2 of the 3 kids they sent to our VR squadron did ok, made TAC, whined a ton (without fleet experience, and O-5 Delta buddy buddies, they had no sense of reality) and got picked up for FTS ahead of fleet dudes wanting the same gig (wtfo, junior most qualified my ass...).
Career killer? Since the career path is written from the 9-10 year point on (from transfer/redesignation)... there is no career path to speak of for the "nuggets". If any of them would have bent a jet as a JG/very junior LT TAC, there would have been hell to pay (we would do some tactical scheduling for them, so in the end what was the point of them making TAC). I know P-3 dudes fly big planes and sign young, but there is a rigorous training regiment to get there... not so much in VR where they count on foundation of fleet experience to provide sound decision making prowess. They tried to add the rigor fwiw.
IMO, Since VR is there to serve the fleet, the fleet deserves fleet experienced pilots at the helm of their transports. Who do you want up front after your third go around for weather going into Lajes when weather is sketchy at Santa Maria? Someone who has faced the music behind the boat in a prowler/off the coast of china in a P-3/landing a SH-60 on a fig on a stormy night.... or a slightly below average transferee from T-44s with 600TT?
They should never have any vols from Primary for VR... folks there should want to put warheads on foreheads or help others do it. If not, what the hell did they join for?????????
They should cull the excess from training pipeline (needs of navy, sorry bout yo luck) and use the sunken cost put into the fleet aviators with leadership experience for FTS who have "paid their dues". That's just my experiential perspective.
