Are there any gunners on this forum. Wondering how they like the job? Gonna be crosstraining into it soon from AMMO.

I am a 6yr enlistee, Security Forces, so for shizzin' giggles I sent in a Retrain Request to see if I am even eligible. I am also trying for Blue to Green as well.

I am in tech school to be a gunner.... I have like 2 months left in school till I am a gunner....

Congrats! How has life been treating you so far?

quote:

Originally posted by USAFWannabe:
Congrats! How has life been treating you so far?

It's the best ****ing thing ever..... Ha Simply put....

How was SERE and the other stuff...Heard most of it is a blast but could be BS? I want this job bad...I talked to the in service recruiter and the functional...my 422 has taken foorreevveeerr to get taken care of but noew I think I'm gonna be in the running for it soon.

quote:

Originally posted by adam36:
How was SERE and the other stuff...Heard most of it is a blast but could be BS? I want this job bad...I talked to the in service recruiter and the functional...my 422 has taken foorreevveeerr to get taken care of but noew I think I'm gonna be in the running for it soon.

The SERE stuff was a blast... I love camping so it was pretty much a weekend camping trip on steroids... oh yeah and my normal camping trips didn't usually end in a 2 day prison camp.... but that was fun too looking back on it now...

Here's to hoping that one day in the next year, I will want to experience that...August isn't coming soon enough for me...On the other hand, all my medical stuff is finally worked out, height waiver and all. How is Hurby treaing you. You like it here?

Love it.... The local scenary is amazing... Ha!!!! Gotta love springbreak...

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:
Love it.... The local scenary is amazing... Ha!!!! Gotta love springbreak...

I loved it too, when I first got here in 2000, but now all the spring-breakers just piss me off when I am driving...Esp once you get to Okaloosa Island and go east on 98...

1A4... Are you a female??? Cuz you have to keep in mind that I am a male, and I just don't think I could ever get pissed at traffic when atleast half of it is sexy lil ladies in bikinis.... Ha!!!! I would never get tired of that...

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:
1A4... Are you a female??? Cuz you have to keep in mind that I am a male, and I just don't think I could ever get pissed at traffic when atleast half of it is sexy lil ladies in bikinis.... Ha!!!! I would never get tired of that...

Yes, you don't look at individual's profiles? Just messing, but I am a chick. I know dudes who get pissed off, even with the ladies in bikinis. I am sure you won't get tired of looking... More power to ya to get the ladies.

Yeah actually I did look at it... and I mean it's pretty boring, ha.... No picture??? what's up with that? Oh by that way I think those dudes might be gay.... But who knows.. Ha So I have my first flight as an aerial gunner friday..... can't wait

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:
Yeah actually I did look at it... and I mean it's pretty boring, ha.... No picture??? what's up with that? Oh by that way I think those dudes might be gay.... But who knows.. Ha So I have my first flight as an aerial gunner friday..... can't wait

I would say listen for me on the radio, but I don't know if you guys can here me back there. I am not a very photogenic person, so no pic right now.

Well that is no fun.... I am curious to see what u look like.... But yeah we probably wouldn't hear you talking seeing as you talk to pilot and co-pilot, right? but yeah....

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:
Well that is no fun.... I am curious to see what u look like.... But yeah we probably wouldn't hear you talking seeing as you talk to pilot and co-pilot, right? but yeah....

I usually talk to the NAV or EWO, but if I manage to piss of the A/C, he will get on there. J/K The pilot and co-pilot usually talk to the tower and stuff like that. Alright, maybe I can scrounge up a pic and put in on there...

Which model are you in training for at the 19th?

quote:

Originally posted by netBooger:
Which model are you in training for at the 19th?

U Models.....

Hey rebecca... found that picture for me yet??? Ha...

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:

quote:

Originally posted by netBooger:
Which model are you in training for at the 19th?

U Models.....

Nice, good luck with training and I am sure I will see you around the squadron.

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:
Hey rebecca... found that picture for me yet??? Ha...

Hey, I have a photo uploaded. Click on the thumbnail at the bottom of the page to get a bigger picture though. Not the best pic I know, but it will have to do for now.

See there you go, that's not so bad right?

Be careful about your timing. I was in for retraining into gunner from a Maintenance job, and the seats were all gone, and now they are not accepting any spots until FY08 starts, and even then it is not garunteed there will be any seats.

Just keep checking the advisory after every third week of each month. That will help you plan when to submit.

My window will be closing before FY08 starts, so I am off to the Army!

My package is already at AFPC and I submitted an Exception to Policy letter with my retraining package, so hopefully I can get one of those slots. Does anyone know what the chances of getting an ETP letter approved are?
My DOS is JULY 07 and I was told by MPF I have to have an approved job prior to my DOS or I have to get out.

