Or if you were a FTS HSL dude, you could hop over to HC or HCS. This is no longer the case and something that I don't think gets put out very well. Once you're "in" your FTS community, "they" want to keep you in that track. That even means if you get selected for HSC, you "can't" go over and fly HSL (or vice-versa). It's actually pretty ghey.

Can you work around this? Yes, but it's not "normal" and will take some legwork on the individual's part to network and make it happen.
 

MAKE VAPES

Uncle Pettibone
pilot
If you don't care about making O-5, you can pretty much fly till 20. Major staff will follow a ticket punching DH tour (with few exections like a year at War College). Stay hinge, stay sane.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Thanks for the gouge guys.

Are FTS aviators basically doing non-flying staff jobs after a DH tour? The career timeline in the below link makes it seem that way.

http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/OFFICER/DETAILING/FULLTIMESUPPORT/Pages/Aviators.aspx

The "approved" career track expects this, yes. Personally, I'm stepping off the path.

Also, I'm assuming PCS moves are the standard after each tour or is it more likely that you're in one location for longer periods of time compared to AC?

The answer, like with much of the Navy is, "it depends." It's more a matter of where you ended up and which community you "join." Again, personally, I've moved to another city after every tour/squadron (with the exception of VT->HT as a stud) while REGNAV, and now I'm about to do another PCS for my second move as a FTS. I like that since I get bored, but others have had different experiences, especially if you're located in a place that has lots of flying/non-flying commands to go to (San Dog or Norfolk).
 
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