Talk to me Goose...

What kind of insight can you shed on your duties at an Air Station? How much flight time do you actually get, or is it only relative to being at certain stations with certain airframes?

Are you diggin it, or are you looking forward to getting back into the watchroom or on a boat?

It depends on which AirSta you're talking about. Only HC-130H (notice the H) Air Stations will get you a possibility of flight time. There are a bunch of other caveats associated... from medical to training, bunch of hurdles you have to clear in order to fly on a regular basis.

I've toured a lot of them and most OS's at Air Stations take care of Personnel Security and the other 5510/EKMS stuff. You'll also stand the Operations Duty Officer watch at most air sta's... it's sort of like an inport OOD.

I personnally and looing forward to heading to a boat. I may know too much to be let go, though...

John;
I am having trouble figuring out why you have such a slanted view. Unless your second paragraph is about all Airstas, then I see it. (Note - the "J" question is not settled yet)

So - my view would be that if you can pass an aircrew physical, jump on the C4ISR billets at the Herc units. Your primary job there is to be a qualified and flying aircrew member. While not flying, you will be used to take care of those things that you can take care of which may include the things listed.

If you have any care about learning and being able to practice the core skill sets of our rating, stay as far away from any non C-130 billets as you can.

Thanks for the replies...

First off, I was once on the AM (when it was called AM) list, and had already passed the flight physical, pretty sure I could do it again, but I would NOT be looking forward to the "penetration" involved.

Secondly, as far as being out of rate... I'm more concerned with the overall experience, and think of work as being just that. It's work! If I stand watch at one unit, stand OOD at another, Flight Crew at some other... well, it's all part of having to do a job.

To me, the more experience, the better. I could care less about the nature of the work, as long as I'm busy, and am doing my part to help the rest of the unit/mission, I'm happy as a clam.

I'm still just researching this whole idea of getting back in, and trying to figure out all the possibilities and options that are out there.

Also, and sorry for being such a newbie, but what does EKMS mean? All I can find in the manuals I have access to is the abbreviation, not sure what it really stands for.

ok... found it.

EKMS = Electronic Key Management System

do I get a cookie?

If you want to be an OS at an AIRSTA.. make sure its a C130 unit. I am at an AIRSTA and its really almost out of rate.
I think that in the last two yrs I have learned more IT stuff than OS..it sucks when your trying to move up the ladder

quote:

Originally posted by TXOS:
If you want to be an OS at an AIRSTA.. make sure its a C130 unit. I am at an AIRSTA and its really almost out of rate.
I think that in the last two yrs I have learned more IT stuff than OS..it sucks when your trying to move up the ladder

Thanks for that tip, how do I filter through the list of Air Stations and see which ones are 130H units?

Ok... I found these: Can anyone confirm/deny/fill in the blanks?



* 5th Coast Guard District Elizabeth City, North Carolina (HC-130H)



* 7th Coast Guard District Clearwater, Florida (HC-130H)



* 14th Coast Guard District Kalaeloa Airport, Oahu, Hawaii (HC-130H)



* 17th Coast Guard District Kodiak Island, Alaska (HC-130H)

I think that San Fran has C130's too. Definately..Make sure that you get C130's. I am at a unit with 65's.. stricktly EKMS and IT work.

Close, it's Sacramento

I'll explain in an email, MC... but I'm sure it's nothing you haven't heard before.

quote:

Originally posted by TXOS:
I think that San Fran has C130's too. Definately..Make sure that you get C130's. I am at a unit with 65's.. stricktly EKMS and IT work.

Now I think I understand about "being out of rate" issues. Are you finding it difficult to get quals signed off?

Sign offs are just one issue. I think that you dont realize how much you miss out on work wise. I took the servicewide this last time and was shocked on how much I didnt know. Just think about when you leave the AIRSTA (if you get one). You could be a 2nd who hasnt really any quals.
Its really difficult. I dont know about the C130 billets though, I am sure that they still have the same issues. Iwould really try to stay in a typical OS billet.

quote:

Originally posted by SkiAz4Free:

quote:

Originally posted by TXOS:
I think that San Fran has C130's too. Definately..Make sure that you get C130's. I am at a unit with 65's.. stricktly EKMS and IT work.

Now I think I understand about "being out of rate" issues. Are you finding it difficult to get quals signed off?

