VFA Pilot attached to SEAL teams as FAC

[ATbullfrog]

CDR Scott volunteered for and deployed with SEAL Team FIVE in 2006 as their Forward Air Controller and Air Officer to Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

How was this a thing? Curious how a Navy VFA pilot was able to attach to a ground unit in a FAC position. I know Marine Pilot can do it during their B-billet with Infantry, but never heard of a Navy Pilot doing this - especially with the SEALS.

Maybe it was apart of the Navy's IAD ( Individual augmentee program). Is this still a thing?

 

[Hozer]

total guess: sounds like an voluntold IA billet and he probably stayed in the JOC. Still cool as shit, though. He wasn't hanging out on rooftops lasing targets.

 

[bubblehead]

It's called fluff, just like a FITREP.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

total guess: sounds like an voluntold IA billet and he probably stayed in the JOC. Still cool as shit, though.

Combat action ribbon and BSM with V may suggest otherwise

 

[Python]

To the OP: It is not uncommon for aviators to join a SEAL team as a Fires O during their shore tour.

 

[insanebikerboy]

I know him third hand, the dude did some good things overseas, definitely didn’t just hang out in the JOC all day.

 

[SRiley52]

To the OP: It is not uncommon for aviators to join a SEAL team as a Fires O during their shore tour.

Holy. You can actually choose to do this as a shore tour? I feel like the general consensus is that shore tour for pilots is some variety of administrative work, and this sounds a million times better.

 

[Scruff]

Disassociated Sea Tour ^

 

[Brett327]

To the OP: It is not uncommon for aviators to join a SEAL team as a Fires O during their shore tour.

Please quantify “not uncommon,” because that implies that it is common, which is by no means the case. I would place it in the “extraordinarily rare” category.

 

[SRiley52]

So I'm assuming there would be some variety of a drawback for doing this? Like a potential speed bump in tour career? Because as juvenile as it might be, the idea of doing this instead of some of the less desirable options has me rock hard lol

 

[JTS11]

WRT b-billets it's best practice to maintain a flaccid attitude until you've engaged with your detailer/monitor.

 

[Python]

Please quantify “not uncommon,” because that implies that it is common, which is by no means the case. I would place it in the “extraordinarily rare” category.

hard to quantify. I would agree that “not uncommon” is wrong. I would not say extraordinary rare. Perhaps “regularly but infrequently occurring” on the slate.

 

[wlawr005]

FSBO was my prior skipper and the skipper of VFA-106. He was a JTAC with SEAL team 5 in 2005 and deployed with Marcus Luttrell. His story is pretty extraordinary and he is very well respected for the work he did there.

 

[wlawr005]

total guess: sounds like an voluntold IA billet and he probably stayed in the JOC. Still cool as shit, though. He wasn't hanging out on rooftops lasing targets.

He 100% did not stay in the JOC.

 

[Renegade One]

Cool AF. I'm a little jealous.