Active Duty Experiences

[sbfighter]

I'm just looking for some insight to the overall life of a naval aviator from being commissioned to no longer being an active duty officer (or into Reserve if you joined). Post what you did and how long you did it for.. and whatever else you want to add.

So far I gather this:

First operational tour is almost always 3 years. then you go to "shore duty", which may or may not be a flying assignment. From then on it varies a bit based on your community, the optempo of the war, and your own plans. Ideally, you rotate 3 years of operational flying (flying in the fleet) and then 2-3 years shore duty which is usually not flying. That would include grad school, staff work, ship's company, exchanges, war college, things like that. Hopefully some of the current active guys can give you their experiences.

Feel free to build off of that too. Thanks!

 

[RockyMtnNFO]

I like to play piano at the local honky tonk while my wife talks dirty to me and my pilot flirts with the hot civilian tactical instructors.

After that, Volleyball and lot's of it. Shirtless if possible. Hangin around in towels after "hops" is a favorite as well.

We often go en mass to trashy bars in our dress whites and brawl with the townies too.

Glad I could help.

R/

Steve

 

[sbfighter]

Aw thanks Goose. Any more general advice on a year-based-scope?

 

[WishICouldFly]

I like to play piano at the local honky tonk while my wife talks dirty to me and my pilot flirt with the hot civilian tactical instructors.

After that, Volleyball and lot's of it. Shirtless if possible. Hangin around in towels after "hops" is a favorite as well.

We often go en mass to trashy bars in our dress whites and brawl with the townies too.

Glad I could help.

R/

Steve

It says you're a high school teacher, so basically same thing, right?

 

[fc2spyguy]

It says you're a high school teacher, so basically same thing, right?

If he was a high school teacher he'd be hitting up the local soda stands.

 

[Schnugg]

Search is your friend.

 

[sbfighter]

I had searched before but didn't find anything... but for anyone else who's interested I looked again and found this:

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140694
as well as
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13267
.

 

[Schnugg]

Search for "Cat, trap, nap and a slap."

 

[A4sForever]

Also do a search for "hemorrhoids" and then you will have a sense of what it's like to fly ADVERSARY in the NAVY ...

 

[Autorotate]

My squadron seems to make it 3 deployments (MEU's) before departing the fleet, making it nearly 5 years before going off to a B billet. I've got two F-18 dudes here who did one deployment, then TAD, and then go to a B billet. It's difficult to say for certain what will happen.

 

[Paddles]

It's like being in a fraternity you love at a school you hate.