I was at Airsta Kodiak, first in the DD Sector Anchorage capacity, then I broke in as a TSO (up until my vision waver got rejected, *******s!!! I'm allowed to look at a computer screen two feet from my face on the deck but not in the air) and then I did law enforcement, persec and EKMS full-time. I was beyond fortunate to have that experience -- security ended up being my highest section on the SWE.

I realize my situation was entirely unique, but I learned about D17 fisheries and that knowledge helped considerably when I got to the Jarvis (ALPAT after ALPAT after ALPAT seems to be our theme). I learned how flight ops work -- I wrote flight schedules as an OS3 and OS2, frequently dealt with O-5s and above at a ton of different commands. I went along on a C130 JIATFS deployment for a month and missed the worst of a Kodiak winter while providing "ground support" (taking care of briefs and message traffic and all that stuff for the aircrew/pilots). What I learned about persec and EKMS was also invaulable. Basically I'm a fan of learning anything I can learn, and what I learned at the airsta might not lend itself to primary duties for the rest of my career, but it's knowledge nonetheless and understanding how various units work can be so helpful. Besides, it was a fantastic work environment (for me at least).

But, as ever, your mileage may vary. I think some of the people I currently work (the ship being their first unit) with are going to have a rough time adjusting to little things like going home at the end of the day (they think they're going to be bored). Personally, I really enjoyed having 'me time' and spending time with my husband and am looking forward to someday returning to such luxuries.

I've always felt that sign-off's were really up to the individual, and that there is always a way to get something accomplished. Even if it means spending extra time outside of the normal duty rotation.

And I completely agree with you about having "knowledge". Everything you learn can have a value to it somewhere down the road.

When you guys (and gals) are talking about Personnel Security, what are you referring to?

Thanks for all the responses!

Dont get me wrong I have learned alot... about Avaition and IT stuff. Its not a waste, but it just makes it harder to be a better OS. Plus like I said.. its a Dolphin unit here.

I had to go TAD to get my sign offs done. 1st to a Sector and 2nd to a boat.

quote:

I've always felt that sign-off's were really up to the individual, and that there is always a way to get something accomplished. Even if it means spending extra time outside of the normal duty rotation.

Well then you were dead wrong. It is the entire Command's job. It is part of every Command members duty to breed their reliefs. Raising new Coasties is part of the every day mission.

Sure, we can stick people in jobs that just touch the boundaries of the occupational profession. Sure they can like it. Sure they can learn something. Sure they might be able to apply some of it later on. That said, Their future, and the CGs is based upon their designated operational proficiency.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
Well then you were dead wrong. It is the entire Command's job. It is part of every Command members duty to breed their reliefs. Raising new Coasties is part of the every day mission.

Sure, we can stick people in jobs that just touch the boundaries of the occupational profession. Sure they can like it. Sure they can learn something. Sure they might be able to apply some of it later on. That said, Their future, and the CGs is based upon their designated operational proficiency.

I'm totally pickin up what y'er puttin down... I guess where I was going with that, is that anyone can show up and do the job they are supposed to do... to get by. But if someone wants to make a difference in their own advancement opportunity, it's up to them to push themselves to get things done.

Do commands generally realize the nature of being out of rate, and thereby encourage people to advance? Are TAD's something that you can easily do, or does it go over like a fart in church?

I don't know... this OS rate seems that it needs everyone to be pushing each other to help out with the shortages, but then it sounds like the quicker you get qualed, the quicker you get transferred. Do any of you see areas where improvements can easily and readily be made to help the situation?

Maybe it just comes down to there being more jobs than bodies.

I'm Currently stationed at AIRSTA Kodiak in a AV-C4ISR billet(two years now) if you want to know how it is, talk to someone that is actually doing the job. I don't think the HC-130 AV-C4ISR billet is out of rate at all. I can not say the same about an Air Station that does not have HC-130's because I just don't know what the differences are. We have some very motivated OS's here and they are seeking SAR, COMMSTA knowledge by going TAD. Jobs that we typically don't do on a daily basis in this billet. Its easy to get sign offs here in Kodiak, we have cutters and a COMMSTA. Every OS I have talked to up here is more than willing to help out a shipmate. If you are interested we are willing to give you good information in Kodiak about AV-C4ISR.
"DORCHA" is wicked smart too! Have a good ALPAT!

quote:

Originally posted by CMFA:if you want to know how it is, talk to someone that is actually doing the job.

Many thanks, e-mail sent.