Primary Location

[PilotCPB]

What factors determine where an SNA undergoes primary? I talked to a Marine SNA a while back and he seemed to think that guys who had loads of flight time and high GPAs in college would get selected to go to USAF bases if they requested it. I'm just curious; personally I would rather have Primary at Whiting and be a beach bum... :icon_smil
Thanks,
Chris

 

[virtu050]

basically you walk into flight management office... talk to LT Domzal and say.."I want to go to Corpus..." or "I want to go to Whiting..." or "I'm a hard charger and would like Vance or Moody" Most likely you'll get what you want unless there is a big backlog as i think there is for whiting right now.

 

[bch]

let's rephrase that..." I want Corpus, I want Whiting, or I am the world's biggest idiot and want to go to vance or moody!!!" Why anyone would subject themselves to airforce training is beyond me. They are there all day, everyday (during the week). Corpus, when I was not flying was home in bed. same holds true for whiting.
Not to mention the fact that we had no stand ups or anything.

 

[petescheu]

bch-
Don't knock it 'till you've done it man... there are some very real benefits to A/F training. This one has been hit up over and over though, so that's all I'm going to say...

 

[Jrunbel]

When will a Marine find out where he/she is going for primary? Do you find out towards the end of TBS or during API? Are there always a few 2nd Lt's who opt to go to Vance or Moody AFB, and if there are no volunteers how many slots usually need to be filled with the AF. Any info would be great.

 

[E5B]

We found out sometime around MOS selection. There were only 4 Vance slots that needed to be filled and they picked 2 from the IFS crowd and 2 from the non-IFS crowd. When you leave TBS you'll know where you're going for Primary.

 

[msdowns]

Marines will probably find out where they're going near the end of Time Between Saturdays. You'll most likely be asked for your preferences, but "volunteers" will be asked for to fill the appropriate slots for TW-4,TW-5 (Corpus and Whiting respectively) and Vance AFB. You'll be told some BS about if you go to one or the other you'll get to start sooner, later, you'll definately get jets, C-130's, etc... All lies.

There is no advantage to starting earlier, going to one or the other. EXCEPT: If you go to Vance you'll have to unlearn certain things about how the Air Force does things that the Navy / Marine Corps doesn't. Air Force: rigid syllabus, stand up EPs, there all day, but at least you know what's next, mostly. Navy: flexible schedule, no stand-ups but you do your EPs in the plane, the disadvantage is you're totally on your own to learn your stuff.

And one other thing, when you get to NASP and check -in to MATSG-21 you'll probably have your API start date changed at least once, and where you're going for primary change to. Get used to it.

So My Advice: Don't go to Vance, and spend as much time in the pool before API as you can, you'll be busy enough later. And stay away from the teenies at Seville on Thursday nights.

 

[Jrunbel]

E5B & msdowns - thanks for the info. One more question. Does prior flight experience have any impact on going to Vance if there are no volenteers towards the end of TBS. I heard somewhere that if people need to be picked it is usually people with advanced certificates and ratings. Is this the case? If not, how do they pick Marines for Vance AFB.

 

[E5B]

There were rumors that only folks with flight time would be sent to Vance, then at the end the 4 they sent to Vance didn't have any flight time, other than the 2 that did IFS. So who knows, some TBS companies could do it different. I don't remember exactly how they picked the 4 Vance guys, maybe by lineal standings from the bottom up?

 

[Jaxs170]

Anyone who knows someone who wants to go to Vance for primary, for any reason, please do them a favor and pull them aside and beat the living bejesus out of them for their own good, they'll thank you for it later!

 

[Vic]

I second that! I wish someone would have pulled me aside and said, "The T-6 is not worth it man!" then punched me in the mouth. That would have hurt less than going to Moody.

 

[petescheu]

Don't you select this week Vic??? I figured it would be fun by now at least, or did Easy flight turn out to not be so much...

 

[Vic]

I finished on Thursday, so because the AF is so stupid, I won't find out 'til next week. They're just trying to keep me in this god forsaken town!

 

[petescheu]

You wouldn't find out till next week if you were in the Navy either... that's how it works, you know that. Best of luck though- what'd you put down?

 

[Jrunbel]

One more question - Is there a list for primary selection at TBS that is first come first serve? If a list exists, is there a point of contact once I arrive at TBS or any way you could lead me in the right direction? If no list exists, is there any solid answer to how you are picked for different primary locations? Maybe ranking top or bottom of your TBS company. Obviously, I would like nothing more than the opportunity to train at NAS Whiting or NAS Corpus Christi. Thanks for the info.