AIRR ?'s

[FutureAW]

That's understandable. Do the duties aboard a h53 include any gunning or vert rep? I'm just,he'll bent on helo, but I am at the navy's needs if it isn't open. Are you referring to naccs class? Is that when orders are handed out?

[Haasino]

They do have crew served weapons on the 53s, and you'll train on them, but they rarely deploy them on missions. The primary mission of the 53 is mine-countermeasure work... you'll drag a sled behind the helo that locates sea mines. You'll also do humanitarian work if there's a disaster somewhere... the Sea Dragons were deployed to Pakistan, Japan, and Haiti after the quakes.
Yes, you'll find out if you're going AWF, AWV, AWO, or AWS the last week of NACCS... from there, you'll go to your applicable A School, and at the end of A School, you find out what specific type of aircraft you'll be flying on... unless you get AWS, then you already know you're going on a 53.

[FutureAW]

Is there a selection process? I read that the top personell choose platforms on a wish list. If this is true, what determines rank among classmates besides physical ability? Are there written tests?

Hassino, I'd like to thank you for this. There's a great deal of information out there, but none like this. Not only are you helping me, but future aw's who also want this info.

[Kristen]

Unfortunately it is far too close to your ship date to try out at the PST's. You are going to have to hope for that lucky AWS spot. I wish the best of luck to you, you are going to have to train hard quick then. People have been training atleast a year or two to prepare for RSS.

[Haasino]

The selection process varies a little based on your instructor... a few of them are 53 crewmen, so they tend to want to actually interview any potential candidates in their class who want it.

For the rest... assuming there is a spot open... they'll ask the class who wants dry helo Fri at the end of "Hell Week", after your mile swim (This is the only one you'll find out before everyone else because you go through different training for "Disney Week"); if nobody or not enough candidates volunteer, they'll voluntell people at random. If more candidates want it than there are slots, then they'll look at everyone's training jacket to see who has the most chits, who barely passed their PST, etc. if there are still too many applicants, they'll usually just make everyone pick a number between 1 and 100.

[FutureAW]

Kristen: I know it's too late for the pst's.

Hassino: is it considered a special privelage to receive the helo spot? What types of things are there to excel at during naccs? What sub rate have you selected? How was your a school?

Im not too concerned on airr, I realized I am lucky enough to even have aircrew as a job.

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by FutureAW

Haasino: is it considered a special privelage to receive the helo spot? What types of things are there to excel at during naccs? What sub rate have you selected? How was your a school?

Im not too concerned on airr, I realized I am lucky enough to even have aircrew as a job.

Not necessarily a privelage... but they do come up less often. Sometimes people are fighting over spots... sometimes nobody wants it and they force it on someone. You'll learn once you get here that fixed-wing has some major advantages. As far as how to excell - don't get any counseling chits (That's actually a lot harder than it sounds here), pass your swim evolutions on the first try, keep up during PT.