Another Army Aviation Question: Fixed Wing?

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by bunk22

Probably another reason why a fixed guy doesn't switch, unless they want to fly rotary. I think Army flying would be a great experience.

Army flying IS a great experience. It does, however, get old- and ultimately at the end of the day you're still in the Army.

[BCTAv8r]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

at the end of the day you're still in the Army.

Not to offend anyone, but why does it seem like the Army is most people's last choice?

[C650CPT]

Originally Posted by bunk22

No lets say a fixed wing pilot from another service is attempting to switch Army and fly...what be the probability of that person flying fixed wing in the Army?

I won't say Zero ... but Zero. Initially anyways. I have to preface this and say at least in the Guard, and we have the preponderance of the FW assets. Each State Flight Detachment is small in size. We have 6 assigned Aviators for one C-12 and 4 for one C-23. As stated in another post here, it used to be CW4 and Majors could competer for a FW transition, now it is open to CW2s .... One would expect to serve in a RW assignment for a number of years and multiple applications before being selected. FW in the Guard is very high profile and while there is no such thing as Pre-Selection for jobs, people are being watched over time. First and Foremost is your reputation, as an Officer and as a Pilot. I was extremely fortunate and was selected as a CW2 for FW, at the time the lowest rank to get a FW tour was a CW4 or a Maj. I've held one of the six slots in the Unit for 14 years so you can see there is very slow movement. I can say the fact that both Colonels involved knew me very well didn't hurt my opportunity (NETWORKING)... I guess you can say I was lucky ... or that I was prepared for the opportunity. There are still Officers waiting for the opportunity to fly FW so a new comer to the game has the deck stacked against him. Right now the surest way to get a FW qual is to agree to an immediate deployment with no guarentee of a utilization tour states side when you return.
Now that I've said that I would never tell someone not to apply if it is what they wanted, they should just be aware of the realities of an organization they may not be familiar with. Strange things happen in Strange times and right now ... thems is strange times out ther.

Jim

[C650CPT]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Not to offend anyone, but why does it seem like the Army is most people's last choice?

For me it was my first Choice ...after the Navy and AirForce and Marines and Coast Guard and United and American and Delta and .....

[sog]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Not to offend anyone, but why does it seem like the Army is most people's last choice?

In my experience, most people are more interested in fixed wing [which is a polite way of saying they just watched topgun and now they wanna fly fighter jets, just don't tell 'em the f-14 is retired] aircraft than in rotorcraft/helos. And the army doesn't do as much fixed-wing stuff as the other services.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Not to offend anyone, but why does it seem like the Army is most people's last choice?

The last choice in terms of what? Lifestyle? Aircraft/type of flying?

I'll admit it was my last choice- I wanted to fly fixed wing jets. When that didn't work out, rotary wing started to seem cool. So I went for that.

[Low_Level_Hell]

In QoL the Army looses hands down.

The flying, at least on the Attack side, I wouldn't trade for anything (other than the A-10 maybe). I can only speak from my observations but it seems like in the Army you are way less resticted and controlled than the AF/Navy guys. Even in training in the States, twice a week they give you the keys and tell you to go burn 3 hours any way you want. As for combat as an Army Aviator you're considered another manuever element and much more tied in to battle than any fighter jet would be.

I'd still cross over to the Blue in a heart beat though. I think if I had to do it all over agian I'd be a SWO.