Jet Options

[sundevil]

I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on the options you have after completing jet training. Are the F-18, EA-6B, and S-3 the main/only options? I understand the needs of the Navy overrides any personal preference, but how does this usually break down percentage wise? Thanks!

 

[dufault.2]

Almost right. S-3's are gone.

Nine out of ten guys get hornets of some kind or another. There is still the occasional Prowler slot though.

Seriously...no bad options as far as grey jets go out of advanced. Any option is good as long as it isn't white and 'rescue me' orange.

 

[A4sForever]

..... Any option is good as long as it isn't white and 'rescue me' orange.

I wouldn't be surprised if that (a.k.a. "Plowback") ... turns out to be a "good" deal, relatively speaking. It used to be looked down on --- undesireable --- until Vietnam surges ended and many good Aviators started flying desks instead of aircraft right out of the TRACOM.

Not enough Fleet Seats. Cutbacks. RIF's. White and orange looked pretty good then .... :icon_wink

 

[nittany03]

Rumor has it they're trying to bring back SERGRADS. Think you need a 55 nss or somesuch. Wings are wings though, be glad if you get 'em.

 

[dufault.2]

I wouldn't be surprised if that (a.k.a. "Plowback") ... turns out to be a "good" deal, relatively speaking....White and orange looked pretty good then .... :icon_wink

Hell, I'd go fly a t-34 again given the option of that or piloting paperwork. That is definitely an option that makes Trawing life look a little sweeter.

 

[Fly Navy]

I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on the options you have after completing jet training. Are the F-18, EA-6B, and S-3 the main/only options? I understand the needs of the Navy overrides any personal preference, but how does this usually break down percentage wise? Thanks!

Super Hornets, Hornets, and Prowlers. That's the choices for Navy types. My winging on Friday, the drop for Meridian was:

Navy: 2 Super Hornet, 1 Prowler
Marine: 2 Harrier, 1 Prowler, 4 Hornet

 

[handjive]

Marine: 2 Harrier, 1 Prowler, 4 Hornet

Holy crap! Are we getting ready to stand up another Prowler sqadron? I think that makes 8 Marine Prowler slots this fiscal year and it's only March!

 

[HeyJoe]

I wouldn't be surprised if that (a.k.a. "Plowback") ... turns out to be a "good" deal, relatively speaking. It used to be looked down on --- undesireable --- until Vietnam surges ended and many good Aviators started flying desks instead of aircraft right out of the TRACOM.

Not enough Fleet Seats. Cutbacks. RIF's. White and orange looked pretty good then .... :icon_wink

SERGRAD ended up being a path to guarantee your choice of seats and in early days of new aircraft (like Tomcat) virtually replacements were SERGRADs which helped bring a much more experienced group of aviators to the cockpit (needed to master its brute handling characteristics). When Hornet arrived and not as many SERGRADs opted for Tomcats, the mishaps and FNAEBs skyrocketed for avaitors fresh out of flight school.

 

[A4sForever]

Super Hornets, Hornets, and Prowlers. That's the choices for Navy types. My winging on Friday, the drop for Meridian was:

Navy: 2 Super Hornet, 1 Prowler
Marine: 2 Harrier, 1 Prowler, 4 Hornet

It's ALL grades, man ... no matter what all the rest of the guys whine about and rationalize about ....

Jets, props, helos, black-shoe ... all of 'em.

You do good --- you get good ... as in .... what you want.

 

[nocal80]

It's ALL grades, man ... no matter what all the rest of the guys whine about and rationalize about ....

Jets, props, helos, black-shoe ... all of 'em.

You do good --- you get good ... as in .... what you want.

well, not exactly. The harrier cut for the USMC prevents this from happening. Guys that don't make the harrier cut usually get hornets, which is a popular first choice. At my selection the bottom four all got their first choice of aircraft and coast, while most towards the top didn't. No whining or rationalizing here, that's just the way it is and I guess has to be.

 

[East]

The professional preference...

It's ALL grades, man ... no matter what all the rest of the guys whine about and rationalize about ....

Jets, props, helos, black-shoe ... all of 'em.

You do good --- you get good ... as in .... what you want.

This one's for you!

 

[FA-18 Mousse]

Nocal's right....back in the early to mid 90s the USMC was losing so many Harriers they created the Harrier "cut". All the top guys were getting Harriers, then Prowler and Hornets (in that order). Have even heard rumors that guys were asking IPs in K-ville and Meridian to give them average hops to help keep their grades (NSS) down....!!! Can't confirm this though.

At any rate, NSS is set to attempt to keep guys from crashing airplanes. The wider the NSS, generally the more forgiving the platform; the narrower the NSS, the more unforgiving the platform.

 

[A4sForever]

well, not exactly. .... Guys that don't make the harrier cut usually get hornets, which is a popular first choice. ....

....back in the early to mid 90s the USMC was losing so many Harriers they created the Harrier "cut". All the top guys were getting Harriers, then Prowler and Hornets (in that order).

Soooooooo ..... then it's all about grades ... yes??? :icon_wink Maybe it's just not the grades that get the seat that you want, but .....

I've said this before and I'll say it again: It's ALWAYS about the needs of the service and your "timing" --- that's a given. It's always been that way. Those constants never change, so I don't "constantly" mention them.

Example: If "they" decided "they" wanted you to fly a kite and it took good grades (maybe top grades?) to fly it --- the top guy would get the kite and the rest --- jets. Or props. Or helos. Or a desk.

Conversely, if one class had several stand-out STUDs ... but there were no seats ... then they get buttkiss for orders. If the next month's class had a bunch of plumbers for sticks, but the detailers were "flush" with Fleet seats --- then guess what?? The plumbers would get the seats. Yes ???

It doesn't matter what YOU want (maybe I should have been clearer on that score) ... as long as it's what the Navy wants. If the two are operating tangentially in a perfect world --- then everyone is happy.

Harrier cut? Flying a kite cut? Fleet seats available?? What you say ... there's none available this month??? It's still grades ... always has been, always will be. As long as you want what "Uncle" wants, that is ..... :icon_wink

You say potato ... I say potahto ... let's work the whole thing out.

 

[Mav]

How do they select who will fly jets and who flys helicopters? When is that decision made and Is there anyway to pick on your own? Thanks alot

 

[nittany03]

Mav, search on "primary selection," that topic has been covered ad nausaeum.