1/C Aviation Cruise

[airgetlaam]

Good Morning All,

Just a couple questions regarding the first class aviation cruise that maybe some old ROTC guys can chime in on.

1. How hard is it to get an Jet cruise?
- I specifically asked for a jet cruise when my summer cruise coordinator asked for "any details." Not sure if that's how you get it, or not. Does anyone know or is it luck of the draw.

2. How hard is the swimming?
- During CORTRAMID I couldn't do the T-4 ride since I failed my swim qual. (lol) Now, I'm at least a better swimmer than I was freshmen year, but do we have to do the same swim qual that we did during CORTRAMID or is it like a mini flight school water survival course. I have like 2 weeks after finals ends to get in the pool and practice so I wanted to know what to expect so I can avoid failing as that would suck.

3. Is there any "Hindsight is 20/20" moments that you wish you wouldve known before going on cruise? Like maybe cool spots on the East coast (put in for Oceana/Norfolk)? Killer questions to ask? Anything is cool.

 

[MIDNJAC]

1. Luck of the draw. I did my 1/C cruise 20 years ago, so some things may have changed. Preferenced aviation of course, was fortunate enough to draw a Lemoore squadron (VFA-22, who were at the time, single seat, so they farmed us out to the FRS for flights)

2. I don't remember what the basic navy swim qual entails, but to fly you'll have to complete the appropriate ASTC swim survival course. There is one for ejection seat aircraft, one for maritime/big wing, and one for helos IIRC. Only one I'm familiar with is the ejection seat one. You'll do a day of classroom stuff. Then day 2 into the pool. Order of events varies a little by location, but you'll do some basic swim warmup in your swim trunks, then don all the gear, and swim a couple laps doing a breast stroke (or I guess backstroke is now optional). After that, you'll keep the full gear on for the rest of the day, and head over to the underwater egress machines. You'll do each of them eyes open, and then also with blackout goggles (so you can't see). Then you head to the helo dunker for two rides, one without the goggles, and one with. You'll either do the manual LPU inflation at the conclusion of your last dunker ride, or you will have done it at the conclusion of your lap swim earlier on. After that, its mostly easy stuff like practicing parachute landings in the water and detaching from the parachute, using the rafts, and signaling and hooking up a helo hoist. It isn't really too bad, but it is something you want to be a decently comfortable swimmer for.

3. No, not really. But I did my middie cruise in Lemoore. Get out of town each weekend for sure. It's a cool experience. Back to question #1, don't be disappointed if you don't end up going to a jet squadron. A paid vacation to anywhere is pretty cool, and getting to maybe fly in a navy airplane of any sort is pretty awesome.

 

[Gatordev]

but do we have to do the same swim qual that we did during CORTRAMID or is it like a mini flight school water survival course.

What MIDNJAC is describing is the actual ejection seat course. Mids typically will do an accelerated course that allows them to fly in anything. Sometimes that means you'll get all of the devices, sometimes not. I don't know what it's like now, but when I went through, I needed a specific letter that authorized me to do all of the devices. It was generated by my ROTC unit. That may not actually be required now, but I'd ask.

As mentioned, where you go is luck of the draw. But you might be able to put your finger on the scale if you know someone. I got Jax Helos (which would have still been fun) but I knew someone at a VF squadron who was well-known in the community and asked if he could help. The ROTC unit coordinator was cool with it and off to the FITWING in Oceana I went. Admittedly, that's a one-off deal, though.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Good Morning All,

Just a couple questions regarding the first class aviation cruise that maybe some old ROTC guys can chime in on.

1. How hard is it to get an Jet cruise?
- I specifically asked for a jet cruise when my summer cruise coordinator asked for "any details." Not sure if that's how you get it, or not. Does anyone know or is it luck of the draw.

2. How hard is the swimming?
- During CORTRAMID I couldn't do the T-4 ride since I failed my swim qual. (lol) Now, I'm at least a better swimmer than I was freshmen year, but do we have to do the same swim qual that we did during CORTRAMID or is it like a mini flight school water survival course. I have like 2 weeks after finals ends to get in the pool and practice so I wanted to know what to expect so I can avoid failing as that would suck.

3. Is there any "Hindsight is 20/20" moments that you wish you wouldve known before going on cruise? Like maybe cool spots on the East coast (put in for Oceana/Norfolk)? Killer questions to ask? Anything is cool.

Assuming only @MIDNJAC responds, why not ask your peers who did this last summer? I get they probably commissioned by now but that doesn’t mean they can’t take the time to answer a few simple questions.

Suggest also discussing service assignment with them too.

 

[MIDNJAC]

What MIDNJAC is describing is the actual ejection seat course. Mids typically will do an accelerated course that allows them to fly in anything. Sometimes that means you'll get all of the devices, sometimes not. I don't know what it's like now, but when I went through, I needed a specific letter that authorized me to do all of the devices. It was generated by my ROTC unit. That may not actually be required now, but I'd ask.

This sounds vaguely familiar, thanks for the clarification.

 

[CommodoreMid]

Honestly don’t worry too much about what type of squadron you get, you’ll have a blast regardless. I did mine with a Mayport helo squadron even though I’m blind and there was no chance of me being a pilot, thus never going helos. Still a great time, got exposed to a part of aviation I would not otherwise see, good flying, and great beach time!

 

[JTS11]

Just don't be the midshipman that when the CO walks into the ready room, you sit on your ass; and when he/she talks to you, a sir/ma'am never leaves your mouth. Had that happen once, and there were some JOs in the RR that gladly corrected the dude.

 

[ChuckMK23]

As an NROTC Mid, my 1st Class Cruise was a capstone experience - assigned to an active Knox Class frigate out Newport, RI. It was a relatively small ship with lots to do and an understaffed wardroom. I was kept busy with real work commensurate with my lack of any real experience. But I learned a lot about how the Navy worked and how an honest-to-god warship operated. Stood watches that would be given to a boot ensign.

Aviation "cruises" for 1/c were just beginning as a thing (this was summer 1985). I remember thinking that I had a richer experience come fall than some of my peers that selected that option - and was equally grounded in my desire to select aviation as a first choice. But I had a really remarkable summer abard FF-1093.

 

[Asapla]

Did a Jet Cruise last summer out of Oceana.

1 - Wasn't bad, CO gave me the option between VAW and VFA Cruise. I did ask him about it earlier in the semester, would say that class rank helped and he had a good pull. Would say for majority, it's luck of the draw and where your school is located near. I also lived in Virginia Beach. (VFA 106, FRS, best squadron ever with good gouge as new students were checking in). Also, cool people and a great overall atmosphere!

2 - Swimming is very straight forward, it is the same one that you do during CORTRAMID Totally would not recommend failing as you would not be able to get any backseat rides.

3- Just have fun and hang out with your MIDN peeps! All cruises are fun, and the people you're around typically make it better! PM me if you have any questions about the Norfolk/VB area.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Did a Jet Cruise last summer out of Oceana.

1 - Wasn't bad, CO gave me the option between VAW and VFA Cruise. I did ask him about it earlier in the semester, would say that class rank helped and he had a good pull. Would say for majority, it's luck of the draw and where your school is located near. I also lived in Virginia Beach. (VFA 106, FRS, best squadron ever with good gouge as new students were checking in). Also, cool people and a great overall atmosphere!

Now that you mention this, I very vaguely remember my LT class advisor coming back to me and saying something like "I have a helo squadron in North Island, or a VFA squadron in Lemoore open". So there may be more choice than I let on. Sorry, memory fades sometimes