CSO drop nights

[flyguyinthesky]

Update on general UCT drop trends:

RC-135 is still popular as ever, there’s been a generous number of strike eagles, AC-130J’s seem like they’re in full swing, and Growlers are totally off the table now so the only “WSO” platforms now are F-15E, B-1, and B-52, although new classes don’t have traditional tracks anymore.

[CDAWG]

What does CSO training look like these days? I went through in 14-15 when we were jack of many masters of none. I've read about the divesture of the T-1 from flying training. Does the amount of sorties in the T-6 increase? I always felt we got shorted with sorties compared to our pilot brethren. Sims don't build airmanship. This was always a big complaint from FTU's. 

[trippedandfell]

On 2/11/2025 at 12:03 PM, flyguyinthesky said:

and Growlers are totally off the table now so the only “WSO” platforms now are F-15E, B-1, and B-52

Are you able to expand on this at all? I'll be starting UCT by the end of this year and that was one of my 'dream' airframes.

[SurelySerious]

Are you able to expand on this at all? I'll be starting UCT by the end of this year and that was one of my 'dream' airframes.

Yes: join the Navy

[flyguyinthesky]

On 2/17/2025 at 11:55 AM, trippedandfell said:

Are you able to expand on this at all? I'll be starting UCT by the end of this year and that was one of my 'dream' airframes.

Word on the street is too many CSO’s wash out of the Growler schoolhouse so they switched to only taking NFO’s, but that’s just the word. Airframes will probably switch 2-3 more times in the 2 years before you drop yours, so maybe they’ll come back. Seems like everybody loses a dream airframe while in training due to them going away, just stick with it and you’ll probably find an airframe you’ll love even if you don’t know about it right now. Tons of cool things to do as a CSO.

[flyguyinthesky]

Drop out of deep left field, somebody on EWO track dropped E-7 Wedgetail, airframes are always changing it seems!

[flyguyinthesky]

June Drop

EWO:

4x RC-135

2x RQ-170

WSO:

3x F-15E

1x B-52

[flyguyinthesky]

The last “track” drop, all drops after this will be single track with all students able to drop any available airframe, no longer limited to a category (EWO/WSO/SO):

EWO 25-15

3x RC-135

2x RPA

[flyguyinthesky]

On 2/12/2025 at 11:05 AM, CDAWG said:

What does CSO training look like these days? I went through in 14-15 when we were jack of many masters of none. I've read about the divesture of the T-1 from flying training. Does the amount of sorties in the T-6 increase? I always felt we got shorted with sorties compared to our pilot brethren. Sims don't build airmanship. This was always a big complaint from FTU's. 

Basically going back to what you experienced as a jack of all. Shifting to more sims to replace the T-1, T-6 sorties remaining the same as before.

[RANDOMDUDE13]

Curiosity here based on a few reddit threads and from talking to a few acquaintances on the Navy's NFO side. Fighters from what I was told are the least competitive to be assigned as an NFO, whereas P-8s are the most competitive. On the CSO side of the house are the trends similar where fighters are least competitve and other platforms are more?