Yes, the debates are much more interesting than just a bland one-sentence answer.
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So you want to be a CAG (but can't)...
- Thread starter revan1013
- Start date
Yes, the debates are much more interesting than just a bland one-sentence answer.
I think that's the whole point. I would contend that despite the high rank CAG is still a pretty specialized job, at least compared to a MEF commander.
One thing to remember is helo guys still stand _P and _R watch stations and were expected to at least generally understand what the airwing was doing. One lesson learned though was to make sure that two helo guys were not scheduled for the same time.
And to add more to this, while the mission of the CVW may be strike, don't forget that to accomplish a strike mission the boat still has to safely get to an operating area, through contested waters, etc. To this end, CAG still has to be prepared to accomplish ASUW/ASW missions to protect the carrier/CSG or to accomplish assigned tasking that may be other than strike (IBB and CVW-1's anti-piracy ops, HADR, etc).
Bring on the CAG from VP!!!
If ever there was a Donny in Naval Aviation it's P-3 guys, not the helo types. You'll notice, and rightly so, that the P-3 types have been pretty silent during this whole conversation. It has been fascinating to see the helo vs hook guys points of view on a subject that has little to no bearing on my life.
This sparked my imagination.
VP CAG: "Gentlemen, the balloon has gone up for Iran and the President has directed a strike. I'll be strike lead as HAMMER 11 in a division of P-3Cs with a loadout of 18x vintage MK82 dumb bombs. We'll carpet bomb these fuckers back to the stone age! Spin up the Alert 30 helo to fly me to Al Udeid so I can start my three hour preflight!"
VFA CAG Staffer: "Uhh, sir..."
Brett
Because VP is utterly fucking clueless and is still trying to be relevant.
What about an EP-3 guy? Especially considering our role in various O-plans which shall remain nameless...We certainly play at Strike-Int. I'm not arguing by the way, that CAG's should be X community...just saying that "knowledge of strike" isn't the real bar to that job...or at least the only bar.
But then you'd be wrong, as we've illustrated in this thread. 
As the Strike Warfare commander in the CSG, it IS the real bar to the job - the only one that matters. At the risk of beating a dead horse, there's obviously a lot more to being CAG, but this is the fundamental requirement.
Brett
As the Strike Warfare commander in the CSG, it IS the real bar to the job - the only one that matters. At the risk of beating a dead horse, there's obviously a lot more to being CAG, but this is the fundamental requirement.Brett
Dammit, I was hoping to get to the end of this thread and be the first one to cash my checks, snap some necks, and lob a hand grenade nominating myself as the first VP CAG in 2032.
Launch the ready 2!
Shit's broken.
Launch the ops ready!
They're still troubleshooting.
Call the next crew in!
...they haven't landed yet?
Actually the Sea Combat Commander will be the supported commander for these missions. CAG will be a force provider to BZ for ASW and SUW, so while he will be involved in the discussion, CAG will not be the lead for either of these mission.
I think when you get to the fleet in a jet squadron you will see there is a drastic difference in the level of knowledges between what you knew as an EP-3 guy and what you will know as a Tacair guy. And I did a big part of the workups for an air wing followed by doing ops with them when they deployed as an EP-3 guy. But I was still only an observer sitting on the sidelines as a VQ guy even when doing ops overseas, it was drastically different as VAQ guy actually planning and flying the strikes.
If you want someone to command a unit you want someone who has experience in it's primary mission and the helo guys in the air wing don't have it, simple as that.
No argument...Again, I don't have a clue what it takes to be a CAG...that's not my argument.
I'm out of my element Donnie...time to go get drunk.
^^This. How can so many aviators posting in this thread have such a fundamental misunderstanding of how things work in a CSG? This baffles me, and proves my point. Crack a pub or two before you decide to have opinions, people.
Brett