Inter-Service transfer

[urflyingme?!]

Just out of curiosity. Can lets say, an AF guy go and fly Navy for a while? Are there any exchange programs like this? Wha about going over and flying with the Brits or something??
THX

 

[Flechas]

I know there are some. I had a student who was retired AF and flew F18s for a while with the Navy.

 

[qmaster3]

Are there any exchange programs like this? Wha about going over and flying with the Brits or something??

We USN even does exercises with the Pu$$y French Fleet. I'll never forget the day the ops boss told a French CO that his ship held station better than our DDG's over the Radio. Nothing like licking the salt off a Frenchmen’s nut-sack.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Can lets say, an AF guy go and fly Navy for a while? Are there any exchange programs like this?

Yes, but you have to give up smoking pole for a while.

 

[Mongoose69]

Yes, there are both transfers and exchanges. At Seymour, we had guys go fly F-18s for a tour at Oceana VA, and had a couple of F-14 guys (both front and back seaters) come fly a tour in the E model. One of the F-14 RIOs did an inter-service transfer shortly after going back to Tomkitties and became an AF officer. He came back to Seymour and was an instructor in the RTU. The AF also regularly sends pilots on exchanges with the Brits, Germans, Aussies, Portugeese (Portugese?, Portugoose?) and a number of other countries.

Cheers,
Mongoose

 

[psysicx]

How hard is it to get an exchange tour?I know there sending to fly the typhoon.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I know in the P-3 community, it's a hinderance. Not to say that it hasn't been overcome. I do know of a flag officer who did a Canada PEP tour his first shore duty, but you gotta get yourself to the FRS somewhere in there.

 

[Mongoose69]

On the AF side of the coin, exchanges are usually a 'good deal'. i.e. you have to know your stuff and be in the right place at the right time. Of course, knowing the right people always helps as well.

As far as career progression, I have no idea. I think it just looks like another ops tour. But no clue if it's the same on the Navy side.

Pat and Joe don't ring a bell, but then again, nobody uses first names.

Funny anecdote to follow: When we deploy, we are 'hard crewed' with one WSO for the duration. This is usually a very good thing as it allows you to build a (2 person) team inside the cockpit and cut down on unecessary comm because you know each other very well. Shortly after I returned from the sandbox one time, my hard crewed WSO called my house to let me know about some changes to the schedule that day. My wife picks up the phone...

WSO: Hi Jennifer. Is... <pause> Jason there? This is... <longer pause> Sarah.

Most of the wives know everyone's callsigns as well, because that's all we ever call each other.

Cheers,
Mongoose

 

[urflyingme?!]

Hilarious.
Thanks for all the good info, guys.

 

[psysicx]

Do F-15C guys have any exchange programs?

 

[Huggyu2]

Side note: don't confuse "exchange programs" for "Interservice Transfers" or "IST". An "exchange" is a formal agreement between services, and the "exchangee" remains an officer in their respective service.
On an IST, an officer leaves their service, and becomes a member of a different service. My unit has taken Marine, Army, and even Coast Guard IST's. They are all now USAF pilots.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I enjoyed my exchange program and was glad I did it. Sure wouldn't have gone the IST route, though, but a few guys I've known who have traded their nuts in for faggoty scarves love it.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Ahha, so the proper phrasiology for a AF guy dong some time in the navy would be an exchange.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Ahha, so the proper phrasiology for a AF guy dong some time in the navy would be an exchange.

Again, you'll have to give up dongs if you spend any time with the Navy.

 

[urflyingme?!]

ahh gee whiz.
hey why do marines have their names on the back of their pants?

 

[Huggyu2]

Well, what can I say Hugh, they traded in for the "faggotry scarves". But they no longer have to deal with "if it's away, it's not GAY". Let's see: wearing scarves (which I haven't had to do since the late 80's), or eating ship's food 24/7 with 5000 other men/boys.
I don't see many ISTs going TO the Navy or Marines, either.
Now that you mention it, don't trade in your nuts: the boys on the ship will be disappointed.
OK,... for you other readers that get fired up, I'm just joking. Our Navy/Marine/Coasties are some excellent pilots and friends. I would trade some of my "original" AF guys to keep many of them.
Go ahead, Hugh... come over to the Dark Side.
Semper Fi, Anchors Away, and Semper Paratus!

 

[Vingus]

Don't think that getting these deals are easy. It's all timing. I was a tanker guy and out of my two supertanker bases (5 squadrons each), I only knew of one dude that got to fly with the brits.


Not only is it all timing, you had better be able to beat out at least 100 other guys trying for the "good deal" that comes along once in a lifetime.

I wouldn't count on any transfers...be happy with what you are flying...the pigeonhole is very strong.