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VMFA187

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Everything posted by VMFA187

  1. VMFA187
    Excellent, thank you. It's actually AF SOS that I'm nearly complete with - USMC PME is a two year distant learning program where I'll have knocked out AF PME in about three months after the fourth, final module begins next month.
  2. VMFA187
    Perhaps a bit off topic from what is being discussed here of late, however how would a Guard unit view a rated pilot from another service who is looking to join as an O-3? I've chosen not to complete USMC PME for O-4 promotion, but am 75% complete with SOS DL Course 22 having started in January. Am I wasting my time? Or would it be viewed favorably?
  3. VMFA187
    Amongst my Marine Hornet brethren, $60k minimum would be required to change someone's mind. $75k would go far in solving our retention problem.
  4. VMFA187
    There was an Air Force dude years back that flew with us when I was a student in Kingsville who said he was tasked to evaluate the T-45 as a potential replacement. That was probably back in 2010...
  5. VMFA187
    I've been there a handful of times during WestPacs and Translants, but never for more than four weeks at a time. What * said is pretty accurate. I think I'd have a hard time living there for more than a month or two due to its incredibly small size, but it was fun getting out of Japan and going somewhere tropical for a few weeks at a time while we were deployed. Good diving, fair beaches. Tumon Bay is really the only place to go out and have dinner / drinks but it gets old pretty quick. I do have fond memories of The Beach Bar, however.
  6. VMFA187
    Concur.
  7. VMFA187
    I see. Our continuation relates to twice passed O-3s because they can't get any Captains to stay, but it sounds generally like what is happening in the AF apparently. There has been rumor of stop loss in the Hornet and Osprey communities though... We are. When I winged it was 8 years for jets and other fixed wing aircraft, and only 6 for helos. I think it's 8 across the board now. Dude - Just let us train. Allow us to be fighter pilots inside the cockpit and out. And stop making us do countless collateral duties / BS training which has become our primary focus. Retention problem solved.
  8. VMFA187
    Is the AF actually doing that? The Marine Corps started doing that this year, tacking on an additional 3 years to one's commitment automatically, unless the individual seeking to depart jumped through hoops over the course of only two weeks.
  9. VMFA187
    Clarification request - Are you speaking about specific communities regarding their missions and performance? Or individuals? If its the former, I agree. The latter, I couldn't disagree more - Manning a fighter means you should be able to execute every mission that your TMS is responsible for, notwithstanding proficiency limitations due to continually decreasing flight hours, etc...
  10. VMFA187
    +$300 in San Diego. Better to be lucky than good!
  11. VMFA187
    We partied with them on my last WestPac in late '14 when Trip was their CO. We had a great time.
  12. VMFA187
    I hope you were able to pick up on my ever-so-slight sense of sarcasm.
  13. VMFA187
    Do more with less.
  14. VMFA187
    True. All WSO configured jets have a little nub that you can attach a stick to. WSO-BFM on the road for a quick abeam set was always fun with them reaching down between their legs trying to fly the jet. Some of the smarter ones would bring a PVC pipe...
  15. VMFA187
    That sounds correct. But 95% of all two-seat variants are the night attack version. No fleet squadrons have any two-stick jets - They're all configured with two hand controllers in the back. Only the RAG trains with the two-stick jets so we can put Instructor Pilots in the back seat for early FAMs and initial flights for various stages while training Cat 1s.
  16. VMFA187
    No, all fleet configured 2-seat aircraft have hand controllers in the back seat. The WSOs don't bump the stick all the time in the Strike Eagle?
  17. VMFA187
    Not to my knowledge.
  18. VMFA187
    Only 10 or 12 jets for VMFAT-101, our RAG squadron that trains guys to show up to the fleet. Why do you ask? The vast majority are all strictly WSO-configured - Hand controllers only vice stick and throttle. Why do you ask?
  19. VMFA187
    VFA-204, the River Rattlers are based out of New Orleans. What I've found is that I really love doing A/A... So why not see if I can't fly a platform that does it the best, exclusively?
  20. VMFA187
    Any interest in a Hornet driver? 4 Ship Flight Lead, Instructor Pilot, Aviation Safety Officer, NATOPS Instrument Evaluator ...
  21. VMFA187
    No F-15 experience over here, unfortunately. But more than my share of flying with a WSO in F-18s. Bottom line - Single seat trumps all. There are WSOs/Navs who are worth their weight in gold, but I would trade them for having to fly with the others. Something about being up there alone, or even better, with three of your buddies who are all in sole control of their machines.
  22. VMFA187
    Gents, I've been toying around with the option of not staying in the Marine Corps once my initial commitment has been completed. This is due to a multitude of factors: 1/1 deployment to home ratios, aging airframes and declining flight hours, etc... That being said, each and every time I come back from a DCA, AI, or BFM flight I swear I'd sell my soul to keep doing it. I'm curious about the ANG and Reserve options, and I've done a fair amount of research, but I still feel relatively in the dark when it comes to the Air Force as a whole. Would a first tour, 4-ship Hornet flight lead be competitive in potentially getting selected for an ANG or Reserve Fighter unit? I know that the Air Force does business a little differently than we do, but I've also served as our Airframes Division OIC as well as our Aviation Safety Officer. Any discussion, guidance, or direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys. S/F
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