bssthound
Enormous Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2001
- Posts
- 541
Andy,
I think the main difference between us and a normal airlift unit is that we don't do TAC low-level. We don't do any sort of formation and the other "normal" airlift stuff.
We've been doing a good bit of airlift in the states lately. We do what are called Reserve Airlift Support (RAS). It usually goes for a week or so. During that week the crew is usually on Active Duty status. I only include that to illustrate the previous points made about different ways to get paid in the Reserve Forces.
The only deployments we do are for storm taskings. We have an Operating Location in St Croix for Atlantic/Caribbean storms. We also operate in Alaska and/or Hawaii for a few weeks in the winter. Back when the El Nino storms were hitting California I spent six weeks in Alaska and Hawaii flying storm tracks.
We just hired our first nav in about four years. He contacted me through this board, called the unit and interviewed. He made a heck of a good impression and was hired this past UTA. He'd just separated from Active Duty. I'm assuming you're asking about SUNT slots. To be honest, I don't know when the most recent was. I've been there seven years and haven't seen anyone go.
PM me if you're interested, I know our chief nav will definitely talk to you. We're keeping the nav on the "J model." I, myself, am dual rated on it and the H.
I live in Dallas. As a matter of fact not one of our part-time navs lives in the local area. I commute into Mobile or New Orleans on Delta or ASA to fly with the Reserves. I try to do it on my off days but sometimes take a day or two of military leave. By law a Guardsman/Reservist's employer must allow him time off for duty. ASA wants a faxed copy of my orders. That's not a problem if I'm on Active Duty status. If I'm on inactive status, which is drill weekend or AFTPs (see my previous post) a letter from my supervisor or scheduler works just fine. I must say, yes it is the law, but ASA has always been super dealing with my mil leave.
As a matter of fact, the 53d is great about realizing its Reservists have full-time jobs and lives away from the unit. The folks in charge do a super job of helping us balance the two.
One really cool thing about our mission is that we see firsthand the difference the data we provide makes for coastal areas. The data improves the NHC's forecast by 25%. Doesn't sound like much but if you've seen an interstate clogged up by evacuees you realize that it does help a lot. We get a lot of media during storm season, most are really fun to work with. If you've seen the National Geographic Channel's story on flying with us into Hurricane Floyd you have seen me. I'm the nav on that flight. I've never seen it but have had several people mention it. I also had a jumpseater last week tell me he'd seen me on The Discovery Channel. That was really weird.
Anyway, PM me with any questions. I'm more than happy to answer anything you want to know.
I think the main difference between us and a normal airlift unit is that we don't do TAC low-level. We don't do any sort of formation and the other "normal" airlift stuff.
We've been doing a good bit of airlift in the states lately. We do what are called Reserve Airlift Support (RAS). It usually goes for a week or so. During that week the crew is usually on Active Duty status. I only include that to illustrate the previous points made about different ways to get paid in the Reserve Forces.
The only deployments we do are for storm taskings. We have an Operating Location in St Croix for Atlantic/Caribbean storms. We also operate in Alaska and/or Hawaii for a few weeks in the winter. Back when the El Nino storms were hitting California I spent six weeks in Alaska and Hawaii flying storm tracks.
We just hired our first nav in about four years. He contacted me through this board, called the unit and interviewed. He made a heck of a good impression and was hired this past UTA. He'd just separated from Active Duty. I'm assuming you're asking about SUNT slots. To be honest, I don't know when the most recent was. I've been there seven years and haven't seen anyone go.
PM me if you're interested, I know our chief nav will definitely talk to you. We're keeping the nav on the "J model." I, myself, am dual rated on it and the H.
I live in Dallas. As a matter of fact not one of our part-time navs lives in the local area. I commute into Mobile or New Orleans on Delta or ASA to fly with the Reserves. I try to do it on my off days but sometimes take a day or two of military leave. By law a Guardsman/Reservist's employer must allow him time off for duty. ASA wants a faxed copy of my orders. That's not a problem if I'm on Active Duty status. If I'm on inactive status, which is drill weekend or AFTPs (see my previous post) a letter from my supervisor or scheduler works just fine. I must say, yes it is the law, but ASA has always been super dealing with my mil leave.
As a matter of fact, the 53d is great about realizing its Reservists have full-time jobs and lives away from the unit. The folks in charge do a super job of helping us balance the two.
One really cool thing about our mission is that we see firsthand the difference the data we provide makes for coastal areas. The data improves the NHC's forecast by 25%. Doesn't sound like much but if you've seen an interstate clogged up by evacuees you realize that it does help a lot. We get a lot of media during storm season, most are really fun to work with. If you've seen the National Geographic Channel's story on flying with us into Hurricane Floyd you have seen me. I'm the nav on that flight. I've never seen it but have had several people mention it. I also had a jumpseater last week tell me he'd seen me on The Discovery Channel. That was really weird.
Anyway, PM me with any questions. I'm more than happy to answer anything you want to know.
