Increased slots at South Field

[46Driver]

Just saw posted up on the squadron bulletin board of how many more students the Navy expects us to train. HT-8 has averaged 243 students per year for the last 5 years but now expects a linear increase to 357 students per year by FY-12 due to the Navy's changing force structure. Expect HT-18 to be roughly the same. No news (down here at least) on what to expect from the fixed wing side.

 

[airwinger]

Sir,
Is that just Navy studs or all studs in general. Actually what I'd really like to know is that if this means an end to the Marine jet draft
semper fi,
airwinger

 

[46Driver]

Mostly Navy students - I don't think the Marines have any major changes planned. The jet draft comes and goes in cycles depending on what the Corps needs so jet drafts and helo drafts are basically a crapshoot.

 

[46Driver]

I confirmed that with the Operations Officer tonight. Marine Corps helo slots are planned to hold steady and then actually start to decline around 2007. Whether that is because the Osprey is not considered a helo, we don't know. However, the big increase in helo slots is going to be on the Navy side.

 

[splendid_splinter]

46driver.. checking into southy in a few weeks.. any reason i should be in one squadron over another? couple of ip's here mentioned hearing good things about 8..

 

[46Driver]

I really don't think there's much difference between the 2 squadrons - they are basically mirror images of each other. There is talk of them putting in HT-28 (a new helo training squadron to handle the extra load of students) but that is still conjecture at this time. Anyway, you are going to have a good time - welcome aboard!

 

[soulshaker14]

Does anyone know the status of the Marine "jet draft" (assuming that a "jet draft" is a surge in the flow of freshly winged pilots to the jet pipeline)? Is it expected to hold out through the next couple of years, or what? I'm applying to OCC 184, and would just LOVE to be "forced" into the jet pipeline.

 

[Banjo33]

They had an Admiral up at VT2 the other day. Supposedly, "there is no jet draft." Although you couldn't tell by how many people are getting jets and the hoops student control is jumping through trying to fill the slots. There really isn't anyway to accurately predict what will happen two years from now, much less next month. I wouldn't concern myself with it too much, it'll just cause more stress in your life than you need (especially once you get to Primary).

 

[jarhead]

this so-called "jet draft" has been going on since i finished primary two years ago ... a buddy of mine, a Marine who finished a month before i did, put jets last, and still got jets ... he had a low 50 NSS, which was higher than the guy who got Herks ...

when i left K-Rock last year, Marines were getting booted (attriting) out of left & right .. does anybody know if that's still happening?

semper fi

California sunset ...

 

[splendid_splinter]

just marines, or were there alot of navy attrites as well? just curious.

 

[jarhead]

when i was there it was mainly Marines getting the boot, i can think of 6 who got booted the 11 months i was there

Originally posted by splendid_splinter
just marines, or were there alot of navy attrites as well? just curious.

 

[Banjo33]

If they were accepting everyone with at least a "low 50", and you only know of six that attrited in 11 months, that doesn't seem like too many. Any idea what the circumstances were that caused them to attrite? Any of those DOR?

 

[Sammie]

Marines are still attriting out of Kingsville at a very high rate, compared to Meridian. This is in the last year or so.

 

[46Driver]

Just picked up a few tidbits. The Navy is bringing out 13 mothballed JetRangers from the desert to handle the increase flow of helo students. Also, expect the 3rd HT squadron to stand up sometime within the two years. Finally, very good chance (regardless of what the Pensacola News Journal reports) that we are going to get Air Force helicopter training here at Whiting as soon as the new NVG syllabus and aircraft are ready. Good News - since the congressional delegation from Alabama has been trying to close South Whiting and move all helo training to Dothan, Alabama under Army control.

 

[phrogdriver]

Word is the Air Force won't consider us until we add NVGs to the syllabus--still 2-3 years out. I read that the Air Force stopped their helo pipeline altogether, at lest temporarily, since they were so fat on helo pilots. They have so few helos anyway, I can't see their input making that big a difference. Plus, once you spread your legs for the USAF, you're their ho for life. Look at what they did to primary--the new grading system, no beta for the T-6, etc. They bring more money to the table and they call the shots. Wish that worked with my wife!

Phrogs phorever