WOFT Selection Boards

[Nipsedaiser]

Congratulations on jumping the state hurdle. What state? I was texas guard the last few years....
UH-60 units of course have a variety of missions, so don't take what I might tell you to be what you might be doing if you get blackhawks. I was in an ACR (armored cav regiment) as my first unit and flew UH-1's there before I did the -60 school. I do NOT recommend a cav regiment as a desired assignment. Try to go to a straight aviation unit if you can. I flew the EH-60A in the cav, a mission that thankfully no longer exists. It was a boring job. I also got to fly some utility-type missions so that made some variety in my routine. I think the most fun I ever had flying UH-60's was in the national guard. We did a lot of things with them that i never saw on active duty-a lot of disaster relief-type things like rescuing people from floods and fighting brushfires with an underslung water bucket. Most of the flying I did on active duty involved the EH mission which wasn't much fun. Couldn't really tell you about airmobile-division ops (101st) or special ops because I never seved there. Feel free to ask any specific question you think I might be able to help with. If you want to fly an aircraft that affords you an opportunity to do a lot of different things, I'd recommend the black hawk. Like I've seen posted in this thread-decide on your mission of choice, do everything you can do get the airframe you want, and don't look back. Best of luck to ya. Let us crusty old farts know how it turns out for you. Can I get a hooo-waaaah? Later.

 

[Traderd]

Congratulations on jumping the state hurdle. What state? I was texas guard the last few years..

Were you with the unit that lost a Hawk at Ft. Erwin? We were getting ready to deploy when it happened. I did six rotations at that place in guns and always considered myself pretty lucky I didn't roll one over flying goggles.

Hard to believe we made it to the "crusty" phase isn't it? I can remember being a WOJG and thinking you had to be almost dead to make W4. I think the older warrants

 

[Jafar]

Very well said. The mission. A friend of mine had passion for the Apache, but said, "I just don't like the mission". So he's flying -60s. He was number 1 in the class, so he could have had anything he wanted. For me, I'm National Guard, so I didn't have a choice, but if I were to do it all over again, I'd fly the Apache, just because I LOVE the aircraft. Plus, I came from an Artillery background, so guns and me get along real well.

All the guys I talked to really like the 47. Believe it or not, some people don't like their airframe. But you do find a way some way to like it. There are alot of things I don't like about the Apache, but I enjoy more than I dislike.

Whatever you choose, you'll like it I'm sure. Flight school is fun, you'll be frustrated at times but when you look back on it, you'll say you enjoyed yourself.

As I've matured over the years my goals are oriented around mission as well. When I was a kid it was, "I want to fly that because it's awesome!" Now that I've got 8 years in the service I know what I'm all about and that has driven my aviation goals. I was an infantryman and later a tank crewmember. So now, in my pursuit of a pilot slot, (AF Reserve/ANG and now possibly WOFT or NG) just so long as it shoots I'm all about it. That's the trouble though. The majority of flying machines in the military don't shoot.

 

[Nipsedaiser]

Were you with the unit that lost a Hawk at Ft. Erwin? We were getting ready to deploy when it happened. I did six rotations at that place in guns and always considered myself pretty lucky I didn't roll one over flying goggles.

Hard to believe we made it to the "crusty" phase isn't it? I can remember being a WOJG and thinking you had to be almost dead to make W4. I think the older warrants

Yeah, that was our folks in that....we were **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** lucky we didn't lose any people in that. I know all the guys (5 from our unit) who were in that accident and fortunately all of them are fine. I wasn't there when that happened. I try to avoid going to NTC if I can. Hard to imagine, huh? I wasn't very good at avoiding it. When I was an a certain ACR which will remain nameless I did 5 rotations. Never had to go with the guard. Hope Wannabe doesn't mind us hijacking his thread for a few posts Take care. Don't let the crust get too thick.

 

[Nipsedaiser]

Sorry-
DARN lucky

 

[psysicx]

Why are Guard/reserve units deploying more then AD.And why are Apaches not as popular as UH-60 and 47?

 

[AA717driver]

Mini-hijack

After reading this thread I just wanted to put this out:

To those who have served and those who are serving and those who will, my family and I would like to thank you for your (and your family's) sacrifice and your service.

If you are deployed or will be deploying, please tell those over in Afghanistan and Iraq that we are thinking of them and praying for their safety every day.

Take care.

TC and family.

P.S.--If you know of any units that could use a care package, let me know. We sent a big box of Easter candy a couple of years ago to a friend's MC/AC-130 unit. We'd like to do it again. PM me with the address.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Why are Guard/reserve units deploying more then AD.And why are Apaches not as popular as UH-60 and 47?

It just appears that way, because we are relieving AD units already there. I know of many AD guys that have been there 2 or 3 times in the last couple years. The guard units are on a constant rotation now to allow the AD guys some RR. I know our unit will be there, it's only a matter of time.

The guard isn't the way to get your college paid for and never see action. If you sign up, you will go!

Hang in there brethren...see you in the sandbox sooner or later.

 

[SloDoDriver]

Capabilities aside, the Hook is about as ugly as they come. Don't know if I want to fly an aircraft that can have a midair with itself. Also had first hand knowledge of what a manpad missile can do to a Hook...not pretty!


SB

Up until the recent CH-53 crash the greatest fatalities occurred when 2 UH-60's collided over Tikrit...Doesn't make the 53 or the 60 a bad bird.
I have first hand knowledge of the Hook that was shotdown near Fallujah.
I knew CW4 Bruce Smith, the IP aboard, and had flown near the site days before. I was with 12th Avn Bde when it happened and was very upset at the loss of good friends and soldiers.
This is an unclassified site so I won't go into details, but you appear to be uninformed about the reasons for the shootdown and the resulting crash.
Everything in the Army inventory can be hit with the newest generations of manpads.
See how many 58's or 60's have the capability to fly in Afghanistan!
A Hook IP

 

[weekendwarrior]

Yeah, this thread is officially hijacked. The 47 comment about having a midair with itself is pretty crazy. I think the fact that the 47 is the oldest aircraft in the Army inventory and still flying says something about it's longevity, safety, and utility value.

Everyone likes to sling mud in good fun at the other airframes, but I tell you, I would feel proud to fly that bird as well.

I've been to the Electronic Warfare Officer school, and can agree, that most people's ideas what goes on with shoot downs are very mislead. What happens on the news and what actually occurs are two different things usually.