Strike Nav Selection. Rah. Now What?

[THRILLER]

I can swear it's not

Hey...I'll take your word for it. It's confusing why the AF has the BUFF Navs labled as "Panel Navs" now. Other than the low level mission...is there really a difference between the Defensive and Offensive Navs in the BONE and the BUFF???? In my mind, if BONE WSO's are considered Strike...shouldn't the BUFF guys be in the same catagory?

Peace,

THRILLER

 

[TurnandBurn55]

Oh I agree with you 100%... the Air Force had it right originally (I think it stopped a year before I started flight school) when B-52s were an option. You're still talking about guys whose primary role is weapons delivery and electronic countermeasures...

The biggest difference between the BONE and the BUFF is that there are three 'navigators' in the -52 vice two in the -1B... the third being an honest-to-goodness 'panel navigator' not unlike the Nav/Comm on the P-3. A job you take before you qual as radar nav or EWO. Maybe the Air Force's mentality was that they could just train a dude as a panel nav and he'd get everything else he needed on the job... I dunno.

Or maybe it horrified some jet jock in the Chair Force heirarchy that guys in new, sleek pointy-nosed supersonic planes were training with Big Ugly Fat Fellow types. Can't have that... ugly unglamorous planes have to train together in the USAF's class system!!

 

[Flash]

Oh I agree with you 100%... the Air Force had it right originally (I think it stopped a year before I started flight school) when B-52s were an option. You're still talking about guys whose primary role is weapons delivery and electronic countermeasures...

The biggest difference between the BONE and the BUFF is that there are three 'navigators' in the -52 vice two in the -1B... the third being an honest-to-goodness 'panel navigator' not unlike the Nav/Comm on the P-3. A job you take before you qual as radar nav or EWO. Maybe the Air Force's mentality was that they could just train a dude as a panel nav and he'd get everything else he needed on the job... I dunno.

Or maybe it horrified some jet jock in the Chair Force heirarchy that guys in new, sleek pointy-nosed supersonic planes were training with Big Ugly Fat Fellow types. Can't have that... ugly unglamorous planes have to train together in the USAF's class system!!

I hate to get into some really nit-picking details but I thought the EWO on the B-52 goes to EWO school at Randolph (different squadron than the 'panel navs'). I don't think they do any real Nav training. Of course that could have changed, AF EWO's actually used to go through VT-4/10 Primary (along with ALL Nav students in the AF) and Intermediate and then go to the Joint EW school at Corry Station. Between the AF shutting down their Nav school in the early 90's to hitching onto the Navy to what they do today, the AF can't make up its friggin mind about how to train their Nav/EWO/Panel Nav/Second-class citizens, typical AF .

 

[crateofthunder]

Strike Nav is a selection to the navigator training at NAS Pensacola and those guys can select F-15Es or B-1s (with the occasional, RARE EA-6). If they get F-15Es they will have follow-on training for "WSO" (weapons systems officer), if they select B-1s, they go to Randolphh for follow on EWO training. Panel Navs go to Randolph and then split midway thru training into EWO or "true Nav". However, the current process will only be around for another year or two. The Air Force will soon be combining schools to form a "CSO" (Combat Systems Officer) where they will track select half way thru much like pilots. The new program will also include a strong push to get Navs behind the controls of UAVs.

Crate

 

[TurnandBurn55]

Strike Nav is a selection to the navigator training at NAS Pensacola and those guys can select F-15Es or B-1s (with the occasional, RARE EA-6). If they get F-15Es they will have follow-on training for "WSO" (weapons systems officer), if they select B-1s, they go to Randolphh for follow on EWO training. Panel Navs go to Randolph and then split midway thru training into EWO or "true Nav". However, the current process will only be around for another year or two. The Air Force will soon be combining schools to form a "CSO" (Combat Systems Officer) where they will track select half way thru much like pilots. The new program will also include a strong push to get Navs behind the controls of UAVs.

Crate

I'll take your word for the "panel nav" training in Randolph, but a little nitpicking on the strike side of the house...

F-15E and B-1B guys are both considered "WSOs" (as are Rhino backseaters, to my great chagrin ). The follow-on training that F-15E guys go through after VT-86 is called IFF (introduction to fighter fundamentals). T-38 training at Moody AFB in GA, since Chair Force types don't do the T-2 ACM syllabus in Pensacola. Afterwards, they go to their version of the RAG... (RTU?)... at Seymour-Johnson to go through Strike Eagle specific WSO training.

 

[crateofthunder]

I'll take your word for the "panel nav" training in Randolph, but a little nitpicking on the strike side of the house...

F-15E and B-1B guys are both considered "WSOs" (as are Rhino backseaters, to my great chagrin ). The follow-on training that F-15E guys go through after VT-86 is called IFF (introduction to fighter fundamentals). T-38 training at Moody AFB in GA, since Chair Force types don't do the T-2 ACM syllabus in Pensacola. Afterwards, they go to their version of the RAG... (RTU?)... at Seymour-Johnson to go through Strike Eagle specific WSO training.

AGREED!!

 

[TurnandBurn55]

What would you rather be called? Its not like you guys are running the radar anymore.

Thanks man, way to pour salt on the wound...

Something non-airforceish... Wizzow... ugh...