This should make you feel a little better. When I was at the Gunship school house here at Hurlburt last year, there was a non-prior gunner who fell in love at basic gunner school in Kirtland. Her love of her life got sent overseas on Helos, so she self eliminated prior to starting the gunship course so she could get married and a joint spouse assignment. She had no idea what she was giving up. I don't know how many NCO's tried convincing her what a mistake she was making. I wonder what she thinks of her admin job a year later.

quote:

Originally posted by caninedale:
This should make you feel a little better. When I was at the Gunship school house here at Hurlburt last year, there was a non-prior gunner who fell in love at basic gunner school in Kirtland. Her love of her life got sent overseas on Helos, so she self eliminated prior to starting the gunship course so she could get married and a joint spouse assignment. She had no idea what she was giving up. I don't know how many NCO's tried convincing her what a mistake she was making. I wonder what she thinks of her admin job a year later.

Wow is all I have to say to that. It doesn't make me feel better, just sick... I would give anything right now to get approved for retraining, and it has been almost a year and a half with nothing to show for it, but a signed 1042...Funny thing, I am in admin right now and trying for 1A7 when the quotas come out. I decided not to send an ETP letter as I have been through too much crap already with this, so I am just going to wait a couple of more months....Adam36 are you retraining under FTA or NCORP?

quote:

Originally posted by caninedale:
This should make you feel a little better. When I was at the Gunship school house here at Hurlburt last year, there was a non-prior gunner who fell in love at basic gunner school in Kirtland. Her love of her life got sent overseas on Helos, so she self eliminated prior to starting the gunship course so she could get married and a joint spouse assignment. She had no idea what she was giving up. I don't know how many NCO's tried convincing her what a mistake she was making. I wonder what she thinks of her admin job a year later.

Lol...I know this person

I'm retraining under FTA.

What's the news 1A4wannabe???

quote:

Originally posted by iwannabeaerialgunner:
What's the news 1A4wannabe???

Nothing so far. I have to wait until the quotas come out for FY08, and that could be a few more months..It is a waiting game for now. Getting antsy though. How is school going for you?

It's going great, I flew last night for the first time.... It was badass...

I finally got my crosstrain approved. I start school for aerial gunner on 8 Jan 08. When do you find out what airframe you'll be on?

Can any one help me with this?

On the RIP I received for my approval it said I will receive my assignment 120 days from the class start date. So I am guessing you will know from that.

You should find out while you're in BAG.

quote:

Originally posted by DRU8232:
You should find out while you're in BAG.

Hey Dru,
I am trying to retrain into 1A7x1. How are they doing the airframe assignments now? Is everybody going on gunships? I would like to get on choppers, but I've heard everyone's going 130's.
I guess if they put me on gunships it would be cool, but I really don't want to be loading ammo. Tell me, what's it like so far? Pretty cool? What can I expect?

Thanks!

Bon

quote:

Originally posted by bonfire79:

quote:

Originally posted by DRU8232:
You should find out while you're in BAG.

Hey Dru,
I am trying to retrain into 1A7x1. How are they doing the airframe assignments now? Is everybody going on gunships? I would like to get on choppers, but I've heard everyone's going 130's.
I guess if they put me on gunships it would be cool, but I really don't want to be loading ammo. Tell me, what's it like so far? Pretty cool? What can I expect?

Thanks!

Bon

Everyone isn't going to Gunships! I had 6 people in my BAG class and half went to 60's and da other half went to Gunships! And once you go through BAG you aspect on Gunships and just loading will change! I know people who went in wanting 60's and channged there mind and went Gunships. I got Gunships and I wanted them. The missions are totally different! Gunships are more of a lets go blow some ish up and a lot more sneaky peeky...lol And a Gunner's on 60's are strictly DEFENSIVE!! You can not fire unless fired upon!

quote:

Originally posted by Rocem19:
You can not fire unless fired upon!

Depends on the mission and the rules of engagement (high ship low ship concept). Typically however you can only carry so many rounds.

Pumping out 7.62 at 2000 (typical right trigger), 4000 (typical left trigger), or max of 6000 rounds per minute spits out a lots of lead per trigger squeeze. The survival concept is to save it for when in hover over a hot pick up zone or landed in the hot landing zone.

Perhaps some are changing to C-130 gunship duties when they figure out the CSAR helicopter is more up and close personal into RPG and small arms hazards of combat than the C-130 gunship.

I'm going to school in February and I am personally hoping for the 60, I want that up close and personal I wanna see the guy who is about to have a very bad day b/c of my trigger fingers. But ya know if I get gunships then I get gunships at least I'll be in the air and frickin some shish up than sittin on my arse in the rear with the gear like I am now. But COME ON 60!!!!!!!!