Pick a mission not an airframe.
As someone close to wings, I'll say this thread has been very, very helpful. However, I know I'm going to sound like a moron here, but what's SSC?
The other question I have that's been touched on lightly here is about carrier life as a helo pilot.
I have been guilty in the past of reinforcing the stereotype of the old-school HC Bubba going on and on about our community and how great it is...and I'll do it again. Just about everybody else in the Navy has us beat on command screen rates (comparing guys that ultimately screen vs. the JOs that started out as nuggets), tip of the spear bragging rights, yadda yadda. But you have to believe there's something there when alumni of HSC squadrons routinely "rave" about where we came from to the extent that it's annoying. I think it's a lot like San Diego. When I was at the Academy, I hated hearing nonstop from my San Diego native classmates about the laid back attitude, perfect weather, and hot chicks. And then I got here and saw what all the fuss was about. I can't promise perfect weather and hot chicks in every HSC squadron and some are more laid back than others (I won't get into CVN vs EXP), but you will rave.the HSC instructors in my squadron can't stop raving about VERTREP, the missions around Guam sound like a blast, etc. etc. ..
It's been said before, and I'll say it again: pick a mission, not a coast. Coasts come and go, but once you pick your community, there's pretty much no turning back. And you'll be gone half to two thirds of the time anyway, home port is just a place to hang your hat when you're not at sea.As someone close to wings, I'll say this thread has been very, very helpful. However, I know I'm going to sound like a moron here, but what's SSC?
The other question I have that's been touched on lightly here is about carrier life as a helo pilot. I originally came into the HT's hoping to select HSM, partially because I had heard in the VTs that being on a carrier is a bad time as a helo guy, but I've run across (the only) one HS instructor in my squadron who actually deployed on carriers and he loved it. Can anyone shed (current) pros and cons about small boys/carrier life/amphib life?
For the most part, I think I'm leaning towards asking for HSC because the expeditionary missions sound sweet, the possibility of being in a det in Sicily or Bahrain, the HSC instructors in my squadron can't stop raving about VERTREP, the missions around Guam sound like a blast, etc. etc. As I said, I originally came in wanting HSM because I thought the maritime warfare (ASW/ASUW, small boys, the awesome avionics, etc.) component sounded sweet, but speaking with guys in the long, long, long FRS there who aren't enjoying it and the systems heavy knowledge (which, I'll admit, does intimidate me... while I've gotten by just fine, I never felt as comfortable on a systems test or brief compared to anything regarding flying) combined with the fact there are literally no HSM instructors in the HT's (just HSL guys), my opinion has at least started leaning towards HSC. The HSL instructors have, by any large suggested to select coast over platform, while the HSC instructors have 100% said to beg and plead if I have to to get HSC, suggesting to me they loved their mission while the HSL guys didn't as much.
This. If the community briefs haven't changed within the last year or so, the two I attended both started out ok, and then devolved into an HSC IP vs. HSL IP vs. Marine IP pissing contest. I didn't really take much from those things.As a former stucon guy, I can say the community briefs suck ass.
As a former stucon guy, I can say the community briefs suck ass.
As someone close to wings, I'll say this thread has been very, very helpful. However, I know I'm going to sound like a moron here, but what's SSC?
Don't let the HT guys dissuade you from HSM. It's not bad at all. The Romeo is extremely capable, and I've enjoyed my time in the FRS.
Also, don't get your heart set on your top choice. I did pretty well in HT's and got my #7 choice. I whined like a baby until I got here, and now I'm having a great time in Jax. You'll love whatever you get, so get busy out at Seville/McGuire's/Flounders/Sammies and enjoy the end of flight school.
But you have to believe there's something there when [people] routinely "rave" about where we came from to the extent that it's annoying..
Thanks for all the advice. I understand the idea of "pick the mission not the coast" thing - however, my perception is that more and more the missions are becoming similar (with the exception of HM) -- please correct me if I'm wrong here! It's also disheartening when I hear things from IP's or guys I know in the fleet currently saying things like "the difference in communities is deciding how big of circles you want to fly." I'll be honest - when I hear things like that - it absolutely makes me want to not have a longer FRS with intense systems knowledge if I'm never going to do what I'll be trained to do and I'm just going to be flying circles. That also makes me want to pick a coast over platform if they are both just flying circles.
If that's true, then HSC have some crack cocaine-laced kool aid.Or they're trying to make themselves feel better about how their cookie crumbled... I've seen a lot of this from all sorts of dudes in all sorts of communities.
however, my perception is that more and more the missions are becoming similar