Lakenheath, F-15E

[Doggs]

Besides all the good stuff I've heard, I've also heard a lot about the work hours at Lakenheath. Can anyone comment on this/advice/suggestions? THanks.

 

[GumbyDarnit]

Can't be as bad as any single seat squadron cuz there's twice a many guys to pull SOF, top three, etc.

 

[Dick]

There's also twice as many guys on leave, twice as many upgrades, twice as many gradebooks, twice as many checkrides, twice as many RAP requirements. Get the point. I just spent a few months in another country with some Vipers and they were shocked at how much we have to do with "twice the guys".

 

[GumbyDarnit]

Dick,

I've mostly been in single seat squadrons, but I spent a couple of years in a F-4G/F-16 squadron, and during WW Kosovo one of the squadrons from Lakenheath worked out of my squadron. So I've seen it both ways (STS). During the Kosovo thing, there were enough dark gray guys after manning the MPC/SOF/Top 3/etc to ALWAYS have 6-9 other guys hanging around the squadron doing the little extra things that make a war go well. I was very thankful to have them around. I frequently would be the only viper guy in the squadron as top 3. If the Lakenheath boys had not been there we would never have had enough guys around.

Here is how I see that it works. Yes, there are twice as many gradebooks, forms 8, leaves, RAP squares, etc. BUT, there are not twice as many programs, there are exactly the same number of programs. So every function in the squadron has twice as many guys or gals manning the function and after you take out the SOFs/top 3/leaves/etc you still have more people around to run the same number of programs as in a single seat squadron.

In hind sight if I had the career to do over again, I would pick a two seat jet for two reasons. First, the day to day grind would be easier for the reasons stated above, and by the way the day to day grind is why I retired when I did and is contributary to my divorce. Second, when I and the rest of my flight are timing out our GBU's there is NO ONE checking six and NO ONE checking the scope. When I was young and foolish I had a lot of bravado about being a single seat fighter pilot, I've changed my tune some. Dick don't be a Dick.

Gumby