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Hornet vs F35

Brett327 said:
When considering one’s position on NFOs, think about how cool it would be to have me in your ear the whole time. Imagine having a benevolent TACAIR deity, with global SA, backing you up. 😀 Double edged sword, but I’ve heard that flying with me is pretty sweet. 😂
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Thanks for the offer. While I am certain I have the patience, I don't need to test that theory. It's also nice to dangle a participle or throw out a half-baked idea once in a while without judgment... :D
 
This thread’s been done to death. But, for a little extra perspective, as a B-model guy who is finishing up his first fleet tour in Japan, I’d go Cs, Bs, Hornets.

Couple considerations:

-Yes, B’s and C’s are the same MOS, and in theory they are interchangeable, but there are unique quals associated with both (see LSO) that get you marked as a “boat guy” for that particular community. Also, the C models need to keep their TAI experience in house, so once you get a few CVN deployments and a tailhook LSO qual under your belt, it seems like you’re pretty much marked for life. Not as much for the B, but similar.

-If you put a gun to my head, I, and most others, would choose the CAG over the MEU. Watching the MEU CE trying to plan around 5th Gen tactics and vice-versa is… something.

-20.5 is more than 13.5.

-From talking to the bros, it seems like the most intense deploy to dwell right now is: C model TAI, B model Japan, B model CONUS, C model Exped, in order.

-Big upside to the B model: if you want to take a break from the fleet, the B model FRS’s are in much nicer locations than the C model. Most people vastly prefer Miramar and Beaufort over Yuma, Lemoore, and Cherry Point. You might not care about anything besides flight hours right now, but you're only going to be in the air 100-200 hrs per year, vice the other ~8500 hrs you'll spend in and around your duty station.

-Watching some of my buds die on the vine in Hornet land is painful. They are playing musical chairs as the community shrinks. On the other hand, If you’re an F-35 section lead or above, the MC has a grey aircraft for you to fly.

Go 5th Gen, don’t look back.



EDIT: For posterity:

The C is superior to the B model, and arguably more important the CVN/CAW is superior to the amphib/ACE. On an amphib you will always be short of gas and flight time, you will constantly be fighting for people to get off your runway, and you’ll likely be under close scrutiny of a MEU and/or ACE CO who doesn’t understand what TACAIR can and cannot do. Also, in a high end fight, the MEU is never going to get close enough to do anything, and if does it’s because it’s an ESG with a CVN attached. No sane commander is going to risk the lives of 1300 Marines and another 1000 sailors to get 10 F-35B’s close enough to do anything just for the sake of it. Bold assumption they are sane though.
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Duc-guy, not sure what your background is but this is probably the most accurate telling of TACAIR on the MEU that I've seen someone put on paper. I can't fully articulate how underwhelming working with the MEU has been when it comes to training and employment as an F-35 dude.
 
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Pakol said:
Duc-guy, not sure what your background is but this is probably the most accurate telling of TACAIR on the MEU that I've seen someone put on paper. I can't fully articulate how underwhelming working with the MEU has been when it comes to training and employment as an F-35 dude.
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This is hilarious.

31st MEU dude does the WESTPAC exercise rodeo and complains about not being employed effectively. 😂 Welcome to the rest of III MEF brother! You’re not special.
 
Would USMC F-35's be primarily used as part of a USAF lead combined air campaign (a la Desert Storm) or is the primary concept of operating around using the jet to somehow support Marine infantry /combined arms ops??
 
Hotdogs said:
This is hilarious.

31st MEU dude does the WESTPAC exercise rodeo and complains about not being employed effectively. 😂 Welcome to the rest of III MEF brother! You’re not special.
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Beg to differ, sir. III MEF is very special.
 
JTS11 said:
Navy jet community: pissed

Do they still have jump jet training spots up on the Pendleton coast?
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There still exists the 1,500’ runway of KNXF along with an unlit LHD pad, yes. Never in my almost 5 years flying in the SoCal operating area have I seen nor heard F-35Bs going there. They seem to only do their VL patterns at Miramar and Yuma.
 
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