Getting FTS is very competitive now. Taking a first shore tour in a non-production source (or non-flying) could be a big minus. The phrase the snake oil sellers in Millington like is "junior, most qualified". You'll put down your choice of communities, like VR, VT, HSC (or whatever). The board used to chose VT first, so your name was removed from consideration for the others. If you have someone (like an O-5) pulling you to a location if you won't be colocated with your FTS transition point (like VT ACT to VT FTS), you might have some say. Otherwise, you have no say in where you go, what you fly (VR world), this is a big dissapointment for some folks. Needs of the Navy rules since you are a Noob to the FTS world. Helo dudes with low fixed wing time tend to struggle in the VR world.
Go fly as much as you can on your shore tour, get good paper, that will help get you FTS.