Ask a Naval Aircrewman

FlyNavy · 04-16-2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haasino

Looking at the current BUPERS manager pages... here's how it looks:

AWO - Open only to AWV's in YG 2006, 2008, & 2011 only.

AWF - Open to "select" E-5 and above personnel to become TACAMO Flight Engineers

AWV - Not open to any personnel

AWS - Not open to any personnel

AWR - Open to YG 2005, 2008, & 2011 personnel only.

So unfortunately it looks like AWO is still off-limits to everyone but select AWV's... you can thank the P-8 Poseidon for that. That might change in a few years though... there were about 1-3 fleet returnees per class in AW "A" School while I was there. I'm currently working with an Acoustic who was a former GM, and an EWO who was an MA.

As far as AWR goes, those guys are the other "AW's"... they work as combined Acoustic/EWO Sensor Operators for the helos doing ASW missions. They're trained as rescue swimmers... but the majority of the job is ASW, ASuW, counter-narco/piracy ops, and CSAR. The helos don't do any ISR stuff though, so you're not going to have as much of the intel work as an AWO... but you'll be closer to the action doing maritime strike stuff.

From what I've seen they can wiggle the year group requirements slightly for specific candidates. I've been avidly reading the community management slides on BUPERS though. I'm actually emailing your ECM right now haha So we'll see. AWO would be my first pick, followed by AWR (assuming the CT manning levels don't budge...Thanks NAT sailors...) so I guess we'll see when he gets back next week.

Haasino · 04-16-2015, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTT1(SW)Griffin

From what I've seen they can wiggle the year group requirements slightly for specific candidates. I've been avidly reading the community management slides on BUPERS though. I'm actually emailing your ECM right now haha So we'll see. AWO would be my first pick, followed by AWR (assuming the CT manning levels don't budge...Thanks NAT sailors...) so I guess we'll see when he gets back next week.

Good luck! As we both know, there's what's published... and then there's what actually happens. I've also met CT's flying outside of VQ-1... rumor is there might be some billets opening within VP and MPRA in the not-to-distant future.

FlyNavy · 04-16-2015, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haasino

Good luck! As we both know, there's what's published... and then there's what actually happens. I've also met CT's flying outside of VQ-1... rumor is there might be some billets opening within VP and MPRA in the not-to-distant future.

Yea I've got some specifics that make my situation a little more complicated. Here's to pulling off some drug deals! I'll shoot you my number over PM though. It'd be really helpful to be able to bounce some A-dub questions off you as they come up. The only NAC guys in my shop are projects guys, which is a totally different world (from my understanding).

Edge · 04-21-2015, 07:50 AM

Oh would ADHD be a problem for aviation duty? I was diagnosed with it around the age of 5, and took medication for about a year or two before being taken off, and haven't spoken to a doctor or taken anything for it in well over 10 years. I was never held back in school and graduated last year, and am in my second semester of college courses. I had almost forgotten about it.

Is that going to throw a wrench in my processing at MEPS?

Haasino · 04-21-2015, 05:52 PM

With ADHD, you'll generally need a waiver from BUMED to join, and then the same waiver will need to be reviewed by NAMI to be cleared for flying duties. You will probably end up in THU post-graduation waiting for the waiver, but it'll clear and you'll move on... I knew several THU'ers waiting on ADHD waivers, and none were denied that I recall.

Rooster · 04-21-2015, 08:48 PM

I saw on the first page you mentioned you were 28 going through NACCS; I'll be 28 if not 27 by the time I get through the AIRC pipeline. What are some of the difficulties you've experienced, not necessarily at NACCS, but Navy life in general having joined at an older age than most?

04-21-2015, 07:50 AM	#4
Edge Newbie Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Oh would ADHD be a problem for aviation duty? I was diagnosed with it around the age of 5, and took medication for about a year or two before being taken off, and haven't spoken to a doctor or taken anything for it in well over 10 years. I was never held back in school and graduated last year, and am in my second semester of college courses. I had almost forgotten about it. Is that going to throw a wrench in my processing at MEPS?

04-21-2015, 05:52 PM	#5
Haasino Active Duty Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 0	With ADHD, you'll generally need a waiver from BUMED to join, and then the same waiver will need to be reviewed by NAMI to be cleared for flying duties. You will probably end up in THU post-graduation waiting for the waiver, but it'll clear and you'll move on... I knew several THU'ers waiting on ADHD waivers, and none were denied that I recall.

04-21-2015, 08:48 PM	#6
Rooster Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I saw on the first page you mentioned you were 28 going through NACCS; I'll be 28 if not 27 by the time I get through the AIRC pipeline. What are some of the difficulties you've experienced, not necessarily at NACCS, but Navy life in general having joined at an older age than most?