Do you guys really have to turn off the microwave to fly on NVGs? If so, man that really sucks.
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USMC Maritime
- Thread starter DaveKell
- Start date
Do you guys really have to turn off the microwave to fly on NVGs? If so, man that really sucks.
Sir,
I have a few questions about the Herc Community. I appreciate any info or insight you can share.
As a C-130 pilot what collateral billets are available to you when you reach the fleet?
Do you have a say or preference in the choice of your ground job (collateral billet)?
How many times do you fly per week?
What does the schedule look like of a typical work day as a C-130 pilot in the fleet?
How many hours do you typically fly per week or month?
Are you given enough free time during the work week to spend time with family and friends?
How long are deployments? (During War and Peace time)
What do you do when you are not deployed?
How would you describe your time during flight school?
What was your selection wish list coming out of Primary?
Kind of but it's the other way around. When we select NVIS mode (changes all lighting to NVG compatible) the microwave is automatically turned off. So basically don't be that newb who asks the crew chief to heat up his hot pocket while in NVIS mode.
Rico ill try my best to answer your questions:
As a C-130 pilot what collateral billets are available to you when you reach the fleet?
-the same ones as any other squadron: ops, maintenance, safety or s-shops
Do you have a say or preference in the choice of your ground job (collateral billet)?
-Nope, XO fills the spots based on what's available at the time and your experience level i.e. 1st tour, second tour or Maj.
How many times do you fly per week?
-It varies but Avg is a couple times a week.
What does the schedule look like of a typical work day as a C-130 pilot in the fleet?
-normal USMC hours are 0730-1630. With that being said, in the air wing we normally work longer. I work in maintenance and I usually show at 0630 and leave at 1700.
How many hours do you typically fly per week or month?
-lowest month is 7, highest is 67. A good month is 30ish, a shitty month is 7.
Are you given enough free time during the work week to spend time with family and friends?
-yes but you have to manage your time very well. Herc guys are on the road quite a bit so even when I'm home, I'm not really home.
How long are deployments? (During War and Peace time)
-Normal OEF is 7months. A MEU could keep you out as long as 9. No idea about peace time because all my time has been in while we were at war.
What do you do when you are not deployed?
-Work at my ground job and enjoy my handful of flights a month.
How would you describe your time during flight school?
-busy just like every other platform. But fun at the same time.
What was your selection wish list coming out of Primary?
1. Herks 2. Jets 3. Ospreys
Hope this helps. Not sure where you are at right now but worry about the closest gator to the boat. So if you are applying for OCS, train for that. If you are in flight school, worry about that. There is nothing you can do now to prep yourself for a ground job. All ground jobs suck, we just suck it up and do them as best we can because that's how it is until we can go fly. But enjoy flight school because it will be the last time all you worry about flying. In the fleet you have to work study time and flight planning in with your ground job, mando fun, mando training, SAPR briefs, medical hit lists etc.
Good luck.
As a C-130 pilot what collateral billets are available to you when you reach the fleet?
-the same ones as any other squadron: ops, maintenance, safety or s-shops
Do you have a say or preference in the choice of your ground job (collateral billet)?
-Nope, XO fills the spots based on what's available at the time and your experience level i.e. 1st tour, second tour or Maj.
How many times do you fly per week?
-It varies but Avg is a couple times a week.
What does the schedule look like of a typical work day as a C-130 pilot in the fleet?
-normal USMC hours are 0730-1630. With that being said, in the air wing we normally work longer. I work in maintenance and I usually show at 0630 and leave at 1700.
How many hours do you typically fly per week or month?
-lowest month is 7, highest is 67. A good month is 30ish, a shitty month is 7.
Are you given enough free time during the work week to spend time with family and friends?
-yes but you have to manage your time very well. Herc guys are on the road quite a bit so even when I'm home, I'm not really home.
How long are deployments? (During War and Peace time)
-Normal OEF is 7months. A MEU could keep you out as long as 9. No idea about peace time because all my time has been in while we were at war.
What do you do when you are not deployed?
-Work at my ground job and enjoy my handful of flights a month.
How would you describe your time during flight school?
-busy just like every other platform. But fun at the same time.
What was your selection wish list coming out of Primary?
1. Herks 2. Jets 3. Ospreys
Hope this helps. Not sure where you are at right now but worry about the closest gator to the boat. So if you are applying for OCS, train for that. If you are in flight school, worry about that. There is nothing you can do now to prep yourself for a ground job. All ground jobs suck, we just suck it up and do them as best we can because that's how it is until we can go fly. But enjoy flight school because it will be the last time all you worry about flying. In the fleet you have to work study time and flight planning in with your ground job, mando fun, mando training, SAPR briefs, medical hit lists etc.
Good luck.
Thank you sir for the response. There is not that many threads that go about the lifestyle, and pros/cons of flying the C-130s as there are about helos and jets, so I appreciate the insight.
"Oh, the humanity!"
Even though they are the only "leading enlisted Marines" jobs available in the squadron?
360 Leadership evals may be tough reading for you…but who cares, yes? You're clearly doing the best you can…until you can go fly.
LFCFan
*Insert nerd wings here*
Renegade, patrolling every forum with another leadership symposium
Not sure what you were getting at but ill take a stab at it. I joined the Marine Corps to fly. I enjoy flying so ultimately that is what I look forward to since my primary MOS is 7557 KC-130 Transport Plane Commander.
My ground job as the QAO is not my MOS but a ground job which is necessary for the squadron to function and ultimately vital to my career. Not only because the majority of my FITREP is based off QAO accomplishments but also because I'm a junior Capt filling a more senior Capt's billet.
Although not all ground jobs involve leading Marines, I've been fortunate to work in maintenance the majority of my time in the fleet and have led and continue to lead Marines. I enjoy what I do in my billet and work with the cream of the crop in the maintenance department.
However if I had the option to to be in a service where being a 7557 was my ground job AND flying job I'd take it because it would allow me to truly be an expert in my platform.
You got it. Keep asking questions if you have them, that's what we are here for.
Bud, no need to explain what you meant...I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that most of us who read your post did not take what you said about ground jobs sucking the same way R1 did...Not sure what you were getting at but ill take a stab at it. I joined the Marine Corps to fly. I enjoy flying so ultimately that is what I look forward to since my primary MOS is 7557 KC-130 Transport Plane Commander.
My ground job as the QAO is not my MOS but a ground job which is necessary for the squadron to function and ultimately vital to my career. Not only because the majority of my FITREP is based off QAO accomplishments but also because I'm a junior Capt filling a more senior Capt's billet.
Although not all ground jobs involve leading Marines, I've been fortunate to work in maintenance the majority of my time in the fleet and have led and continue to lead Marines. I enjoy what I do in my billet and work with the cream of the crop in the maintenance department.
However if I had the option to to be in a service where being a 7557 was my ground job AND flying job I'd take it because it would allow me to truly be an expert in my platform.
Well played. However, it would appear that I've been misinformed these last 4 decades. To wit:
1. Every Marine a Rifleman.
2. A Marine officer first; a pilot second.
Makes me wonder about your rifle scores.
Well I'm headed to a FAC tour shortly so ill make sure to drink some Kool Aid for you.