I was just wondering what deployments are out there for 60s and C130s, and how often pilots get deployed. Having been on a 378, I'm familiar with the 65 deployments, but just wondering about the other airframes.
I'm interested because I'm looking to minimize time away from home. In my 3 years of active duty I've spent less than a year at home; hoping for a change.
60's and C130's deploy quite alot. The rotation, at Clearwater for pilots a few years ago, was a two week deployment once a month or so. Both airframes deployed, just to different sites.
I'm interested because I'm looking to minimize time away from home. In my 3 years of active duty I've spent less than a year at home; hoping for a change.
I'm surprised that an OFFICER was not aware he was joining a seagoing service prior to signing up.....
waaahhh!! get over it!! worldwide availability!! any deployment you do as an airdale is short, very short compared with seagoing. don't want to deploy quit.
For C-130's you can plan on 2-3 deployments per year of 2 weeks in length, with a few other trips thrown in now and again. Please though...don't try to become an aviator so you can spend more time at home. Wrong motivation, wrong attitude and it WILL show IF you get picked up for flight school and IF you make it through and IF you show up at an operational unit. Despite all the bad stuff that gets slung around about pilots and crews on these boards...we are motivated to do our jobs for the sake of doing our jobs.
Ex CG GM...for one, THIS OFFICER knows he joined a sea going service. Where else would I find targets to recruit future aviators (read: middle of the pacific, low fly-by, watching BM's tell the deckies not to stare directly into the big white thing in the sky as it could unscrew all the hard work they put into convincing a 19 year old that the only way to salvation was through air powered deck grinders.)
Senior Chief...I didn't know that was you until now!! How is Maine treating you?
Very well! We have been here for over a year now. I thought maybe you had "defected" to Canada. I bet your exchange tour was a good one. I saw some E-City photos of the new HC-144A. I hope all the pallet bugs are working out.
The tour in Canada was ok. 2 years and that was about all I could handle of living there. Contrary to popular belief 1) canada is NOT just like the US and 2) Universal "free" healthcare is not free and it sucks!
We have been in Sacramento since April. Although the SAR load is light we have about 300 days away from home a year for JIATF deployments. Different than E City flying, but I am still enjoying it. Where are you in Maine? We took the ferry from Yarmouth to Portland a couple of times and spent some time in Scarborough. We really enjoyed it! I hope all is well with you!
Ex GM_ I know it wasn't directed at me, but what is the fun in that? Oh, and I had to laugh when I read your post...I had typed something about being a 3 year ens, but deleted it!
Interesting about the Health care up there. There are many debates about it on the forums. Tell us more!!
If you had got off the ferry in Bar Harbor you would drive up RT 3 then hit RT1 in Ellsworth. If you went North (really East) on US RT1 you'd hit Columbia Falls in about an hour. So we are about 3.5 hours to Portland. Just drove to Bangor to update the kid's ID card. About 1.5 hour drive. Thank heaven for the ANG Base there!
I saw an article in the AF Times about by-by to Manta due to national politics. Humm?
senior do i know you? anyway life in Clearwater is complicated but not difficult. the only problem is the change of mindset from SAR to AUF is a culture shock to the aviation community. other than that just trying to keep the pyro accounted for and listening to people complaint about being gone for two weeks in the Bahamas with per diem. where do i sing to be away from the wife and kids while getting paid?
There are many topics on the forum with different communities having growing pains with the new AUF mission.
Much of it is extra work, without enough extra resources... depends on the unit. I still read folks writing about SAR vs LE, etc. but that's nothing new. That was the topic back in the early Eighties. What keeps the CG going is it's ability to adapt fast. Believe it or not, there is much more money these days for new missions than there was in the past. However, there is much more pressure for us to stand up things. Plenty of other groups in DHS glad to take our money for their missions and toys!
The hardest part is growing people into new skills. It just takes time. Clearwater is a big busy place. I'm glad I missed being stationed there or Mobile from the many stories I heard.
Like the early Eighties, much change with new airframes and missions. Exciting times for a new generation of air puppies.
Reminds me of a sign in a diner I saw 35 years ago. It said, "We've never had it so good."
It is much different being at a one aircraft unit. It just means the shops have to start rivalries with each other vice airframe to airframe.
Nova Scotia itself is nice enough. The land is beautiful and underdeveloped which I really enjoyed. We lived in the Annapolis Valley, just south of the Bay of Fundy. Lots of vineyards and apple orchards as well as pig farms. The weather was kind of like Buffalo in the winter...Bay effect snow would pound you for days. Summers were short but REALLY hot, and no one believes in air conditioning. I did learn to love Tim Hortons, which I see has migrated to the states in the NE. I absolutely loved the flying. We did a ton of overland SAR and dropped SAR Techs out of the airplane routinely. It felt nice to be in a herc and actually affect a rescue vice just find it and call in a helo.
As far as the health care goes...what is the saying, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."? First, count on paying 29-40% income tax. Now, add 17% goods and service tax to that. Anything at all that you buy or any service you get (ie groceries, gas, plumber, yard man, anything)is taxed at 17%. It is a couple percent lower in other provinces, but NS was 17%. So there goes the theory of "free." Additionally, almost everyone has to buy a supplemental policy. The government pays for additional coverage for military members and their families. What does this get you? It gets you a semi private room at the hospital vice staying in the big ward. It also gets you access to doctors other than those that work at the municipal clinics. Waits for dr.'s can be really long. Let me clarify...waits for specialists are incredibly long. Your free health care gets you access to the ER and stitches it you are shot/stabbed. Obviously I am understating it a bit, but that is the jist. My wife had a seizure while we were there and had to wait 8 months for a CAT scan, and that was pushed up because the embassy and the military got involved. I I could go on forever.
Oh, and I had to laugh when I read your post...I had typed something about being a 3 year ens, but deleted it!
Whester-
Did you go through the academy? I was wondering how the original poster had 3 years active duty and was an Ensign. If he went through the academy that alone would account for 4 years.
Originally posted by jerky1280: I was just wondering what deployments are out there for 60s and C130s, and how often pilots get deployed. Having been on a 378, I'm familiar with the 65 deployments, but just wondering about the other airframes.
I'm interested because I'm looking to minimize time away from home. In my 3 years of active duty I've spent less than a year at home; hoping for a change.
Thanks all, Brian
Brian, just thought I'd add a little to the conversation. I was on the Chase years back.
In my time with Customs & Border Protection, Marine Div stationed in Clearwater, we were deployed about every other month. Clearwater is not exactly a hotbed of activity for marine smuggling. In an effort to justify keeping us in Clearwater, the boss would volunteer us for deployments. We'd take boats throughout FL and up and down the East Coast all the way to ME and NY. Other deployments were as crew for the UH-60A's out in AZ or up at the NCR in DC.
All but one of us were married with kids. We and our wives usually enjoyed the hubbies being the heck out of the way for a two week break.
Personally, I loved going on deployments where we were more proactive than reactive. Customs use to send us to Cat Cay Bahamas for two week periods. We'd do our patrols either day or night, then hit the golf course or tennis courts!
Did you go through the academy? I was wondering how the original poster had 3 years active duty and was an Ensign. If he went through the academy that alone would account for 4 years.
The 4 years at the Academy doesn't count towards a members active duty date or their retirement. I guess the free education is enough...
