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B-billets - choice vs placement

Texan

Texan

Why enemy pilots dont sleep well
I'm curious about USMC b-billets. I know the phrase "needs of the..." but how much say in what you do do you actually have? I'm curious, 'cause one of the few B-billets that looks interesting (yeah looking WAY ahead) would be doing stuff in the Pentagon / Capitol Hill

I guess the corrolary to this is how popular of a B-billet is Pentagon / DC duty, and how likely would I be able to request it? What would the work include?

TIA,
Texan
 
skidkid

skidkid

CAS Czar
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Dude,
You can have it. I dont think Pentagon tours are very popular for Captains/ JR Majors up for B billets. There are a few Careerists who do it but all in all things like MAWTS, Test Pilot School, FAC tours, flight school, other assorted scam jobs (OSO, ROTC etc) are much hihger on the lists.
 
Texan

Texan

Why enemy pilots dont sleep well
cool, what about the other way around... who gets sent to Djibouti and other hellholes like that?

what's MAWTS?
 
Taxman2A

Taxman2A

War were declared.
MAWTS-1 is a training unit at beautiful MCAS Yuma. They are the senior agency for some air wing exercises like Desert Talon and WTI. I'm sure it's a rewarding tour, as you would have great opportunities to instruct other aviators. I'm not an aviator myself, so I can't speak on all the reason why MAWTS would be good. What I can say is that spending 3 years at Yuma is a reward in itself. [/sarcasm].

In all honesty, if you should find yourself at MCAS Yuma, you definetely need to try the snake juice. Have someone point you in the direction of the SNCO club. Thats the way to start out an incredibly drunken night.
 
P

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
Taxman2A said:
MAWTS-1 is a training unit at beautiful MCAS Yuma. They are the senior agency for some air wing exercises like Desert Talon and WTI. I'm sure it's a rewarding tour, as you would have great opportunities to instruct other aviators. I'm not an aviator myself, so I can't speak on all the reason why MAWTS would be good. What I can say is that spending 3 years at Yuma is a reward in itself. [/sarcasm].

In all honesty, if you should find yourself at MCAS Yuma, you definetely need to try the snake juice. Have someone point you in the direction of the SNCO club. Thats the way to start out an incredibly drunken night.
Click to expand...

MAWTS-1 is the "Top Gun" of Marine aviation. It's all about MAGTF planning focusing on aviation. Once you complete the course at MAWTS-1, you're designated a WTI (Weapons and Tactics Instructor) which immediately gives you MOS credibility with anyone, anywhere.

As for the reason why MAWTS would be good... First, being a MAWTS-1 Instructor is a "by invite only" kinda tour. I was asked to submit an information package for the latest board. Still didn't make the cut (9 WTIs in the fleet were asked). If you're a MAWTS-1 Instructor, you are the Marine Corps' duty expert (regardless of coast) in not only your platform, but Marine Aviation in general. Yuma's not that bad, a lot better than Jacksonville, NC!

Finally, be careful of the "snake bite"! I had to plan a mission the morning after drinking one, and it was NOT fun!
 
Grant

Grant

Registered User
Probably a stupid question, but... is there much difference between MAWTS-1 and NSAWC? Or is it similar training? If they're very similar, it would seem redundant to have Marines sent to both.
 
squeeze

squeeze

Retired Harrier Dude
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
worry about this stuff when you are in a fleet squadron and know more about them. there is absolutely no reason to start trying to game what schools to attend.
 
P

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
Grant said:
Probably a stupid question, but... is there much difference between MAWTS-1 and NSAWC? Or is it similar training? If they're very similar, it would seem redundant to have Marines sent to both.
Click to expand...

Here's what it amounts to - each service has their own "Top Gun". For the Air Force, it's Red Flag. For the Marine Corps, it's WTI. For the Navy, it's Top Gun or NSAWC. Each school is graduate level aviation. However, they all offer their own flavor (based on the service). MAWTS-1 is very good at producing officers that are excellent pilots in their airframe, but their focus is teaching MAGTF planning. Once you graduate from WTI, you may find yourself as a planner in <insert location here> speaking for the entire air side of the MEU. They're not the same, they're different. And as a pilot, going to more schools only makes you better. It's not redundant, you just get to look at something from another angle.
 
Brett327

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
phrogpilot73 said:
Here's what it amounts to - each service has their own "Top Gun". For the Air Force, it's Red Flag. For the Marine Corps, it's WTI. For the Navy, it's Top Gun or NSAWC. Each school is graduate level aviation. However, they all offer their own flavor (based on the service). MAWTS-1 is very good at producing officers that are excellent pilots in their airframe, but their focus is teaching MAGTF planning. Once you graduate from WTI, you may find yourself as a planner in <insert location here> speaking for the entire air side of the MEU. They're not the same, they're different. And as a pilot, going to more schools only makes you better. It's not redundant, you just get to look at something from another angle.
Click to expand...
Agree w/ Squeeze, but while we're on topic. Navy weapons schools are more specific to your mission/airframe and make you the authority on tactics so that you can go back to your squadron and instruct, give check rides, etc. Like Phrog said, WTI is more of an all around MAGTF animal. For the record Red Flag is not the same as USAF Weapons School - completely different animal. They're both at Nellis, but that's where the similarity ends.

Good times,

Brett
 
Grant

Grant

Registered User
squeeze said:
worry about this stuff when you are in a fleet squadron and know more about them. there is absolutely no reason to start trying to game what schools to attend.
Click to expand...

Sorry for simply being curious about something.

For the record, the chances of any of this happening for me is next to zero, for medical reasons that would prohibit me from commissioning. So.... this is purely curiosity, no "gaming".

Thanks Phrog and Brett for your responses. :D
 
Steve Wilkins

Steve Wilkins

Teaching pigs to dance, one pig at a time.
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Ok...second time in two days I see a post about B-billets. What is a B-billett? Navy speak please.
 
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