Here is what I saw as a Lead ENS down in Corpus:
If you want to do cool experimental things with CNATRA, then the way to do it is Corpus. Avenger and Hellcat (T-6 topoff for the strike dudes/dudettes) were all initially fielded at Corpus. CNATRA is headquartered in Corpus, so they will test/roll out programs at the Corpus VTs before shipping them over to Whiting. When I was up for selection at Whiting, I settled on big wing, but we got briefed that Hellcat was an option on paper. However, I didn't see a Hellcat class until months later at Whiting while multiple classes have gone through at Corpus. Also, Corpus is doing an all-Avenger squadron for Primary. That is the ultimate goal for CNATRA (VR replacing a lot of in-plane training). Doing all these programs sounds cool, but caveat emptor. New programs always have gremlins. It is just the nature of the beast.
From an aircraft selection standpoint, I didn't see any evidence to the point where I felt like it made a difference. Plenty of people from Whiting went to South Field, Kingsville, Meridian, and Corpus. The same spread in Corpus. I think there is a lot of false significance placed on Primary location. Studs who got helos who didn't want them at Whiting sometimes feel like they got screwed because they were in Whiting. Talking to STUCON, people who get helos who don't want them (outside helo drafts where whole classes go) are typically those who put lofty dream sheets out, but their NSS doesn't support it. P-8s for example only require someone to pass the program. However, P-8s are pretty competitive, so you need a decent NSS to be in the running. There are around as many helo squadrons as jet squadrons and every helo takes two pilots. There is simply a lot of demand for helo pilots.
As others have said, do the best you can to crush Primary. The better you do, the harder it is for CNATRA to tell you no if a spot is available. If you have the number one NSS that week, then the board is yours. Remember, you compete against the other location for slots too. It is a beancounting game that you will go blue in the face trying to figure out, though. As one sage poster once said, "Study more than you party, sleep more than you study, and party as much as you can."
