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Army Pilot wants Transfer to Navy

the dawg

the dawg

New Member
pilot
Currently an O-3 AH-64 pilot and has just finished a 15 month tour to Iraq working with Navy, Marines, Air Force and SpecOps. He wants to transfer to USN as an O-2 and enter flight training to get fixed wing time = complete conversion if you will. He plans on separating from Army Nov 09.

is this possible? if so who/where does he go?
 
Possible, for sure. My guess is it would be a tough sell. He would not likely take a cut in pay grade if he can make it happen. Trying to cut a deal for a fixed wing transition might be hard if he is currently rotary wing only. Taking an O-3 and running him trough that much training is a big investment. A hybrid type of transition for a guy like him would be best. Running through Primary would be a waste. I can't imagine how they would treat him. There are some instructors here that might have an idea, if even possible. As to how to effect the transfer, it is all on him. He has to research it on the Navy side and contact the right people. There are no recruiters or facilitators. A couple guys here have that gouge. My guess is that if he made the switch he would be right back to helos. Best gouge is not to resign his commission until he has a plan. With no commission it is nearly impossible to come back.
 
Thanks Wink - when i was going through primary jet (too long ago) we had some Marine 1Lts and Capt helo drivers. they went the rest of the way with us to advanced jet. i believe this guy wants an "Interservice Transfer" (is there a current program?) and wants to get into fixed wing. i would thiink an interservice tfr in helos would be the easiest with transitioning to fixed wing near impossible. for me, a fighter guy, it would be more fun flying AH-64s than USN helos? anyway, should he go to a recruiter or direct to the Bureau?
 
We had a pilot who had done more or less exactly what you're asking - West Point / OH-58 guy transitioned to active duty Navy, to EA-6Bs, then to FTS, then to VAQ-209. (We always pick up the misfit toys...). Good guy, too - PM me your email and I'll shoot you his. It's been a while since he made the switcheroo, but he at least went through the process and should have some good insights.
 
I just got my interservice transfer accepted and I am a Field Artillery Officer. I was selected to go SNFO. I know that you are looking to go Aviator, but if you send me a PM I can a least point you in the right spot.
 
Why wouldn't he just apply for the C-12 transition in the army through flight safety at Ft. Rucker. That's what my dad did when he was an AD CW4. The C-12/RC-12 Guardrail guys are in high demand. They fly out of Cairns AAF all the time for training. He should apply that way instead of taking a pay cut if he wants to fly fixed wing.
 
I'm sure he is looking at not doing 15 month deployments anymore and having a better quality of life/professional career. I would suggest he do what most Army guys do, switch to USCG. You have to apply for the annual FW board in the Army, and quality of life improves slightly.

dawg, have him look into baseops.net forums for some AF Reserve options as well, quite a few prior Army guys on there that made the switch.
 
If he's dead-set on flying FW, he's probably not going to be doing it in the USCG. The min is 1000 hours to apply for the DCA board.

On another note - I was in P-Cola and saw a billboard for the DCA program. That's a first.
 
Welcome aboard, a------!

the dawg said:
Thanks Wink - when i was going through primary jet (too long ago) we had some Marine 1Lts and Capt helo drivers. they went the rest of the way with us to advanced jet.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to welcome aboard an esteemed fighter pilot who started out in the fighter pilot's dream, the F-8 Crusader, and went on to be a CAG LSO who waved Catmando on more than one occasion. He also has time in the F-4 and F-14 and commanded the US Navy F-14 contingent in Iran so he has time in their Tomcats as well. Definitely has a sea story or two and is great company in the Ready Room or the bar.
 
You are right phrogpilot73, most of the time the Army Aviators that do a Inter-service transfer end up flying the JayHawk. My dad had a few friends that were Blackhawk drivers, end up transferring to the Coast Guard to fly the JayHawk. If he's a Longbow guru, they are getting ready to release the LB Block III (which will be amazing!) Again, If he's a current Longbow driver he's used to the long deployment times. So going into the RC-12 Guardrail wouldn't be much different for deployments. Have him apply for the FW board and see what happens. His chances are much greater getting slotted into the FW community in the Army than in the Coast Guard.
 
Welcome aboard, a......!

Great to see you here, "Dawg"........

....... and if it weren't for the grace of God, and especially you as my LSO so long ago, I wouldn't be here. Thank you again.

Hand salute! And welcome aboard, old friend!
 
phrogpilot73 said:
If he's dead-set on flying FW, he's probably not going to be doing it in the USCG. The min is 1000 hours to apply for the DCA board.

On another note - I was in P-Cola and saw a billboard for the DCA program. That's a first.
Click to expand...

That's a great billboard tho!!
 
3rdgenav8tor said:
You are right phrogpilot73, most of the time the Army Aviators that do a Inter-service transfer end up flying the JayHawk. My dad had a few friends that were Blackhawk drivers, end up transferring to the Coast Guard to fly the JayHawk. If he's a Longbow guru, they are getting ready to release the LB Block III (which will be amazing!) Again, If he's a current Longbow driver he's used to the long deployment times. So going into the RC-12 Guardrail wouldn't be much different for deployments. Have him apply for the FW board and see what happens. His chances are much greater getting slotted into the FW community in the Army than in the Coast Guard.
Click to expand...

Most USCG RW DCAs end up as H-65 pilots as there are 3 times as many H-65 airframes as H-60s. You could do a RW tour then apply for a Casa transition, that would probably work. I don't know any fellow DCA who would go back to his previous service, Army or Navy. I see Army recruiting adds on TV now and just laugh. Yeah, a 12 month FW deployment would not suck as bad as a 15 month RW deployment, but why do either? Besides, Longbow pilots must be so bored in Iraq... 16 hellfires and no one to shoot at. :(

Dude, go DCA.



"For God's sake, be careful out there."
"If I was careful, I'd be in the Coast Guard."
 
I also forgot to add that the Army will be getting the JCA C-27J Spartan. So they will be slotting guys in for that airframe as well as RC-12's. The C-27J is a really cool airframe anyway.
 
Slug, you are too correct,

I'm a Longbow guy stuck in the lovely city of mosul. The only thing we can do is hand out easter eggs and shoot rainbow rockets over the city. It's extremely frustrating. Absolutely no job here. I would like to make the CG transition, but I'm afraid I won't get picked up due to a time in service requirement. Once my ADSO is complete, I will have a few months over 10 years AFS. But who knows.
 
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