Just looking to see if there are any Sheetmetal folks out there holding the rank of SSgt or above. If so, where are you stationed and how do you like it?
I'm at SSgt at Kadena. It's not the worst assignment in the world, but it's definitely not the best one I've had. Luckily I don't work the Fighter side, so I have less BS to deal with on a day to day.
Thats cool, The reason I ask is I am an sheetmetal troop with the Tbirds, and we are pretty short manned for ASM and Im looking to see if you might be interested in applying for this squadron?
While I do have a year of F-16 experience I am pretty dead set on Cross Training into a flying career field at the end of my DEROS. How's working with the TBirds?
It has its ups and downs like any unit would. I think the toughest thing for me is getting along with the "A" type personalities. Most of the maintainers think they are gods gift to MX.
I do, on the other hand enjoy being cut trained as a crew chief. Not that I would wanna do it permenantly, but its kina cool to know how to change a tire, service stuff, flip switches in the cockpit for Ops checks.
I am going to retrain into a flying career field myself. Was VERY VERY interested in Boom Operator, but that AFSC doenst have quotas in the retraining advisory, So I need to check to se if its still going to be possible.
How many Sheet Metal guys are assigned to the TBirds? I don't think I would ever want to be a Crew Chief. It's cool to help them out on TDYs and learn different things about the jet, but as far as doing their job on a daily basis...forget about it. I haven't checked the retraining quotas in awhile either since I can't even apply till April, but our 135 Booms were telling me that they are constantly in need of new boomers. I was looking into the CV-22 as an FE, but I'm not sold yet. Wish they hadn't of retired the 53s
Being an FE is my second or third choice depending on if Boom Operators ever become available again. From what I hear is a pretty challenging job!
As for the Tbirds, we currently have 4 assigned, but one leaves in about a month and we have no Applicants yet. Our Primary job is sheetmetal, but the stuff you help with on TDYs and such, like recovering, and launching... Thats the crew chief stuff we do. Of course we are an ADCC, but pretty much what that entails is setting up for a Launch, Launching, and doing any MX (sheetmetal, or Crew chief) that may need to be taken care of. As sheetmetal we do a TON of Mods, some, you would be like Are you serious, then Depot comes and brings you paperwork saying you can. Plus we do a good amount of painting too.
Just 4 Sheet Metal guys huh? That's not so bad I guess considering how little the F-16 breaks compared to other fighters. But with the amount of painting, and the attention to detail you need for painting gloss colors, I bet you guys are pretty busy. You guys cut-train Crew Chiefs to sand and paint? As far as depot work goes, that's kinda ridiculous. How much longer do you have with the TBirds?
Four Sheetmetal dudes may sound like enough, but the way this team works, they put one of them on Showline (dayshift) which means they are primarily a crewchief. They are the guys that are out in front of the crowd during the airshow, launching and recovering planes and doing MINOR servicing. Then one of the other ASM guys is going to QA, so Ill have no help from him, then one guy leaves in less then a month and finally me, I will be alone on swings where all the big MX happens, ie painting, depot level Mods, Phase inspections and so on. So four really isnt to many. Im going to get in contact with our functional manager and have him put a word out to shop chiefs all over seeing if anyone is interested.
I have (hopefully) a season and a half. But Im submitting retraining paperwork very soon, so it may be earlier granted I get approval.
If you know anyone from Kadena that may be interested, You can send them my way
