Does anyone have any info on VR-1? Seems like a really cool mission (getting to fly the SECNAV and CNO around), but my research has turned up little more than a Facebook page. I was wondering if anyone had any info on the squadron/the other ETDs (Hawaii and Italy I think) over in the VR world. Any chances for active duty to get over there for a tour or is it all FTS and SELRES?
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VR-1
- Thread starter jointhelocalizer
- Start date
Never say never, but I wouldn't plan on that. As a FTS, they're hard to get into. Also, not all the ETDs are also the VR squadron. For example, VR-51 has its own squadron spaces, but the ETD over at Hickham is physically separate (with a different jet).
It’s all FTS & SELRES. As for the ETDs, word is that they are being closed down and folded back into VR-1. No timeline has been given for that one yet.
True statement. My XO was supposed to head out to be the OIC of ETDPAC in July. She lost her orders 3 weeks before she transferred. Both ETDs moving to DC with VR-1.
Was this a planned thing or is it because of covid?
VR-51 is no longer executive transport. They’re a C-40 squadron now.
Not COVID related. It’s been in the works for a long time.
For Navy guys, that’s a second tour FTS billet. You’d go fly C-40s or C-130s for your first FTS tour.
Ah, interesting. So now they have to fly a 737 out of HI instead of a GIV? How do those guys manage? Rough life.
Is SELRES an option for both C-40/C-130 and the Gulfstreams or are those FTS only? Another question: could one go straight to the SELRES and apply for VR or does one have to go FTS and then make the switch?
Yeah, they transitioned just last year. They only have 2 jets, as opposed to 3 that the rest of the C-40 squadrons have. So far it’s been nice from a scheduling standpoint. Especially for the never ending CAG 5 moves from Iwakuni to Atsugi.
Yes, SELRES is an option for both C-40s and C-130s. You can either go SELRES from FTS or go straight to SELRES from active duty. If you go FTS, you have to be selected by a board into the FTS community. If you go SELRES, you are only applying to a specific squadron. Usually when someone rushes a squadron as a SELRES, they’ll come in and meet the front office on a drill weekend before the squadron holds its board (which is usually twice a year). Squadrons want to select SELRES that have a lot of flight time, a lot of A time and live locally. Usually the guys who are local have higher participation. As far as VR-1 and SELRES, I’m not sure, I’ll defer to someone else who knows more about that squadron.
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What does a typical career path look like for an FTS VR pilot? Could you stay in the cockpit for the majority of your time or do you have to do tours outside of the cockpit for career enhancement?
It’s harder to homestead in a squadron these days as FTS. PERS pushes the FTS more towards the ‘reserve management’ role, aka, working in a NOSC or some other reserve related staff or billet.
If you go FTS, go with the knowledge that you’re guaranteed one flying tour as a DH. If you switch early, as in right after your first shore tour, you can likely get two tours as FTS in a squadron. After that it’s a crap shoot. There are some squadrons with O-5, non-CO/XO types, but there aren’t a lot.
That why I went Air Force, I was in an FTS squadron for 8 years and just wanted to fly, even volunteered to go instruct in primary, etc. The detailer pretty much told me I had to go to a non-flying job.
